Es Cana uncovers east Ibiza’s delights
Relax on the glistening sands of Es Cana Beach and watch the world (and the waves) go by. This particular stretch of coastline arches into a bay, which ensures the clear warm waters go bobbing by at a gentle pace. The sand drifts slowly into the sea here and the tame shallows mean children can paddle and splash around to their heart’s content.
One of Ibiza’s best attractions is only moments away when you have your holidays in Es Cana. The Hippy Market has been going strong since the sixties, and there’s much that it owes this era of yesteryear. The fragrance of Ibizan delicacies drifts on the air from the authentic food stalls here, and it’s certain you’ll be able to pick up a unique souvenir from the hand-crafted wood ornaments and gleaming jewellery on offer/
Wild watersports and a very famous market
Holidays in Es Cana are located close to several idyllic beaches with gentle waters – the perfect conditions for all sorts of watersports! Get your skis on and prepare to speed through the waves at Playa Es Cana. And even if you do fall in, the whirlpool warm water is very soothing for the senses. Make the short journey south to the pretty golden beach of Cala Martina and you can also try to tame the seas on a board at the windsurfing school.
However, your adventures on dry land can be just as exciting, especially as one of the most famous attractions in Ibiza is based right in Es Cana. The renowned Hippy Market takes place at the resort every Wednesday throughout the summer. A venture into the hundreds of stalls reveals stunning levels of artwork and elaborate handicrafts. Founded in the sixties, the market brings you back to a Bohemian era with Technicolor fabrics and the aroma of incense and spices drifting in the air. It’s simply a ‘must-see’ if you’re having your holidays in Es Cana.
For families, children will be delighted to find that many of the bars and restaurants in Es Cana have their own playgrounds, complete with slides, swings and climbing frames. Being on Ibiza’s quieter eastern coast, the hotels in Es Cana always aim to ensure that families are kept happy.
If you have an interest in discovering more of the heritage of Ibiza, the resort of Santa Eulalia, just 4 miles away, will heighten your intrigue. Here, you can see an ancient Roman Bridge that arches gracefully over a peaceful river overflowing with greenery. The 15th century church Puig d’Missa also stands on the highest hill here, its brilliant white walls radiating in the warm glow of the bright Ibizan sun.
Peaceful places to eat and fine dining nearby
Es Cana is a peaceful resort so it follows that the bars and restaurants here are suitably relaxed too. There’s a small but varied selection of eateries, and the cuisine you can try on holidays in Es Cana ranges from hearty British dishes to flavoursome Chinese meals. This being a family-focused resort, restaurants are often set up to welcome children, and as some even have outdoor pools and play areas they may never want to leave! It’s always worth sampling the local delicacies when you’re in Ibiza, like the light and buttery pastry ensaimada and the rich fish stew Zarzuela.
But as the range of restaurants in Es Cana is rather small, you may get the best value out of staying at an all inclusive hotel. The Invisa Hotel Ereso through Jet2holidays will certainly serve your needs. There’s a buffet restaurant and snack bar to keep you suitably stocked up on food and drink throughout the day.
To splash out on a fine dining experience, you need only make the short 4-mile trip to Santa Eulalia. This beautiful resort has carved out a respected reputation for itself for reaching new gastronomic heights in Ibiza. Sample inventive, artistically presented dishes in sumptuous open-air surroundings.
“Visit one of the many restaurants in Santa Eulalia at the harbour and just drink in the view and the atmosphere.”
Golden beaches and idyllic retreats await
The fine gold sand of Es Cana Beach makes sunbathing here a real pleasure. There’s often a good amount of space to for stretching out, and the calm crystalline waters here are pacified by the winding headland at the end of this arc of coastline. The shoreline fades gradually into the sea here, ensuring the shallows at the water’s edge are safe for children’s paddling.
Follow the road south to the hippy market from Es Cana and you’ll reach Cala Martina. The silvery sands here look gorgeous in the midday sun, and as you take in the views of the evergreen forest and shrub-covered cliffs you’ll feel like you’re in sunbathing paradise! It’s also a great place to try windsurfing, as the beach often picks up a refreshing southern breeze.
Less than a mile south from Es Cana, the small, quiet resort of S’Argamassa has its own secluded beach. This short strip of pristine golden sand is backed by a dense forest of sweet-smelling pines for pure peace and isolation. At only 50m long, the beach can get pretty busy in the summer, so it’s best to arrive early for a full day’s sunbathing.
British pubs and stylish cocktail bars
Holidays in Es Cana are made for relaxing, and it’s easy to unwind at the pleasant bars in the area. Some even have swimming pools and sun loungers so you can spend all day and night there being served cool drinks and refreshing cocktails. There are also fun themed bars dotted all over the resort, drawing their inspiration from classic TV shows like The Simpsons. Many of the British pubs are run by British families, so they welcome children and make their venues as fun as possible with wacky coloured slides and even mini-playgrounds. Whilst certainly not a lively resort, there’s a top disco in Es Cana that holds foam parties throughout the summer.
For a change of scene in the evenings, all that’s needed is a quick trip to Santa Eulalia. This laid-back resort has an enviable reputation for featuring some lavishly designed restaurants, and it’s the same case with its bars. There’s ample opportunity here to savour your drinks in cultured surroundings, whether it’s at the stylish bars of the marina or the authentic Spanish bars in the centre of the resort.