Visiting Ibiza and looking for the best place to explore its underwater beauty? You’ve come to the right place! Snorkeling in Ibiza is one of the most fun activities to do on the island. I’ve spent a lot of time exploring – a few months in total – so it was high time to round up the best snorkel beaches for fellow ocean enthusiasts to check out.
Read on for my list of 11 of the best beaches for snorkeling in Ibiza! No matter where you’re staying on the island, there’s a perfect spot for everyone.
Tip: Before we start, I want to mention one thing about snorkeling in Ibiza. There are a lot of boats, and these are popularly used to reach the secluded locations that are so perfect for snorkel. Please always be vigilant. Consider wearing a floating swim buoy to make yourself more visible if you’re going further out.
1. Sa Figuera Borda
Let’s start off strong! One of Ibiza’s most popular beaches is Cala Conta, which gained its fame due to its white sandy beaches and azure waters. It’s a beautiful place with good amenities, but did you know there’s an equally stunning spot almost around the corner that’s infinitely less crowded?
Better for snorkel, more shaded and significantly quieter than nearby Cala Conta, with bonus “secret” cave, is Sa Figuera Borda. At night this spot apparently features the occasional secret party, but during the day it’s a fantastic place to put those goggles to good use and go exploring.
There’s plenty of underwater variety to be had: seagrass fields, a patch of bright white sand and plenty of rock formations. Leave the cave area to swim across and you’ll even find another gorgeous little cove that can only be reached by swimming (or boat, kayak etc.).
You can reach Sa Figuera Borda by passing right through Cala Conta’s parking lot and continuing for around five minutes on an unpaved access road. Then, it’s a few wobbly steps down to the cave and you’re there.
| Amenities? | No |
| Busy? | No |
| Easy to reach? | Unpaved access road |
2. Cala Alto de Porta, San Antonio
This one’s a perfect little cove to visit if you’re staying in Sant Antoni de Portmany, better known as San Antonio. You could even walk there, although during high summer it may be better to take a taxi if you don’t have a rental car or scooter, lest you perish of heat stroke on the way.
Cala Alto de Porta consists of a small slab of concrete (courtesy of the boat ramps it holds) and some pebbles. Not much to look at – until you explore the underwater part, which is lovely and lush. The views are also beautiful.
This cove offers no amenities, but you’re a hop, skip and a jump away from the aquarium at Cap Blanc. The aquarium itself is tiny, although I thought it was fun enough to spend the fee and have a look. There’s also a restaurant where you can use the restroom or score some snacks and cold drinks.
| Amenities? | No |
| Busy? | No |
| Easy to reach? | Yes |
3. Cala Llonga
One of the more popular places on this list, Cala Llonga has plenty of amenities and is particularly perfect for families. It’s also accessible for folks with limited mobility, since you can walk straight from the parking area to the beach with no hills or stairs.
Cala Llonga consists of a large cove with a sandy beach, surrounded by a large resort as well as multiple shops and restaurants. It’s great if you just want to splash around a bit, but I also found it to be more than worth it to visit in order to go snorkeling.
My tip is to rent a kayak! I got one right on the beach itself for €15/hr and it allowed me to explore the entire cove, including some tiny pebble beaches that are otherwise impossible to reach.
The area is very varied, with deep waters in the middle and rocky zones full of life along the sides.
| Amenities? | Restaurants, showers & more |
| Busy? | Yes |
| Easy to reach? | Yes |
4. Port de Ses Caletes, Sant Vicent de Sa Cala
If you’re a confident driver and don’t mind some very windy and rather narrow access roads, you’re in for a treat. Port de Ses Caletes, over at Ibiza’s northeastern point, is absolutely one of my favorite spots on the entire island. It consists of a quiet cove with a bunch of boat sheds and ramps, and a pebble beach in the middle.
This is the only beach on Ibiza where I’ve ever been completely alone, although that was during an October visit and not in the high season.
The waters at Port de Ses Caletes are crystal clear and the views are beautiful. Just don’t expect any amenities: you’re in the middle of nowhere in the rural area surrounding the hamlet of Sant Vicent de Sa Cala, so it’s just you, your goggles and the ocean. The cove’s waters are teeming with life and color.
| Amenities? | No |
| Busy? | No |
| Easy to reach? | Windy access road |
5. Sa Caleta Ibiza (Es Bol Nou), Sant Jordi
One of Ibiza’s more well-known beaches is Sa Caleta, also known as Es Bol Nou. The beach itself is not much more than a small, sandy opening in a tall cliff, but the views are spectacular and the snorkel was better than I expected.
After entering the beach, I like to walk off to the right and find a quiet spot on the rocks. From there, you can snorkel along the coastline, which is nicely rocky and has all of the normal Mediterranean sealife. The beach itself features a well-known restaurant, which will generally let you use the toilets and apparently has showers available for a small fee as well.
| Amenities | Restaurant |
| Busy? | Yes |
| Easy to reach? | Unpaved access road |
6. Es Canaret, Sant Joan de Labritja
Another absolute gem in a rural zone (the closest village is tiny Sant Joan the Labritja), Es Canaret is reasonably well-known on Ibiza but still quiet due to its secluded location. The easiest way to get there is definitely by boat, but if you don’t mind a little hike, you can walk from the nearest parking spot.
The path takes you over a hill with gorgeous views, as well as a beautiful sculpture made from natural branches that commemorates the wildfires which destroyed the area a few years ago.
I think the walk is definitely worth the fantastic snorkeling opportunity! This is one of my personal favorites for snorkel in Ibiza. The entire cove area is relatively shallow, full of shiny abalone shells and octopi hiding under rocks.
Just make sure you get to Es Canaret early or don’t mind having to wade a bit to find a spot to sit. Space is limited: the main area consists of only a small concrete boat ramp.
| Amenities? | No |
| Busy? | No |
| Easy to reach? | A bit of a hike |
7. Atlantis Ibiza, Cala d’Hort
Now here’s for something a little different. Atlantis, better known officially as Sa Pedrera, is a place quite unlike anything else. Its natural swimming pools can be a little confusing at first – where did they come from? – until you realize it’s an old rock quarry.
The sandstone rocks are full of strange shapes and carvings, and the view from the quarry area is amazing. That’s why most folks visit, but don’t forget to bring your goggles either, as the snorkel here is great!
Once you reach the quarry, you can pass the swimming pool zone and you’ll reach a tiny cove where you can jump in. The shallower end is rocky, while if you swim further out, you’ll reach a vast, deeper area with white sand and loads of fish. The only issue are the jellyfish, which are common during certain times of year.
Visiting Atlantis is unfortunately an activity limited to those without mobility issues, because it’s a bit of a challenge to get there. You can drive up the car park for the Es Vedrà lookout point and walk from there (the exact spot is on the map at the top of this article). You’ll have to make your way down a cliff, so leave the flip-flops at home and bring plenty of water.
| Amenities | No |
| Busy? | Medium |
| Easy to reach? | No, very difficult |
8. Cala Saladeta, San Antonio
Not far outside of San Antonio and surrounded by pine woods are the bustling double beaches of Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta, a must-visit if you’re staying nearby due to the stunning blue waters. The white sandy beach area isn’t much to write home about in terms of snorkel, because life tends to flock to the rocky zones, but there is a solution for both this and the crowds.
If you don’t mind crossing the entire beach and clambering up some rocks, what you can do to enjoy a quieter time and better snorkel at Cala Saladeta is to walk all the way to the right (as seen from the beach; on the left in the photo below). You’ll enter a rockier zone that most people avoid. Getting out of the water can be a little difficult here, but it’s worth it to me!
The double beaches have a big parking zone at the top, but you’ll have to walk down and climb over some rocks to reach Cala Saladeta. Don’t count on amenities, though there are usually plenty of vendors walk around selling mojitos and snacks.
| Amenities? | No |
| Busy? | Yes |
| Easy to reach? | Bit of climbing |
9. Cala Xarraca, Sant Joan de Labritja
One of the more popular coves in Ibiza’s north, Cala Xarraca can get a bit busy. Still, I thought it was worth braving the crowds for the snorkel experience. Although the pebbly beach is small, the bay is expansive and shallow, with azure waters and plenty of sea life. Your best bet is to climb over or swim around the rocky protrusion to your right (from the beach) to reach a quieter area.
You can reach Cala Xarraca easily. Vitisors can use the parking zone nearby, although it can get crowded, forcing you to park on the side of the road. There’s a restaurant for your toilet, snack and drink needs.
If you liked Cala Xarraca, don’t forget to check out the rest of the area. This is not the only beautiful cove nearby, after all. The aforementioned Es Canaret is not far, nor is stunning S’Illot des Renclí, which you’ll find at the bottom of this list. I also liked little Cala Xuclar, which has a nice beach bar (locally known as a chiringuito or xiringuito). Plenty of good opportunities for snorkeling in Ibiza!
| Amenities? | Restaurant |
| Busy? | Yes |
| Easy to reach? | Yes |
10. Sa Galera, Sant Antoni de Portmany
Double trouble again! When someone says “Galera” in Ibiza, most folks think of Punta Galera, a popular cliff area with rock platforms that’s perfect for things like cliff diving and watching the sunset. However, this is not the place I’d like to discuss here, although it’s around the corner. Instead, head over to Playa de Sa Galera. It can be reached by means of an unpaved access road that has a little parking space at the end.
Located on the side of a long rock outcropping (to the right if you’re facing the sea), Sa Galera is a picture-perfect tiny cove that can be reached by taking some steps down and walking on the rocks until you reach a small boat shed. There’s a little pebble beach area and a good-sized shallow zone that’s great for snorkel.
The best thing, though? There’s another lovely little area on the left side of the rock outcropping that offers top notch snorkel. It features some pretty funky steps to get down there, but luckily it’s reached within minutes.
There’s no beach here, just rock slabs and concrete boat ramps, but it’s nice and quiet. The rock features a gentle slope that makes it easy to access and exit the water.
| Amenities | No |
| Busy? | No |
| Easy to reach | A few stairs, unpaved access road |
11. S’Illot des Renclí, Sant Joan de Labritja
As mentioned in the section on Cala Xarraca, S’Illot des Renclí forms part of a line of beaches that can all be reached using the same main road towards Portinatx. They’re easy to visit on the same day. You’ll reach Xarraca first. Once you’re done there, just head back up to the main road and keep going until you see a sign indicating S’Illot des Renclí.
Surrounded by pine trees and with its own parking area as well as a nice enough restaurant, this is a wide cove with heavenly shallow waters perfect for snorkel. It even has its own little islet! Make your way down the slope from the restaurant area to find a spot on the rocks or the pebble beach.
The views are amazing and you can reach a secluded second cove by swimming past the islet to your right (as seen from the beach).
| Amenities? | Restaurant with toilet |
| Busy? | Medium |
| Easy to reach? | Yes, but slightly steep |
What can you expect to see while snorkeling in Ibiza?
Although experienced divers and snorkel enthusiasts will tell you that the Mediterranean is by no means the most spectacular place in the world, snorkeling in Ibiza is more than worth it. The beaches and coves discussed here are characterized by their mix of rocks, small sandy zones and seagrass prairies.
There’s plenty of life to be found around Ibiza, from large fish to octopi and loads of different invertebrates. Some cool creatures you may end up spotting are:
- Mediterranean moray (Muraena helena)
- Large schools of saddled seabream (Oblada melanura)
- Large schools of cow bream (Sarpa salpa)
- Various grouper species
- Colorful ornate wrasses (Thalassoma pavo)
- Mediterranean red sea star (Echinaster sepositus)
- Cuttlefish
- The bizarre fried egg jellyfish (Cotylorhiza tuberculata)
- Various colorful nudibranch species
…And much more! Take a look for yourself and don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of this post to share which creatures you spotted.
The only downside to snorkeling in Ibiza would be the jellyfish. They’re normally located in deep waters, but the tides and other factors can carry these pink menaces (scientifically known as Pelagia noctiluca and commonly as the “mauve stinger“) into the shallows. Their sting isn’t dangerous, but it can certainly be painful and annoying.
Where to stay on Ibiza
Given that the good snorkel spots on Ibiza are scattered throughout the island, you can’t really go wrong with any location. Still, here are some things to consider:
- Ibiza city (Eivissa) is a great starting point to explore the entire island. It has everything: history, culture, restaurants, drinks and more, with beaches close by.
- San Antonio has various nice beaches and is a great destination for partiers due to its large discos.
- Santa Eulalia is quaint and calm, perfect for families and relaxed holidays.
You can find your ideal hotel using Booking:
If you have any more questions about snorkeling in Ibiza or if you’d like to share your own favorite spots on the island, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!