What to see in Formentera in one day
Got the chance to spend a day in Formentera but not sure what to see? Here is a route covering the essentials: ses Illetes, ses Salines Natural Park, Caló des Mort, la Mola craft market and sunset at the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse.
How to get to Formentera and get around the island
Formentera has no airport, so you arrive by sea. Most people take the ferry from Ibiza port to the port of la Savina; the crossing takes roughly 30 to 60 minutes depending on the boat. Once in la Savina, you can hire a boat in Formentera right there in the port and explore the coast at your leisure.
On land, a motorbike is nimble on the island’s narrow roads, while a car is more comfortable for reaching the furthest spots. If you plan to bring your own vehicle over on the ferry between June and September, you first need an authorisation from the Consell (applied for at formentera.eco). Bikes and buses are good alternatives for short trips.
The most memorable way to see the island is from the sea: a boat lets you reach coves and beaches that are hard to get to by land and skip the packed car parks. If you have no boating qualification, you can go out with a skipper. The so-called licence-free boats in Formentera (boats up to 5 metres and 15 hp) can no longer be hired without a qualification since 1 October 2026: you now need at least the navigation licence, which lets you sail in daylight and no more than 2 nautical miles from a port or shelter.
Ses Illetes beach: the most famous in Formentera
Ses Illetes, one of Formentera’s most iconic beaches, stands out for its turquoise water and fine sand, stretching for more than 450 metres. It lies on the es Trucadors peninsula, at the northern tip of the island, inside ses Salines Natural Park, a protected area with boardwalks that protect the dunes.
To find a spot, it’s best to arrive early. Access by car or motorbike is regulated and the car parks have limited spaces. In 2026, the controls run from 10 May to mid-October and parking for non-residents costs between €5 and €7 by car and between €3 and €5 by motorbike, depending on the fortnight. Pedestrians, bicycles and electric vehicles get in free. Many visitors prefer to arrive by boat, as that way they can also see Llevant beach and the islet of s’Espalmador. If you anchor, always do so on sand or use the designated buoys, never on the posidonia.
For more details, read our guide to ses Illetes beach.
Source: formentera.es
Ses Salines Natural Park: what to see on the Formentera side
Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park was declared in 2001 and protects land and sea between the south of Ibiza and the north of Formentera. On the Formentera side, these are the must-sees:
- Estany Pudent and the salt pans: the lagoons and old salt pans are a haven for birds. You can easily spot flamingos, as well as black-winged stilts, shelducks and black-necked grebes.
- Estany des Peix: the smaller of the island’s two large lagoons, open to the sea through sa Boca. Walking around it makes a lovely stroll.
- Ses Illetes and es Trucadors: the tongue of sand that separates ses Illetes beach from Llevant beach.
- S’Espalmador: the islet north of es Trucadors. Wading across from es Trucadors is forbidden because of the currents, and the park rules ban mud baths in its lagoon. In s’Alga bay there is a regulated buoy field.
- Posidonia meadows: the great natural treasure protected by UNESCO’s World Heritage listing “Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture”.
To get to know the park better, stop by the Can Marroig Interpretation Centre. In summer, the park’s environmental education team runs free guided tours (booking required).
Caló des Mort: a small, iconic cove in Migjorn
Caló des Mort is a small but iconic cove at the south-eastern end of Migjorn beach, at the foot of marès sandstone cliffs, with traditional fishermen’s boathouses to one side. There’s little sand and the water is a beautifully clear turquoise, so it’s worth getting up early to enjoy it in peace. There are no facilities: bring water, food and sun cream.
How to get there: from 15 May to 15 October parking is banned in the area (you may only stop briefly to drop off passengers), so it’s best to arrive by bike or on foot from nearby beaches such as es Arenals. You reach the cove down a path along the cliff where there is a risk of rockfalls, so take care. You can also arrive by sea and anchor on sand. You’ll find more information in our guide to Caló des Mort.
La Mola market: crafts with a hippie spirit
Another of Formentera’s charms is its craft markets, heirs to the hippie movement that reached the island in the sixties.
La Mola craft market, in the square of el Pilar de la Mola, has been held since 1984 and is one of the best known. Its golden rule is that everything on sale is handmade in Formentera: ceramics, wood, silver, textiles, leather, jewellery and paintings by island artists. There is often live music in the square too, which creates a really festive atmosphere.
When: from early May to mid-October, on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons from 16:00 to 22:00. In 2026 it ran from 3 May to 11 October; the dates change every year, so check them before you go. You’ll find more information in our guide to Formentera’s markets.
Source: formentera.es
Cap de Barbaria lighthouse: the most famous sunset
The Cap de Barbaria lighthouse, at the island’s south-western tip, is Formentera’s most legendary lighthouse. The cape is the southernmost point of the Balearic Islands and the closest to the African coast. Julio Medem filmed scenes from “Sex and Lucía” (Lucía y el sexo) here, and today it’s one of the favourite spots for watching the sunset. More information in our guide to Cap de Barbaria.
Next to the lighthouse is the Cova Foradada, a cave you enter through a hole and that opens onto a natural balcony over the sea. If you go down, be very careful. About 150 metres west of the lighthouse stands the Torre des Garroveret, an 18th-century defence tower.
How to get there: from 15 May to 15 October, cars and motorbikes have to stay in a car park before the d’Allà Dins barrier (60 spaces for cars and 100 for motorbikes). From there, carry on on foot or by bike. Green routes 8, 10 and 11 reach the cape and pass its prehistoric sites. We explain them in our guide to Formentera’s green routes.
Source: formentera.es
A route to see Formentera in one day
Although Formentera has plenty to see, in one day you can enjoy its most iconic spots. Here is our suggestion:
- Morning: arrive early in la Savina and head to ses Illetes or Caló des Mort before they fill up.
- Midday: a walk through ses Salines Natural Park (Estany des Peix, Estany Pudent and the salt pans).
- Afternoon: head up to el Pilar de la Mola, especially if it’s market day.
- Sunset: watch the sun go down at the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse (allow time for the final stretch on foot or by bike).
In high season, leave more time between stops, as the roads and car parks get packed. And if you want to see the coves without worrying about parking, consider hiring a boat in Formentera: setting off from la Savina, you can explore the coast at your own pace.
