San Antonio Ibiza
San Antonio is on the western coast of the island; it was once a small
fishing village but is now the second largest town after Ibiza Town.
It is situated on the bay of San Antonio and has a beautiful promenade from Calo
des Moro to Es Pouet beach.
Villages
Within the municipality of San Antonio there are three other villages.
The largest is San Rafael, it is located on the main
road between San Antonio and Ibiza town and can easily be reached by
bus.
The village is popular for its 18th century church, which is well worth
a visit.
There are several restaurants in San Rafael, Can Pilot is a favourite with
the locals for its grilled meat specialities while the chic restaurants
El Ayoun and the L'Elephant cater to the more exclusive crowd.
Every Saturday evening horse races are celebrated at the local hippodrome.
The small rural village of Santa Inés is about 8 km north
of San Antonio, it’s surrounded by a plain of rich red soil covered with hundreds
of almond trees, which blossom in February and make a spectacular sight.
The village has a small school, a church and two bars.
Can Cosmi is well known for its delicious Spanish omelettes and its home made
Hierbas which is the typical liqueur of the island.
To get to Santa Ines you can take the scenic road train that runs daily
during the summer season from San Antonio´s bus station, the train
stops in the village for fifteen minutes before returning.
San Mateo is about 11 km Northeast of San
Antonio, it’s one of the smallest villages on the island surrounded by grape
vines. The locals harvest the grapes by hand and then crush them by
trampling them barefoot to make traditional red wine.
About 1 KM north from the village you will find Cala d´Aubarca a spectacular rocky
cove surrounded by cliffs and pine trees. The hike down to the sea can be
difficult but certainly worth it.
San Antonio Beaches
The Arenal beach, the long town beach with fine white sands, is right in the heart of San Antonio and can be reached easily on foot. There is a sailing school, where boats, wind surfing boards and kayaks can be rented. Sunbeds, sun umbrellas, and pedaloes can also be rented on the beach.
The sandy beach of Cala Gracio and the tiny beach of Cala Gracioneta are well worth a visit, both have beach bars where drinks and snacks can be bought and they can be reached on foot or by bus.
If you are visiting Cala Gracio you might fancy stopping at the Aquarium Cap Blanc, set in a natural cave where you can see various local fish.
If you have your own transport why not head further north out of San Antonio, you will find the quieter Punta Galera cove, an ancient quarry full of flat rocks and cliffs. Close by you can also find Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta two beautifull beaches that are surrounded by pine trees.
Busses
San Antonio has a new and modern bus terminal where buses run to Ibiza town every
fifteen minutes during the peak summer months.
There are also buses to:
- The airport
- Santa Eulalia (Change here for a connection to Es Canar - Hippy
Market)
- Disco bus to Privilege, Amnesia and Pacha (From midnight to 6 A.M.)
- The beaches of Cala Bassa and Cala Conta
Boat Trips
San Antonio is great place to take a boat trip from, you can take the
short ferry ride across the bay and then stroll back along the promenade.
You should really take the opportunity to visit the crystal clear waters
of Cala Bassa and Cala Conta beach which can also be reached
by ferry from San Antonio harbour.
There is a daily cruise to the island of Es Vedra, a large rock that rises
nearly 400 metres out of the sea. Its only inhabitants are about forty
goats that can often be seen from the boat, the island is famous for
its many myths and legends that the captain and crew will be happy to explain
during the journey.
There is a daily ferry that will take you over to the island of Formentera where
you can explore the island and visit its sandy beaches.
If you are not scared of heights why not try parasailing with one of the powerboats that
run from San Antonio harbour.
There is also a scuba diving school, offering courses for both beginners
and experienced divers.
Eating Out
There are plenty of good places to eat in San Antonio:
For a special meal out try Sa Capella, the building was originally designed as
a small church but was never actually consecrated. Many rich and famous have
dined here including Tom Hanks, Sting and Bruce Springsteen. (It’s a good idea
to book a table)
For Tapas try Rincón de Pepe, Calle San Mateo is in the centre of San
Antonio and open from lunch through until dinner.
The tapas are displayed on the bar or there is a large menu to choose from.
David´s pizzeria is also very popular and Ritas Cantina in front of the boat club offers a wide selection of breakfasts and snacks.
NightLife
Many people start the evening at the sunset strip, this west facing stretch
of San Antonio´s promenade is famous for its beautiful sunsets and trendy bars
like Savannah, Café del Mar and Mambo, that features world renowned DJ´s like
David Guetta, Roger Sanchez and Pete Tong.
Just a short walk from the sunset strip you will find the West End, only
a couple of streets wide it hosts most of the town’s bars and small discos.
Two of Ibiza´s main night clubs are in San Antonio: Eden and Es Paradis.
Eden´s DJ´s include Judge Jules, Pete Tong, Groove Armada and some of its promoters are Judgement Sundays and Twice as Nice.
Right across the road from Eden is Es Paradis, a pyramid shaped building, with a predominantly white interior decoration and gardens. Famous with both tourists and locals for its water party.
Useful Information
- Don’t forget shops are closed for siesta between 1:30 P.M. and 5:00 P.M.
- There are four chemists in San Antonio; one of them stays open during siesta time and on Sundays.
- If you need to see a Spanish national health doctor, you would require an E111 card for free treatment. The medical centre can be found in front of the bus station.
- There is a tourist information office on the seafront near the children’s playground.
- The post office can be found in front of the roundabout at the entrance to San Antonio.
