Hostal Es Pi

About Hostal Es Pi

Hostal Es Pi is a one-star guesthouse on the south side of Formentera, about 1.2 km straight line from Platja de Migjorn. It suits travellers who want a simple, no-frills base within easy reach of the island’s longest beach and the main villages. The one-star rating means the accommodation is basic: rooms are likely to be compact, with shared or private bathroom depending on the room type. The guesthouse is listed as having a restaurant, which is useful given the limited dining options in the immediate area outside the peak months.

This is a stay for those who do not need a pool, a beachfront location or a full-service hotel. The guesthouse sits inland, set back from the coast, and the walk to the beach is across flat terrain. The area around Ca Marí is quiet, with a handful of houses and fields. Guests who want to explore the island will need wheels or use the local bus service. The hostal is a practical choice for cyclists and walkers following the green routes, or for anyone who wants a low-cost base and does not mind travelling to the beach and back.

Location: Platja de Migjorn

Hostal Es Pi is on Carrer De Camino De Simonet in Ca Marí, a scattered settlement on the south coast of Formentera. The area is flat and rural, with drystone walls, juniper scrub and cultivated fields. Platja de Migjorn, the long open south-coast beach backed by dunes and juniper, is 1.2 km straight line from the guesthouse. Sant Ferran de ses Roques, a crossroads village with a couple of shops and a church, is 1.9 km straight line. The island capital Sant Francesc Xavier, with its fortified 18th-century church and the main market, is 3.8 km straight line.

In high summer, the area is still relatively quiet compared to Es Pujols or the Ses Illetes beaches. The nearest village with evening life is Es Pujols, 3.6 km straight line, which has a handful of bars and restaurants. In the shoulder months of May, June, September and October, the area is very peaceful, and many of the seasonal beach bars and restaurants may be closed. A car, scooter or bicycle is the most practical way to reach the beach, the villages and the island’s other attractions. Buses run along the main roads in season, but services are limited.

Rooms and facilities

Hostal Es Pi is a one-star guesthouse, so rooms are likely to be simple and functional. The property is listed with a restaurant, which probably serves breakfast and evening meals. Guests should confirm with the hostal whether the restaurant is open daily or only in high season, and whether it is open to non-guests. Rooms may have a fan rather than air conditioning, and bathrooms may be shared in the most basic category. Check with the hostal about the exact room configuration, the bathroom arrangement and whether there is a fridge or kettle in the room.

For families, the hostal may offer family rooms or the possibility of an extra bed. Given the one-star rating, there is unlikely to be a cot or highchair provided, so bring your own if needed. Late arrivals should confirm the check-in procedure with the hostal, as reception may not be staffed around the clock. The guesthouse is not beachfront, so guests will need to walk or cycle to the beach. The nearest beach is Platja de Migjorn, 1.2 km straight line, which is a flat walk across the plain.

Getting there

Formentera has no airport. Fly to Ibiza Airport (IBZ), about 7 km south-west of Ibiza Town. From the airport, take a taxi or the bus to Ibiza Town port. Ferries to La Savina run from the port: fast ferries take about 30-35 minutes, conventional ferries about an hour. Sailings are frequent in summer and fewer in winter; check the ferry operators for current timetables. La Savina is the port where every ferry arrives, beside the Estany des Peix lagoon.

From La Savina, Hostal Es Pi is 6.6 km straight line inland. A taxi from the port takes about 15 minutes. Formentera is flat and about 19 km long, so a bicycle or scooter is a good way to get around once you are on the island. The island council caps the number of visitor vehicles in high season, so check the Consell de Formentera before bringing or hiring a car. Signposted green routes (circuits verds) are marked for walking and cycling. Buses run along the main roads in season, but services are infrequent.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The nearest beach is Platja de Migjorn, 1.2 km straight line from the guesthouse. This is a long, open south-coast beach backed by dunes and juniper, with shallow water and a mix of sand and pebbles. It is less crowded than the north-coast beaches, but there are no facilities in most sections. The nearest village with shops and a few places to eat is Sant Ferran de ses Roques, 1.9 km straight line. Sant Francesc Xavier, the island capital, is 3.8 km straight line and has a market, a bank and the fortified 18th-century church.

The Ca na Costa megalithic tomb, about 4,000 years old and the oldest known monument on the Pitiusas, is 4.8 km straight line from the guesthouse. The boat houses at Es Caló de Sant Agustí, a tiny fishing harbour below La Mola, are 5 km straight line. Formentera food includes peix sec (dried fish), fresh fish and island salads. The island’s restaurants and beach bars are mostly seasonal, so in the shoulder months many are closed. Check with the hostal which places are open during your stay.

A day from Hostal Es Pi

Start the morning with a simple breakfast at the guesthouse restaurant, then cycle or walk the 1.2 km straight line to Platja de Migjorn. The beach is long and open, so you can find a quiet spot. Swim in the clear water, then walk along the dunes. In the late morning, cycle to Sant Ferran de ses Roques, 1.9 km straight line, to buy supplies at the small shop. The village has a church and a couple of cafés. From there, take the road north to Sant Francesc Xavier, 3.8 km straight line from the hostal, and visit the fortified church and the market.

For the afternoon, cycle east to Es Caló de Sant Agustí, 5 km straight line, to see the traditional boat houses carved into the rock below La Mola. The harbour is tiny and quiet, with a few fishermen’s huts. In the late afternoon, cycle back towards the hostal via the interior roads. For sunset, head to the west coast or to Cap de Barbaria, but note that this is a longer ride. Return to the guesthouse for an evening meal at its restaurant. The day is flat and easy on a bicycle, and the distances are short.

Practical tips

Much of Formentera’s tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so check with Hostal Es Pi whether it is open during your planned dates. July and August are the peak months, with the highest temperatures, the most visitors and the busiest ferries. 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 Hostal Es Pi