Ibiza has a well-earned reputation for its stunning beaches and thriving club scene, but there is more to tease your senses here than just sight and sound. With Ryanair offering direct flights from London, there has never been a better time to experience the full glory of sensual Ibiza - sight, sound, taste, smell and touch. During the next few months we’ll be highlighting some of the unique seasonal delights of Ibiza. Starting with… scent

Scent is perhaps the most evocative sense, powerfully recalling moments and memories. During the summer the hot caress of the Mediterranean sun picks out whisper-soft notes of Ibiza’s summer flowers and chalky pink dust. But as the days shorten and the pace of life slows the rich olfactory tapestry of the island reveals its boldest hues.

A morning stroll along the shoreline is ripe with the brine of woolly brown banks of posidonia (sea grass), thrown up from the airless salt heart of the sea. It can be overpowering, at times, until relieved by the keen, mineral edge of the waves. Cooler, humid evenings are the perfect time to appreciate Ibiza’s limey, long-needled pines and the robust evergreen notes of its native shrubs.

The seaside is as refreshing as good cologne; inland the primal odours of wood, earth and fruit dominate. Gnarled carob pods cast off a putrid-sweetish smell, punctuated with velvet notes of late-ripening figs and scattered wine-grapes drying on the vine. You may also catch the tang of wood smoke, or stumble upon two of the island’s edible treasures: anise and heady wild rosemary. Whatever you do, don’t rush from hotel to hire car to bar. Take time to breathe deeply - the complex scent of Ibiza will stay with you long after your winter tan has faded.

One of the most popular words in the Spanish language is ‘manaña’ - meaning tomorrow. It’s generally used in conjunction with work that has to be done and normally refers to Spanish people, but this year it has been hopefully applied to foreigners - and specifically tourists.

The Spanish themselves are not prone to panic, but when May, June and then July proved to be quiet months many of the foreigners running businesses on Ibiza began to lose their cool and depress the few tourists who did darken their doorways with tales of despair and despondency.

Spanish business owners on the other hand, with the benefit of decades of profitable summers under their belts and in the bank, said “make the most of the peace and quiet, they’ll all come at the same time - in August!”

True enough as it turned out - almost overnight vast expanses of sand turned into vast expanses of sunburned flesh. Despite this many of the foreign business owners continued to moan, claiming that the majority of the tourists were Italian and weren’t interested in their Full English Breakfast offering, or even 2 pints for the price of one!

No complaints, however, were heard from the ever-growing band of Italian business proprietors. It appears that Ibiza is becoming an overflow facility for Formentera, which is widely acknowledged as being temporarily annexed to Italy for the month of August.

Those who live in Formentera have long been aware of this fact and most nowadays have sufficient grasp of Italian to relieve their boisterous visitors of their euros with a smile. They also know from experience that as soon as August ends the other nationalities will return until the end of the season.

The other particularly numerous visitors to Ibiza in August are the flamingos of Salinas, however, they are completely ignored in the official figures as they don’t carry money.

Yet another thing for local business owners to moan about…

This beach is somewhat hidden away on the southern coast, where the Vista Alegre housing development meets the sea.

It can be found by travelling through this hilltop urbanization, but access is not always easy since a couple of years ago a dozen or so of the seafront properties slid down the steep and treacherous cliffs.

Arguments continue as to who is responsible for fixing the damage…

Thats the end of our beaches blogs - you can see them all on the main website. We are toying with the idea of continuing the theme by putting up all the towns and villages since there are 40 of them - surprisingly enough…

You could call it an urban beach: Talamanca bay is just a stone’s throw away from the centre of town.

If you live in Ibiza or are staying in one of its hotels, all you have to do is to take a boat over to the Botafoch yachting marina and then walk the few hundred metres to the beach, but the long sandy beach that stretches all the way around the bay has a lot to offer, and not just for city residents. Families will also feel at home here.

The promenade is tidy and the bars, restaurants and shops are easy to reach. The sea is easily accessible with no stones on the beach or the sea bed.

Colourful sun umbrellas provide shade and comfy recliners are there for the taking. If you’re feeling more active, you can go for a walk down to the end of the bay to see the rockier and more romantic part of the coast.

The sheer length of the beach means that it is not overcrowded with recliners - a common sight on many of the island’s beaches in the summer season and there’s no need to worry about the crowd. On the contrary: even at the height of summer, Talamanca beach is a surprisingly peaceful place.

Maybe this is because most of the travel guides don’t mention it, or give it a worse rating than it really deserves.

The beach is particularly popular with bright young things taking “after club” breakfast served by the sea in the morning sun and the “after beach” drink that rounds off a perfect day at the beach. The sandy beach is the perfect place to sun yourself or to get in a little sport.

“Talamanca is much nicer than it used to be”, says Carmen Turro, who has been managing the Hostal Talamanca for the past year. She knows what she’s talking about. Together with her husband, Salvador, and their children, she has been running La Brasa restaurant in Eivissa for many years now.

When the previous owner of the Hostal Talamanca decided to retire after 30 years, it didn’t take Carmen and Salvador long to step in and buy the guesthouse. Since then, they have breathed new life into the Hostal Talamanca. The excellent restaurant is not just for holidaymakers, local residents are equally welcome.

If you feel like taking an aperitif before enjoying a good dinner in relaxed surroundings, you can stop off at the tiny beach bar located right next to the guesthouse. Bury your toes in the sand, drink in the gorgeous view of the sea and relax to the rhythm of reggae and salsa.

In recent times, the Hostal Talamanca has become a big favourite with night birds. By the time the sun rises over the bay, the guesthouse cafe is already serving its early morning breakfast. There are delicious, home-made cakes, sandwiches and plenty of other options to choose from. If you’ve danced the night away in a club and want to see in the new day, then the Hostal Talamanca is the place to do it. The atmosphere is peaceful and the CD player is never switched on before late morning. “We only start to play music at 10.30 a.m., so even the all-night dancers can come here to relax and wind down,” Carmen tells us.
It’s an unusual concept, but one that has been very successful so far, according to the Hostal manager.

Hostal Talamanca is located in Talamanca bay, right next to the Bar Flotante. Breakfast is served from 6.30 a.m.

How to get there: It is at the far end of the Avenida 8 d’Agost from Eivissa.

Tomorrow is the final day in our alphabetical journey round all of Ibiza’s beaches - and one that not many people will have heard of: Vista Alegre

Finding a beach to escape to by the sea during the high season in Ibiza is quite an achievement in itself!

But it can be done…

This stretch of beach at the foot of the steep coast at Sol den Serra near Cala Llonga is one such place - it’s pristine and can’t be developed.

The vista is gigantic, the rocky cliffs are rugged, the path down to the sea has stairs and pine forests at the top of the steep hillside round off the wild and romantic ambiance.

Forget about a sandy beach, it’s more of a venue for watching the open sea roll in and crash on the pebble beach.

The acoustics of the place are extraordinary, surrounded as it is by towering cliffs. Birdsong and the sounds of the sea are all that break the occasional clink of glasses and the low hum of subdued conversation…

To get there drive to the end of Cala Llonga and then make a right and follow the signs to Sol d’en Serra.

Tomorrow’s Ibiza beach is Talamanca

Locally known as Es Calo de s’Alga, this peaceful little beach is predominantly enjoyed by those holidaying in the adjacent resort of Siesta.

For this reason it can prove to be a relaxed alternative to the busier beaches of nearby Santa Eulalia.

A shell shaped beach with fine sand about 100 metres long and 15 metres wide.

It sports a tiny kiosk serving drinks and beach beds and parasols are available to rent.

To get to the beach from Santa Eulalia on foot, cross the suspension bridge over the river and follow the coast around the corner for a few hundred metres.

Tomorrow is Sol den Serra

Santa Eulalia is a five-star municipality, if the election motto of the new mayor Vicent Mari is to be believed.

So the town hall are sprucing up the public plazas and streets to make them even more attractive for residents and holidaymakers alike.

The same holds true for the local beach. Despite the fact that it is definitely an urban beach, it has numerous charms.
Locals, and tourists without transport, appreciate it…

Santa Eulalia’s beach is ideal for families who don’t want to transport their children, kit and caboodle very far.

The comparatively wide sandy beach is clean and the beach promenade is great for a walk in the sun and some window shopping.

Bars, restaurants and other businesses are all just a stone’s throw from the beach and there’s no lack of diversity.

The long beach is split down the middle by a rocky outcrop and both sections offer a variety of water-based activities.

You can also hire loungers and umbrellas on the far southern half of the beach.

Tomorrow ’s Ibiza beach is Siesta beach.

Being right in the centre of the town of San Antonio, this is one of the busiest beaches on the island - despite its enormous size.

For the same reason bars and restaurants jostle for business side by side along the edge of the beach.

All are relying on a captive audience who don’t want to travel too far for either the beach or liquid refreshment…

For this reason, we take special pleasure in presenting pictures of this splendid expanse of sand on a day when everybody else stayed at home…

Tomorrow’s Ibiza beach is our hometown Santa Eulalia

Salinas is one of the best known and most popular beaches on Ibiza, and rightly so.
The vast expanse of sand is almost completely covered in sun bathers throughout the summer months.

Looking for a place to get away from it all at the height of the summer season? Want to escape from the hordes that have taken over the beaches and find your own little hideaway by the sea? No problem: just grab a packed lunch and a bottle of water, slip into some comfortable shoes and head out to discover the eastern section of the beach by the salt flats.

It’s not a particularly short walk but you won’t get lost en route. Just follow the beach towards Torre de Ses Portes. This part of the coast is breathtakingly beautiful and unspoilt: full of strange rock formations and tiny bays surrounded by cliffs.

The straits of Es Freus and Formentera seem so close that you could reach out and touch them. Seagulls circle in the blue sky, the cicadas chirp and the air is filled with the perfume of juniper and rosemary. It’s a real treat for the senses.

If you feel like venturing further out to the watchtower, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of Es Cavallet beach. Treat yourself to a swim in the cool waters of the sea and enjoy the peace and quiet. No one cares whether you’ve packed your swimming gear or not, but please don’t forget: you are in a nature reserve so please don’t litter and when you’re walking in the dunes, be sure to keep to the existing paths!

Malibu, located towards the western end of the beach, is one of the most popular hangouts in the south of the island for celebrities and big hitters. It offers a unique view of the sea while the nearby buildings that house the salt works in the tiny village of Sa Canal provide rustic charm.

But if you opt to walk a little further down the beach towards Sa Canal, you will discover a rather less exclusive but still charming and much more personal atmosphere. It is amazingly peaceful, too. Here, at the end of the beach, you will find the C. C. Cats water sports centre, a small sailing club that does more that just tend to its members’ catamarans. Water sports fans can hire a catamaran, a surfboard or a canoe. Beginners can enrol on a course.

For example the well known Spanish basketball trainer, Manel Comas, who has been a regular visitor to Ibiza for 30 years and stops off at C. C. Cats to take his catamaran out for a spin.

As we said before, the air around the Malibu bar is guaranteed to be thick with celebrities.

The Jockey Club on Ses Salines beach is where the in-crowd meet up. This beach location is just as popular with the locals as it is with the tourists. It may not be as exclusive as Malibu, but the visitors have style.

Julio Lanzoni and his son Oscar have been running the beach bar for more than 15 years. Guests can enjoy a selection of Mediterranean dishes, a good wine, freshly squeezed juice or a fruity cocktail.
The people on the beach in front of the bar like to round off their bikinis and swimsuits with a little jewellery, but there are also lots of youngsters and well known faces from the Ibiza scene out there, too. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. People are free to be themselves. Snobs are not welcome here.
The Jockey Club is a great place to enjoy a day out at the beach and chill out to the sound of good music with a magnificent view of the deep blue sea and the neighbouring island of Formentera.

At the far end of the beach is another chiringuito with a very different character.
Do you know those holiday series on TV? You know, the one where the presenter sends a group off to some location and each of them has to plan the perfect day out for the rest of the group? It’s a pretty international format and at some point, a TV crew was dispatched with a team of contestants to visit Ibiza.
All of the participants wanted to prove just how cool they were and how well they knew the island: and one person in particular wanted to show off his skills as a real connoisseur who knows where all the best daytime parties are to be found.

So he carted his companions and film crew off to the gorgeous white sandy beach at Ses Salines to visit the traditional beach bar of Sa Trincha. The place was packed, with loud lounge music playing out on the terrace and the beach. The customers were a colourful, international bunch and were having a whale of a time. There was plenty of naked skin to be seen, as well as bright beach outfits, chilled drinks and gyrating hips. In short, the place was rocking and the sea view was amazing. You really got the impression that this was where to meet the people in the know.

The only problem that day’s tour leader had overlooked was that you need to book your table in advance. What did he expect: that the Sa Trincha staff would roll out the red carpet as soon as they spotted a TV camera? In any case, he learnt his lesson.

The group were forced to hang around until a table became available, which was quite a while, because Sa Trincha customers are there to have fun and are in no rush to vacate their seats…

How to get there: take the Ses Salines/Es Cavallet exit from the main road from Eivissa to the airport, then follow the signposts. Look for a parking space by the roundabout or use the pay and display car park.

Tomorrow’s Ibiza beach is San Antonio

Sa Guardiola beach sits at the head of a natural cove on the village’s northern boundary.

This natural cove is protected from the rough sea to the north and has been a natural harbour in a storm for centuries.

It is also shallow for a long way out, which makes it a favourite of families with very young children.

Nowadays, with the arrival of a road connection over the mountains to San Juan to bring in the tourists, the beach and surrounding area are busy during the summer season, but uncannily quiet through the winter.

On the far side of the bay a secret beach can be found, which cannot be seen from the main beach and few are aware of.

Nobody seems to know the name of this little beach, but the scenery up the north coast from nearby is spectacular…

Next Ibiza beach in the series is the famous ibiza beach of Salinas…