I was sitting under a camel-hair tent on the beach in Formentera, hiding from the hot Mediterranean sun. Next to me was a young woman from Atlanta, typing poems on an old typewriter. She asked me to give her a random word for her poem. Nearby, a German woman in a goddess-style dress was talking about breathwork. An artist in a crocheted bikini walked by and asked for help dragging a metal sign into the sea that read “SAVE ME.”
I smiled, realizing I had found the true spirit of Formentera—a calm, beautiful island just south of Ibiza. It doesn’t have big nightclubs like Ibiza. Instead, it has sandy beaches, pine trees, and peaceful coves. For over 50 years, artists, musicians, and creative people have been coming here for a quiet escape.
Famous people like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell once visited the island. In fact, Joni’s visit inspired her album Blue. Designers like Philippe Starck also came and built stylish beach homes. Starck called Formentera a “paradise in the middle of Europe.”
I stayed at Can 7, an artist’s retreat on a quiet beach. Even though it was summer, there were hardly any tourists—just a few people swimming nude in the clear blue water. I went for a swim and felt calm and refreshed. Later, I learned the water is so clear because of special sea grass, which is over 100,000 years old and protected by UNESCO.
The land was dry and dusty but had a beautiful pink glow. As I explored the island, I saw old trees, stone walls, and ancient windmills. Most people used to visit Formentera just for the day from Ibiza, but now new stylish hotels are attracting people to stay longer.
One of these new places is Teranka Formentera, surrounded by pine trees with a pool, rooftop bar, and beachside restaurant. I had lunch there with my boyfriend—we ate fresh burrata and tomato salad while watching stylish guests enjoy the sun.
We also visited Dunas de Formentera, an eco-friendly hotel near the sea. The bungalows look like they are part of the dunes, shaded by trees shaped by the wind. It felt like something out of a fairytale. After a photo shoot on the beach, a waiter magically appeared with two fresh mojitos.
Our room was designed using natural materials like clay and wood. There was even a timer to remind guests to take shorter showers to save water. The next morning, I had watermelon juice by the pool with Maria, the hotel manager. She told me the island’s grapes were never affected by a disease that once hit Europe, so their wine remains pure.
Formentera felt like a hidden, safe place—protected by the sea. On our last night, we went back to Can 7 for a party.