Ibiza: Best of the rest

Completing my series of posts on Ibiza which mainly focused on the immediate surroundings and enjoyment of Eivissa (Ibiza Town), this short post delivers 3 top tips for the rest of the island. Ibiza really does have depth and when you venture north up the island and inland, you'll find small local communities living with an Iberian twist and landscapes with there own natural glow.


Sunset Cliffs
There's many a location to see a good sunset in Ibiza. If you want one of the regular spots or a commercial sunset such as Café Mambo, then you'll find all you need to know in a guide book. If you want something hidden, something spectacular, then this spot just outside Santa Agnes de Corona is the spot you’re looking for.

Head to Santa Agnes and make your way to the T junction in front of the Church. Santa Agnes is a nice little hamlet for a wander but that's not the reason you’re here! Approaching the junction so that you only have a choice of left or right, take a left on to Cami de la Talaia and proceed along this road for approximately 1.8km. About half way along, the road bends to the left and you'll pass by a couple of villa's and house on either side or the road before the landscape returns to farm land with great views across the fields on the left. You know you're close when you reach a forested area on your right. The road twists a little and after about 200m from the start of the forest, the road once again takes a sharper bend to the left. It’s on this bend that you'll see some clearings amongst the trees on your right. This is the car park and you should pull-in to here and find yourself somewhere to stop. The area still looks inconspicuous but through the trees, you should just about spot the outline of the bar and as you walk towards the it, you're eyes will pan to the right as you see the vista spanning out to the west across the Balearic Sea.

The bar seems to be run by an old local couple who have the glasses on ice ready to serve you a beer as appetising as the sunset you're about to experience. With beer in hand, the best spot for sundown is to perch yourself right on the edge of the cliff with your feet dangling down, listen to the waves below crashing against the rocks in this peaceful and spectacular spot. The rest is down to nature!

Out of town dining experience
You'll hear it mentioned many times as you plan to visit Ibiza and during your stay but you'll wonder whether it’s worth the risk of isolation for an evening in rural Ibiza, the answer is most definitely 'yes'.  Bambuddha Grove (www.bambuddha.com) situated about 9km from Ibiza town is a fusion of building-cum-bamboo field dedicated to the great Buddha.

With a Café del Mar style atmosphere, this destination restaurant will

keep you happy all evening as the DJ's spin the tunes through to 4am. Bambuddha Grove is an experience, not purely because of its Asian style cooking but for the atmosphere and the people watching. Run by a very 'virile' owner in his 60's (watching him chat up the ladies was an experience in itself!), he'll make himself know throughout the night as you enjoy your meal. However, having eaten, you've a choice of experiences to stick around and enjoy. From the cocktail bar to the back room club or maybe take a shisha with your drink on one of the large beds at Bambuddha.

Just one thing to remember, if you're intending to be one of the last ones out, book a taxi home in advance!!

For something a little more upbeat try Aura (www.auraibiza.com), the newer of the two again set in rural Ibiza about 14km from Ibiza Town. The tapas-cum-cocktail bar-cum-club is metropolitan in style with a well-polished crowd ready to stay late and spend the money. Outdoor dining with indoor club, they have some interesting DJ's and music nights so watch and listen out for any special events that will make it a must.  The night we visited, it was Danny Rampling's birthday which drew in a friendly crowd of friends and fans alike.

Santa Gertrudis
Sleepy village going through some expansion and with it, building a nice cultural experience around the town. It’s great for a walk during the day with a couple of craft, fabric and art shops making it interesting. It comes in to its own in the evening with many alfresco restaurants lining the streets. However, the point of interest here is the local auction house Casi Todo (www.casitodo.com).

Casi Todo is an Aladdin’s cave which

continues to be re-freshed from the house clearances they under-take on the island. The weird, the wonderful and the eclectic can be found in here and its worth exploring the rooms in search of hidden treasures you may just wish to bid on!

.....................................

Enjoy everything Ibiza & Formentera has to offer. Ever evolving, guide books and blogs can only give you a sense of direction. The rest is up to you.