Ses Illetes is the long strip of white sand on the northern tip of Formentera, inside the Ses Salines Natural Park. From Ibiza you reach it by ferry to La Savina and then a short bus or bike ride, or directly on a boat trip that anchors off the beach.
Ses Illetes is the reason most people cross from Ibiza to Formentera. The sand runs along a narrow spit with water on both sides. It sits inside the Ses Salines Natural Park, which shapes almost everything about how you visit.
Ses Illetes in five facts
- Ferry from Ibiza Port to La Savina takes about 30 minutes on the Baleària fast ferry.
- From La Savina the L3 tourist bus runs to Ses Illetes, 10 EUR return on the yellow route.
- Cars pay 5 to 7 EUR to enter the Ses Illetes area of the park from 10 May to the first half of October 2026.
- Parking is capped at 384 cars and 1,132 motorbikes.
- Walking on the dunes off the boardwalks and anchoring on posidonia are both forbidden.
Getting to Ses Illetes from Ibiza
There are two ways to do it. The independent route is the ferry from Ibiza Port to La Savina, Formentera's ferry port. Baleària quotes 30 minutes for the crossing and departures every 45 minutes during the day. Our Ibiza to Formentera ferry guide compares the companies. Check the current timetable before you go, because it changes with the season.
From La Savina, the Balearic Government's park page gives the road route: follow the road towards Sant Francesc and turn left onto the PM-802-2 towards Ses Illetes. Without a car, the official L3 timetable lists the tourist bus from the port to Ses Illetes (10 EUR return, yellow route) and a blue route that continues to Es Pujols (15 EUR return), with children up to 12 at half price. Bikes are exempt from the park fee, and the island is flat.
The 2026 access fee and parking cap
On 10 May 2026 the Consell de Formentera switched on its access control for the Ses Illetes area of the park. Non resident cars pay 5 to 7 EUR and motorbikes 3 to 5 EUR depending on the date, until the first half of October. Hybrids pay 50 percent. Residents, people with reduced mobility, pedestrians, bicycles and electric vehicles do not pay. In May and October the control runs from 9am to 5pm. The Ses Illetes area holds 384 cars and 1,132 motorbikes, and once it is full you wait.
Rules that apply on the beach
The park rules are specific. Walking across the dune systems off the boardwalks and marked paths is not allowed. The posidonia meadows offshore are UNESCO World Heritage since 1999, and boats may only anchor on sand. That is why the water is so clear, and it is also why a boat captain will sometimes move the anchor before letting you swim.
By ferry or on a boat trip
The ferry gives you freedom and the lowest cost per person. A day trip saves the transfers and adds swim stops. Two options on Viator go to Ses Illetes, checked on 30 September 2026:
- Formentera and Ibiza small group trip by catamaran: visits Espalmador and Ses Illetes, 8 to 9 hours, from 115 EUR, rated 4.7 from 161 reviews. It leaves from the south of Ibiza.
- Sailing catamaran trip to Formentera: stops at Ses Illetes for 2 to 3 hours, 8 hours in total, from 100 EUR, rated 4.9 from 108 reviews, up to 12 guests. The meeting point in the south of Ibiza is confirmed the day before.
Prices on Viator change with the date, so read them as a starting point.
Before you go
- The car park is capped at 384 cars, so in July and August arrive early or leave the car behind.
- Bring water and sun protection for a full day on the sand.
- Boat trips depend on the weather. The sailing catamaran confirms its meeting point the day before for that reason.
- Check the last return ferry of the day on the timetable before you leave La Savina.
Keep reading
For the whole day see Formentera day trip by boat and the Formentera day trip guide. All organised trips are in day trips from Ibiza, and if you prefer to stay on the island, see the best beaches in Ibiza.
How we checked this guide: ferry times from Baleària, L3 bus prices from the official L3 timetable on busformentera.com (valid from 22 September 2026), access fees from Cadena SER (8 May 2026), park rules from the Balearic Government, tour data from the Viator API. All consulted on 30 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Ses Illetes from Ibiza?
Take a fast ferry from Ibiza Port to La Savina in Formentera, about 30 minutes according to Baleària, then the L3 tourist bus from the port to Ses Illetes (10 EUR return on the yellow route, 15 EUR return on the blue route, according to the official L3 timetable). A boat day trip from Ibiza can also anchor directly off Ses Illetes.
Is there a fee to drive to Ses Illetes?
Yes, in season. In 2026 the Consell de Formentera charges non resident cars 5 to 7 EUR and motorbikes 3 to 5 EUR to enter the Ses Illetes area of the Ses Salines Natural Park from 10 May to the first half of October. Hybrids pay 50 percent, and pedestrians, bicycles and electric vehicles are exempt. In May and October the control runs from 9am to 5pm.
How many cars can park at Ses Illetes?
The 2026 access control caps the Ses Illetes area at 384 cars and 1,132 motorbikes, according to Cadena SER. When it is full you wait or come back later, so the bus or a bike is the safer choice in July and August.
Can boats anchor off Ses Illetes?
Only on sand. The posidonia meadows around Ses Illetes are a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999 and anchoring on them is forbidden, according to the Balearic Government's natural park page. Tour boats drop anchor on the sandy patches.
How long should you spend at Ses Illetes?
Plan at least half a day at Ses Illetes. The sailing catamaran trip from Ibiza stops there for 2 to 3 hours inside an 8 hour day, which is a good measure of how long the beach holds a visitor.
Is Ses Illetes worth it on a day trip from Ibiza?
Ses Illetes is worth it if you want shallow, clear water and a long walk on sand, and can start early. It is not the right day if you want shade and quiet in August or a short outing, since the crossing and the transfer take most of an hour each way.