If you have ever thought of escaping and not looking back, Ses Illetes beach would be the perfect place to do it. Due to its beautiful natural surroundings, its long stretch of fine white sand and crystal-clear waters, this beach is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. So much so that it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Playa de Ses Illetes means “beach of the small islands” in Catalan. This is due to the fact that in the surrounding area there are several islets such as Illa des Ponent, Illa de Tramuntana, Illa Rodona, Racó des Palo, Escull des Pou, Escull d’en Paia and the island of Espalmador.
Ses Illetes, with an extension of more than 450 metres, is located within the Ses Salines Natural Park, occupying a large part of the Es Trucadors peninsula, in the northern part of the island of Formentera. Would you like to discover this beach, known as the Mediterranean Caribbean?
A beach with calm waters
This beach is the most iconic of Formentera and stands out for its calm, shallow waters. Due to the large extension of its sandy area, it is not crowded, especially in the northern area where the Es Trucadors peninsula connects with the Llevant beach.
Its atmosphere is quiet, usually frequented by families with children because of its safety for bathing and also because of the facilities and services it offers. Here you will find different restaurants, you can rent beach umbrellas and sun loungers, practice water sports or go snorkelling. In addition, every year Ses Illetes is awarded the Blue Flag of the European Union, a distinction that guarantees that this beach meets a series of environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.
Beach located in the Ses Salines Natural Park
Ses Illetes is located in the Ses Salines Natural Park. It is a well-kept beach with dune protection areas, several access walkways and delimited areas for parking your vehicle without causing damage or an environmental impact on the land.
It’s worth mentioning that this beach has particularly crystalline waters. This is due to the large forest of posidonia oceanica that inhabits its seabed, a protected ecosystem of great ecological importance. They produce a large amount of oxygen, purify the water and increase its transparency. It’s an indicator of the state of the water. This is why Ses Illetes has become one of the favourite places among scuba divers.
How to reach the beach of Ses Illetes
Ses Illetes is located in Formentera, on the Es Trucadors peninsula, between Punta des Pas and Platgeta des Carregador. Punta des Pas, also known as “El Pas”, located on the northern part of the beach, is a beautiful spot about 200 metres long which you can cross on foot at low tide to reach the island of S’Espalmador.
There are different ways to reach this beach, either by car, motorbike, bicycle, on foot or by public transport. For years, the conservation of the territory and the protection of this nature reserve have been encouraged through a more conscious use of polluting means of transport. For this reason, serious restrictions have been imposed on the access of quads, and if you enter the park by car or motorbike, you will have to pay a small fee which, in high season, is 6 euros for cars and 4 euros for motorbikes. If you go on foot or by bicycle, you should know that access is free.
You can rent a bicycle at the port and take the cycling path that crosses the park to Ses Illetes. This is a good option for getting to know the surroundings and enjoying the route. You can also get to Ses Illetes by boat, as trips are organised from Puerto de la Sabina that will take you to the most interesting places. Ses Illetes is perfect for a swim during the summer season, but also for a pleasant stroll during the winter months. Enjoy the beauty of this beach all year round!
