La Parada

About La Parada

La Parada suits travellers who want a quiet base in the south-west of Ibiza rather than a resort strip. The three-star hotel sits outside Cala Vedella, a small cove village in Sant Josep de sa Talaia, with Cala d'Hort 2.7 km away and Sant Antoni de Portmany 10 km off. Couples who plan days around coves and cliff paths fit well here, and families travelling with a car get parking and garden space without the noise of the larger coastal towns.

Expect a straightforward three-star stay. La Parada lists free wifi, free car parking, a garden, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a tennis court and a terrace. The mood is practical rather than polished, and the setting rewards guests who treat the hotel as a base between swims and outings. Room types and availability are best confirmed with La Parada directly, especially for a stay of a week or more in high summer.

Location: Sant Josep de sa Talaia

Cala Vedella sits on the south-west coast, within Sant Josep de sa Talaia, and La Parada stands just outside the village at Carrer De Sa Barbada 2. This is the quiet side of the island: low hills, pine, rocky inlets and a road that winds rather than races. Sant Antoni de Portmany, with its shops and waterfront, is 10 km away, while Ibiza Town port is 18.4 km off. The nearest coves are close, with Cala d'Hort 2.7 km away in a straight line and Cala Comte 5.5 km.

A car makes the most of the position. Cala d'Hort is 2.7 km away in a straight line, the Torre des Savinar watchtower 4.5 km, and Es Vedrà, the limestone islet about 380 m high where nobody lands, 5.7 km. Buses serve the Cala Vedella area in summer, though services thin outside the season, so check times with the island bus operator. In high summer the coves fill by mid-morning; in May, June and September the same lanes feel calm.

Rooms and facilities

The listed facilities cover the essentials for a self-contained holiday: free wifi, free car parking, a garden, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool, a tennis court and a terrace. Couples can split mornings between the pools and afternoons on the coast; families get parking for the hire car and outdoor space for children. The indoor pool extends the swimming day when the weather turns, and the tennis court gives older children something beyond the sand.

What each room contains, and whether it looks over the garden or the terrace, is worth settling with La Parada before booking, since layouts vary. Guests landing on a late flight should confirm arrival arrangements with the hotel in advance so that someone is expecting them. It is also worth asking about pool hours, tennis court booking and parking space in high season, when the car park fills. Any extra charges are best checked directly.

Getting there

Ibiza Airport (IBZ) sits 13.4 km from La Parada in a straight line, in the municipality of Sant Josep. Most guests take a taxi or collect a hire car at the airport, which keeps the car free for coves later in the stay. Airport buses run to Ibiza Town, Sant Antoni and the south beaches, with more lines in summer; reaching Cala Vedella may mean a change, so check the island bus operator.

Ibiza Town port, 18.4 km away, handles ferries to La Savina on Formentera as well as to Palma, Barcelona, Valencia and Dénia; check the operators for current timetables. Sant Antoni de Portmany is 10 km from La Parada and has some mainland routes in season. Out of season there are fewer flights and sailings, and seasonal buses wind down roughly from November to April, so a hire car helps.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala d'Hort, 2.7 km away in a straight line, is the closest cove, a pebbly beach facing Es Vedrà and inside the Cala d'Hort, Cap Llentrisca and Sa Talaia natural park. Cala Comte, 5.5 km off, has shallow clear water, islets offshore and a reputation for sunsets. Cala Vedella itself is the nearest village for a swim and an evening walk, and Sant Antoni de Portmany, 10 km away, covers bigger supermarkets and a wider choice of shops.

The Torre des Savinar watchtower is 4.5 km away in a straight line, reached on foot along the cliffs above Es Vedrà, and the islet itself lies 5.7 km from the hotel. Inland, Sa Talaia rises to about 475 m and gives a view over the whole south-west. For food, the island fish stew, bullit de peix, arrives in two courses with rice, and arròs a banda is the other staple of local kitchens; both suit a slow lunch after a morning in the water.

A day from La Parada

Start early with the short drive to Cala d'Hort, 2.7 km from La Parada, and swim with Es Vedrà on the horizon before the parking fills. Then follow the cliff path towards Torre des Savinar, 4.5 km away in a straight line, for the view down to the islet. Return for a late lunch and an hour by the outdoor pool, or a set of tennis while the afternoon heat eases.

Late afternoon belongs to Cala Comte, 5.5 km from La Parada, where the water is shallow, islets sit offshore and the sun drops into the sea. The same outing works as an evening in its own right if you prefer one long trip. Alternatives are Sant Antoni de Portmany, 10 km off, for the waterfront, or Cala Vedella for a local stroll. A hire car keeps the day flexible; without one, confirm seasonal bus times with the operator.

Practical tips

Check La Parada's opening dates before booking, because much of Ibiza's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, while the main towns stay open all year. July and August bring the heaviest traffic to the Cala Vedella lanes and the south-west coves. The ecotasa, the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, is charged per person per night by the hotel; the rate varies with the type and category of accommodation and the season, children under 16 are exempt, and the Govern de les Illes Balears publishes current rates.

Questions about La Parada