Casa Barca Cala Saona

About Casa Barca Cala Saona

Casa Barca Cala Saona is a self-catering apartment or villa on Formentera, set in a quiet part of the island near the west coast. It suits travellers who want a base with a kitchen and a garden, close to one of Formentera's few coves but away from the busier villages. The property is not rated and has no guest score listed, so the stay is straightforward: you manage your own meals and timetable.

The accommodation is designed for independent stays. Facilities include a kitchen or kitchenette, a washing machine, an iron and board, a toaster, a microwave, an oven and a refrigerator. Outside there is a terrace and a garden. Free wifi, air conditioning, a fan, a safe and a TV are also listed. The property offers free car parking and a car rental service, which is useful on an island where a vehicle helps reach the scattered beaches and villages.

Location: Cala Saona

Casa Barca Cala Saona is in the Venda De Sa Punta Rasa area, 0.5 km in a straight line from Cala Saona cove. Cala Saona is the island's one real cove, with red cliffs and a west-facing sunset. The nearest village is Sant Francesc Xavier, 4.3 km away, which has a fortified 18th-century church, a market and the island's shops. La Savina port, where every ferry from Ibiza Town arrives, is 5.8 km straight-line distance.

In high summer the cove and the roads around it can be busy with day visitors. In the shoulder months of May, June, September and October the area is quieter and the sunsets over the cliffs are less crowded. A car is useful for reaching the village and the port; the property has free parking and a car rental service. Bikes and scooters are also an option on Formentera's flat roads.

Rooms and facilities

The property is listed as an apartment or villa, so it likely has a separate living and sleeping area. Facilities include a kitchen or kitchenette, a washing machine, an iron and board, a toaster, a microwave, an oven and a refrigerator. Air conditioning and a fan are listed, as is a safe. The accommodation is described as having family rooms and non-smoking rooms.

For families the kitchen and washing machine make self-catering easy. For late arrivals the car parking is free and the property has a safe for valuables. Confirm with Casa Barca Cala Saona whether the kitchen is a full kitchen or a kitchenette, and whether the terrace and garden are private or shared. The property does not list a check-in or check-out time, so ask when booking.

Getting there

Formentera has no airport. Fly to Ibiza Airport (IBZ), about 7 km south-west of Ibiza Town, then take a bus or taxi to Ibiza Town port. Ferries to La Savina run frequently in season and fewer in winter; fast ferries take about 30-35 minutes, conventional ferries about an hour. Check the ferry operators for current timetables. From La Savina port, Casa Barca Cala Saona is 5.8 km straight-line distance, a short drive.

Getting around Formentera: bikes and the signposted green routes (circuits verds) are a good way to explore the flat island. Scooters, buses and taxis are also available. The Consell de Formentera caps the number of visitor vehicles in high season, so check before bringing or hiring a car. Casa Barca Cala Saona offers a car rental service and free parking, which makes a hire car convenient.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala Saona cove is 0.5 km away, a west-facing cove with red cliffs and sunset views. Sant Francesc Xavier is 4.3 km away, with its fortified 18th-century church, a market and the island's shops. Paddle the Estany des Peix lagoon, 4.8 km away, a calm stretch of water beside La Savina, good for a kayak or paddleboard. The Ses Salines Natural Park, the Ses Illetes sand spit and the Estany Pudent lagoon are also within reach by car or bike.

Formentera food includes peix sec (dried fish), island salads and fresh fish. Sant Francesc has a market and a few shops for supplies. The property's kitchen means you can cook your own meals. The nearest village for a meal out is Sant Francesc, 4.3 km away, or Es Pujols, the liveliest village, about 7 km away by road. The Cap de Barbaria lighthouse and the Far de la Mola lighthouse are both worth a drive for sunset or a walk.

A day from Casa Barca Cala Saona

Start the morning with breakfast on the terrace at Casa Barca Cala Saona. Drive or cycle the 0.5 km to Cala Saona cove for a morning swim before the day visitors arrive. The red cliffs shelter the cove and the water is clear. Return to the property for lunch or pack a picnic. In the afternoon drive the 4.8 km to the Estany des Peix lagoon, where the calm water is good for a paddleboard or kayak. The lagoon is beside La Savina, so you can also walk around the port.

Late afternoon, drive the 4.3 km to Sant Francesc Xavier to see the fortified church and buy supplies for the evening. As the sun drops, head back to Cala Saona for the west-facing sunset. The cliffs catch the last light. Return to Casa Barca Cala Saona for dinner cooked in the kitchen. The garden and terrace are a quiet place to end the day. If you have a car, the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse is another sunset spot, about 8 km south.

Practical tips

Much of Formentera's tourism business closes roughly from November to April; check with Casa Barca Cala Saona whether it stays open through the winter. July and August are the peak months, when the cove and the roads are busiest and the island council caps visitor vehicles. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax (the ecotasa) is charged per person per night by the accommodation; the rate depends on the type of accommodation and the season, is reduced in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt. Check the current rate with the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Casa Barca Cala Saona