Casas Rurales Illetas

About Casas Rurales Illetas

Casas Rurales Illetas suits travellers who want a quiet base on Formentera without being far from the ferry. The property is a three-star rural hotel or agroturismo on the road between La Savina and Es Pujols, 1.7 km from the port where the boats from Ibiza Town come in. Couples touring by bike, families arriving with a car and anyone catching an early sailing the next morning all fit here. The island's green routes start close by, and the lagoons lie 1.6 km away.

The stay is rural rather than resort style: three stars, a short list of practical facilities and a setting that puts the coastline within a short drive or ride. Ses Illetes is 2.3 km away, Es Pujols 2.8 km and Sant Francesc Xavier 3.7 km. Casas Rurales Illetas appeals to guests who prefer to spend the day outdoors and come back to a terrace and free parking in the evening, rather than to a large complex with entertainment and a pool scene.

Location: La Savina

La Savina is the port village at the north-west corner of Formentera, where every ferry from Ibiza Town ties up beside the Estany des Peix lagoon. It is a small, workaday place of ferry ramps, boatyards and calm water that suits a kayak or paddleboard. Casas Rurales Illetas sits 1.7 km from the port and the same distance from La Savina itself, close enough to reach a sailing without fuss and far enough to step away from the morning queue of vehicles.

Es Pujols, the liveliest village on the island, is 2.8 km from Casas Rurales Illetas, and Sant Francesc Xavier, the small capital with its fortified 18th-century church and shops, is 3.7 km. A car or scooter makes light work of these hops; bikes work well on the flat lanes and signposted green routes. In July and August the port area fills with arrivals and the lanes carry their heaviest traffic, while May, June, September and October bring quieter roads and easier parking.

Rooms and facilities

Facilities listed for Casas Rurales Illetas are practical: credit cards are accepted, car parking is free and there is a terrace. For couples the free parking takes the sting out of arriving on a late ferry with a hire car, and the terrace gives a place to sit once the day's swimming is over. Families travelling with children tend to value the same two things, space to park and an outdoor corner, though this is not a resort with a playground or a pool.

Confirm the practical details with Casas Rurales Illetas before booking: which rooms suit a family, whether cots are available, what the arrangements are for a late sailing, and whether the terrace is private or shared. Breakfast and kitchen arrangements are worth asking about too, since the nearest places to eat are in La Savina and Es Pujols, 1.7 km and 2.8 km away. Card payment is listed, so settling the bill on departure should be straightforward.

Getting there

Formentera has no airport, so the trip runs through Ibiza. Ibiza Airport (IBZ) lies about 7 km south-west of Ibiza Town, in Sant Josep, with buses into town and taxis at the terminal. Sailings leave Ibiza Town port for La Savina: fast ferries about 30-35 minutes, conventional boats about an hour, frequent in season and fewer in winter. Check the operators for current times. Casas Rurales Illetas is 1.7 km from La Savina.

Once on the island, bikes and the signposted green routes (circuits verds) cover the flat ground well, and scooters, buses and taxis fill the gaps. The Consell de Formentera caps the number of visitor vehicles in high season, so check the rules before bringing a car across or hiring one at the port. Casas Rurales Illetas has free parking listed, which helps if you travel with a vehicle and want to reach Ses Illetes, 2.3 km away, early.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The nearest water is the Ses Illetes sand spit, 2.3 km from Casas Rurales Illetas, best visited before the day boats arrive. The lagoons of Estany Pudent and Estany des Peix, 1.6 km away, draw birds and offer sheltered water for a paddle. Es Pujols, 2.8 km, has a beach, boat houses and evening bars, while Sant Francesc Xavier, 3.7 km, holds the market and the island's shops. Ca na Costa, a megalithic tomb about 4,000 years old, lies 1.7 km away.

Food on Formentera is plain and sea-led: peix sec (dried fish), island salads and fresh fish, eaten simply. La Savina, 1.7 km from Casas Rurales Illetas, is the handiest place for an evening meal after a late arrival, with Es Pujols 2.8 km away for more choice. Further afield, Cala Saona and Platja de Migjorn are reached by car or bike. Keep an eye out for the Pitiusan wall lizard, which lives only on Ibiza, Formentera and their islets.

A day from Casas Rurales Illetas

Start early from Casas Rurales Illetas and ride or drive the 2.3 km to Ses Illetes, where the water is clearest before the day boats fill the sand spit. Continue to the lagoons 1.6 km from the hotel and watch birds over the salt pans, then loop past Ca na Costa, the megalithic tomb 1.7 km away. Lunch fits in Es Pujols, 2.8 km from the property, where the beach and boat houses sit beside the village.

In the afternoon, take the flat lanes to Sant Francesc Xavier, 3.7 km from Casas Rurales Illetas, to see the fortified 18th-century church and pick up supplies. Return through La Savina, 1.7 km from the hotel, for the calm water of Estany des Peix and a paddle, or to watch the ferries come in. Finish on the terrace at Casas Rurales Illetas with the day's salt still on your skin.

Practical tips

Formentera's season is short: many hotels, beach bars, boat trips and seasonal buses close roughly from November to April, though the main villages stay open. Ask Casas Rurales Illetas for its opening dates before planning a crossing, since ferries from Ibiza Town are fewer in winter. July and August bring the vehicle cap and the heaviest traffic. The accommodation charges the Balearic ecotasa, a sustainable tourism tax, per person per night; rates depend on category and season, fall in low season and for longer stays, and under-16s are exempt. Check the Govern de les Illes Balears for current rates.

Questions about Casas Rurales Illetas