A small Balearic island – with a very famous big sister – does a good impression of the Maldives, say those who love it, only without the ten-hour schlep to get there.
Ibiza’s tiny little sibling, Formentera, offers those in the know the same balmy weather, swaying palms and transparent blue waters as the Indian Ocean honeymoon paradise.
The island is just 12 miles long and a mile-and-a-half wide at its narrowest point and there’s little to do apart from eat, drink and enjoy the soft sand beaches.
And when it comes to dining, prices are significantly cheaper than the more bougie Maldivian restaurants, where tourists pay a premium for import costs on much of the food and drink served up.
A meal in a simple restaurant is likely to cost you around £12, compared to the more gourmet offerings plated up in Maldivian resorts.
Lonely Planet describes the European island, beloved of Kate Moss in the 90s, as a ‘beautifully pure, get-away-from-it-all-escape’.
The travel guide adds: ‘Formentera’s pace of life is blissfully languid, designed for lazy days spent lounging on some of Europe’s (dare we say the world’s) most exquisite beaches.’
Holidaymakers won’t find Ibiza’s clubbing atmosphere here but they will find a peaceful escape.
A spit of white sand and azure blue waters is giving the Maldives…but this is actually a tiny Balearic island just off Ibiza
The crystalline beaches of Formentera, a 30 minute ferry ride from Ibiza, come with water so blue it could easily fool people into thinking it might be a Maldivian proposition
Which beaches on the island can rival the Maldives for alabaster sands and clear waters? There’s plenty.
Playa de Ses Illetes is Formentera’s best known beach and it’s even picked up a Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award.
The coastal spot is located within the Ses Salines National Park and has white sand with bright turquoise water.
Tourist ‘Niky B’ writes on Tripadvisor: ‘Superb beach worthy of the Caribbean! Take a nice picnic with you and you will not regret.’
Another person added: ‘It’s the beach. Listed as one of the best in the world, its crystal clear waters, fine and surroundings make it undoubtedly worthy of five stars.’
Platja de Migjorn is also considered one of the island’s prettiest beaches. The longest beach on the island it stretches across 5km.
Traveller ‘Cathy C’ writes on Tripadvisor: ‘The sea here is clean and beautiful. Some areas are rocky but there are plenty of sandy areas with easy access to the sea.’
And when it comes to another popular pursuit in the Maldives, diving, you’ll find plenty of it on the Balearic isle.
And dining out on the island is reasonable, with a beer costing around £3 a pint, compared to £6 to £11 in the Maldives (Pictured: The tourist resort of Es Pujols in Formentera)
Playa de Ses Illetes is Formentera’s best known beach and it’s even picked up a Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award
Scuba divers can explore the Don Pedro, one of the world’s most famous shipwrecks. The cargo ship is over 140m long and can be visited on dives.
Tourists will need to fly to Ibiza to get to Formentera with direct flights available on British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2.
They can then catch a ferry from Ibiza. Ferries tend to run frequently and take around 30 minutes.
In July and August, the temperature averages 26 degrees on the island with minimal sunshine and sun for around 11 hours a day.
The average temperature is usually above 20 degrees in May, June, September and October as well.
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