Ibiza Hippy Markets | some of my fave places on the White Isle
I have heard it said that there are two significant dates in a person’s life; the day that they are born and the day that they discover Ibiza.
The Ibiza Hippy Market in Es Cana is one of my favourite places on the White Isle.
Falling in love with Ibiza - Ibiza hippy market and all
I know that's tongue in cheek, but I remember my first trip to Ibiza, I totally fell in love with the place and I’ve been back almost every year since, sometimes twice!
The beautiful beaches, whitewashed villages, amazing nightlife and glamorous restaurants can steal your heart and Ibiza makes a perfect location for a romantic break BUT it’s also a fantastic place to holiday as a family.
We had a week in Ibiza this year as a family of five, including two teenagers, and I’m here to tell you that there is something for everyone on the White Isle.
Ibiza Hippy Market
The Es Cana Ibiza hippy market is world-renowned. In fact there are a few of them across the island. In these sprawling, shaded markets you can dance to bongos, learn to meditate, have your tarot cards read or just enjoy some shopping and refreshments while you watch the world go by.
If you’re shopping, you have your pick of locally crafted goods, clothes, accessories and gifts and the vibrant, colourful stalls are amazing. As with any market you can try haggling over prices, you’re much more likely to have success if you’re asking for a discount for buying more than one item, rather than getting a couple of euros knocked off the ticket price.
The two largest hippy markets in the island are -
Las Dalias, every Saturday from April-October, 10am to 6pm, with a paired down evening market on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday from 7pm
Es Cana, every Wednesday April-October, 10am to 6pm
Both markets have loads of parking available (at a small fee) and both are easily accessible by bus.
For Las Dalias take the L16 or L21 and for Es Cana it's the L18 & L24.
Dalt Vila
Once you've enjoyed meandering round the an Ibiza hippy market, head to Dalt Vila, the familiar landmark that rises above Ibiza Town.
This renaissance period fortress is lined with beautiful, cobbled streets and tunnels and some super-cool cafes, bars and restaurants. The fortress is home to Ibiza’s 15th century cathedral, which is absolutely breath-taking and well worth a visit (do remember to remove your hat and cover your shoulders if you plan to look around).
If you want to learn more about Dalt Vila, the cathedral and the castle within the walls, there are regular free walking tours, that meet at Café Mar y Sol and take about 2 hours. I’ve included a link at the bottom of this article as reservations are recommended. Whether you take a tour or discover Dalt Vila on your own, it’s worth the walk to the top for the views alone.
Seafood lovers should try the picturesque Can d’en Parra, (Carrer de Sant Carles) with it’s beautiful pink tablecloths set against the whitewashed walls and bougainvillea, absolutely gorgeous.
I didn’t find much for vegans within the walls (salad and chips anyone?). Don’t worry though, at the foot of the hill, on the other side of the walls, on Carrer de Jaume I, there is the super-cute ‘Simbiosis’, a sustainable restaurant with an eco-friendly ethos, serving locally sourced vegan and vegetarian dishes. The shitake noodles are out of this world! There is a link at the bottom of this article if you want to check out the menu.
Watersports
We always seem to find ourselves hiring a couple of kayaks or a little motorboat when we’re away, and this holiday was no exception. The waters around Ibiza are great fun, clear and mostly tranquil, they’re ideal for SUP, snorkelling and lots of other watersports.
This year we stayed in Es Cana, on the east of the island., where the bay is ideal for pedalos and paddleboards etc. It’s just big enough to be exciting – ‘can we paddle out all the way to the huge rock?’ – while still feeling safe-ish as the beach is well attended. We found the best price for equipment hire was Ski Pepe, on the beach just off Carrer ses Canyes.
Es Cana was fab for swimming, but we didn’t see many fish, so we headed out to my favourite spot for snorkelling - Las Salinas. This gorgeous white sandy beach is out past the famous Ibiza salt flats to the southernmost tip of the island.
Here you’ll find the cool vibes of the Jockey Club and Malibu Beach Club, both fantastic venues if you want to splash the cash and treat yourself. If it’s snorkelling that you’re looking for, it’s just a short walk down the beach to Sa Trinxa beach bar. Bring your beach umbrella and grab a seat just in front of the funky café, it’s a great place for people watching. There are beach vendors selling all sorts here, from the ubiquitous sunglasses and watches to a complete fashion show of amazing dresses and beachwear.
Sa Trinxa is a lovely, relaxed vibe and a fantastic place for lunch and a cold beer, and the snorkelling here is wonderful. Walk down the little wooden jetty to get past the rocky shoreline and plunge into the sea, where there are incredible numbers of fish, despite the water being so popular with swimmers. If you’ve got a waterproof camera, even better!
Sa Trinxa is only accessible via the beach, but there is plenty of covered/uncovered parking behind the Jockey Club, small fee applies. There is a regular bus (L11b) from Ibiza Town that only costs a few euro.
THE DETAILS
Meet & Greet
The kids really enjoyed the trip to Ibiza, they love the relaxed atmosphere. We were all a bit sad to leave at the end of the week!
At least this year we knew that once we landed in the UK we would be straight into the car at the airport with the minimum fuss.
APH kindly gifted us a week’s parking at the Meet and Greet at Terminal2, Manchester Airport.
On the way out to Ibiza we simply drove to the airport, parked right outside the terminal and dropped the keys off.
Easy.
When we arrived home we picked up the keys, and there the car was, a two-minute walk from the door!
It’s a great service if you want to get from door to door with minimum fuss. I will definitely do it again, and I’m even thinking about lobbying them to provide the same service at Leeds Bradford airport!
Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) offers a wide range of parking and overnight hotel stays at all major UK airports. One week’s Meet & Greet airport parking at Manchester Airport with Airport Parking & Hotels (APH.com) costs from £130. For the latest prices and to book visit www.aph.com.
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