There’s so much to see in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia (or San José in Spanish) that a few days’ holiday probably won’t be enough to discover its main attractions. There’s something for everyone, ranging from some of Ibiza’s most spectacular beaches to a rich historical and cultural heritage.
Of course, there’s also room for fun, for cuisine and even for shopping in an authentic handicraft hippie market. It’s as if this corner of the planet is stuck in the 60s and 70s…
We list some of the essential places to see in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia. Always with the knowledge that there’s much more to discover. Starting with the island’s airport, which is located in this municipality.
- San José or Sant Josep de Sa Talaia, in Ibiza
- The defensive towers of San José
- Ses Salines Natural Park
- Cala Conta
- Cala d’Hort
- Es Bol Nou
- Port des Torrent
- Cova Santa
- Platja d’en Bossa hippie market
San José or Sant Josep de Sa Talaia, in Ibiza
San José (or Sant Josep de Sa Talaia) is one of the prettiest villages in Ibiza. It’s certainly one of the villages that has best preserved its rural style and many of its houses still have their typical peasant architecture.
Its main distinguishing feature is that it’s the highest village on the island, situated 475 metres above sea level. So, in a way, it’s a great vantage point from which to make out a good part of the island’s stunning scenery.
Among the places not to be missed is the parish church, dating from the 18th century, that houses a remarkable Baroque altar made of wood inside its walls.
San José is also a very lovely place to have an aperitif, especially in the terraces located in the streets around the parish church.
The defensive towers of San José
Sant Josep is not only the largest municipality in Ibiza. It’s also the one with the most kilometres of coastline: 84 kilometres to be exact. In order to control such an expanse of land, several defensive towers were built in past centuries, which are a common sight along the coasts of the Mediterranean.
Many of them are still standing and are certainly among the most interesting heritage sites to see in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia. Here are some of them:
- Torre del Pirata: it’s located above Cala d’Hort. Its surroundings offer one of the most iconic images of Ibiza, with the islets of Es Vedrá and Es Vedranell in the background.
- En Rovira: it’s on the Comte Beaches.
- Torre de Carregador: in past centuries it protected the surroundings of Ses Salines.
Ses Salines Natural Park
This protected area is without a doubt one of the most spectacular places to see in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia. The surface area of Ses Salines Natural Park, moreover, isn’t confined to this municipality alone, nor even to the island of Ibiza, but extends to the salt flats of neighbouring Formentera and the part of the sea that separates them.
Therefore, this park is home to several habitats of particular importance for the preservation of all kinds of terrestrial species, birds, and marine fauna and flora. Including the extremely valuable (and threatened) posidonia seagrass meadows.
Cala Conta
Cala Conta, one of the most beautiful beaches to see in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia, is also one of the most popular in Ibiza. It’s part of the group of coastal sandy beaches known as the Comte Beaches (Platges de Compte) and is located on the northwestern tip of the island, just in front of the islet of Ses Punxes and the islands of Bosc and Conejera.
Cala d’Hort
The reason why the small Cala d’Hort (internal link) is one of the most recommended places to see in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia is because it’s also one of the best viewpoints to admire the iconic (and almost magical) islets of Es Vedrá and Es Vedranell.
Outside the summer season, it’s one of the most peaceful places on the island, and one of the most recommendable for swimming, even for much of the autumn.
Es Bol Nou
Es Bol Nou is another of the many small coves scattered along this municipality. It’s very close to Sa Caleta, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in Ibiza and one of the best places to see in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia.
It’s a beach with a family atmosphere that’s very popular with the locals, who smear themselves with the red clay found on one of its cliffs, which acts as an effective exfoliator.
Port des Torrent
Next to this natural harbour is one of the larger sandy beaches (especially in terms of width) in the municipality of San Josep de Sa Talaia. For this reason, a tourist complex has been built around it, with many restaurants, shops, and accommodation of all kinds.
In summer it’s one of the most crowded beaches on the island, but as it’s one of the most sheltered from currents and tides, it’s also considered one of the safest and most pleasant for swimming.
Cova Santa
This cave, excavated by nature over millennia, has spectacular formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Cova Santa is also one of the most recommended places to visit in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia because of its prestigious restaurant (Espai Kru), where they make a praiseworthy commitment to quality produce.
Cova Santa is also interesting for its lounge area, where themed parties are held, which are among the most lively and popular on the island.
Platja d’en Bossa hippie market
This is one of the most recent hippie markets to have sprung up in Ibiza (it opened in 2008), but in such a short time it has also become one of the most interesting things to see in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia. Above all, because unlike other markets of this type, this one is held daily, every afternoon until midnight.
There are not only items related to the hippie world or Adlib fashion for sale, but also all kinds of handicrafts and food products.
