S'Espalmador is the small island off the northern tip of Formentera, across the narrow channel of Es Pas des Trucadors. It is a natural continuation of Formentera, just a few metres away and in full view from Ses Illetes. There is no road, no town and no bar, only white sand, dunes, juniper and clear shallow water, and the only way across is by boat. The boats leave from La Savina.
The island
S'Espalmador is the largest of the islets of the Ses Salines natural park and is privately owned, one of the few islets in the park that are. Its dunes are well developed: very fine white sand and a vast dune system covered with juniper, and the only traces of human life are Sa Torreta, an 18th century guardhouse, and a farmhouse. Inland lies a lagoon, reached by a signposted path.
The whole island is inside the Parc Natural de ses Salines d'Eivissa i Formentera, and Ley 17/2001 declares its representative zones a nature reserve, the strictest protection in the park. That is why the rules below are stricter than on the beaches of Formentera.
The beaches
The main beach is Platja de s'Alga, with Racó de s'Alga, on the western side of the island facing Formentera: about a kilometre of fine white sand in s'Alga bay, the sheltered water where boats moor. Racó de s'Alga is the jewel in the crown of Formentera.
Getting there
By boat only. Boats leave from La Savina and also call at Ses Illetes, and many visitors come on their own or a chartered boat. Do not try to walk or swim across from Es Trucadors: the currents in Es Pas are strong and crossing on foot is forbidden. In 2025 the Balearic government opened sanction proceedings against companies that landed tourists on S'Espalmador without authorisation, so if you join a boat trip, choose one that is allowed to land there.
Mooring and anchoring
S'Espalmador is the one islet of the park where you may go ashore, and only through the entry and exit channels. Boats may anchor only in the permitted zones, on sand: anchoring on Posidonia oceanica seagrass is prohibited across the Balearic Islands, and where a buoy field exists boats must use it. In s'Alga bay there is the regulated buoy field Badia de s'Alga - s'Espalmador, one of the eight fields run by Ports de les Illes Balears (PortsIB). In 2025 the season ran from 1 June to 30 September, extendable to 15 October, and buoys are booked only through the PortsIB reservation platform, for the day or overnight.
Rules on the island
On land you may walk on the public shore and beach and on the signposted path to the lagoon. Stay off the dunes outside boardwalks and signed paths. Bathing in the lagoon and using its mud, once a popular treatment, are totally prohibited. As everywhere in the natural park, dogs are not allowed outside urban areas, camping and spending the night are not permitted, and lighting a fire needs prior authorisation.
Services
None. There are no restaurants, sunbeds, toilets, showers or shops on S'Espalmador. Take water, food, sun protection and shade, and bring all your rubbish back to Formentera.
When to go
The regulated buoy field is open in summer (1 June to 30 September in 2025). Plan the visit as a day trip: there is nowhere to stay or eat on the island, and the boats set the time you arrive and leave.
Nearby
Across the channel are Platja des Trucadors, the sand tongue at the tip of Formentera, with Ses Illetes and Platja de Llevant along the two sides of the peninsula behind it. La Savina, where the boats leave, is the nearest town.
