Hotels near Es Vedra and Cala d'Hort

Es Vedra is the 413-metre limestone islet that has decorated nearly every guidebook cover of Ibiza for half a century. It rises sheer from the sea about 2 km off the southwest coast and is part of the protected Cala d'Hort Nature Reserve, which forbids landing. The classic view is from Cala d'Hort beach, a small pebbly cove framed by pine cliffs - and one of the better swimming beaches in the area, with a couple of seafood restaurants on the sand.

For the postcard angle, drive 10 minutes north to the Mirador d'Es Savinar (also called Torre del Pirata), a clifftop watchtower 200 metres above the sea. Local folklore links Es Vedra to the sirens in Homer's Odyssey and to Roman cults of fertility, and modern hikers swear by the magnetic energy of the spot. The watchtower itself was built in 1763 as part of the Balearic coastal defence network.

Pro Tip: Drive the rough track to the Torre del Pirata viewpoint about an hour before sunset, and walk the final 10 minutes on foot. Sunset itself draws crowds but the half hour of golden light beforehand is far quieter. Bring a torch for the walk back down after dark.