The Costa Fortuna docks at the Es Botafoch pier, on the very outside of the wide bay of Eivissa. It is more than three kilometers to Estación Marítima near the city center, where the ferry to Formentera docks.
Ibiza town with the cathedral Santa Maria de las Nieves
From the Botafoch pier, however, you have a particularly good view of the old town opposite, the mighty fortress walls and the cathedral.
Drive through rural Ibiza
We have already rented a car in Germany, which we pick up opposite the Estación Marítima. The port bus, which regularly commutes between the piers, takes us there. We get a spacious car that offers a good view of the road. On our plan for today is a drive through the northern part of Ibiza. You can find detailed information on this in our article Road trip through the north of Ibiza. As soon as we leave the suburbs of Eivissa it becomes very rural.
In sunny weather we drive through a hilly landscape with red earth, olive trees, grapevines and beautiful wild flowers. Ibiza has to be a paradise for bees.
Picturesque bays and crystal clear water
We drive to Port de Sant Miquel, Cala Xaracca and Portinatx. The bays are picturesquely between rocks, the water is crystal clear. We make our first rest in Sant Joan de Labritja. It is a small place with a remarkable church from the 18th century. We continue to Cala San Vicent and Es Figueral. Here, too, the beaches are well-kept, the water is clear and shimmers in shades of blue, green and silver.
Port of Sant Miquel
With Sant Carles de Peralta we reach a small place that was the center of the hippie movement in the 1970s. There are still some hippies here, including shops selling clothes that are so typical of that time. However, much more perfect and stylish than before.
On the Puig de Missa
In Santa Eulàlia we climb the Puig de Missa. On this hill is the Parròquia de Santa Eulàlia, an old parish church. In addition, the view of the sea from above is very nice. Both the Puig de Missa and the church should not be missed.
The Parroquia de Santa Eulàlia
We will be back at Es Botafoch jetty around 17:30pm We really enjoyed the road trip through Ibiza's north. We drove around 100 kilometers.
On the Costa Fortuna we experience something very rare - for a cruise ship. All restaurants are closed between 17:00pm and 18:45pm There is absolutely nothing to eat unless we try to use room service. So we loot the fruit basket in our cabin and set off again. Eivissa is already waiting for us.
In the old town of Ibiza
We return the car and walk to the old town. First to the bastions of the mighty fortress in the upper town of Dalt Vila. We watch the MSC Fantasia cast off in Botafoch and take off across the sea. Then we continue up to the cathedral. Little has changed high up in the old town of Eivissa. The streets are still quiet and the investment boom does not seem to have arrived here.
But it starts halfway down. One restaurant is next to the other in the alleys and in the squares. In between there are boutiques and the old Ibiza style is still popular. At the harbor we stroll through the extensive gastronomic scene. Everything looks very appealing and inviting. We sat outside in a bar and looked at the people. For many of them, it still seems to be the time of the hippie movement.
Evening mood in Ibiza town
We take a taxi back to the ship late. It's more than three kilometers, after all, and we don't want to go that route.
