Things To Do in Cala Llonga

Cala Llonga is the perfect place to learn to scuba dive. It has its own wedge of coral reef which is home to all sorts of weird and wonderful sea life, including damselfish, octopuses, seahorses and the occasional sting ray. Daily courses run from the Sirenis Hotel Resort, right by the south end of the bay. More experienced divers can get a free transfer to the deeper waters at nearby Cala Martina.

Come Thursday evening, Cala Llonga’s market springs up. It’s small but shows off a range of silver jewellery that glitters with gems. Picking through the local artisan stalls is an appealing way to while away the twilight hour. For more choice, Santa Eulalia’s a mere 15 minutes away. The shops there are chockablock with handmade pottery and bright linen clothes.

Cala Llonga is a club-free zone, but that’s not to say the place lacks atmosphere. In fact, the bigger hotels keep things lively with an entertainment rota of karaoke, quizzes and stand-up comedy – plus Spanish dancing shows for some local flavour. And of course there are the bars here – things usually start to wind down soon after midnight, but a few places stay open ’til later.

Cala Llonga’s restaurants happily do fry-ups and bangers and mash, though there are plenty of eating places that take more of an Ibizan approach to their menus. Tapas is popular – 4 or 5 dishes between 2 people should be plenty. Do try the local speciality guisat de marisc – mixed seafood stew often made with white fish, squid, prawns and mussels. A table on one of the open-air terraces overlooking the bay should set the mood nicely.

It’s a steep 10-minute walk to this hillside restaurant just west of Cala Llonga town centre – but the fantastic Mediterranean views make it worth it. And once you’re seated, you’ll get a warm welcome and an impressively varied menu that takes in Spanish classics like paella along with lamb kebab and some rather irresistible chocolate truffles. A 3-course meal for 2 with wine comes to around 55 euros.

British couple Sol and Mel – and their 2 cats – go out of their way to make you feel welcome in this seafront bar. The open-air terrace is a great spot to enjoy a post-beach sangria or a pre-dinner cocktail – some say the couple mix up the best brandy alexander on the island. The pub grub-style food’s pretty good too, especially the chips and homemade curry.

The restaurants that edge the beach and dot Cala Llonga town offer up paella, chorizo and sangria in spades. Food leans towards the fresh and the local, so the menus are switched weekly. Away from the beachside restaurants are hillier ones with dramatic views. And remember – there’s no such thing as fast food in Cala Llonga. Meal times are an art, best served at length.

This one’s on the edge of Cala Llonga, but it’s still only a 20-minute walk from the beach. Ultra-modern, with a hint of rustic, Amante Beach Club presents 3 tiers of plunging cliff top views. And the cocktails here are a must. In the moonlight, sip on a hot strawberry martini – that’s tequila with splashes of strawberry syrup, lime juice and a twist of chilli. It’s luxury in a glass.

Try this place on a Sunday – that’s when half of Cala Llonga is there for the roasts, while the other half is there for the paella special. At any time of the week, Dona Regina is heaven for fish dish lovers, and everything’s whipped up fresh by the husband-wife super duo, Paco and Isabel. This is Spanish food served by a family and loved by families – it’s Cala Llonga in a nutshell.

Cala Llonga’s annual festival is a fire-filled affair. If you can, find space on the beach where fire dancers will warm you up with their hypnotising moves. The midnight fireworks display is probably best seen from hotel balconies and bar terraces just up the hill. Although to be honest, the show’s so big, you could probably be on the moon and still see it.

When we say this is off the beaten track, we mean it. A slice of pure, rugged, untamed Ibiza, it’s right next door to Cala Llonga but is inaccessible to all but those with a sturdy pair of shoes. Heading down the winding rock-strewn path is worth every bead of sweat – there’s a mysterious tunnel in the beach’s cliff face that’s the window to one pretty impressive photo op.

Cala Llonga has perfected the art of real, chilled Ibiza. La Cantina is right next to the beach and provides a British home away from home – especially if someone in the family’s craving a dose of Sky Sports. Again, family businesses are key – Sol and Mel are one of many welcoming husband-wife dream teams. It seems that when couples move to Cala Llonga, they stay in Cala Llonga.

You won’t have to leave Cala Llonga to buy your holiday essentials. There’s a supermarket, pharmacy and gift shops selling locally-made crafts and jewellery along the main street just a minute’s walk from the beach. For more in the way of designer clothes and antiques, take a 10-minute trip to Santa Eulalia – the place also comes with artisan stalls on the tree-lined Paseo.