ES VEDRÀ, IBIZA: WHERE ODYSSEUS LOST HIS WAY

The mysterious Es Vedrà

So it’s the middle of winter and you’ve decided to head off to Ibiza. In fact you’re there already. You’ll surely want to come back! How to make sure you will? Ibicenco custom obliges you to
ritually go visit Es Vedrà at the end of your stay to be sure you’ll return.

by Jack Wright

If Ibiza is a global favorite with savvy travellers – and the height of aspiration for the would-be – it’s obviously because it’s an enchanting white island where natural wonders abound: 100 miles of coastline and 50 sandy beaches, coves and caves, turquoise sea, sun that turns magical at sunset, palm trees that evoke the tropics in the middle of Europe . . .  And they don’t fade into hibernation just because it’s winter and the hectic crowds have jumped ship from Europe’s Party Central!

That’s what makes Ibiza awesome in winter. Think about it; the stunning island is all yours! Well, not quite. You’ll be sharing it with a few kindred spirits. Those atypical Ibiza diehards who love the quiet! In a romantic tableau. And not sedentary all the way either. Ibiza terrain is perfect for hiking, cycling, sailing. . .  –Never mind dining at restaurants that dish up local and international gourmet fare and incredible views, soaking up the winter sun and simply watching the power of the winter sea as it smashes against the imperturbable rocks on and off shore.

Clubbing and music are essential to Ibiza life. Even in winter!

There’s an increasing number of fine hotels and agroturimos staying open all year round. Hotel Ocean Drive, a favorite with the DJ jet set in the fashionable Marina Botafoch area, is only a few minutes from Ibiza Town. Es Tull is in a countryside setting with breathtaking views not only of the sea but also of the remarkable 16th century fortified town of Dalt Vila, a UNESCO Hertiage Site. There’s delightful village life at, say, Santa Gertrudis complete with live goats and sheep and the island’s only dairy cow, and of course its cluster of bars, restaurants and shops. The iconic Atzarro in the countryside is surrounded by orange grroves!

Clubbing and music are essential to Ibiza life. Even in winter! You’ll get plenty of resident DJ sountracks at La Escolera. Nassau Beach Club is a perfect seaside hangout as well as a perfect place to party on the idyllic Playa d’en Bossa. Cotton Beach Club on Ibiza’s southwestern coast, and offering what the Club itself describes as “jaw-dropping views across the Mediterranean,” offers the holidaymakers the chance to mount their own private parties.

Obviously, these are but three of the numerous all-year round venues for music and partying.

So it’s the middle of winter and you’ve decided to head off to Ibiza. In fact you’re there already. You’ll surely want to come back! How to make sure you will? Ibicenco custom obliges you to ritually go visit Es Vedrà at the end of your stay to be sure you’ll return.

Cala d’Hort

Part of Cala d’Hort on the southwestern seaboard of Ibiza, Es Vedrá is shrouded in myths and legends. One such states that it’s the tip of the Atlantis. It is also said to have healing powers and emit creative energy. It is alleged to be the home of sea nymphs and sirens, the mermaid island where Odysseus got lost. And that it’s the third most magnetic spot on earth, next only to the North Pole and the Bermuda Triangle,  so much so that navigational instruments go awry around the mysterious island even though the fact is that it has no magnetic metal deposits.

Uninhabited by humans, the limestone rock island soars nearly 1,500 feet above sea level. Whatever it actually possesses, Es Vedrà is undoubtedly a beautiful island, majestic and mysterious at sunset, sending quite a number of visitors into romantic paroxysm. Some swear it has palpable magnetic vibes.

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Images
Featured image/Jordi nll, cc by-sa2.0
Cocktail/DaYsO on Unsplash
Cala d’Hort/Joseph a.k.a. x<monich, cc by-sa2.0