Are Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta worth visiting? In my experience, absolutely – and here’s why.
On a solo trip to Ibiza, I based myself in San Antonio for five nights. Not for the nightlife, but because it offered cheap accommodation and easy access to Ibiza’s stunning west coast.
One of the places I made sure to visit was Cala Salada and its ‘little sister’, Cala Saladeta. Known for their crystal-clear water, surrounding cliffs, beautiful scenery and relatively unspoiled setting, these coves are often considered the best beaches near San Antonio.
And after spending an afternoon here, I can see why.
If you’re looking for a beautiful beach escape close to San Antonio, Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta are well worth visiting. They’re two of the most impressive coves nearby, and I’m definitely glad I added them to my Ibiza itinerary.
So, here’s what my day at Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta was actually like, from the coastal hike there to an afternoon spent swimming in some of the clearest water I found in Ibiza, plus a few tips to help you plan your own visit.
Getting to Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta
The bus from San Antonio is the most popular way to reach Cala Salada. It’s very cheap – I paid just €1.90 one way, and quick too. Journey time is around 15 minutes from the main bus station, with buses running frequently (roughly every 15 minutes when I was there in May). This means there’s no real need to plan ahead. I took the bus back, which was quick and easy.
On the way back, I noticed quite a few people waiting for taxis as well, so that’s another option if you prefer to go directly to your accommodation. Thanks to the short journey, the taxi fare shouldn’t be too expensive.
If you prefer something a bit more adventurous, you can take the coastal hike to Cala Salada from San Antonio. I chose to hike because it’s a fun way to experience more of the coastline. The journey becomes part of the day rather than just a transfer. I’m glad I did as there were other great beach spots and gorgeous views I otherwise would’ve missed. Plus it meant that by the time I reached Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta, I was ready to lay on the beach and relax!
It’s not a super challenging hike, but it’s not a casual stroll either. From San Antonio, it’s around 6-7km to Cala Salada. If you do choose to do it, sturdy shoes are a must (trainers are fine!) as much of the route runs along cliff-side paths with uneven ground. You’ll also want to bring plenty of water.
Whether you hike all the way from San Antonio or not, you will need to do a short hike to reach Cala Saladeta. Cliff-side trails connect Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta so the only way to reach it is on foot, unless arriving by boat.
🌊 Alternative ways to visit Cala Salada
If you’d rather skip travelling by land, there is a round-trip ferry transfer option from San Antonio to Cala Saladeta, and it’s also included in some boat trips and coastal excursions along Ibiza’s west coast. This is a great option if you want to see the coastline from the water or combine beach stops with a more relaxed day out.
You can also book jet ski tours in the area if you’re after something more adventurous and want a faster-paced way to explore the coves.
👉 Ibiza: Cala Salada & North Cruise with Drinks & Snorkeling
👉 Cala Salada: 30-Minute Jet Ski Experience
👉 San Antonio: Cala Salada & Cala Gracio Sunset Boat Trip
Cala Salada
Having hiked to Cala Salada from San Antonio, my first views came from the trails, looking through the trees right over the beach. I didn’t quite have the full view over Cala Saladeta at that point, but I definitely liked what I was seeing. Then again, I could say that about the whole coastline I’d seen on the way!
It was clear almost immediately that this is indeed a pretty unspoiled beach area – the only real ‘built up’ part is a restaurant tucked away near the edge of Cala Salada (the side I arrived from). That’s definitely a positive – it doesn’t distract from the natural beauty, and it’s also handy if you want a beachside lunch or to grab a drink as there are no other facilities around.
After the hike, I was pretty happy to have made it as I was definitely ready for some beach time! It didn’t take long before I was convinced Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta were absolutely worth visiting.
Cala Salada itself wasn’t too busy during my visit, which surprised me given how easy it is to reach – it’s the most accessible of the two beaches. The likely reason? Cala Salada is mostly pebbles, so those wanting to lay on their towels and relax on the sand itself tend to favor sandy Cala Saladeta. But for those seeking comfort here, there are sunbeds and umbrellas, which proved to be popular – they were all taken when I arrived.
By around 6pm, Cala Salada was almost empty (as you can see in the photo below!), while Cala Saladeta seemed more popular, which was where I chose to continue to.
Cala Salada to Cala Saladeta Hike
Cala Salada is lovely, but Cala Saladeta is the real standout. I didn’t know that for sure when I arrived, but I could already see some cliff-side trails I had to explore. Still in explorer mode after my hike from San Antonio, I continued along the beach and up the rocky section at the end of the cove, following the paths along the cliffs.
I was now on the pathway to Cala Saladeta.
Just a few steps up from Cala Salada already gave an amazing view back over the cove. (I actually took the below photo on the way back, around 6:30pm and you can see just how quiet it had become despite the sun still shining – it was pretty cool to see it with even less people).
A little further along the trail, Cala Saladeta came into view.
From here, the postcard-perfect white sand beach really stands out below. At that point, it becomes clear which is the real highlight – for me, that had to be Cala Saladeta.
It’s fair to say most people feel the same. Cala Saladeta was noticeably busier, and while at first it did feel like it took away slightly from the natural beauty, I was soon more distracted by the scenery than by the people.
From this point, it almost looks as if there are two coves due to the rocky outcrop in line with the sea, but this is all Cala Saladeta.
The trail itself runs along the cliffs and through pine trees, with plenty of viewpoints along the way.
I was a little surprised by how busy Cala Saladeta was, considering you do have to walk the trail to reach it, but clearly that wasn’t putting people off. The walk isn’t too long – it’s just rocky and uneven. A little tip: be sure to wear proper footwear (even if that’s just sturdier sandals rather than simple flip-flops).
If you don’t fancy walking all the way along the trails here for whatever reason, try to at least go up onto the initial cliff-side for the first views over Cala Saladeta – you won’t regret it!
Before long I reached the end of the trail, which led down to Cala Saladeta.
Cala Saladeta
On arrival at Cala Saladeta I was initially unsure just how long I would spend here and how much I was going to enjoy it as it was really quite busy (sometimes you’re more aware of this when travelling solo as I was!). But beach time was fully calling me. So I found a nice little spot on the sand and very quickly came to love this cove.
The water here was far too tempting not to jump in. Getting into the sea was easy; getting back out was the hard part. Swimming in water so crystal-clear that I could easily see schools of fish around me, while taking in views back towards the coastline from a completely different perspective, was pretty special. It ended up being one of my favourite swims in Ibiza.
So I spent the afternoon swimming, sunbathing, and reading my book. I was so content, comfortable on the sand and engrossed in my book, that by the time I reached the end of it I realised I’d been on the beach for 3.5+ hours. I’m not always the best at fully chilling for hours – always wanting to go and explore more – but since I’d done the hike there, that part of me was feeling satisfied!
By around 5-6pm many visitors had begun to leave. I mean, it was still busy, but getting to experience the coves in a slightly quieter atmosphere felt like a bit of a treat. The thing is, the sun was still very much shining – beach vibes were still beach vibing! If you do want to experience this spot in an even dreamier light, do go early in the day or stay until later in the day as I did (early bird doesn’t always catch the worm – sometimes the best times come from being slightly later, too!).
I honestly had the perfect beach afternoon and, by the end of my visit, I absolutely loved this place and didn’t really want to leave!
But around 6:30pm I decided to call it a day (I had been directly in the sun for 7+ hours by this point and my skin was telling me so – woops, I’m not sure I ever had burnt lips before but this day I got some!). So I got my trainers back on for the short hike up from Cala Saladeta and along to Cala Salada, and hit the path.
It was so nice by this point. Seeing the views again but this time with way less people felt pretty special!! I repeat, I didn’t want to leave!
Anyway I made my way to the bus stop and soon hopped on the bus back to San Antonio (hiker girl was done for the day!). I was super happy with how the day had turned out, from the coastal scenes along the hike from San Antonio, to the dreamiest beach day – a well worthwhile addition to my Ibiza itinerary.
Are Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta Worth Visiting?
That’s an easy yes – Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta are well worth visiting, especially if you’re staying in nearby San Antonio. I would absolutely go back again!
These coves really are beautiful, and swimming here is so dreamy. Because it’s so quick and easy to get here from town, too there’s really no good excuse not to take a little trip!
I definitely recommend walking to Cala Saladeta and not just staying at Cala Salada – the sandy cove really is a must visit.
While I made it into a full day adventure since I hiked there, this can be the perfect few hour or half day trip so you can easily fit it into even a short stay in San Antonio.
Don’t expect to have these spots to yourself though – these are not quiet, super secluded beaches – but just know there is a reason it’s popular here, because it’s absolutely worth visiting!
Practical Tips for Visiting Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta
Best time to arrive: For the quietest experience, try to be there either early in the day (pre-11am) or later in the day (around 5pm onwards). I’m not really an early person the later-in-the-day vibes worked well for me, that said I arrived during mid-afternoon peak busy time, but stayed until it quietened down)
What to bring: Be sure to come prepared especially if planning to spend the day at Cala Saladeta (there is a restaurant but it is by Cala Salada). So bring plenty of water and snacks. Be sure to bring sturdy shoes for the walk between the coves.
✨ If you’re based in San Antonio and planning other island day trips, I highly recommend visiting Formentera – I had an amazing day there. You can read about it here: San Antonio, Ibiza to Formentera Day Trip: Is It Worth It?
