Why Ibiza should be top of your list for a wellness break
Fragrant pine forests, secret coves, shimmering salt flats, and lush orange, lemon and almond groves… Ibiza’s natural beauty is immense. So why had I not clocked it sooner? Like so many regulars to the White Isle, I was guilty of jetting in on a booze-fuelled late-night flight, racing to my hotel (Ibiza Town, San Antonio and Santa Eulalia are three of the most popular places to stay) and heading straight out to a club, only to resurface to hide out behind big shades inside a cabana, scarfing sangria and nachos until was time to push the repeat button.
This time was different. Heading out with Swiss-born Stivi of Balearic Outdoor Adventures, I discovered, is a fantastic way of immersing yourself in Ibiza’s lovely landscapes. This hiking guide and certified mountain leader leads guests at the Hyde and Mondrian sister hotels around Cala Llonga, the gorgeous bay they’re perched above.
About 15 minutes by road from history-soaked Ibiza Town or 20 minutes by a tiny ferry from its wooden jetty (one that can also take you to Santa Eulalia or the neighbouring island of Formentera), Cala Llonga is an unassuming resort wrapped around a vast golden arc of a beach.
Stivi’s routes vary, but his hikes generally take around two or three hours, including stops for a refreshing swim en route, and for pauses to learn about local plant and animal life, from fiery orange-flowered Calathea crocata to stingrays and lizards, on which Stivi is a font of knowledge.
Wellness-centric hotels in Cala Llonga
Infamous for its party scene that started in the 1960s with the arrival of the hippies and properly took off in the ‘70s with the opening of the (now-defunct) club Space, Ibiza is increasingly carving itself a niche as a destination offering something much more wholesome. The Mondrian and Hyde, both of which opened in 2024, are part of that trend. Which hotel you choose to stay in depends on your budget – the Hyde is a larger four-star with a festival vibe and boho-chic decor, the Mondrian is much smaller and swankier.
Yoga and Pilates on the sea-view terrace is another way guests of both can make the most of their spectacular setting while doing themselves some good. And both hotels have fantastic dining with an emphasis on healthy natural fare. The Mondrian’s star turn is upmarket Japanaese Niko with its sushi bar, but Sonrojo on the beachfront comes a close second with its light Spanish fare (don’t miss the gazpacho with limo chili, kaffir lime and smoked eel, or the duo of tuna tartares with Basque piparras and summer truffle).
Breakfasts at Mondrian are also a marvel of detox juices and cooked-to-order treats including avocado toast with tuna tartare or tofu scramble and pickled radish or poached egg, or poached eggs with truffle hollandaise and crab hash browns.
It’s important to note that if you do stay at the cheaper Hyde, however, you have access to everything that Mondrian guests do except breakfast – the hotels share several pools circled by sexy striped loungers and cabanas, with a seriously funky pool vibe of Shazam-it-now playlists and DJ sets. There’s also private access down to that golden swathe of beach with its public-hire lounger and super-friendly snack bar. There’s no full-service spa, but massages can be booked in the outdoor pavilion.
Great places to hike
Another fabulous place to walk is the north-east of the island, far from most of the party hotspots. This coast is dotted by craggy coves you can hike down to. One of my favourites is Cala d'en Serra, where you can check out an abandoned hotel en route, eat in the chiringuito with its views of old fisherman’s boathouses and take a refreshing dip in the cool green water.
Cala d'en Serra is a 7.5km out-and-back trail from the small, unpretentious resort of Portinatx, where the Barceló Portinatx is a chic adult-only option with an outdoor wellness centre including a hot tub, sensation showers and massage pavilions. And with its lantern-lit terrace, the boutique hotel and restaurant Los Enamorados overlooking the little bay is almost absurdly romantic by evening.
Or down towards Santa Eulalia, discover Cala Mestella, another tiny cove with old boathouses and a chiringuito, walkable on a a loop from the Hotel Rural & Spa Can Curreu in Sant Carles de Peralta – a small town famous as home to Les Dalias hippy market and the original hippy bar Anitas, open all year round. Can Curreu has a thermal circuit including a hammam and a cold-water plunge pool, while treatments are based on natural local ingredients including citrus, almond blossom, rose petals and figs.
Alternatively, why not ferry-hop over to neighbouring Formentera on the ferry? With its low-key vibe, pine-forest trails and rustic beach bars, it’s also perfect for walking.
BOOK HOTEL RURAL & SPA CAN CURREU
Discover hidden caves and relax in nature
Among my other suggestions for the best hotels in Ibiza for a wellbeing break are Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, which runs Holistic Hikes Retreats in partnership with Ibiza Hike Station, taking you to lesser-known spots on the island including soaring gorges and hidden caves, with meditation and its apparent opposite, ‘shout therapy’, along the way. Or head inland to Can Lluc for yoga in the heart of nature on a family-run agriturismo exuding calm from its traditional rooms and lush pool villas.
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