Sa Voliaina Formentera

About Sa Voliaina Formentera

Sa Voliaina Formentera suits travellers who want the port nearby without sleeping on top of it. The hotel is a three-star property in the La Savina area, 1.7 km from the harbour where the ferries dock, so arrivals and departures stay easy while the nights stay quiet. Couples touring by bike, families with a car and anyone who prefers a garden and a kitchen to a lobby bar will find the arrangement practical.

Expect a self-contained three-star stay rather than a resort. The appeal lies in what comes with the booking: free parking, free wifi, a garden and a terrace, plus a kitchen with a fridge, microwave and toaster for breakfasts and light meals. Sa Voliaina Formentera works best as a base for a week of beaches, lagoons and cycling, with each day built around the short runs to La Savina and Sant Francesc Xavier rather than around the building itself.

Location: La Savina

La Savina is Formentera's port village, a small settlement beside the Estany des Peix lagoon where the ferries from Ibiza Town tie up. Sa Voliaina Formentera sits 1.7 km from the port and the same distance from the village, close enough to walk or cycle in for the boat and far enough for the comings and goings to fade. Sant Francesc Xavier, the capital with its fortified 18th-century church, is 3.4 km away.

Nothing here needs a long drive. The shallow edge of the Estany des Peix, good for a kayak or paddleboard, is 1.2 km from Sa Voliaina Formentera, and the birdlife of the lagoons lies 2.5 km off. Cala Saona, the island's one true cove, is 3.9 km. In July and August the port road carries steady traffic; in May, June, September and October the same route empties and cycling to Sant Francesc Xavier becomes the obvious choice.

Rooms and facilities

Couples can treat the listed kitchen, microwave, fridge and toaster as a way to keep mornings slow, with coffee on the terrace before the day starts. Families have cots, a washing machine for beach towels and an iron and board, and the garden gives children somewhere to run while dinner is prepared. Air conditioning and a fan cover warm nights, and a fireplace suggests the rooms stay usable outside summer.

Late arrivals should confirm the practicalities directly with Sa Voliaina Formentera: the address sits on the road at Venda De Porto Salé, the entrance can be easy to pass after dark, and keys are best arranged in advance. Ask which units include the kitchen and the washing machine, whether the fireplace rooms are the same ones, how parking spaces are allocated, and what the pet policy covers before bringing a dog.

Getting there

Formentera has no airport, so the route runs through Ibiza. Fly into Ibiza Airport (IBZ), about 7 km south-west of Ibiza Town, then reach the port in Eivissa and take the ferry to La Savina: fast ferries take about 30-35 minutes and conventional boats about an hour, with frequent sailings in season and fewer in winter. Check the operators for current timetables before booking flights.

From La Savina the final leg to Sa Voliaina Formentera is 1.7 km, short enough for a taxi from the port rank or, with light luggage, a walk. Bikes and the signposted circuits verds suit the island's flat shape, with scooters, buses and taxis filling the gaps. Vehicle numbers are capped by the Consell de Formentera in high season, so confirm current rules before bringing or hiring a car for a stay at Sa Voliaina Formentera.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala Saona is the closest proper swimming cove, 3.9 km from Sa Voliaina Formentera, a red-cliffed bay facing west that fills with day visitors by midday. The Estany des Peix, 1.2 km away, is calmer and better for paddling than swimming. For dunes and juniper, the long south-coast beach at Platja de Migjorn lies further east and is best reached by bike or car.

The lagoons and salt pans of Ses Salines Natural Park draw birdwatchers, and that water lies 2.5 km from Sa Voliaina Formentera. Sant Francesc Xavier, 3.4 km to the village and 3.3 km to its fortified church, holds the island's market and shops. Island cooking leans on peix sec, fresh fish and vegetable salads; the nearest tables are in La Savina, 1.7 km off, and in the capital, which stays open outside the season.

A day from Sa Voliaina Formentera

Start with coffee and breakfast in the kitchen at Sa Voliaina Formentera, then walk or cycle the 1.2 km to the Estany des Peix for a paddle while the water is still glassy. Continue around the lagoon to the salt pans and birdlife, 2.5 km from the hotel, before the heat builds. A late morning swim at Cala Saona, 3.9 km away, follows; bikes make the link between the two easy.

After lunch, head to Sant Francesc Xavier, 3.4 km from Sa Voliaina Formentera, for the fortified church, the market and a wander through the shops. Return by the green routes as the light softens, or take the short run to La Savina, 1.7 km, to watch ferries arriving at the port. Eat in the village before the ride home; a taxi covers the dark.

Practical tips

Most of Formentera's tourist business closes roughly from November to April, so confirm the opening dates of Sa Voliaina Formentera before booking a winter crossing. Demand peaks in July and August, while May, June, September and October give warm sea and easier roads. On the bill, accommodation carries the ecotasa, per person per night, at rates set by property type and season; check the Govern de les Illes Balears for current rates.

Questions about Sa Voliaina Formentera