Skin care is essential, and on holiday we might not think about it enough. Also, if you’re spending time on beaches, your body is even more exposed to the sun. If you’re lucky enough to be in Ibiza, there are many beaches and coves that you won’t want to miss. The first piece of advice we give you is to protect yourself with the appropriate creams, and the second is to take advantage of a natural resource that’s right in the middle of nature and free of charge: mud.
Some coves in Ibiza offer mud, a substance that bathers use to cover their bodies completely. This practice is said to leave your skin smoother and more hydrated. Mud can be used by young and old alike, as it eliminates impurities and can even help the joints due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The mud’s absorption benefits and the stimulating effect of the minerals it contains are a real gift for the skin. We should point out there is a certain amount of scepticism about these properties, so it’s best to try it out for yourself.
- Mud bath at Aigües Blanques beach
- The cala de Es Bol Nou and its reddish mud
- The muds of Cala Xarraca
Discover the most famous places to get a complete treatment
Mud bath at Aigües Blanques beach
This famous beach is located in Santa Eulalia del Río, in the eastern part of Ibiza. The golden sand that appears before your eyes, once you go down the ramp between the cliffs, makes it an ideal place for couples. It’s isolated, quiet, and highly recommended for those interested in practising nudism.
Aigües Blanques also receives many visitors eager to take a mud bath. On the cliffs surrounding the beach, the walls are made up of a grey-coloured mineral. With a bottle of water in your hand, wet the rock and form the mud with which you will cover your skin, which is said to have regenerative effects
It’s very common to see bathers on the shore waiting for the mud to dry in the sun, and then diving into the sea to wash it off. It’s a perfect beach for an intimate and romantic day, especially in the early hours when it’s quieter.
The best way to get there is by car from San Carlos, following the signs on a narrow road. You need to pay to enter the nearest car park, but there’s a free one a little further away. You can only access the beach on foot, but the walk is well worth it.
The cala de Es Bol Nou and its reddish mud
This small cove is also known as El Rincón del Marino and is located in the southern part of the island. It’s one of the best known among those from Ibiza. It is easy to access and is just below a cliff and stands out for its clear waters that are among the favourites of fans of snorkelling or scuba diving.
Within walking distance there’s an excellent restaurant, Sa Caleta, specialising in rice and fish dishes based on local recipes. Another attraction of Es Bol Nou is the Phoenician settlement of Sa Caleta, one of the first permanent settlements on Ibiza.
In addition to this is the beach’s main star, a mud of a typical reddish colour that you can get by wetting the walls of the cliffs. Smear it on yourself and stroll to the Phoenician site of Sa Caleta while it dries and the skin absorbs its properties. Afterwards, all you have to do is take a dip to wash off the mud and feel refreshed. Don’t leave the cove without admiring a curious cavity in the rock, between the cliffs, used as a viewpoint to take a unique photo of the coast.
To get to Es Bol Nou, you’ll have to drive in the direction of the airport and take the turning to Can Tomás, following the signs to Cala Jondal and Sa Caleta. There’s a fairly large car park where you can usually park without a problem.
The muds of Cala Xarraca
This is one of the most popular beaches in the north of Ibiza among scuba diving enthusiasts, due to its crystal-clear waters. It’s divided into two parts. A larger part protected by a cliff, in front of the Cala Xarraca restaurant that will serve you delicious typical dishes from Ibiza. The other part is reached by a path on the left-hand side, a more secret corner where people usually practise nudism.
Right in this hidden area is where you can get the famous mud by pouring a little water on the rocks of the cliffs. As this is a nudist area, you can take the opportunity to cover your whole body without any inhibitions and lie in the sun while the mud works on your skin.
In front of the cove, there is a small islet that you can reach by swimming. Take the opportunity to snorkel and marvel at the wealth of marine fauna in these waters. You can also find the curious varaderos, typical fishermen’s huts with concrete platforms, on this beach, where the most daring jump from a height of three metres into the sea.
To get to Cala Xarraca you have to follow the road to Portinatx and take the turn-off at kilometre 17, which is signposted. Parking is not usually a problem and accessing the beach is easy.
Beware of advertising on the islet of Espalmador
Until recently, many people used to go to the small island of Espalmador, located to the north of Formentera, just half an hour by boat from Ibiza, to bathe in a small muddy lagoon and get covered in mud. This was made popular by a well-known scene in the film Sex and Lucía.
Espalmador is part of the Ses Salinas Natural Park and nowadays bathing in this way is totally forbidden and punishable. Firstly, it’s unhealthy as the water is stagnant and can be dangerous for our bodies. And secondly, but by no means less importantly, it can seriously affect the place’s biodiversity.
Any advertising or information that encourages bathing in this place is completely misleading, although it’s worth visiting the island and admiring the incredible natural environment.
Enjoy the benefits of mud only on the permitted beaches and respect these spectacular spaces at all times. Don’t leave Ibiza without giving your skin this little gift.
