Cala Pada is a beach on the south-east coast of Ibiza, in the municipality of Santa Eulària des Riu, 4.3 km east of the town and 3.1 km south-west of the resort of Es Canar. A broad strip of sand runs below a wood of pine and juniper, and offshore reefs shelter the bay, which has a designated swimming area. Several small islands lie offshore, among them Illa Rodona, where the steamship Mallorca ran aground in 1913.
Cala Pada
Broad sandy bay on Ibiza backed by pine and juniper, with sheltering reefs and a view of small islets.
- Entrance
- Free; it is a public beach with no ticket.
- Parking
- Free public car park about 270 m away in a straight line; a second, unpaved car park about 640 m away.
- Difficulty
- No hike: the car park is about 270 m away and the bus stop about 180 m. On foot from Es Canar, the coastal path takes about an hour.
- Transport
- Bus stop "Cala Pada", about 180 m away in a straight line.
- Advance booking
- Not needed.
- Hours
- Open at all times.
What makes it special
From the sand, the horizon is broken by a string of islets: Illa de Santa Eulària, Illa Rodona and En Caragoler. The pines and junipers grow right down behind the beach, so there is shade without carrying your own, and in the heat the air under them smells of resin. Reefs offshore hold back the open sea, and the water inside the bay is clear. When the south wind blows, the reef draws windsurfers.
Illa Rodona has its own story. On 17 January 1913 the steamship Mallorca ran aground on a reef around the island, and fishermen from Santa Eulària des Riu brought the crew and passengers off. A stone memorial to the rescue stands in front of the town hall in the Plaça d'Espanya in Santa Eulària des Riu.
Good to know
- Beach bars stand by the sand; the nearest toilets, about 260 m away in a straight line, are for customers only.
- The pine wood behind the beach gives shade, so a full day here works without a parasol.
- The bay has a designated swimming area. On windy days, when windsurfers are out, swim inside it.
- A coastal path links Cala Pada with Es Canar, about an hour on foot past two other beaches, so you can arrive one way and leave the other.
Getting there
Cala Pada lies 4.3 km east of the town of Santa Eulària des Riu. Drivers have a public car park about 270 m from the beach in a straight line, and a second, unpaved one about 640 m out. By bus, the Cala Pada stop is about 180 m away.
The other way in is on foot along the coast from Es Canar, 3.1 km to the north-east. The path is well kept, takes about an hour and passes two more beaches before the pines open onto Cala Pada.
Best time to visit
Best: a summer morning, while the sand is still quiet; for windsurfing, a day with a south wind.
Avoid: August afternoons, when the island is at its fullest.
The beach looks out east over the sea and the islets, so the early sun comes straight across the water, and the pines take over the shade as the day heats up.
Sun & daylight
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Frequently asked questions
Is there parking at Cala Pada?
Yes. A public car park sits about 270 m from the beach in a straight line, and a second, unpaved one about 640 m away.Can you get to Cala Pada by bus?
There is a bus stop named Cala Pada about 180 m from the beach.Can you walk to Cala Pada from Es Canar?
Yes. A well-kept coastal path runs from Es Canar to Cala Pada in about an hour, passing two other beaches on the way.Is there shade on the beach?
Yes. A wood of pine and juniper backs the sand and gives shade.Is Cala Pada good for windsurfing?
Offshore reefs shelter the bay, and it is popular with windsurfers when the south wind blows.