Formentera in one day from Ibiza: ferry and beaches

Formentera is close enough to Ibiza to see in a day, and small enough that one well-chosen route covers its best beaches. This plan starts at the ferry in Ibiza, spends the morning on the north peninsula and ends with the sunset at Cala Saona, and it works by bicycle, by bus or with a scooter.

Before you go: the ferry

The crossing from Ibiza to La Savina takes about 30 minutes, and Trasmapi, Formentera Lines, Aquabus and Baleària all sail it. The full list of departures is on the ferry timetable. Two rules decide the day:

• Leave early. Take one of the first sailings so you reach the beach before the car parks fill.
• Plan back from the last boat. The last return changes with the season. Check it on the day and set your evening by it, not by the sunset.

Formentera Lines sells an open ticket, valid on any sailing that day while seats last, which suits a day trip when you do not know when you will want to leave. A closed ticket is for one chosen time. Be at the quay at least 15 minutes before departure. If you start from the airport, the airport guide covers the bus to the port.

How to get around

• Bicycle. Bicycles travel free with Formentera Lines and Trasmapi, as space allows. Es Cavall d'en Borràs is about 2 km from the port and Ses Illetes about 4 km.
• Bus. The L3 tourist bus runs from the port to Ses Illetes in about 15 minutes. From 15 October it costs 10 euros return to Ses Illetes, or 15 euros return to Ses Illetes and Es Pujols, with children up to 12 at half price. Line L5 serves Cala Saona. A day pass for the regular lines costs 15 euros; see the bus page for lines and times.
• Scooter or car. From 1 June to 30 September 2026 motor vehicles needed an authorisation under the island's quota, and a vehicle rented outside the island was not allowed in. Rent from a company registered with Formentera.eco; the 2027 rules are not published yet.

The route

Morning: Es Cavall d'en Borràs and Ses Illetes

Start at Es Cavall d'en Borràs, the first beach inside the Ses Salines natural park as you come from La Savina. It is a north-west facing beach of about 500 m with restaurants, sunbeds and a nudist area. From there, continue to Ses Illetes, a west-facing sand beach about 450 m long with a restaurant, sunbeds and water sports. It is a busy beach, so arrive early.

Parking at both beaches, and at Platja de Llevant, is charged inside the natural park from 10 May to 15 October 2026: 5, 6 or 7 euros a day for a car and 3, 4 or 5 euros for a motorbike, depending on the dates. Pedestrians, bicycles and electric vehicles are free. The car parks hold 384 cars and 1,132 motorbikes, and quads are banned in the park.

Lunch and the afternoon

Eat at one of the beach restaurants at Ses Illetes. In the afternoon, take the bus or a vehicle to the south-west for Cala Saona, the island's only sandy cove on the cliff-lined south-west coast. It is a west-facing cove of about 140 m with a restaurant, sunbeds and water sports, and a large free car park. It is 8.7 km from the port.

Evening: sunset at Cala Saona

Cala Saona has the best sunset on the island. Stay until the sun goes down only if the last ferry allows it, then head back to La Savina in time for your sailing.

If you have a little more time

Add Platja des Pujols, a sand beach backed by the promenade, or Platja de Migjorn on the south coast. The beaches guide compares them all. If one day is not enough, the three day plan spreads the same island over a weekend or a long stay.