IBIZA — THE BIG SISTER
I start my island-hopping experience on board the compact
26 metre Lex at Ma r i n a I bi z a , wher e t he q u ay i s l i ne d w it h de si g ner
boutiques and buzzing bars. Set across the bay from Ibiza’s Old
Town, this luxe marina is perfectly poised to take in views of
the city, especially spectacular when the sunset paints it orange.
At the end of the quay is Club Lio, a coveted spot to enjoy the view
with a seafood dinner and cabaret show. Lio later transforms
into a nightclub – and fortunately it’s only a short hobble in high
heels back to the yacht.
“People love Marina Ibiza and being near Club Lio – everyone
wants a reservation there,” says Burgess charter broker Aline
Serret. “But it might soon be rivalled by Sovren Ibiza, located right
in front of the Old Town. The new marina will be up and running
this summer for yachts from 60 metres up to 185 metres and is set
to become the hippest marina in Ibiza.”
The next morning it’s an easy cruise to a number of lovely
beaches and harbours, to recover or to continue the party. We
drop anchor at Cala Jondal, a rocky shore home to the Blue Marlin
beach club, which hosts rollicking Sunday parties. Superyachts
line up in the long bay and the music carries over the water.
The entire southern coast of Ibiza is dotted with lovely little
spots to drop anchor. Porroig is a pretty bay, framed by gently
sloping hills, where we play with water toys. Around the corner
lies Es Cubells, a quiet beach crowned by a cliftop village that
seems lost in time and passed over by Ibiza’s hectic summer
season crowd. A road leads from the beach up the delightfully
un-touristy village, which has a rural feeling, and makes an ideal
outing with its whitewashed church, cafés for a cold cerveza
and dramatic views.
Just on from here is the fa bled Es Vedrà. R ising out of the water
to 400 metres, this tiny but towering rocky island is said to be the
most magnetic point on Earth, after the North Pole and Bermuda
Triangle. “The best place to watch the sunset in Ibiza is from a
yacht of Es Vedrà – they say it’s a magical place and it certainly
has the most magical sunset views,” says Lex’s cha r ter m a na ger
and Ibiza local Judith Estrella, of
Charter & Dreams.
As darkness falls, I wander the
narrow cobbled streets of Ibiza’s
historic and UNESCO-protected
Old Town (or Dalt Vila as the
locals know it). Ibiza is replete
with international fine-dining fare
from Nobu to Cipriani. We opt for
the eclectically decorated privateSunset brings the promise of fine
dining and a raucous nightlife,
which doesn’t really get going
until well after midnight.
Right: Ibiza originated as a
hang-out for hippies in the 1960s