A natural park with thousands of years of history
The salt ponds of Ibiza are not just a protected natural space: they are a cultural landscape that has been worked by humans since the Phoenician era, over two thousand five hundred years ago. The Phoenicians already extracted salt here to preserve food and trade throughout the Mediterranean, and the Romans continued the tradition.
Today, the Ibiza Salt Ponds continue to produce salt artisanally, and the natural park surrounding them is one of the most valuable ecosystems in the western Mediterranean. Walking here is literally walking through the history of our island.
The route through the salt ponds
The main route through the park begins at the car park of Ses Salines beach, in the south of the island. From here a trail starts that runs along the salt evaporation ponds, those enormous rectangular basins where seawater evaporates slowly under the sun until leaving a layer of white crystalline salt.
Depending on the time of year, the ponds change color in a spectacular way:
- Turquoise: when filled with fresh seawater
- Pink and violet: due to the halophilic bacterium Dunaliella salina
- Intense red: in the final stages of salt crystallization
It's a unique visual spectacle that looks like it's from another planet.
The birds of the park
Flamingos, undisputed stars
If you're a birdwatching enthusiast, Ses Salines is a true paradise. The park is a passage and resting area for hundreds of migratory bird species. The undisputed stars are the flamingos, which can be seen practically all year round, especially between August and March.
Seeing a group of pink flamingos feeding peacefully in the salt ponds, with the Mediterranean Sea in the background, is an image you won't easily forget.
Other species you'll find
- Stilts and plovers on the edges of the ponds
- Cormorants drying their wings on the rocks
- Grey herons fishing in shallow waters
- Osprey eagles flying over the area (if you're lucky)
Tip for birdwatchers: bring binoculars and visit the park early in the morning or at sunset, when birds are most active. There are several observation points with information panels about the different species.
The path to Ses Portes Tower
From the salt ponds, the trail continues south along the coast to Es Cavallet Beach. This long, open beach, protected by dunes and low vegetation, is one of the most natural beaches in Ibiza.
Behind the dunes grow sabina trees (juniper), junipers and sea lilies that bloom in summer with their white fragrant flowers. The walk along the beach is long and very pleasant, with fine sand underfoot and the view of Formentera ahead, so close it seems you could swim there.
At the end of Es Cavallet, a dirt path leads to the Ses Portes headland, where an eighteenth-century defensive tower stands. From here the views are exceptional: the s'Espalmador islet, the Formentera coast, the Es Penjats islets with their lighthouse, and the open sea stretching to the horizon.
Practical information
- Distance: 10 km (round trip)
- Difficulty: Low, completely flat and suitable for all ages
- Duration: 3 hours at a leisurely pace
- Best time: August to March for flamingos; year-round for the landscape
- Shade: Scarce, sunscreen and hat essential
- Price: Free entry, open all year
- Refreshments: Beach bars at Ses Salines beach