Six Senses Ibiza

About Six Senses Ibiza

Six Senses Ibiza sits above the small bays of Portinatx, at the pine-ringed northern tip of the island, and suits travellers who want the quiet end of Ibiza rather than the club coast. Couples, families and groups travelling together find room here, and the setting works for anyone content to drive to beaches and markets rather than walk to them. The nearest sand and village centre lie about 0.8 km away, close enough for a short stroll and far enough for calm evenings.

This is a five-star hotel with a broad list of facilities, from an outdoor pool and a fitness centre to a garden, a sauna and a games room. The listed guest score is 4.2 out of 5 from 729 reviews. Expect a resort-scale operation rather than a small guesthouse: lifts, a 24-hour front desk, concierge service and a luggage store all appear on the list, along with bars, restaurants and room service.

Location: Portinatx

Portinatx is a cluster of small bays at the northern tip of Ibiza, ringed by pine and reached by a road that winds through the hills of Sant Joan de Labritja. The water is clear and the coves are shallow, and the mood is slower than in the south. The hotel stands at Cami De Sa Torre 71, roughly 0.8 km from the village centre, so the sand and the small bars are a short walk or a very short drive.

Walking covers the village and the nearest cove. For everything else a car, taxi or seasonal bus helps: Cala Sant Vicent is 8.3 km away, Es Canar 14 km and Ibiza Town port 23 km, all straight-line figures. Buses serve the north but thin out outside summer, so check the island bus operator before relying on them. In July and August the coast road is slow and the bays are busy; in May, June and September the same drives are easier.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms are listed with air conditioning, a balcony or patio, a safe, a minibar, coffee making facilities and a bath, with bathrobes and a hairdryer provided. Some categories add a kitchen with a microwave and refrigerator, which suits families who want breakfast in and early nights. Non-smoking rooms, family rooms, cots and a babysitting service appear on the list, and the 24-hour front desk and express check-in help guests arriving on late flights.

Because the room types differ so much, confirm the layout, the outlook and whether a kitchen is included before booking, and ask about parking and shuttle arrangements if arriving without a car. Pets are allowed, so state the size of the animal in advance. The hotel can explain the tourist tax and its own seasonal dates, and the concierge desk is the place to arrange diving, horse riding or archery sessions.

Getting there

Ibiza Airport (IBZ) lies 29 km south-west of the hotel in a straight line, in the municipality of Sant Josep. A hire car or taxi covers the drive north across the centre of the island, and the last stretch climbs into the pine hills above Portinatx. Buses link the airport with Ibiza Town, Sant Antoni and Santa Eulària, and connections onward to the north are easier in summer than in winter, when timetables shrink. Confirm the current options with the hotel.

Ibiza Town port is 23 km away in a straight line and is the departure point for ferries to La Savina on Formentera, as well as to Palma and mainland ports. Fast ferries to Formentera take about 30-35 minutes and conventional ferries about an hour. From the south or east, the hotel is 14 km from Es Canar and 8.3 km from Cala Sant Vicent. Flights and ferries are fewer between November and April, so check operators and the hotel's own dates.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The nearest swimming is in the bays of Portinatx itself, about 0.8 km from the door. Cala Sant Vicent, a long pine-backed inlet on the north-east coast, is 8.3 km away and makes a good half day. Sea kayaking along the north coast calas starts around 5 km from the hotel. Inland, Las Dalias market at Sant Carles de Peralta is 11.3 km away and the Punta Arabí hippy market at Es Canar is 14.2 km, with Es Canar itself at 14 km.

Northern Ibiza eats simply: grilled fish, rice dishes and the two-course fish stew, bullit de peix followed by arròs a banda, appear on menus across the island. Portinatx has places to eat within walking distance, and Sant Carles de Peralta and Santa Eulària des Riu widen the choice. For the island's history, Dalt Vila, the walled upper town of Eivissa, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1999, and the port below it is 23 km from the hotel.

A day from Six Senses Ibiza

Start early with a swim in one of the Portinatx bays, 0.8 km from the hotel, before the sun climbs. Drive to Cala Sant Vicent, 8.3 km away, for a longer morning in the water, or join a sea kayak session on the north coast calas around 5 km from the door. Lunch back at the hotel, then use the pool, the fitness centre or the sauna through the quiet afternoon hours.

Late afternoon suits the inland drive to Sant Carles de Peralta, 11.3 km away, where Las Dalias market runs on Saturdays, with days to check with the organisers. Es Canar and the Punta Arabí market are about 14 km off and make an alternative outing in season. Return for dinner in Portinatx, a short walk from the hotel, then a drink at one of the listed bars. A car makes the evening easier, and the concierge can arrange transport.

Practical tips

Much of Ibiza's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, and Portinatx is a seasonal corner of the island, so check the hotel's opening dates before booking a winter trip. July and August are the peak, with the fullest bays and the highest demand for cars. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, is charged by the accommodation per person per night; the rate depends on the type and category of the establishment and the season, is reduced in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt. Check the Govern de les Illes Balears for current rates.

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