Ses Arcades

About Ses Arcades

Ses Arcades suits travellers who want a base in the northern countryside rather than a resort strip. The hotel stands on the road towards Sant Joan de Labritja, inland from the pine-ringed bays of the north coast. Couples looking for quiet evenings, walkers, and families with a car all fit the same profile here: days out among coves and markets, nights away from the busiest parts of the island.

This is a three-star hotel, a straightforward rural stay rather than a styled boutique address. The listed facilities cover the practical side of a holiday: air conditioning, a terrace, free wifi, free car parking and breakfast. With 3 stars and a countryside setting, it works best for guests who plan to spend their time outdoors and treat the hotel as a calm place to return to.

Location: Sant Joan de Labritja

Ses Arcades is in the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja, the quietest of Ibiza's five municipalities, in the green north of the island. The address on the Sant Joan road places it outside the main resort areas, among fields and low hills rather than in a village centre. Portinatx is 5.3 km away in a straight line, Cala Sant Vicent 8.4 km and Santa Eulària des Riu 9.7 km.

A car is the practical way to reach the coves, since the northern beaches are spread along the coast and the hotel's own parking is free. Those without a car should ask the hotel about local buses, which are fewer outside summer. In July and August the north coast draws day visitors, so early starts help. In May, June and September the same lanes and calas feel far emptier, and the sea sits around 18-19 °C in May and 23-25 °C in September.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms at Ses Arcades are listed with air conditioning, a balcony or terrace, a safe, a TV and toiletries, with non-smoking rooms available and family rooms among the options. Breakfast is listed, which simplifies mornings before a drive to the coast. Free wifi and internet access cover basic browsing, and there is a bar on site for an evening drink without getting back in the car.

Families should confirm the layout of the family rooms and whether a cot or extra bed is possible, since room configurations vary. Late arrivals should check reception hours and how keys are handed over before booking a flight that lands in the evening. Guests with limited mobility should ask about access and which rooms sit on the ground floor. Laundry service, cleaning and luggage storage are listed; confirm what is available in the season you travel.

Getting there

Ibiza Airport (IBZ) is 24 km from Ses Arcades in a straight line, in the south-west of the island. The simplest transfer is a hire car collected at the airport, which also serves for the whole stay given the rural setting and free parking. Taxis are available at the airport, and the drive north avoids Ibiza Town. Public buses serve the north from the main towns, but connections are limited and change with the season, so check with the hotel before relying on them.

From Ibiza Town port, 17.9 km away in a straight line, the route runs north through the island. Guests arriving by ferry from Formentera at La Savina, or from Palma, Barcelona, Valencia or Dénia, should plan the onward leg in advance. Flights and ferries are fewer in winter, and some seasonal bus lines stop, so confirm timings with the operator and with Ses Arcades if you arrive late in the year.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The nearest coves are on the north coast: Portinatx is 5.3 km from Ses Arcades and Cala Sant Vicent 8.4 km, both reached by road. Kayaking along the north coast calas starts about 5 km away. Santa Eulària des Riu, 9.7 km off, has a promenade, a marina and a slower evening pace. The Las Dalias market at Sant Carles is 7.7 km away, and the Punta Arabí hippy market at Es Canar 11.1 km; both run seasonally, so check current days.

Island cooking is part of the point of staying here. Bullit de peix and arròs a banda, the fish stew served in two courses, appear on menus across the north, along with fresh fish and rice dishes. Markets, village bakeries and the small shops near Sant Joan de Labritja cover picnic supplies for a day at a cala. For anything more urban, Dalt Vila in Eivissa, with its 16th-century Renaissance walls and cathedral, is a half-day trip south.

A day from Ses Arcades

Start with breakfast at Ses Arcades, then drive the 5.3 km to Portinatx for a morning swim before the day visitors arrive. Continue along the coast or head to Cala Sant Vicent, 8.4 km away, for a second cala and a walk. Kayaking along the north coast calas begins about 5 km from the hotel, a good option when the sea is calm in the morning.

In the afternoon, drive 7.7 km to the Las Dalias market at Sant Carles on a market day, or 11.1 km to the Punta Arabí market at Es Canar, checking current days first. Return via Santa Eulària des Riu, 9.7 km away, for a promenade walk. Evenings are best kept simple: a drink at the hotel bar and dinner locally, with the car parked for the night.

Practical tips

Northern Ibiza is a seasonal place: much of the island's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so check Ses Arcades's own opening dates before booking a winter trip. July and August bring the highest demand and the fullest calas; late spring and early autumn are quieter and the sea remains warm. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax is charged per person per night by the accommodation; rates vary by accommodation type and season, with reductions in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt. Check current rates with the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Ses Arcades