Formentera Island does not have an airport and relies on Ibiza as its main air connection to Europe. So getting to Formentera will require a flight from whatever part of the world you are coming from to Ibiza and then a taxi ride to the main port of Ibiza. From then on you can take one of the many ferries to the Island of Formentera. It's about a 25 minute boat ride using the new Jet boat or using the standard ferry around 40 minutes.
The capital of Formentera is Sant Francesc Xavier, but the most frequented town is Es Pujols, which is in fact the island's only resort. There are now a few bars and restaurants appearing here and there on Formentera, but the it remains largely unspoiled by tourism. The beaches leave anything on Ibiza - including Playa d'en Bossa and Salines - standing; Playa de Migjorn (Platja de Migjorn) is five kilometres long (in comparison with the three kilometres at Playa d'en Bossa), while Cala Saona offers fantastic snorkelling within its cove.
La Sabina, the port of Formentera, is an area of great historical importance to the Mediterranean and it still possesses the very unique character of a local fishing port as well as being an attractive marina.
Nestling around the marina there are traditional cafés, bars, restaurants, and market stalls selling locally hand crafted artefacts as well as other services such as boat, bicycle and car rental offices, local taxis and small shops.
The properties in La Sabina are ideally located for boat crews who visit the marina and want a comfortable holiday home from which to enjoy the island as well as landlubbers who are looking for a base which offers good access to the rest of the island and Illetes beach in particular. The beaches of Illetes and Llevant are easily reached from La Sabina along the disused railway line which was used to bring the salt from the Salinas to the harbour for export. This is now a cycle and foot path which takes you along the coast to the beach which then extends to the tip of the peninsula reaching towards the island of Espalmador.
Upon arrival at the port of La Savina, which is in the north of Formentera, there are plenty of places from which to hire cars, motorbikes and bicycles. Some sort of transport is definitely required on Formentera, since the island is long and thin, and towns are few and far between. Cycling on Formentera need not be too gruelling, as the island is basically flat, and there is also a well planned ' Green Route ' of bicycle trails. The tourist office at La Savina has maps and other island information. There is a bus network that circles the main towns and villages on a fairly regular basis.
Formentera has yet to become such a hotel hotspot as its neighbouring island, and is still largely favoured by hippies escaping the commercialism of Ibiza than by holidaymakers. A holiday on Formentera would certainly be quieter and more relaxing than one on Ibiza ; one of the prime pastimes is birdwatching at the salt lakes of Estany Pudent and Estany des Peix.
