Travel Eye on San Antonio (Ibiza, Spain)

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Overview:

Ibiza has been the Mediterranean's most celebrated party island for decades, drawing a crowd that encompasses latter-day hippies, house and techno fans, rock stars, and package tourists in search of sun, sex, and suds and San Antonio is pretty much at the centre of it all. And while it's true that Ibiza could be described as "Spring break on steroids," there's a lot more to the island than beaches and booze.

San Antonio is the the 2nd largest town on Ibiza and really does offer something for everybody, with its good value nightlife and stunning sunsets.

Though now officially renamed "Sant Antoni de Portmany" in an effort to create a better image, San Antonio still manages to attract a less cultivated clientele. Known as the tourist capital of the island, this is Ibiza's liveliest and most popular resort with non-stop fun day and night.

There are a few small sandy beaches in the resort, and the spectacular beaches of Cala Conta, Cala Bassa and Cala Tarida are a short ferry ride away. July and August are the best months to visit for those looking for buzzing nightlife, while the months of May and June, and September and October are most popular with families, couples and elder visitors.

The town centre on the N side of the bay, once just a fishing village, now has countless shops, bars, restaurants, discos and congenial pavement cafes set around the harbour, and beside the palm-lined promenade. The port lies at the W end of the promenade with ferries leaving to Formentera and the mainland.

A predominance of mediocre 3-star hotels and 2- to 3-key apartments around the bay, with lower-grade accommodation in the town centre. Most larger properties have entertainment suitable for the hard of hearing, in or close to the property. The budget options in the town provide a base for the younger party crowd.

Locality:

San Antonio is located on the W coast of the island, 10 mls NW of the capital Ibiza and 14 mls NW of the airport. In a wide, W-facing bay backed by pine-covered hills and open countryside.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Cova de Can Marca : A few miles north of the village of Sant Miquel, which has an attractive hill-top church and some good tapas bars, is the tourist attraction cave complex of cova de Can Marca. The caves have been commercialised and fitted with some spectacular sound and lighting effects, providing for an entertaining guided tour. The caves are situated atop a rocky inlet and there is a good view from the cave site. Opening time: Daily 11am to 1.30pm and from 3pm to 5.30pm, tours depart every half-hour

D'Alt Vila (Ibiza Old Town) : The old medieval district of Ciudad de Ibiza (Ibiza Town), the capital of the island, sports narrow cobblestone streets, picturesque whitewashed houses and Gothic buildings around courtyards bright with blooming geraniums and bougainvillea. The old town, enclosed by historic walls and entered through the Puerta de las Tablas, contains some interesting sights, most noteworthy of which is the Archaeological Museum. The museum contains artefacts from prehistoric sites on the Balearic Islands, dating as far back as the Punic period between the 5th and 7th centuries BC. Also in the old town is the cathedral with its 10th-century Gothic tower and 18th-century Baroque nave.

Formentera : The tiny island of Formentera covers 35 square miles (90 sq km) and is home to just over 5,000 people. It can only be reached by ferry from Ibiza town, with a regular service running every two hours. The island is a popular day trip from Ibiza, and is relatively unspoilt by tourism development; accommodation options are very limited. The main attraction of this flat piece of land are some pretty villages and marvellous beaches flanked by palms and pines, many frequented by nudists. The best way to explore it is on a rented moped. The main port is La Sabina, and the other villages include beautiful Las Salinas, San Francisco Javier and San Fernando, all featuring quaint white-washed houses. Recommended beaches are Es Pujols in the north, Mitjorn in the south, and Cala Saona in the wild west. Other beaches of note are En Boster, Ca'n Xico Mateu and the natural port of Es Calo. The highest point on the island is in the southeast corner at El Mirador.

La Salinas : One of Ibiza's famous landmarks are the salt flats, La Salinas, close to the airport on the southern-most tip of the island. The saltpans have been in use for more than 2,000 years, since the earliest colonists, the Carthaginians, traded in the 'white gold' left in the pans when water evaporates in the hot summer months. The sparkling salt lakes provide one of the world's most beautiful sunset photograph opportunities.

Santa Eulalia del Rio : Santa Eulalia is a pretty, atmospheric little town about nine miles (14km) south of the island's capital, much favoured by tourists because of its proximity to some of the best beaches and for its scenic setting. The town is situated on the estuary of the only river in the Balearic Islands, overlooked by the Puig de Missa, a fortress-church, sited on a hilltop view site. Another attraction in Santa Eulalia is the Sant Carles settlement a few kilometres to the north: the last true 'hippy' commune on Ibiza island remaining from the 1960s when hippy cultists flocked here. The famous Ibiza northern beaches like Aigues Blanques and Cala Llonga, can be reached by bus or boat from the town.

Ibiza is synonymous with clubbing and the nightclubs in and around San Antonio attract the best DJs from around the world such as Tim Westwood, Fat Boy Slim and Paul Van Dyke. A great place to start off the evening is in one of the bars along the Sunset Strip such as Mambo, Savannah and the exceptionally smooth (but expensive) Café del Mar where crowds gather every night to watch to sun go down. The clubs in San An include Eden and Es Paradis, famous for its water party. Amnesia and Privilege (the world's largest club) are both located on the long straight road to the Ibiza Town, where Space, Pacha and El Divino are all located.

Daytime offers a variety of water sports, scuba diving, aqua parks, horse riding, go-karting, tennis, minigolf, scenic drives, cycling and walking. Tourist train to hillside village. Visit to Ibiza town.

Local excursions include Island coach tours. Boat trips to Formentera and other resorts. Sea cruises including sunset sailing. Glass-bottom boat trips. Hillbilly Hoedown ? Wild West evening. Hippy market at Es Cana. Visit to casino with live show.