Punta Prima tower: discover Formentera’s largest watchtower

Punta Prima is one of the most interesting historic spots in Formentera. Here, next to es Pujols, stands the Punta Prima tower, the largest of the defence towers still standing on the island. It is a perfect place for anyone looking for history, scenery and great views. And if you want to see it from a different angle, boat hire in Formentera lets you admire the tower and the cliffs from the sea.

History of Punta Prima tower

The tower was built in 1762, during the reign of Charles III, under the direction of the military engineer Juan Ballester de Zafra. It is shaped like a truncated cone, with a sentry box and parapet, and rises above the cliffs of Punta Prima. From here, lookouts kept watch over the boats passing between la Mola and Ibiza and warned the population with smoke and fire signals.

For centuries, raids by Barbary pirates made settled life in Formentera almost impossible. When the island was repopulated at the end of the 17th century, watchtowers were built along the coast in the 18th century to warn the population of approaching enemy ships.

Sa Punta Prima tower. Photo: JanManu, CC BY-SA 3.0

What the defence towers were for

• Watching the horizon and raising the alarm about raids by pirates and corsairs from North Africa.
• Monitoring shipping through the key passages, such as the one from Ibiza to la Mola or es Freus, between Formentera and Ibiza.

Formentera’s other watchtowers

As well as Punta Prima, Formentera still has three other towers on the main island and one more on s’Espalmador. All of them date from the 18th century:

Torre de sa Gavina

Built between 1762 and 1763 on Punta de sa Gavina, on the north-west coast, it guarded the western flank and the approaches to la Savina port. It offers views of Ibiza, es Vedrà and es Vedranell. You can reach it on green route 5, which starts at the Can Marroig interpretation centre (2.1 km, about 30 minutes on foot).

Torre des Garroveret

Built in 1763 on the punta des Garroveret, at Cap de Barbaria, on top of a cliff some 65 metres high. It is Formentera’s southernmost tower, stands about 9 metres tall and is protected as a heritage site. It is about 2 km from Cap de Barbaria lighthouse (remember that from 15 May to 15 October you cannot drive or ride a motorbike to the lighthouse).

Torre des Pi des Català

Built between 1762 and 1763 on the south coast, next to Migjorn beach, it was used as a lookout post until 1867. It was restored in 2016 and is the only tower on the island you can visit inside.

Torre de sa Guardiola (s’Espalmador)

On the islet of s’Espalmador, north of Formentera, this tower kept watch over the es Freus passage. If you sail towards s’Espalmador, you will see it from the sea.

Each tower has its own charm, but Punta Prima stands out for its size: it is the largest of the four that survive on the main island.

What to do at Punta Prima

You cannot go inside the tower, but the area around it is open to the public and offers spectacular views towards Ibiza and the cliffs. It is an unbeatable spot for watching the sunrise or sunset.

• Photography: the light at sunrise and sunset is ideal for photographing the tower and the coast.
• Walking or cycling routes: green route 18 links Sant Ferran, es Pujols and Punta Prima (2.6 km, about 40 minutes on foot).
• Beach: es Pujols beach is right next door.

How to get to Punta Prima

The tower is next to es Pujols, so it is easy to reach on foot, by bike, by motorbike or by car from the village, or from Sant Ferran on green route 18. You can also see it from the sea: with a hire boat you can admire the tower and the cliffs of Punta Prima from the water.

Visiting Punta Prima is a simple way to get to know Formentera’s past, an island that for centuries lived looking out to sea with suspicion.