Ses Balandres

What makes Ses Balandres special

About 2 kilometres north of the village of Santa Agnès de Corona lies Ses Balandres. This cove on the north-west coast of Ibiza belongs to the municipality of Sant Antoni de Portmany. Beneath high cliffs you’ll find a narrow strip of pebbles and a little sand. Just offshore are the rocky islets of Ses Margalides, with a low rock arch.

On the western side of the cove stands a row of fishermen’s huts: simple boathouses, some of them made by building walls across natural hollows in the rock. This is where fishermen hauled their boats, the llaüts, up onto dry land. Everything they needed had to be carried down the steep cliff and back up again.

What you can do here

• Snorkel over the rocky seabed when the sea is calm.
• Take photos: the cliffs, the fishermen’s huts and Ses Margalides.
• Rest on the rocks before you start the climb back up.

The descent

Allow 45 to 60 minutes to get down. The path is narrow and steep, with wooden steps, a ladder and ropes. The ladder and ropes were put there by local fishermen; check them before you rely on them. The last section is a rock face of about 15 metres that you climb down with the help of a rope.

Getting there and parking

• Drive to Santa Agnès de Corona. Park in the car park behind the Sa Palmera restaurant, or by the Pou de Corona well, about 500 metres further on.
• At the Pou de Corona, turn right and follow the dirt track uphill, past three white houses and a meadow.
• At the end of the track you’ll see a narrow gap between the rocks. That’s where the descent begins.
• On the way down you’ll come to ropes three or four times; the last section is the rock face of about 15 metres.

Facilities

There are no facilities: no bar or café, no drinking water and no toilet. You may have no mobile signal down at the cove.

Tips for your visit

• Wear sturdy walking boots; trainers, flip-flops and sandals aren’t suitable.
• Carry a rucksack so that you have both hands free.
• Bring plenty of water and food, including for the tough climb back up.
• Never go alone, and tell someone where you’re going.
• Set off in good time; climbing back up in the midday heat or in the dark is hard going.