Ibiza has a reputation for being a hard-partying destination ideal for British clubbers looking for a decadent, but people miss out on activities like SUP tours and hiking. The 220 square-mile island has one of the largest concentrations of nightclubs and bars in the world.
Clubbing may be the top draw for tourists visiting Ibiza, but it is by no means the only thing to do. There is an endless list of activities non-clubbers can choose from. Below are some of the most popular choices to get you started. Remember this: do not be afraid to plan a holiday to Ibiza just because you don’t like the club scene. There is plenty more you can do.
Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP)
Stand up paddle boarding is one of the newest trends to hit the world of water sports. Ibiza is a great place to try it thanks to the relatively calm waters of the Mediterranean. In fact, many inexperienced stand up paddle boarders known to frequent rougher waters first learned the sport in the Mediterranean. You can find stand up paddle shops in the marinas and along the coast. Best of all, both rentals and lessons are very affordable.
Take a Horseback Ride
On the north of the island is a well-known horse rescue organisation known as Ibiza Horse Valley. Not only does this organisation rescue horses from racetracks and other places where they are not adequately cared for, but it gives the animals a new lease on life by getting them out into the open areas of Ibiza’s northern coast.
You can visit the centre where you can see these lovely animals and join them on the excursion along some of the islands best beaches and forests. Horseback tours are offered in varying lengths, from just a couple of hours to two full days. There is no better way to see the north coast than with a beautiful horse who enjoys it as much as you do.
Enjoy a Lifestyle Retreat
You can make the case that the direct opposite of a clubbing holiday is one that focuses on a lifestyle retreat. What is a lifestyle retreat? It is time spent away in order to refresh, renew, and get in touch with your true self. Ibiza is gradually gaining a reputation for offering some of the finest lifestyle retreat options in the Mediterranean.
You could take in a seven-night retreat that includes spa treatments, daily communing with nature, life coaching, and shared social activities. Or, you could opt for a shorter retreat that takes you into the great outdoors for just a weekend. In either case, there will be no loud music or crowded dance floors to contend with. You will be at peace with nature and yourself.
Plan Your Own Food-Tasting Tour
Many people do not realise what a culinary gold mine Ibiza actually is. The island’s local food is typically Mediterranean in one sense, but incredibly unique in another. You will also find that many of the restaurants on the island are just as unique as the food they serve. For example, the fish shack at Talamanca is legendary.
There is no daily menu at the fish shack. Rather, the staff tell you what is available upon arrival. You make your choice, and the chef prepares your food over a charcoal pit. Not knowing what is available until to get there is one of the things that makes the shack so intriguing. Whatever they catch provides the meal choices for the day.
Ibiza is a great destination for foodies who love planning and embarking on their own tasting tours. So don’t settle for just a single meal at the fish shack. Instead, plan an entire seven-day tour that will take you all over the island to some of the most loved local restaurants.
Take a Beach Tour
There are plenty of commercial beaches packed with clubs and hotels. But Ibiza also offers a great selection of secluded beaches that very few people ever visit. Many of them are in the south. One of the best things for non-clubbers to do is rent a car in either the north or south, then spend a day travelling the coast in search of the best beaches. But beware, some of the beaches are only accessible by foot. You have to find the parking space and then walk to the water.
Peace and quiet is the main draw of a private beach tour. Just be sure to pack your own food and drinks because many of the beaches are so secluded you will not find anyone around offering snacks.
Spend the Day in Old Town
If you want to know how the locals live, spend a day in old town. There you will encounter a veritable maze of side streets and alleys populated with small shops and cafés. You can climb to the top of the fort for some incredible views.
A self-guided old town tour is perhaps the best option for holidaymakers who prefer to avoid tourist traps when they go abroad. Mixing with the locals is an entirely different experience that some people love. It is an experience that opens the mind to new ideas and refreshes the soul with a taste of local culture.
Check out the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Lastly, most clubbers have no idea that large portions of Ibiza are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As such, they are protected against development. Recommendations include the Sa Calenta area, God’s Finger at Bennirras Bay, and the historical Sant Antoni region.
You can enjoy a holiday in Ibiza without following the club crowd. You just have to be willing to look around for some of those hidden gems that never get advertised. Trust all of those who have gone before you; Ibiza has a lot more to offer than initially meets the eye.