San José (Sant Josep de Sa Talaia):

The municipality of San José is the largest on the island in terms of size. It occupies the entire southwestern part and extends from Playa d'en Bossa, where it borders Ibiza Town, to the southern side of San Antonio Bay. Two mountain ranges, which merge into one, define the landscape: the Serra Grossa and the Serra de Sant Josep. The town itself lies at the foot of Ibiza's highest mountain: the Talaia de Sant Josep, which reaches 475 meters. To reach the summit, drive a short distance from the town towards Cala d'Hort/Cala Vedella; be sure to watch for the small sign on the left that marks the path upwards. At the top, you'll find a rustic picnic area next to the antenna tower.

The village of San José is relatively small compared to other main towns on Ibiza—except for San Juan, which is located far in the north and leads a secluded, quiet life. Since most tourists visit Ibiza for the sun and beaches, there are no large hotel buildings in the inland villages. The center of San José is grouped around the main road from Ibiza Town to San Antonio. Here you’ll find most of the shops, cafes, and restaurants, as well as the town hall, the police station, and the beautiful fortified church, which was completed in 1731. The altarpiece of Saint Joseph is worth seeing. Painted in 1735 by the Mallorcan Pere Bosch, the original was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War; a reproduction from 1958 is on display. In the summer, folklore performances are regularly held on the square in front of the church.

Around San José, you can enjoy beautiful hikes, for example, to the small chapel on Puig d'en Serra, which was built by a grateful soldier after his safe return, and to which a procession takes place once a year (from San José, head towards Ibiza, then turn left after the gas station at the sharp curve towards Benimussa).

A bit further towards Ibiza, at the junction to Sa Caleta, lies Cova Santa, the Holy Cave. This small limestone cave was discovered in the 15th century. A hermit is said to have lived there for a long time, subsisting solely on the water found in the cave. However, pirates also used it as a hideout. Today, next to Cova Santa, there is a nightclub with restaurant service, which became famous for its flamenco shows.

To visit the Phoenician-Roman estate of Ses Païsses de Cala d'Hort, take the road between Es Cubells and Cala Vedella (watch for the signs). The estate, which existed between the 5th century BC and the 8th century AD, was used by the Phoenicians, Romans, and Byzantines. The foundations of the residential and economic buildings, as well as several burial chambers, are still clearly visible.

From here, it's not far to the old watchtower Torre des Savinar, which overlooks the southwest of Ibiza from above Cala d'Hort. The view of the opposite rocky island Es Vedrà, which rises 382 meters steeply from the sea, is truly breathtaking. Some compare it to a cathedral in the sea, while others see in it the head of a dragon, with the smaller island Es Vedranell beside it resembling the dragon's tail. Many myths surround Es Vedrà; sometimes, there are stories of Marian apparitions or UFO sightings. Whether it's magic or magnetism, the rock is magnetic. The practical Ibizan people use the area, which is inaccessible to most, as a shelter for their goats.

San Jordi (Sant Jordi de ses Salines):

Once, Sant Jordi was the gateway to the thriving salt industry and the residential area for many salt workers. Today, the village on the main road to the airport features many unattractive new buildings. However, a visit is still worthwhile. In the side streets, you will find the beautiful fortified church with battlements and gunports, one of the oldest on the island. Horse races still take place on Sundays at the racetrack; on Saturday mornings, a large, colorful flea market is held on the square.

San Francisco (Sant Francesc de s'Estany):

Just behind Sant Jordi, heading towards Salinas/Sa Canal, lies the tiny village of San Francisco. The small white church against the backdrop of the salt flats is always worth a photo. It has long been planned to set up an administration and information center for the nature reserve of the Salinas in the outbuildings, but Ibiza's mills grind slowly. From afar, the airport can be seen greeting visitors.

Ses Salines:

About 130 salt fields of Ibiza's oldest industry stretch behind San Francisco across 500 hectares, extending west, south, and east to the sea. The Es Falcó hill rises to the west, and the Puig des Corb Marí rises to the east. The entire area has been a nature reserve since 1995. Many birds nest here, including herons and falcons. In winter, hundreds of flamingos stop for weeks at the Cap des Falcó. The salt fields are of natural origin: the water percolates up from below the ground, evaporates, and leaves the salt behind. The Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Catalans, and Castilians expanded the salt fields with basins and seawater sluices, growing wealthy from the "white gold." Salt is still harvested today and piled in high mounds to dry before being loaded onto ships at Sa Canal. The majority is shipped to the Netherlands and Denmark, where it is used by deep-sea fishermen to preserve fish.

Sa Canal and La Revista:

The two small villages were once accommodations for the officials working beside the salt-loading ramps. The houses have since been privatized. La Revista, to the east at the beginning of the long sandy beach Es Cavallet (see Beaches of San José), leads a tranquil life—there has long been no docking station for the salt ships. They now dock, though only rarely, further west in Sa Canal, which lies at the end of the popular Salinas beach (see Beaches of San José).

Cala Vadella:

The picturesque bay on the west coast of the island is home to several hotels and apartment complexes, as well as a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops. Quiet and family-friendly, Cala Vadella (Cala Vedella in Catalan) is the ideal place for safe swimming and a variety of water sports activities. The charming resort is located in close proximity to the beautiful village of San José.

Cala Tarida:

The peaceful resort of Cala Tarida is beautifully nestled between pine-covered hills in a sheltered bay on the island's west coast. The extensive beach stretches southward, offering sunshine from early morning until late evening. The clear, turquoise water and breathtaking sunsets make Cala Tarida one of the most enchanting places on Ibiza.

The bay is located near San Antonio, just 15 minutes by bus. Additionally, small ferries run along the coast to the town during the day. From San Antonio, bus connections are available to other parts of the island, and Ibiza Town is a 35-minute drive away.

Cala Tarida presents itself as a quiet and peaceful alternative to the livelier resorts. Here, there are no clubs, just a few bars and restaurants, including beachside locales and beach clubs with stunning sea views.

Es Cubells:

Located in the south of San José, Es Cubells lies directly on the cliffside. The peaceful village developed next to the Carmelite monastery founded in the 19th century by the mystic Francisco Palau. In recent years, the monastery has held seminars of all denominations, including those by Buddhist lamas. The small church in the village is also worth seeing, and especially the fantastic view over the sea towards Formentera.

Sant Augusti des Vedra:

A church, a bar, a restaurant, a grocery store, and a gallery—San Agustín, located on a small hill along the road from San José to San Antonio, has remained a quiet Ibizan village where foreign settlers have left their mark. Germans founded the Can Blau primary school here, which was converted into a music school a few years ago. Once a year, San Agustín comes to life: the patron saint festival on August 28 is one of the most beautiful on the island.

Platja d'en Bossa:

At nearly 3 km, it is the longest beach on the island. Between Hotel Algarb and Club Garbí runs the municipal boundary between Ibiza Town and San José. Playa d'en Bossa, with its fine white sand that gently slopes into the sea, was long considered the most beautiful beach on Ibiza; now, the locals leave the fun in the shallow waters behind the nearly uninterrupted hotel chain to tourists who prefer a lively atmosphere. The numerous planes flying over Playa d'en Bossa heading for the nearby airport are often perceived as disruptive. At certain beach sections like Bora Bora Disco Beach, the booming music drowns out the noise of the planes. In the area, along with the usual restaurants, bars, and shops, there are also several nightclubs, including Space, which makes a name for itself as a daytime club for those who want to dance to Ibiza’s nightlife 24 hours in a row. Next to it is Aguamar, another amusement park with water slides, smaller than Talamanca's Aqualandia. At the far end of the beach, near the Ses Salines nature reserve, stands the Torre de la Sal Rossa, one of the oldest towers on the island. In the Middle Ages, guards would look out for pirates to warn the salt workers with smoke signals in case of danger.