Formentera, the littlest island in the Balearic archipelago, is home to some of the most amazing beaches in the Mediterranean. Sparkling white sand meets crystal clear turquoise waters wherever you go on this island.
But the best bit? It’s still fairly unknown, especially when compared to its nearby neighbor, Ibiza.
There are so many great things to do in Formentera, but one of the top reasons to visit this little slice of paradise is for the beaches.
With long stretches of sand, tiny coves, and rocky bays to choose from, which are the best beaches in Formentera?
Here’s everything you need to know to plan the perfect beach-hopping day on this incredible island.
Best Beaches in Formentera
1. Ses Illetes
Ses Illetes is not only one of the best beaches in Formentera, but it quite often makes it onto lists of the best beaches in the world.
This long stretch of sand is to the very north of the island, just a quick ride or walk away from La Savina, the port where you’ll arrive. Its beauty and its close proximity to Ibiza make it a popular day-trip destination from the bigger sister island.
If you are spending most of your trip at the beach clubs in Ibiza, consider taking a boat trip to Ses Illetes and some of the other beaches around the island.
I’d recommend arriving at Ses Illetes as early as possible because after a certain point you’ll have to wait in line. You’ll need to pay €6 if you’re in a car and €4 if you’re on a scooter. Bikes can park for free.
From the parking, it’s a short walk to the main beaches of Ses Illetes but you should keep walking to the more remote and quieter part of the beach. Because Ses Illetes is a long sandbank, like a peninsula, you can sunbathe and swim on both sides. So even though it’s busy, there’s always space.
It really is one of the most incredible beaches with brilliantly white sand and light blue water. There are little coves to enjoy as well as rocky dunes and being surrounded by water on both sides makes it completely unique.
Ses Illetes is the most famous beach in Formentera, which means it is also very busy during the summer months, but thanks to how large it is, you can still find a space to enjoy it.
2. Platja de Llevant
The first couple of times I came to the island, I always went to Ses Illetes because it really is one of the top beaches in Formentera. But, recently, I’ve decided to skip it (and the entrance fee and the crowds) and head to Platja de Llevant instead.
Technically, Platja de Llevant is the continuation of Ses Illetes. So the beach and the water are exactly the same, you just don’t get the view of the beautiful sandbank. You do, however, get a long stretch of pristine sand and way fewer people.
I’d recommend entering Platja de Llevant to the south, not from the Ses Illetes parking lot. There’s parking at the end of a beautiful path leading to Kiosko Manolito, a beach bar, and a great breakfast place.
At this part of the beach, there are several bays to choose from. The one furthest from the beach bar is usually quietest.
Platja de Llevant means “windy beach,” so you can expect a couple of waves. However, the water is usually still calm enough to swim. Its wilderness adds to its charm and beauty.
3. Platja des Pujols
Es Pujols is a beautiful village on the north coast of Formentera. Not only is it a great place to stay, grab some food, or have an evening cocktail, but it also has one of the most beautiful Formentera beaches.
Platja des Pujols is a very thin stretch of sand that curves around to Hotel Roca Bella at the far end. There’s a beach path that runs the length of the beach that’s lined with restaurants and beach bars.
Parts of Platja des Pujols are reserved for beach beds to rent but there’s also space if you’d rather put your towel down and relax for free.
The water at Platja des Pujols is some of the best on the island. It’s great for families because it is nice and calm, but it also gets deep enough to swim as well. There’s a little island in front of the bay, Illa des Fonoll Marí, which often protects it from larger waves and is a great place to go snorkeling.
Bikes are such a great way to get around the island and make parking a breeze.
4. Es Caló
Es Caló is a rocky beach on the north side of the island along the thin stretch of central Formentera. This beach is a little bit rocky, which makes the water perfectly clear and with the right shoes, it’s wonderful to walk along.
There are a couple of good restaurants nearby as well as a supermarket if you’d prefer to picnic on the beach.
The area around Es Caló is great for exploring. There are little bays and inlets and, because it tends to be rockier and harder to get to, there are very few people that head out this way. Perfect for getting a little bit off the beaten path.
5. Caló des Mort
Caló des Mort is one of the best beaches in Formentera thanks to how unique it is. You have to walk along a rocky path from the hotels at the end of Platja es Arenals until you get to a ladder to take you to the little beach.
This idyllic cove has some of the most vibrant turquoise water and there’s a small area of sand surrounded by golden rocks. I recommend grabbing some breakfast and going to Caló des Mort as early as possible to eat it there.
It’s a small beach and one that gets very popular, so you can enjoy it and then head to a different one once the crowds arrive.
Be sure to check out some of the off-the-beaten-path beaches around Formentera to escape the crowds.
6. Platja de Migjorn
Platja de Migjorn is arguably the best Formentera beach. It’s a long beach that runs down the south side of the thin part of the island. It is a wopping 3.7 miles or about 6km long and there are several different entrances and parking lots, so you can always find a spot to put your towel down.
Some areas of the beach are sandy coves whereas others are rocky. It’s a great idea to walk along the beach to find a spot you like the best. There are lots of sandy patches between rocky areas that are just big enough for one group, and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll have that part of the beach all to yourself.
7. Cala Saona
Cala Saona is a stunning beach on the west coast of the island. Not only is it one of the best beaches in Formentera but it’s also the perfect place to watch the sunset.
Whether you stay all day or arrive late in the afternoon, there’s a good-sized parking lot close to the beach and it’s just a short walk down across the sand until you arrive at the wide beach.
Cala Saona is particularly popular amongst families because there are some hotels nearby and the beach is big enough to spread out. Some of the beach is occupied by sunbeds that you can reserve but there’s lots of space if you’d rather sit on a blanket or towel in the sand.
There’s a bar and a restaurant on the beach and climbing up the rocky path to the top of the cliff is well worth it for the best sunset views. It’s also one of the best places to see Formentera’s famous fishing boat huts.
Some of the best beaches in Formentera require you to walk along the coastal trail or head down a rickety old ladder, but if you’re lucky you’ll have it to yourself for at least a moment or two.
8. Playa de Ses Canyes
This is another of the picture-perfect beaches in Formentera. Playa de Ses Canyes is a short stretch of white sand to the north of Platja des Pujols but to the south of Llevant.
There is a parking lot next to the beach, but you can also easily walk along the beach path from Es Pujols. This beach seems to be a bit of a hidden gem, with people deciding to go to other, more famous beaches nearby.
The water at Playa de Ses Canyes is perfect and there are lots of little rockpools and sandy areas for kids to play in. It’s another great place to watch the sun set behind the beautiful white villa and marvel at the shadows and dramatically changing colors.
9. Platja Es Arenals
As the name suggests, Platja Es Arenals is a sandy beach in the south of the island, close to Caló d’Es Mort. It’s the ideal beach to take kids. Not only does it have soft sand the crystal clear water, but there are kids’ facilities and a great restaurant.
If you don’t have kids and would prefer more of a secluded beach, then I’d give Platja Es Arenals a miss and head to Platja de Migjorn instead. But, if you want a wide open space with incredible sand and water and a family-friendly vibe, Platja Es Arenals is perfect.
The boat huts along the beaches are a famous thing to spot when visiting the beaches in Formentera.
10. Sa Roqueta
Sa Roqueta is a stunningly wild beach south of Platja de Llevant. It’s one of the best beaches because of its incredible landscape and light, emerald-colored sea. While certainly rockier than other beaches on the island, there are plenty of sandy areas to sit too.
There are some hotels close to Sa Roqueta and a small parking area you can walk from, or you can go to Kiosko Manolito (the same parking as for Llevant) and walk along the beach path to Sa Roqueta.
This beach has a wonderful, secluded feel and is another that many people tend to overlook. Don’t be surprised if you see people bathing in the buff, Sa Roqueta and many other beaches in Formentera, are popular among the naturist crowd.
11. Ses Platjetes
Another of the top beaches in Formentera is Ses Platjetes, a beach just up the coast from Es Caló. It’s a bit of an unusual beach with rocky areas and larger sandy coves.
When driving from one part of Formentera to the other, you’ll constantly be going up and down the main road that runs along the thin part of the island.
If you’re on a scooter, you can follow the signs for Ses Platjetes and park in one of the bays along this road. If you’re in a car, it’s best to head to Es Caló and walk up the beach path from there.
Ses Platjetes is the perfect mix between wild and accessible and the water, as in most of the island, is unbelievable.
Many people think there are only 3 Balearic Islands, which adds to Formentera’s charm, beauty, and uniqueness. Take a break from your weekend in Ibiza or your trips to the beaches in Menorca, and consider a trip to Formentera.
One of the things I love about this island is that you’re never going to be far from one of Formentera’s best beaches. It’s a small island and, even if you’re just there for a few days, you can experience world-class beaches, rocky coves, and some of the clearest water you’ll ever see.