Travel guide Formentera

The island's authorities have signposted some 30 green routes for cycling and walking. A booklet outlining the routes is available free of charge from the tourist office. Don't forget to hydrate en route, as the sun beats down hard in summer. The island is small and flat, except on the way up to La Mola.

The cliffs here are pierced by numerous natural caves and underground galleries. They were once shelters for animals, prehistoric man and later pirates and hippies. Some were dug millions of years ago, such as the famous Cova d'en Jeroni, discovered in 1975.

Formentera abounds in small coves of varying degrees of wilderness. Caló des Mort is one of the best known, although it attracts many visitors in high season. Other coves include Cala Saona, a beautiful sandy cove surrounded by turquoise waters on the east coast, and Cala en Baster, a rocky cove nestling at the foot of the cliffs.

Landing stages or escars are wooden structures installed in the island's small natural harbours. They consist of small sheds and long rails running down to the water. They can be seen at Es Caló de Sant Agustí, which was once Formentera's second most important port (albeit a very small one!).

The hippies landed on Formentera in the middle of the 20th century, transforming this Mediterranean island into a mythical stopover on the road to India. Legends such as Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and the members of Led Zeppelin enjoyed the gentle lifestyle of this little paradise. Even today, Formentera continues to attract artists.

Once known as the "land of wheat", Formentera still boasts some of its old windmills, at Sant Francesc, Sant Ferran and La Mola. These circular lime buildings, typical of the island, have two floors: a first floor and a main floor, with long wings up to 5 meters long.

All Formentera's beaches are nudist, and you'll see many enthusiasts in Adam's clothes, lounging or playing ball on the sand. Don't be surprised if you're the only clothed person on some beaches! Tolerance is the watchword here: textile and nudist enthusiasts coexist in perfect harmony.

Formentera's lighthouses, guarding La Savina, La Mola and Cap de Barbaria, are essential symbols of the island. Perched 120 meters high on a cliff, the La Mola lighthouse is the highest of the three. This breathtaking, windswept site was even immortalized by Jules Verne in a passage from his novel Hector Servadac.

The Pityuses, or Pityuse Islands, comprise the islands of Ibiza and Formentera, as well as several islets, including S'Espalmador and S'Espardell. The name Pityuse is probably derived from "pitys", which means "pine" in Greek. In ancient times, the Pityuses were differentiated from the rest of the Balearic Islands (Mallorca and Menorca being the Gymesias).

Peix Sec de Formentera, also known as Formentera dried fish, is a traditional island product, prepared by drying in the sun and wind. This process gives the fish, especially the sama, a firm texture and a very intense flavor. Dried fish is used in local cuisine, to garnish salads, for example.

These aquatic plants, which contribute to the richness of ecosystems, are responsible for the transparency of water, thanks to their abundant production of oxygen. Almost 100 million years old, Posidonia oceanica covers a large part of the Mediterranean seabed. The largest meadows are found off Formentera.

Sargantanes(Podarcis pityusensis) are ubiquitous on Formentera: you'll find them on postcards, on keyrings, threading their way between rocks or even lining your towel on the beach! These large lizards, endemic to the Pityuse Islands, have become the island's emblem. There are over 30 subspecies around Formentera.