Formentera | Pitiusas | Spain Balearic Islands Europe

Ibiza's sister island and an easy crossing away, Formentera is the smallest and southernmost island of the Pitiusas Archipelago. Its name probably comes the latin "fromentum", meaning "wheat", for the numerous wheat fields that cover the island. Formentera is a “real” island" as it does not have an airport and is only accessible by regular ferry service from Ibiza, separated by a 4 nautical miles (6 km.) large channel dotted with a chain of islets. The island has a surface area of 82 sq.km.(32 sq.mi.) and a perimeter of 69 km. (42 mi.) This narrow island is 19 km long and 1.4 km wide at its narrowest point.

Formentera is known as "The Last Paradise of the Mediterranean", for its wonderful sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, well preserved landscape and absence of constructions on its coast. It is also famous for its pristine beaches and a watersports lover paradise, which has hosted the 2007 Windsurfing World Championship.

During the second half of the XX Century and in particular in the 60's and 70's, when the toursit industry starts developing in Formentera, the hyppie movement reaches the island and will deeply mark its personaility. Bob Dylan, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Kevin Ayers or Chris Rea all spent time here, as Formentera has always attracted artists seeking creative inspiration as well as a quiet and unhurried place to escape from the star system and its spotlights.

North of Formentera is the small island of Espalmador, separated from Formentera by a shallow sandbar and at low tide, it is possible to wade between the two islands. This area in the strait is a popular anchoring point for luxury yachts of the international jet set. The dense prairies of oceanic Posidonia (seagrass) extend between Ibiza and Formentera, which are an important endemic species found only in the Mediterranean basin and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A strange, captivating geography, a gentle climate and Mediterranean vegetation, combining dune areas with pine woods and junipers, give character to the island, as does the numerous stone walls and magnificent fig trees, turned into genuine sculptures by the islanders. Rather flat and narrow, the island culminates at La Mola, a high plateau at 190 m. (623 fr.) with sheer cliffs dropping straight into the sea. Due to its small size, the island is best discovered by bicycle and boasts a fine network of bike tracks, well sign posted. Motor bikes are also a favourite mean of transport on the island.