The popularity of vacation destinations often fluctuates: one minute an unknown Greek island appears on your Instagram feed, the next minute you know you’re in Albania or Ischia, spending two weeks sunbathing in British Columbia instead.
Not Ibiza, however. Ever since the young Princess Caroline holed up at the original Montesol Hotel (now known as the Montesol Experimental Hotel after a glamorous renovation) and Freddie Mercury hosted his birthday party on the Pike, the island has been at the top of your travel list. Apart from the fiasco of Fiji Unconquered in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the White Island has always been fashionable.
Still, that’s far from the only attraction of the Balearic Islands, especially this year. Yes, superyachts continue to enter Marina Magna with the grace of an oyster bursting from its shell at Casa Jondal, but some of this season’s high-profile holidaymakers have jetted off to Ibiza’s smaller, quieter southern neighbour – Kendall Jenner being one of them.
In August, the supermodel wore The Row flip-flops and headed to the coast of Formentera to enjoy a lazy seafood lunch with friends at Es Molly de Sal, overlooking the pink sand beach of Ses Illetes. Perhaps she also took the opportunity to visit Sabato de Sarno there. Earlier this year, the Gucci creative director featured Kendall in the Valigeria campaign on vacation to Formentera with her husband and parents, an experience that inspired his Spring 2025 collection (one can definitely see Kanye rocking the look).
Formentera has always had the same wild beauty as its siblings, but it’s also filled with tales of the 1970s counterculture (Joni Mitchell wrote “Blue” here). Several luxury hotels now invite vacationers to consider it a destination rather than a day-trip area (accessible only by boat, a 30-minute ferry ride from Ibiza). Pacha arrives in 2021, not with a superclub, but with Casa Pacha, a low-key, 14-suite hideaway that reflects the island’s decidedly non-glam vibe. Meanwhile, the newly opened Dunas de Formentera, with stunning views and spacious suites, has an “eco-luxury” ethos that recognizes the importance of protecting this magical island’s unique natural environment.
Then there’s the small but sophisticated Teranka, nestled in a pine forest behind Migjorn beach. Rustic chic doesn’t do justice to this bohemian sanctuary, it’s as if you’ve just stepped into a Balearic-style interior shoot, from the natural wood in the lobby to the coconut fibre umbrellas, lots of greenery and citrus-filled fruit bowl. This boutique hotel is owned by Luxury Hotel Partners, the same group behind the famous Isabella Club, and clearly the same thought, care and attention to detail has been put into it. The offerings in the bathrooms are Le Labo, the breakfast buffet is delicious (they fed me on a “Bloody Mary station”), and every time you eat you find yourself turning around to see where each china plate or glass is – no standard white coffee cups here.
With its secluded location and beautiful surroundings, Tranca is the ideal place to relax and unwind, focusing on natural and intimate wellness. The hotel has an outdoor gym and yoga deck on the beach, as well as free use of canoes, paddle boards and snorkelling gear. The hotel also offers guests a rolling calendar of free activities such as SUP yoga, Pilates and watercolour painting. If you’re really keen to get back on your feet, Tranca will create a retreat tailored to your specific needs, from wild swimming at sunrise to stargazing, forest walks and ice baths after dark. (Of course, if your idea of self-care revolves around sunsets rather than body breathing, the same applies to you too – start with Sangria de la Casa.)
The hotel’s electric bikes are a great way to explore the rest of the island, from the salt flats of Ses Salinas (keep an eye out for flamingos), the hippie market of La Savina Port to the shops and breakfast nooks of the St. Francis branch. If you want a lazy lunch, Kendall-style, you can’t go bad with the Gecko Beach Club (frequented by longtime Formentera fan Kate Moss), Chez Gerdi (where Noel Gallagher brings the kids for pizza) or island establishment Juan y Andrea (the food is mediocre, but the crowd is top-notch). When you’ve finished the tour, insiders will tell you that the best seafood on the island can be found at Es Codol Foradat, where the Corvina Gilda is just as stunning as the views here.
