Las Salinas (the salt flats) is one of Ibiza’s visitors’ most famous places and one loved by the Ibicencans. It is Ibiza’s main natural park which comprises a large area on the south of Ibiza and the north of Formentera and contains the famous and really popular Playa de Las Salinas and the tiny village of Sant Francesc de Ses Salines
How to get to Las Salinas?
It is very easy to reach by car from Ibiza by taking the airport road. Just turn off at the sign for “Ses Salines”. You can get to the natural Park from Sant Francesc de Ses Salinas, the village located on the road which ends at the Salinas Beach. You can also take bus from Ibiza to the beach, line (línea) 11.
What to see in Las Salinas?
With its territory of almost 3.000 hectares of land, plus 13.000 of sea, Las Salinas was declared a natural park in 2001. The entire area is one of exquisite natural beauty and ecological import. We recommend you stop in Sant Francesc de Ses Salines where you will find the “Interpretation Centre of the Natural Park of Las Salinas” located in grounds of the small church. There you will be able to learn more about local flora and fauna as well as the history of Las Salinas and the importance it had in the past. There are also two pleasant restaurants,San Francisco and Coricancha.
You can take a lovely walk from Sant Francesc to the area of the salt flats, the largest wetlands on the island where flamingos can be seen nearly all year round
The salt harvesting on the island started around 600 BC. Known as “white gold” salt was one of Ibiza’s main exports and sources of wealth. Between the beaches Es Cavallet, Las Salinas and Es Codolar you can still see these salt ponds and take amazing photos of the sun setting over them. At the end of the Salinas beach you can see the remains of a 19th century railway which was used to transport the salt to the small dock of Sa Canal whence it travelled to all over the world. The salt industry is still alive, albeit much reduced, the port La Canal still being the point of export. Beside Sa Canal is La Nave Salinas, an impressive space which in summer holds free exhibitions by world famous artists as well as other events like poetry readings or concerts. Of course you can’t visit Salinas without enjoying a swim at the beach of Salinas, famous for its transparent waters and its sand dunes, although in summer it is also one of the most crowded. It is also worth taking a walk to the Torre de Ses Portes, one of the island’s defence towers which faces Formentera.
Where to eat and drink in Las Salinas?
As we said before, you have two restaurants in Sant Francesc: San Francisco a typical, local reasonably priced restaurant with a pleasant terrace and Coricancha, a restaurant specialising in Japanese-Peruvian fusion nikkei cuisine with amazing views over the salt flats.
On the Salinas beach there are lots of famous and recommendable beachfront restaurants with great vibes like Jockey Club, Malibú, Beso Beach or the more lively Sa Trinxa.
Also near beach but not by the sea is the quaint Boutique Hostal Salinas, which offers a set menu and is a venue for parties and events. On the Es Cavallet beach close by you will find the famous and lively Chiringay as well as El Chiringuito and La Escollera offering Mediterranean cuisine. Experimental Beach is located on the nearby stony beach of Cap des Falcó on the migration route of many birds and highly recommended for enjoying a cocktail at sunset.
And also close by is the town of Sant Jordi with its numerous bars, restaurants and all sorts of businesses.
Eating in Sant Jordi de Ses Salines
The town also has several restaurants:
Pizzeria Sangrantana: www.canmarianopalerm.com/sangrantana
Hamburgueseria VINYL: www.vinylburgeribiza.com
Meson Rasca Lobos:
Restaurant Sangrantana http://sangrantana.com/
Ice cream parlour, Heladería Artesanal Venezia: facebook.com/HeladeriaArtesanalVenezia
Bar – Restaurant Es Timbal facebook.com/estimbal/
There are several shops including:
Supermarket Hipercentro open 9:00 to 22:00h in summer
Bakery, Pastelería Valenciana
And as it is located near the natural Park of Ses Salinas it offers numerous unspoilt beaches to enjoy the sea like Es Codolar, Ses Salines or Es Cavallet.
If you want to enjoy a no stress holiday don’t hesitate to rent a house or a villa in Sant Jordi.
