Espalmador - Caribbean-like beaches on the Balearics

The island Espalmador lying only a few sea miles away from Ibiza town is one of the most attractive destinations for yachting. Here, one can splash around in clear shallow water, watch other people, go on a bar crawl, or just watch one‘s yacht swing at the buoy.

The island Espalmador lying only a few sea miles away from Ibiza town is one of the most attractive destinations for yachting.


Here, one can splash around in clear shallow water, watch other people, go on a bar crawl, or just watch one‘s yacht swing at the buoy.The popularity of Espalmador for yachties is due to the fantastic white sand ground over transparent turquoise water and the easy mooring (buoys). Besides the anchorage is quite well protected against northerly and southerly winds.

Basically, Isla Espalmador is a small island just off the north of Formentera island which forms part of the Balearics in the western Mediterranean. It is easily accessible from the neighbouring islands Formentera and Ibiza. Sailors making trips from one island to the other noticed that this small island was a perfect stop since it was uninhabited and had wonderful beaches.

There is no way to get to the Isla Espalmador except by water. Since this is not a major tourist destination, there are no ports, so you’ll have to either own a boat or charter a boat to get to this small patch of sand. However, there is a ferry line which runs every morning from Puerto La Sabina. Or, you can wait until low tide when the sandbar that separates the two islands is revealed and walk right to it. Otherwise, Isla Espalmador is just a stop for tourists seeking refuge or a secluded beach. But whatever you do, don’t try to swim the short distance as there are dangerous currents which can drag even the most experienced swimmer out to sea.

3000 m long and 800 m wide, the island’s coastline is made up of rocky cliffs all around, except for the southern part which is basically a bay, a very beautiful bay we might add, lined with exquisite sandy beaches. There is another smaller bay to the Northwest which is used by sailors as anchorage, since it’s protected by the small islet Illa de Sa Torreta.

The only visible landmark on the island is the lighthouse which acts as a warning for sailors who happen to be in the area not to come too close to shore.

In front of the beach there are yellow buoys that have to be used for mooring. Anchoring is prohibited since some years to protect the flora and fauna. During summer months it gets crowded so make sure you come until noon to get one of the buoys.

The beach is the main (and only) attraction here to this otherwise deserted place. Isla Espalmador rewards those visitors who are curious enough to venture here with incredible clear waters the color of the sky and with fine, white sandy beaches. Another point of interest is the muddy lagoon where many come to have mud baths that are said to be beneficial to one’s health. In fact, the mud baths were so popular that at one point the area was off limits to public due to abuse.