Es Canar is a family-friendly, accessible beach on Ibiza’s east coast, a few kilometres from Santa Eulària des Riu. With its fine sand, shallow water and relaxed atmosphere, it suits families, couples and solo travellers alike.
On Wednesdays, the Punta Arabí hippie market, one of the island’s busiest since the 1970s, sets up a few steps away and gives Es Canar a special atmosphere on Ibiza’s east side.
Whether you want a quiet day of swimming, water sports or a cultural outing, Es Canar ticks several boxes in one place.
In short: a very touristy, lively beach. It offers a wide range of services, including hotels, water sports and plenty of places to eat. The sand is fine. It is best known for its hippie market nearby. The atmosphere is festive and it attracts an international crowd.
Es Canar: fine-sand beach, water sports and a hippie market next door
Es Canar stretches for about 350 metres and is 30 to 40 metres wide, crescent-shaped and open to the Mediterranean. The sand is fine, pale and golden, pleasant underfoot. The transparent blue-green water stays shallow for several metres, so children can swim safely and adults can walk gradually into the sea.
The beach faces south-east, which gives it good sunshine for much of the day. At one end, a small traditional fishing harbour adds character to the scene. You will probably see llaüts, the typical Balearic boats, moored along the quay. Ferries also leave from this harbour for Santa Eulària, Cala Llonga and Ibiza Town, making it easy to get around without a car.
For water sports, Es Canar is well equipped.
Several rental centres offer waterskiing, parasailing, pedal boats and banana boat rides.
The beach also has sunbeds and parasols for hire.
The seafront is lined by a pedestrian promenade dotted with bars, terraces and restaurants. You will find a varied choice: Mediterranean and Ibizan dishes at Las Arenas, pizzas and Italian specialities at Il Carrettino Siciliano, or Basque touches at Mar Bella. For a more laid-back evening, Jacaranda Lounge has a view of the bay, a pool and a pleasant musical atmosphere.
Es Canar has kept a relaxed pace despite its tourist facilities. The atmosphere stays calm, far from the island’s party zones, while offering all the services you need for a comfortable day, or stay, by the water.
Getting to Es Canar beach: road, parking and transport
By car from Santa Eulària des Riu, take the road towards Es Canar (signposted). As you enter the village, follow Calle Sant Jaume to the beach. The drive takes about 5 minutes. Parking is easy: there are several parking areas around the village, and you will find spaces near the beach without difficulty, except on summer Wednesdays (Punta Arabí hippie market day, when it gets very busy).
Es Canar is also served by bus 18A from Santa Eulària, with departures about every 20 minutes and a journey of barely 6 minutes. Regular ferries also link Es Canar with Santa Eulària, Cala Llonga and Ibiza Town from the beach’s small harbour.
It is a handy option if you are staying in these areas and want to avoid the car.
Activities and trips around Es Canar: beach, hippie market and coastal walks
From Es Canar beach, the view opens onto the Mediterranean, with the pine-covered hills framing the bay in the background. The small fishing harbour adds an authentic touch to the scene.
There is no shortage of water sports: waterskiing, parasailing, pedal boats, banana boats and boat trips to neighbouring coves. The seabed near the rocky areas at both ends of the beach is good for snorkelling.
A few minutes’ walk away, the Punta Arabí hippie market is a must if you are in Es Canar on a Wednesday between May and October. Founded in 1973, it brings together more than 400 stalls of crafts, jewellery, fashion, natural cosmetics and objects from all over the world. Entry is free, and the atmosphere (live music, street performers and food trucks) is worth the trip on its own. A children’s area (“Hippie Kids”) runs creative workshops.
For walkers, a coastal path links Es Canar with Cala Nova in about fifteen minutes, with views over the coves and coast. Carrying on, you can reach Cala Llenya in about 50 minutes past rocky inlets. The coastal path towards Santa Eulària also offers fine views of the island’s east coast.
15 km away, the fortified village of Balafí is worth a detour for anyone curious about history and traditional Ibizan architecture.
My recommendation:
Es Canar is not the wildest beach on the island, but it is one of the most accessible and best equipped on the east coast. The combination of calm sea, lively promenade and Wednesday market makes it a sensible choice for an organised day, whether you come as a family, alone or as a couple.
If you want to avoid the crowds, go on a day other than Wednesday; or, on the contrary, enjoy the Punta Arabí market to combine the beach with local discovery.
