Latest news with #Formentera
The Sun
18 hours ago
- The Sun
Brit woman, 39, vanishes at sea after hiring 15ft boat on paradise island Formentera as police launch major search
A MAJOR search is underway in Spain for a Brit woman who vanished after hiring a boat on the island of Formentera. The alarm was raised on Wednesday evening when she failed to return a motor boat she hired earlier that day. 2 Spanish coastguard officers used a search and rescue helicopter in the operation along with two coastguard vessels. One was mobilised from Ibiza, while the other combed the coastline off Formentera - the smallest of the inhabited Balearic Islands. Civil Guard officers are also understood to be conducting a land search. The search was expected to continue first thing this morning, but officials could not immediately be reached for comment. The missing Brit is reported to have hired a boat and left for "a quick boat ride" from Formentera port La Salina in on Wednesday afternoon. The rental firm is understood to have taken part in yesterday's search. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Mystery as British woman, 39, disappears after hiring boat on Spanish paradise island as police launch major search operation
Spanish police and coastguards have launched a major search operation for a British woman who vanished after hiring a boat on the paradise island of Formentera. The alarm was raised on Wednesday evening when she failed to return a 15-foot cream-coloured motor boat she had hired earlier in the day. The 39-year-old woman has been named locally as Mary Gavin. A Spanish Coastguard search and rescue helicopter took part in an operation launched yesterday with two coastguard vessels as the Civil Guard combed the land. The air, land and sea operation was expected to continue from first light today, although officials could not be reached early this morning for comment. The company the missing Brit hired the boat from has been named locally as Helix Charter Formentera. The vessel she is said to have left Formentera port La Salina in on Wednesday afternoon 'for a quick boat ride'. She disappeared at around 6.30pm on Wednesday and has not been heard from since. Ms Gavin was last seen on a cream-coloured Quicksilver 475 Axess with a Mercury outboard motor, just over 4.5metres in length. The rental firm is understood to have participated in yesterday's search. Messages have been sent to other mariners in the area with descriptions of the vessel police and coastguards are hunting asking them to be on the lookout. Two vessels were sent out on Thursday to search the area. One was mobilised from its base in Ibiza with the other instructed to comb the coastline off Formentera, the smallest of the inhabited Balearic Islands. It was not immediately clear this morning if the missing woman lives in Spain or was holidaying in the Balearic Islands. SLocal press are reporting 'all possibilities' are being considered because her plans when she hired the boat were 'a complete unknown.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
The overlooked Spanish island that's just as beautiful as Ibiza - but MUCH cheaper and less crowded over the summer
With its gorgeous white sand beaches, world renowned clubs and pine-carpeted forests, it's no wonder that Ibiza is one of Spain 's leading tourist destinations. But with more than three million tourists visiting a year, many travellers are seeking something a little more peaceful. And luckily, there's a beautiful Balearic island with stunning beaches that's much quieter than the White Isle. Located off the south coast of Ibiza, Formentera island is just 20km (12 miles) long and 2km (1.2 miles) wide. Lonely Planet describes the island 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. 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 beach 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 says: '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.' 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. Just 3km from the port, Formentera's capital Sant Francesc has a crafts market and an 18th century church. It's the ideal place to sample some of the island's local delicacies including frit de polp (fried octopus with potatoes). How to get to Formentera 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. What's the weather like in Formentera 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.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Forbes
Formentera: The Balearic Island That Is Only 30 Minutes From Ibiza
Formentera is a paradise for beach lovers. There are several reasons why Formentera is referred to as the Spanish Maldives. First and foremost, the unrivaled quality of the aquamarine water and white-sand beaches, which are the island's most obvious draw, but this tiny strip of land off Spain's Mediterranean coast is also a honeymooners' paradise with its barefoot luxury vibes and chic hotels. In many ways, quiet Formentera is the opposite of her famous sister island, the white-hot clubbing mecka of Ibiza, just 30 minutes away. Formentera's fame can be traced back to the 1960s when it became a destination for hippies and artists, attracting musicians like Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and Bob Marley. While some of that energy is still present—not least in the vegan cafés and boho fashions sold at the island's market and local stores—Formentera has become significantly more high brow in recent years. The Ses Illetes natural park is home to some of the most beautiful natural beaches in Europe–if not the world. The smallest and most unspoiled island in the Balearic archipelago, Formentera measures just over 32 square miles (including its various offshore islets) and has a population of around 11,000 permanent residents. Tourism is the main source of income, although Formentera has avoided the over-tourism issues seen in many other parts of Spain. The number of visitors and cars is strictly limited, and construction is tightly regulated on the island, 43% of which is classed as a nature reserve. No wonder arriving here feels like stepping back to a quieter, slower and less polluted era. If you have only ever seen Formentera in pictures, you might have assumed the color of the water had been Photoshopped. In fact, the waters here owe their otherworldly hue–which shifts from bright white to turquoise, cobalt and ultramarine–to a mineral-rich marine plant called Oceanic Posidonia that maintains the quality and oxygenation of the Balearic Sea by filtering the sediments. A meadow of Oceanic Posidonia can be found swaying beneath the water's surface off the coast of Ibiza and Formentera. It is home to a delicate marine ecosystem of more than 400 species of marine plants and 1,000 animal species—and it currently finds itself under threat, due to climate change and tourism-related activities, like the anchoring of boats, water sports and marine pollution. Underwater image of the beautiful marine environment and the Posidonia sea meadows and fish species of Formentera. The Save Posidonia project is a local initiative that promotes sustainable tourism, and seeks to protect and preserve the seagrass meadows. As a visitor to Formentera, you can help too, by choosing to spend your money with the businesses that dedicate a portion of their profits to Save Posidonia. These include the Trasmapi ferry company, Beso Beach Club, and the stylish Dunas de Formentera and Gecko Hotel & Beach Club hotels. The only way to get to Formentera is by sea. If you don't have a boat of your own, this means catching a ferry from Ibiza Town. Trasmapi is a Balearic ferry company whose air-conditioned ferries (some of which just carry passengers while others are also adapted for cars), travel back and forth between Ibiza and Formentera once or twice hourly in the high season. A champion of sustainability, Trasmapi supporting initiatives like Save Posidonia and has implemented a variety of climate-conscious technologies—from renewable biofuels to enhanced engine efficiency and waste management systems. Dunas de Formentera is the first luxury regenerative resort in Formentera. Dunas de Formentera Formentera's first luxury regenerative resort, Dunas de Formentera is a 45-room, luxury resort for those looking to recharge and relax in a stylish natural setting. Set among the wild sand dunes on Formentera's west coast, the ultra-chic hotel is the epitome of barefoot luxury on the island (no seriously, leave your heels at home!), only 300 feet from the beach. Dunas de Formentera is the new sister hotel of Gecko Hotel & Beach Club, which has been setting the standard for stylish, eco-conscious accommodation on the island for more than two decades. While Formentera's main resort towns are an easy 15-minute drive away from Dunas de Formentera, this part of the island—and this hotel in particular—feels like another world. This is a place that invites you to wake up early to watch the sun rise over the Mediterranean, to practise yoga in the morning before spending the entire day reading by the infinity pool or on the beach, stopping only for an exquisite lunch of seafood tapas, or pizza made with local ingredients, from the all-day restaurant. A suite at Dunas de Formentera. Dunas de Formentera has implemented a wide range of sustainability initiatives, which include the use of aerothermal heating, LED lights and solar panels, seawater desalination and rainwater harvesting, regenerating all the water consumed at the resort, and endeavor only to make purchases from local producers, not to mention matching all the donations made by its guests to the Save Posidonia program. The road to go to Ses Illetes beach. Ses Illetes is a postcard-perfect beach located at the northern tip of Formentera, not far from La Savina port and the resort town of Es Pujols. Platja de Ses Illetes, which translates as the beach of islets, is in fact made up of a series of islands connected by a sand bar, and you won't find more pristine white sand or more crystalline water anywhere in Formentera (or possibly anywhere in Spain). Even though access is restricted (you have to pay to bring a car here so you are better off arriving by bike or taxi), the beaches tend to get very crowded in the high season. Formentera maybe only 12 miles long but if you want to explore it beyond the main towns and beaches, you are better off getting some wheels. Cars can be rented in La Savina, although those with a more outdoorsy disposition tend to prefer the freedom of a two-wheeled solution, especially as parking can be a challenge. La Mola lighthouse. (Photo by Raquel Maria Carbonell Pagola/LightRocket via Getty Images) One of the most magical spots in Formentera can be found on the island's eastern tip. La Mola lighthouse is perilously set on the edge of a cliff almost 400 feet above the waves below. Keep climbing and you'll reach the island's highest point, Sa Talaïassa, 630 feet above sea level. Needless to say, the views are breathtaking. The opposite side of the island from La Mola, meaning the west coast, is the best place to catch the sunset in Formentera. Bag a spot on the beach at Cala Saona or the kick back with a cold caña (beer) at the chiringuito (beach bar). Formentera sunsets have to be seen to be believed. From May to October, you can shop for souvenirs from the arts and crafts markets that pop up around Formentera. La Mola market is open on Wednesdays and Sundays, while Sant Ferran market opens every day except Wednesday and Sunday. Everything here—from clothes to jewelry, artworks, and traditional espadrilles—is handmade by local artisans. Casa Natalia's fairy-lit patio is the place to be in Formentera. The latest opening from celebrated Barcelona chef Carles Abellán may be his most personal project yet. Casa Natalia (Natalia's house) is technically run by Abellán's wife Natalia Juan, the hostess and soul of the restaurant. The food, meanwhile, is where fans of Abellán will recognize his work. From the classic tapas dishes inspired by his many years in Barcelona, like the truffled bikini (or toastie) and the Russian salad topped with grilled shimp instead of tuna, but also in new recipes inspired by the island, like the melt-in-your-mouth grilled sting ray with beurre noir, capers and lime, or the grilled eggplant topped with with tangy sobrassada sausage from the island, La Mola sheep's cheese and honey. Casa Natalia's fairy-lit open-air patio is the place to while away your summer evenings in Formentera. The bone marrow and caviar paella is one of the best-selling dishes at Fandango Formentera. Another hot new addition to the Formentera food scene is Fandango. You only need to take a look at the names behind this project—the kitchen is led by Luis Arrufat (formerly of elBulli, Mugaritz, and Quique Dacosta) and Vicente Monfort, while the whole concept was created by the Vintae group of "revolutionary wineries". Don't be fooled by the beachfront setting, Fandango is so much more than just another chiringuito. A place to feast on fresh oysters and grilled seafood, tender red tuna tartare, whole grilled fish (the turbot is to die for), and moreish rice dishes like the "senyoret" rice topped with squid and pre-peeled shrimp. Wash it all down with a light, fresh Riojan red from the most elevated wine list you will find on the island. Enjoy a toes-in-sand lunch of fresh seafood at Beso Beach Formentera. Turn up the volume at Beso Beach Club, one of few spots that bring the party vibes to the island. Expect DJs spinning tunes, young vacationers serving looks, great drinks and some rather excellent food too! From the caviar-topped red shrimp croquettes, to the Formentera lobster with homemade potato chips and fried eggs, the vast majority of the dishes are made from fresh, locally sourced produce. All this with the white powder sand of the Ses Salines natural park between your toes, and the brilliant blue of the water literally steps away.
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tourists can't believe how much they're charged for beer at Ibiza's newest club: 'It's just plainly indefensible'
Tourists are being charged an eye-watering amount for beer at Ibiza's newest club. The hotspot has seen iconic venue Ku Club officially reopen as UNVRS, which promises to provide immersive indoor experiences with the help of technology. Its website says: 'UNVRS is not just a venue, it's a blueprint for the future of entertainment. It creates a new reality for nightlife - one where the boundaries are not merely pushed, but redefined.' The colossal venue, which opened last week, boasts a 10,000-person capacity and is instantly recognisable thanks to a towering crashed UFO sculpture at the entrance. Inside, guests can enjoy open-air terraces with sweeping views of Formentera island, along with high-energy performances from dancers throughout the night. However, the super club's drinks menu has caused a stir with visitors. Posting on web forum Reddit, one user shared the menu, which reveals water is charged at €15 (£12). Soft drinks such as Coca Cola and Sprite, meanwhile, cost €15 per bottle. Posting on web forum Reddit , one user shared the menu, which reveals water will even be charged at €15 (£12) The super club is charging €18 for a pint of Heineken, with wine and rosé also costing the same When it comes to beers, a Heineken costs a staggering €18 (£15), while a glass of white wine or rosé costs the same. A Malibu will set you back €22 (£18) or for one euro more you can order it alongside a mixer. Moet and Chandon champagne is also on the menu, with a bottle costing €55 (£46). Reacting, one person angrily said: '18 euros for a f****** Heineken? lol The one and only time I went to Hi they actually measured the spirits as well so you don't even get a good free pour.' A second blasted: 'I know it's how Ibiza works but I'll never understand charging 15 euros for water or a Coke Zero. You don't even get that at festivals. It's just plainly indefensible.' Hollywood actor Will Smith was drafted in by nightclub bosses to promote its reopening, with the Men In Black star even appearing in a social media campaign.
