Formentera

Formentera is the southernmost Balearic Island lying nine nautical miles south of Ibiza. But while Ibiza basks in the limelight of its own celebrity, quieter, calmer Formentera has no airport and can only be reached by boat.

Many of the island’s pristine beaches are deserted, even in high summer. Es Palmador is an uninhabited island, only accessible by boat to the north of Formentera: connected by ‘Es Pas’ sand bar: it’s possible to walk waist deep from one island to the other – just don’t run aground. Because of the relative inaccessibility of Formentera, the island has retained its old-world charm and is unfettered by mass tourism. A popular hangout for haute hippies in the 60s and 70s who came from Ibiza for some respite, the artists market in El Pilar has a distinctly bohemian vibe. For a brush with fame, grab a table at Juan y Andrea restaurant or, for a slower pace of life, head to Es Calo, a small fishing village with a beautiful beach and perfectly clear water teeming with tiny fish. Order paella or aroz negro (black rice) and switch off your phone.