Coves
Cala Comte, Cala Bassa and the west coast of Ibiza
If you only have one day in Ibiza and you want the postcard Mediterranean, the west coast is the answer. Between Sant Antoni and Cala d’Hort you get the pale sandy coves, the turquoise water and, at the end of the day, the sunset that made the island famous.
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Photo by M.carmens · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cala Bassa: the easy anchorage
A wide, south-facing and well-protected bay, with a sandy bottom that holds well. That is why it works so well as a first stop: you anchor quickly, the water is calm and there is room to swim without crossing other boats.
Ashore there is a beach club with several different areas and a dinghy pick-up service, so it is one of the few coves where you can go for lunch without complications. If the plan is to eat on board, it is also one of the best: being sheltered, the table does not move.
Cala Comte: colour and islets
A couple of miles south is Cala Comte, with the islets of s’Illa des Bosc and Sa Conillera silhouetted offshore. The water has that translucent turquoise over sand that appears in every photo, and there is enough life on the seabed to make snorkelling worthwhile.
It is a more open anchorage than Cala Bassa, so it is worth checking the forecast before settling in for long. Once the westerly sets in, you feel the swell and it is better to move to a more enclosed cove.
Cala Tarida and Cala Salada, to escape the middle
Cala Tarida sits between the two and tends to be a little less saturated from the water. It still has the old wooden boat shelters cut into the rock, where fishermen kept their boats, and they give it a character the more commercial coves have lost.
Further north, past Sant Antoni, is Cala Salada with its little sister Cala Saladeta. They are surrounded by pine cliffs and road access is so limited that most people arrive on foot. From a boat it is a different story: you anchor in front and the whole cove is a couple of strokes away.
Closing the day facing west
The great advantage of this coast is its orientation. From mid-afternoon the sun drops straight ahead and any stop becomes a viewpoint. From Cala Comte you watch it fall between the islets; further south, with Es Vedrà on the horizon, the effect is even stronger.
Our advice is simple: do not try to watch it from the most famous spot, but from wherever you are relaxed. On a boat that choice is yours, and that is exactly the difference.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Sant Antoni to Cala Comte by boat?
Around twenty to thirty minutes depending on the boat and sea state. Cala Bassa is even closer, practically at the mouth of the bay.
Can you eat at Cala Bassa arriving by boat?
Yes. The beach club runs a dinghy pick-up service from anchored boats; it is worth booking ahead in high season.
Is Cala Comte good for snorkelling?
Yes, one of the best in the area. Sandy bottom with rock around the islets, very clear water and shallow depths near the shore.
