← Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon·Day trip

Es Vedrà: The South-West Coast

The limestone islet of Es Vedrà rising 400 metres out of the sea, seen from clifftop viewpoints a short walk from the car, best in the late afternoon.

DurationDay trip
TransitCar, about 40 minutes from Santa Eulària
DepartsSanta Eulària des Riu

After the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon: Es Vedrà

The Route: Santa Eulària → Cala d'Hort → Santa Eulària Logistics: Hire car, about 40 minutes to the south-west coast. Short walks from parking to viewpoints; one optional rough track. Marathon Month: April Duration: Day trip

Santa Eulària ──(about 40 mins by car via Sant Josep)──> Cala d'Hort / Es Vedrà ──(about 40 mins)──> Santa Eulària

The Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon finishes on the east coast around sunset. On the west coast, sunset happens over something more dramatic: Es Vedrà, a limestone rock about 400 metres high rising straight out of the sea off the south-west tip of the island.

April on the west coast of Ibiza is green. The spring flowers are out on the hillsides and among the pines, and the roads are quiet before the summer. In most years the evenings are mild enough to wait for the sun to go down, but take a layer, as the clifftops are exposed to wind.

There is no practical bus for this trip. The drive from Santa Eulària crosses the island through Sant Josep and takes about 40 minutes. Parking at the viewpoints is limited and can be controlled in season.

The viewpoints

The Mirador d'Es Vedrà, above Cala d'Hort, looks straight across a narrow channel at the rock and its smaller neighbour, Es Vedranell. The islets are a nature reserve and cannot be visited. From the parking area, the viewpoints are a few minutes' walk on rough, fairly level ground.

For a longer walk, a track climbs through the pines to the Torre des Savinar, an eighteenth-century watchtower on the cliff with a closer view of the rock. The path is loose stone and uphill for about 20 to 30 minutes each way, better left for fresher legs. Keep away from the cliff edges, and do not attempt the descent to the old quarry below, which is steep and unstable.

Cala d'Hort

Below the viewpoint, the small beach of Cala d'Hort faces Es Vedrà, with a couple of restaurants on the sand; some open only from late spring, so check before relying on one. Grilled fish with the rock in front of you is the obvious late lunch.

The drive back to Santa Eulària takes about 40 minutes. After sunset the roads through the interior are dark and winding.