Es Canar

Es Canar is a small resort on the east coast, in the municipality of Santa Eulària. It has a sheltered sand beach with shallow water, a promenade and the kind of facilities that are useful with children. Right next to it lies Punta Arabí, home for decades to Ibiza’s best-known hippy market.

History

The east coast around Es Canar was farmland: small fields, fig trees and farmhouses running down to the water’s edge. When tourism arrived in the second half of the twentieth century, this stretch developed differently from the west — smaller in scale, aimed at British and northern European families who return year after year. The hippy market at neighbouring Punta Arabí began in the same period in which foreigners were settling on Ibiza, and has grown from an informal gathering into one of the island’s fixed events. How much of the original spirit is left is for you to judge.

What to do here

• Swim off the beach: the water stays shallow a long way out and the bay is sheltered.
• Visit the hippy market at Punta Arabí, within walking distance of the village.
• Walk the coast path to Cala Nova or on to Santa Eulària — this whole stretch of east coast is walkable.
• Take the coastal boat rather than the bus; you see the coves better from the sea.
• Rent a kayak or a paddleboard; the calm water suits it.
• Spend a day in Santa Eulària for a wider choice of restaurants and shops.

Facts

• Es Canar lies in the municipality of Santa Eulària des Riu, on the east coast.
• The hippy market at neighbouring Punta Arabí is the oldest and best known on the island.
• The bay is sheltered, so the water is usually calm and shallow.
• This part of the coast was developed on a smaller scale than the west side of Ibiza.

Good for

Families with children, and anyone who wants a predictable, quiet resort with no surprises.