Page 134 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

132  THE BALEARIC ISLANDS AREA B Y AREA IBIZA  133

9 Sant Joan Port de Sant Miquel is 4 km have neither telephones nor
de Labritja (2 miles) north of Sant Miquel. any other modern conveniences.
It has a fishing harbour and The island authorities set up the
16 km (10 miles) north of a handful of hotels. The resort Camp d’Aprenentatge here,
Eivissa. @ _ Sant Joan is popular with families and where pupils from local schools
(24 Jun), Santa Maria (5 Aug). has facilities for water sports learn about the old ways of
∑ sanjuanibizatravel.com
as well as a diving centre. rural life and about Ibiza’s
Nearby, on top of a hill, stands natural environment.
This quiet little town in one of the island’s most
the north of the island exclusive hotels – Hacienda Environs
lies in the shadow of Na Xamena. The top of the About 3 km (2 miles) east of
the Es Fornás mountain 200-m- (656-ft-) high cliff town is Cala de Sant Vicent.
(410 m/1,345 ft). The only provides a magnificent view This beautiful cove has become
buildings of note in town over the surging waves below. a modern resort, with quiet
are the Ajuntament To the north of the town is the hotels and good restaurants.
Sheep grazing in Sant Mateu d’Aubarca (town hall) and a small Cova de Can Marça. This cave, Visitors love the beach with its
18th-century church. The which was used by tobacco and clean water and rugged scenery,
8 Els Amunts local cafés and restaurants are liquor smugglers, is one of the surrounded by green pine forests.
well worth visiting. Sant Joan most beautiful of its kind on From here, signposts point
Ibiza’s spectacular mountain was popular with hippies in the the island, and is on a par with towards the famous Cova d’es
range, Els Amunts, is situated 1960s, and you can stock up on the caves found in Mallorca. Culleram, discovered in 1907,
in the northern part of the beads, Roman-style sandals and There is an entrance fee which which was a temple to the god-
island and stretches from magically endowed crystals at buys you a sound and light show dess Tanoit during the days of
Sant Antoni de Portmany the New Age Bazaar. and a 40-minute guided tour. the Carthaginian rulers. The
in the west to Sant Vicent East of Port de Sant Miquel is caves can be visited and the finds
de Sa Cala in the northeast. Environs Cala de Benirràs. It gets very unearthed here can be seen in
Rarely visited by tourists, About 7 km (4 miles) west busy in the evenings, when the Museu Arqueològic at Dalt
the region has maintained its of town is the small visitors arrive to admire Vila, in Eivissa (see p122).
unspoiled charm. Pinewood village of Sant Miquel one of the most beau- Another interesting desti nation
hills are interspersed with fertile de Balansat. It has tiful sunsets on the for a walk is Punta Grossa – a
valleys full of olive, almond an impressive island. At other times Coastal boulevard in Sant Vincent de Sa Cala headland situated a little way to
and fig groves, as well as the 16th-century it is relatively quiet. the east, which has a lighthouse.
occasional vineyard. The shore fortress-church On Thursday nights apartments, souvenir shops, coast of Ibiza. Running to the The view from here includes the
rises steeply and the roads that provided it becomes a venue restaurants and numer ous cafés. south of it is the range of the Illa de Tagomago and the eastern
leading to the water’s edge are shelter during the Hibiscus flower for hippy concerts It is an attractive, quiet place Serra de Mala Costa mountains. cost of the island. Tagomago
narrow, unmade and rugged, frequent raids by in full bloom and dances. with four beaches – Sa Torre, The only local historic building island lies 6 km (4 miles) south-
presenting a challenge even pirates, who once S’Arenal Petit, S’Arenal Gran and is the modest 19th-century east of Cala de Sant Vicent. It is
to four-wheel-drive vehicles. ventured deep into the island’s } Cova de Can Marça Es Portitxol – separated from parish church, open only uninhabited and has no regular
The area is a hiker’s paradise; interior in search of loot and Port de Sant Miquel. Open 10:30am– each other by rocky protrusions. during service hours. ferry links with the main island
walking around you are likely to slaves. Every Thursday at 6pm 1:30pm & 2:30–8pm daily (Nov–Apr: It can become busy during high Sant Vicent de Sa Cala is but it is often visited by cruise
meet only the local shepherds. from May to October, there 11am–5:30pm). & ^ 8 season, but instead of baking nevertheless worth visiting for boats and yachts. The clear
Except for the small resorts, is a music and dance show on a beach you may prefer to a different reason. The passage waters around the island are
such as Port de Sant Miquel, performed by a local folklore go water-skiing or take a trip of time seems almost to have popular with scuba divers.
Portinatx or Cala de Sant group in front of the church. 0 Portinatx in a glass-bottomed boat to ground to a halt here. The locals
Vincent, the inland towns, Dressed in traditional costumes, 8 km (5 miles) north of Sant Joan admire the life lurking beneath work on the land using age-old } Cova d’es Culleram
including Sant Joan de they entertain people with de Labratija. @ the clear waters. methods and tools, and they Open Apr–Dec: Tue–Sun. &
Labritja and Santa Agnès lively dances to tunes played
de Corona (see p127), have on traditional instruments, The northernmost holiday village Environs Hippies
maintained their traditional, including drums and local of Ibiza was built as a family Nearby, just 4 km (2 miles) west
rural character. A good flutes (xeremia). resort. It consists solely of hotels, of Portinatx, is Cala Xarraca, a Hippies began arriving in
example of this is the beautiful beach with views Ibiza in the 1960s, drawn
little village of Sant Mateu along the north coast. The by the beaches, people and
d’Aubarca, where you can beach provided the setting unhurried lifestyle. It soon
see flocks of sheep and goats for the film South Pacific. became the “in” place and
tour operators were quick to
grazing in the orchards. catch on. Most of the hippies
Near Sant Llorenç lies the q Sant Vicent moved on long ago, but the
fortified settlement of Balàfia. hippy style – or, rather, its
Believed to be the island’s only de Sa Cala New Age descendant – has
surviving Moorish hamlet, the 8 km (5 miles) east of Sant Joan found its way into the island’s
whitewashed interlocking de Labratija. culture. A small number of
houses with flat roofs and New Age families still live on
amber-coloured watchtowers Sant Vicent de Sa Cala lies along the island; one community
once acted as fortresses the main road leading from Sant is near Balàfia. Stall selling jewellery
during pirate attacks. Lighthouse on Punta de Sa Galera, near Portinatx Joan de Labratija to the east

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.2)
Date 15th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm