Cala Llonga, a long shallow inlet.

A valley that meets the sea

Cala Llonga sits at the bottom of a valley on Ibiza's east coast, in the municipality of Santa Eulària. The inlet is long and narrow, pinched between two headlands covered in pine, and the water inside it is sheltered from most of the swell that reaches the open coast. Buildings run along the sides of the bay and up the lower slopes, low enough that the pines still frame the view from the sand.

The bay faces roughly east, so mornings are bright and afternoons bring shade from the headland on the southern side. That shape is what makes the place calm: the sea inside the inlet stays flat when it is rough outside. It also means the beach is a place to swim and to sit rather than a place to test yourself against the water. The valley behind rises steadily, with lanes and paths climbing towards the main road.

The sea inside the inlet stays flat when it is rough outside.

Sand, shallows and swimming

The beach is a broad curve of sand at the head of the inlet, backed by a promenade and a line of pines. The seabed shelves so gently that the water is still at knee height a long way out, which is why families with small children gravitate here. Swimming is easy and unhurried. Beyond the mouth of the bay the coast opens and the water deepens quickly, so the sheltered zone is the sensible place to stay with children.

Because the inlet is sheltered, it is a reasonable place for a first paddle or a first snorkel. The shallow sand near the shore is not where the posidonia meadows lie; those are further out and deeper, and the seagrass is protected. Look and do not touch. To see the meadows properly, join a guided snorkel run by a licensed operator rather than striking out alone, and never anchor over the dark patches.

• Shallow waterThe bay stays at knee height a long way out, which suits small children and nervous swimmers.
• ShadePines and the southern headland give shade in the afternoon, so the sand stays usable.
• SnorkellingThe rocky edges of the headlands show more fish than the open sand in the middle.
• AnchoringMoor over sand and never over posidonia; the meadows are protected by a Balearic decree.

Sights near the inlet

Cala Llonga is small, so most of what there is to see lies a short drive or bus ride away. Santa Eulària, the nearest town of any size, has a promenade, a church on the hill and a working life that continues outside the season. North of it, Es Canar holds the Punta Arabí market on Wednesdays in season, and the lanes behind it lead to smaller coves. Check current market days before building a plan around one.

West along the coast, Dalt Vila, the walled upper town of Eivissa, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1999 along with the posidonia meadows and the Phoenician sites of Sa Caleta and Puig des Molins. The Renaissance walls, the cathedral at the top and the harbour below fill a morning. The Ses Salines Natural Park, with its salt pans and dunes, makes a longer half day. Both are best reached by car or bus rather than on foot from the inlet.

Who Cala Llonga suits

Families come first. The shallow water, the compact beach and the fact that everything sits within a few minutes' walk of the sand make it easy with children. Couples and older travellers who want a quiet base with a short transfer from the airport also do well here. Anyone looking for nightlife, a long list of restaurants or a sense of discovery will find the place thin on all three. That is the trade, and it suits most people who book here.

It is a resort area rather than a village, and it feels like one: a strip of buildings, a beach, a handful of places to eat. The compensations are the water, the pines and the position on the east coast, which puts Santa Eulària, Es Canar and the northern coves within reach while keeping the airport run short. For a car-free week built around sea and shade, it works well.

Evenings and eating

Evening here means a walk along the promenade, a meal within sight of the water and an early night. The choice is limited: a small spread of places along the bay and a few more up the valley, most of them seasonal. In July and August they fill early, and booking ahead is sensible. Out of season the choice narrows sharply, sometimes to almost nothing, and you may need to drive to Santa Eulària to eat.

Food on this coast is straightforward: fish, rice dishes, grilled vegetables, almond pastries and hierbas, the local herb liqueur, served cold at the end of a meal. Menus in the bay tend to be written for visitors, so it is worth walking one street back from the promenade. For a wider choice, Santa Eulària keeps restaurants open through the winter. Nothing here is worth queueing an hour for; eat earlier instead.

• Book aheadIn July and August, tables in the bay fill early; reserve in the morning for the same evening.
• WinterMany places close roughly November to April, so check before relying on a particular street.
• Local drinksHierbas, the island's herb liqueur, is served cold or over ice to finish a meal.
• FishLook for fish and rice cooked simply; bullit de peix is the island dish worth trying once.

From the airport

Ibiza Airport lies about 15.3 km in a straight line from Cala Llonga, to the south-west, near the island's southern shore. The road route runs by way of the main east-coast road, and the drive is short outside peak hours. In July and August, and on summer weekends, the same journey can take much longer. Allow for that when meeting a flight or catching a ferry onwards. The airport sits in Sant Josep de sa Talaia, on the other side of Eivissa.

Buses link the airport with Ibiza Town and the larger east-coast towns, and from those points a local service reaches the bay. Timetables change with the season, with far fewer buses between November and April, so check the island bus operator for current lines and times before travelling. Taxis and pre-booked transfers are simpler with luggage or children, though supply is stretched in high summer and evening waits can be long.

Getting around the island

A car makes the east coast much easier: the island's sights are spread out and the coves to the north reward a drive. Roads are good, but parking near popular beaches fills early in summer. Bikes and scooters work for short hops along the coast road and are best kept off the main through routes. The bus network covers the larger towns and the airport, with more lines in summer and fewer in winter.

Within Cala Llonga itself, walking covers everything. The bay is compact, the beach and the few shops sit close together, and the lanes behind are steep enough to make a car unnecessary for daily needs. For anything beyond that, plan around the bus or the car rather than assuming the next resort can be reached on foot. The coast road north towards Es Canar and Santa Eulària is the axis for everything.

• On footThe bay is small enough to cross in minutes, so daily needs do not require a vehicle.
• By busServices connect the bay with Santa Eulària and the airport; check seasonal timetables.
• By carUseful for the northern coves and Dalt Vila; parking near the beach fills early in summer.
• By bikeThe coast road is short and mostly gentle, but the lanes up the valley climb.

Seasons, closures and visiting lightly

The season runs roughly from May to October. July and August are the busiest and the hottest, and the beach fills by mid-morning. June and September are the better months: the sea is warm, the light is long and the bay is quieter. Typical sea temperatures run around 18 to 19 °C in May, 22 to 23 °C in June and 25 to 26 °C in August, so swimming stays comfortable into autumn.

Outside the season much of the resort closes, roughly from November to April. Hotels, beach bars and boat trips shut, and many restaurants do too; the towns of Eivissa and Santa Eulària stay open all year. Winter is quiet, sometimes wet, and the bay belongs to residents. Plan around the towns for food and accept that some coastal paths and businesses will be unavailable. Check what is open before booking outside the summer.

The inlet sits within reach of the Posidonia oceanica meadows that keep this coast clear, and those meadows are protected by a Balearic decree. Anchor over sand, use a mooring buoy where one is installed in summer, and never drag a chain through seagrass. Take your litter off the beach and use the bins. Water is scarce on these islands, so keep showers short and ask before towels are changed.