Wild Ibiza: Flamingos, Seagrass and Es Vedrà

Ibiza’s wild side, from the flamingos of the Ses Salines natural park and the Posidonia seagrass meadows of the UNESCO World Heritage site to the nature reserve of Es Vedrà and the western islets, with a directory of the places in our guide. Facts from the Govern de les Illes Balears and UNESCO.

Away from the clubs, Ibiza keeps a quieter, wilder side. In the south, flamingos feed on the salt pans of Ses Salines; under the clear water between Ibiza and Formentera lie the seagrass meadows that UNESCO protects; and off the west coast, the great rock of Es Vedrà is a nature reserve, home to the Ibiza wall lizard, which lives only on Ibiza, Formentera and their islets.

This is a short guide: most of it is a short drive from Ibiza town, and best at the ends of the day.

Ses Salines: flamingos and dunes

The salt pans lie within the Parc Natural de ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera, created by law in 2001, which protects the salt pans, the beaches of Ses Salines and Es Cavallet, the islets between the two islands and the Posidonia meadows. Flamingos can be seen almost all year round on the ponds, best at the end of summer and in autumn. Keep to the marked paths across the dunes.

Es Vedrà and the seagrass

Es Vedrà rises 382 metres from the sea, in the Govern’s words. With Es Vedranell and the western islets it is a nature reserve, reached only by sea, and landing is not allowed without authorisation; the classic view is from the cliffs above Cala d’Hort at sunset. Under the water, the Posidonia meadows between Ibiza and Formentera are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture”, inscribed in 1999.

Under the Balearic Decree 25/2018, uncontrolled anchoring on the Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows is generally prohibited; anchor on sand or use the authorised buoy fields.

Feature: the Balearic shearwater

The Balearic shearwater is a small, brown-and-white seabird that spends its life over the open sea and comes ashore only to nest, in burrows and caves in the cliffs along the northern coasts of the islands. The Balearics are its only nesting area in the world, and it is listed as Critically Endangered, one of the most threatened seabirds anywhere.

Look for it from boats and headlands, skimming low over the waves; at night near its colonies, keep lights low.

Did you know? The Balearic shearwater nests nowhere in the world but the Balearic Islands.

The seagrass meadows between Ibiza and Formentera are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Our advice

Our advice: visit Ses Salines early or late for the flamingos, with binoculars; watch the sunset over Es Vedrà from the cliffs rather than trying to land; and anchor only on sand or at the buoy fields. Never feed the lizards or other wildlife, and take your rubbish home.