Bicycle Rentals and Coastal Paths

Formentera is the smallest of the inhabited Balearic Islands, about nineteen kilometres from end to end, and almost flat apart from the plateau of La Mola at the eastern end, so cycling is the natural way to get around. Visitors arrive by ferry from Ibiza at the port of La Savina, and many go straight to one of the bicycle rental shops there or in the village of Es Pujols, on the north coast, and spend their stay on two wheels. The island has no airport, few traffic lights and distances that suit a bicycle.

The island has a network of marked paths known as rutas verdes, green routes, which are protected tracks where motor vehicles are not allowed. Information from the island authorities lists about thirty of them, and they run along the coast, through pine woods and fields, past salt flats and to the beaches, with signs showing the route and distance. These paths let cyclists avoid the busier roads, and they are the best way to reach places such as the salt pans of the Ses Salines Natural Park, the long beach of Ses Illetes at the northern tip, and the fishing coves on the coast. Some stretches are on rough tracks, so a mountain bike or an electric bicycle is useful.

Bicycle rental options are wide. Traditional city and trekking bikes are the standard choice, mountain bikes suit the dirt tracks, and electric bikes are popular for the climb to the village of El Pilar de la Mola and the lighthouse at the end of the island, and for coping with wind and heat. Many shops offer online booking and some include a lock, and prices vary by season and type, so compare before choosing. In July and August, it is wise to reserve ahead, since the best bikes are taken early.

Some routes are especially rewarding. A ride to the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse at the southern tip passes through open scrubland and gives wide views, and the road to La Mola climbs to a plateau with a lighthouse and a view over the sea. Coastal paths lead to Cala Saona and Es Caló des Puig, small coves with clear water, and the shorter ride from La Savina to the beaches of Ses Illetes is popular with first-time visitors.

Cyclists should carry water, sun protection and a hat, since shade is limited and the sun is strong, and wind can make some stretches tiring. Respect the marked paths and the protected Posidonia meadows, and avoid riding in the dunes. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for cycling, as summer afternoons are very hot.