Paya Suites

About Paya Suites

Paya Suites is a four-star hotel on Fonoll Marí in Es Pujols, on the north side of Formentera. The address puts the door 0.6 km from the centre of the village in a straight line, close enough to walk to the sand and the evening bars. Couples who want a base for cycling and swimming, and families who prefer a kitchenette, are the two groups this stay fits best.

The stay is a four-star hotel rather than a full resort, and the listed facilities lean practical: air conditioning, a kitchenette, free wifi, free car parking, an outdoor pool and a terrace. Rooms are also listed with a balcony and a bath, which suits a week on a small island. Es Pujols supplies the restaurants and the late evening, so the hotel does not need to.

Location: Es Pujols

Es Pujols is the liveliest village on Formentera, with a beach, boat houses and bars that run into the evening. Paya Suites sits 0.6 km from the centre in a straight line, so the walk in takes a few minutes on flat ground. Sant Ferran de ses Roques is 1.9 km away and Sant Francesc Xavier, the small capital, 2.9 km.

The village beach is the closest swim, a level walk from Fonoll Marí. Anything further needs wheels: bikes are the usual choice on flat Formentera and the signposted green routes start nearby, while scooters, buses and taxis cover the longer hops. July and August fill the village in the evening and tighten parking near the centre; May, June, September and October leave the same walks open and the roads calm.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms at Paya Suites are listed with air conditioning and a fan, a balcony, a bath and a bidet, a hairdryer, a safe, a TV and a telephone. The kitchen and kitchenette, with a microwave, a refrigerator and coffee, matter on an island where a self-made breakfast saves time before the beach. Bathrobes and slippers are listed as well, which is generous for a beach hotel.

Families can ask about the family rooms and the sofa beds, since both appear on the list and the kitchenette makes a difference with children. Non smoking rooms are listed, along with cleaning and a laundry service, handy over a longer stay. Late arrivals should confirm reception hours and key collection with Paya Suites before travelling, and ask whether the pool and terrace run outside the high season.

Getting there

Formentera has no airport. Fly to Ibiza Airport (IBZ), which sits about 7 km south-west of Ibiza Town, then cross the town to the port and take the ferry to La Savina. Fast ferries take about 30-35 minutes and conventional ferries about an hour, with frequent sailings in season and fewer in winter, so check the operators. From La Savina, Paya Suites is 3.4 km in a straight line.

That final 3.4 km to Paya Suites is a short taxi ride or a bus hop, and the hotel lists free car parking if a hire car is collected at the port. On the island, bikes and the signposted green routes suit the flat terrain best, with scooters, buses and taxis for longer trips. The Consell de Formentera caps visitor vehicles in high season, so check the rules before booking a car.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The village beach at Es Pujols is the nearest swim from Paya Suites. Ca na Costa, the megalithic tomb about 4,000 years old and the oldest known monument on the Pitiusas, is 1.1 km away in a straight line. The lagoons of Estany Pudent and Estany des Peix, good for birdwatching, are 2 km off, and Sant Francesc with its fortified church is 3 km.

Further out, the Ses Illetes sand spit and the Espalmador islet lie in Ses Salines Natural Park in the north, while Cala Saona and the long Platja de Migjorn face the sunset on the west and south coasts. Island food is plain and good: peix sec, or dried fish, island salads and fresh fish. The kitchenette at Paya Suites covers the evenings when cooking beats going out.

A day from Paya Suites

Start with a swim at the village beach, minutes from Paya Suites, then walk 1.1 km to Ca na Costa to see the megalithic tomb, about 4,000 years old. Loop back through Es Pujols for a late breakfast. In the afternoon, take bikes on the green routes to the lagoons, 2 km away, and watch birds around the Estany Pudent, with Sant Ferran de ses Roques 1.9 km from the hotel.

In the evening, ride or take a taxi the 2.9 km to Sant Francesc Xavier to see the fortified 18th-century church and the shops around it, then eat in the capital or return to Es Pujols for the bars. Keep the distances modest: Es Pujols is 0.6 km from Paya Suites and the ground is flat, so bikes cover the whole day comfortably.

Practical tips

Much of Formentera's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, and Es Pujols is a seasonal village, so ask Paya Suites about its own opening dates before planning a winter crossing. July and August are the peak, when the village is at its busiest and vehicle numbers are capped. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax is charged per person per night by the accommodation; at Paya Suites the rate follows the four-star category and the season, falls in low season and on longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt, so check the Govern de les Illes Balears for current rates.

Questions about Paya Suites