Perched on the northern coastline of the island of Ibiza, is the small, attractive coastal village of Puerto De San Miguel – a favorite Ibiza holiday destination for young couples and small families during the busy high season. Nestled in a cove protected by rocky, pine covered cliffs on either side, the resort is a peaceful option with the advantage of also being very pretty indeed.
San Miguel Beach
The port of San Miguel’s beach is lovely and sandy with shallow water that is perfect for paddling with kids or setting off for a gentle turn around the bay. It’s probably the most sheltered beach on the island so is ideal for families or anyone who likes to swim in nice clear water with gentle waves. You can get involved in water sports to your hearts content in Puerto San Miguel with diving, windsurfing, waterskiing on offer, as well as a sailing school and – for the less ambitious holidaymaker – pedaloes.
Around the beach are the tree-covered cliffs which you can clamber over on a hill walk that will take you to some pretty spectacular views. You can take a short scenic walk along the coast that leads you to a small cove which offers the freshest sardines on Friday evenings (ask a local). Underneath the cliffs there’s a number of caves, including the caves of Can Marça, that were used by infamous smugglers of bygone days. The caves are now populated by intriguingly shaped stalagmites and stalactites and a light and music show is put on for the benefit of tourists.
Hotels in San Miguel
As Puerto San Miguel is not as large as the other resorts on the island, there are fewer options in terms of accommodation in comparison to somewhere like Ibiza Town. This doesn’t mean you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for though as there are a number of apartments and hotels on offer, two of which are built into the cliffs, giving them fantastic ocean views. The small resort is not flush with shopping options but nevertheless has everything you’ll need for a holiday, including a chemist, bank and various boutiques.
Things to do in San Miguel
The village of San Miguel is a five-minute drive from the port on the coast and well worth a visit as it is named “the gateway to the unspoilt coast of the north.” There is a craft market in the village’s main square every Thursday where you can buy local handmade produce, from pottery to honey. The village is dominated by the Fortress Church that was built between the 14th and 18th centuries and where you can see displays of traditional folk dancing every Thursday from 6pm in the summer season if that floats your boat.
Restaurants and bars in the port of San Miguel are well known for serving up excellent fresh fish in front of spectacular views and the Balansat Restaurant in particular is a renowned authentic Ibicencan restaurant that offers its lucky diners outstanding views of San Miguel bay. If you’re looking for an all night party, drinking the night away and dancing on the terrace then you’re unlikely to find it during a stay at San Miguel. The resort is very family oriented and not looking to encourage parties of marauding, drunk tourists to its pristine white beaches. Luckily, if you want a bit of drunken marauding, but on someone else’s resort, San Miguel is very well connected to the rest of the island. Regular buses run from San Miguel to take you right across the island to San Antonio, Santa Eulalia, and Ibiza Town and all the major clubbing must sees are also within easy reach.
Leave a Reply