Cala Xarraca swing

What makes the Cala Xarraca swing special

On the north coast of Ibiza, in the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja, lies the cove of Cala Xarraca. From the beach you’ll see a jagged outcrop of rock on the far right. On the right-hand side of those rocks stands a cluster of traditional fishermen’s huts, on a small stretch of shore separate from the main beach. The exact spot is shown on the map.

Right at the tip, there’s sometimes a rope that serves as a swing. It’s just a simple rope, not a purpose-built attraction, but it has become a well-known photo spot.

Note: the swing isn’t always there

The rope disappears regularly: it snaps, gets taken down or comes loose. Usually someone puts up a new one after a while, but nobody officially maintains it. So don’t count on the swing being there when you visit. And never blindly trust a rope when you don’t know how old it is.

How to reach the swing

There are two ways. You can swim to the rope from the fishermen’s huts, or grab it from the rock ledge above and lower yourself down slowly. Either way you’ll get wet, so come in your swimwear.

Getting there and parking

You can park at the roadside, in a lay-by at the map point ‘Xarraca Colum’. From there it’s a walk of 5 to 10 minutes along a simple path to the fishermen’s huts and the swing.

Facilities

There are no facilities at the fishermen’s huts or the swing. There’s a restaurant on the main beach at Cala Xarraca; check before you go whether it’s open at the time of your visit.

Tips for your visit

• Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, it’s usually quieter at the swing.
• Use a waterproof pouch if you take your phone into the water.
• Water shoes give you grip on the sharp, slippery rocks.
• The fishermen’s huts aren’t a public facility: leave them alone and don’t climb on them.