Portinatx

Portinatx sits on the northern tip of Ibiza and consists of a handful of small, sheltered coves side by side, with a modest resort behind them. The water is shallow and calm, which makes it one of the few places on the island that genuinely suits small children. A lighthouse stands on the headland, looking out along the north coast.

History

These coves were shelter harbours from the start: with the wind in the south or west, you could lie here safely. That also made the northern tip a place to be watched, and the lighthouse on the headland belongs to the same tradition as the old watchtowers further along the coast. Inland there was nothing but pine woods and scattered farms in the municipality of Sant Joan. Portinatx is one of the few places on Ibiza that only became a village with tourism: there was no historic core here to build around, so the settlement is young and low-rise.

What to do here

• Move between the coves: S’Arenal Gros, S’Arenal Petit and Es Portitxol sit next to each other and each has its own character.
• Drive or walk out to the lighthouse on the headland for the view along the north coast.
• Snorkel along the rocky edges; the water is sheltered and clear.
• Take the coast path to Cala Xarraca or Cala d’en Serra, two rougher coves nearby.
• Bring small children here: the water stays shallow a long way out and there is little swell.
• Visit outside July and August too — the area is exceptionally quiet then.

Facts

• Portinatx is on the northernmost point of Ibiza, in the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja.
• It consists of several separate coves side by side, not one single beach.
• A lighthouse on the headland marks the north coast.
• The coves are sheltered, so the water here is often calmer than on the west and south coasts.

Good for

Families with young children, snorkellers, and anyone wanting a quiet base in the north.

Reaching this by boat

This bay is a stop on our “North and east: the quieter side” sailing route. What a skipper does here, and why: