Cala de Bou is located in the bay of San Antonio in Ibiza, with plenty of different beaches and watersports nearby. For those seeking more than just beach activities, there’s also a waterpark, go-karting tracks, and the mesmerizing sunsets at Kumharas. The town has a range of accommodations, from luxury beach hotels to budget-friendly apartments and an extensive selection of restaurants and bars. However, the nightlife is more subdued than in San Antonio across the bay.
Beaches
Cala de Bou has a wide variety of beaches. Even tho some of these can get pretty big in high season, there is always a place, beach or rocky structure nearby from where you can enjoy the sea.
Cala Pinet
Cala Pinet (also called by some “Reggae Beach”) is a golden sand beach with several beach bars. While it is a family-friendly beach with shallow waters and small waves, it is primarily popular with youth, couples and groups. You can do a lot of watersports like kayaking, jet skiing and many more.
Cala de Bou
Cala de Bou is a sandy beach with some rocks and stones in some places. This beach is popular with families because of its size, location, few waves, watersports and shallow waters.
Playa es Pouet
While personally, I don’t like this beach very much because of the big road next to it; it is still a good beach overall. While I would not spend much time here during the day, I can see the appeal for families and people staying nearby this beach. However, it is a lovely place to grab dinner on the beach in the evening.
Beaches nearby
There are some other beaches nearby, but they are all very similar. If this is still not enough for you, the local taxi boats or ferry services can take you to many other beaches on the other side of the bay or further away.
Where to stay in Cala de Bou
Towards the West of the Cala de Bou, you find most of the nightlife, bars, restaurants, and the nicest beaches; it is generally quieter towards the North. Here are some hotels you can book today and know you have made a great choice:
- Els Pins Resort & Spa: Modern, with a small beach in the hotel.
- Innside by Melia Ibiza: Modern beach hotel right next to Cala Pinet beach.
- Paradiso Ibiza Art Hotel: For adults looking for something unique and special.
- Marvell Club: Best for families with young children.
- Amare Beach Hotel Ibiza: Luxury beach holiday with multiple pools and rooftop lounge area.
Things to do in Cala de Bou
- Watersports: From pretty much any beach in this area, you can access many water sports possibilities like parasailing, paddleboarding, kayaking, jet skis and many more.
- Sirenis Aquagames: This nearby hotel offers tickets to use their waterpark with many slides and great fun for families. Not large enough for teenagers or groups of adults, but this is a lot of fun for kids. There are all kinds of tickets to fit anyone’s budget.
- Go-karting: Just outside of the tourism hub is a nice go-karting track that offers an excellent time for families and groups.
- Sunsets: The bay of San Antonio, where Cala de Bou is located, is one of the best places on the island to enjoy the magic sunsets. Kumharas is the best place to do it from. You can also do this in Cafe Mambo and Cafe del Mar on the Sunset Strip on the other side of the bay but know that these places can get extremely busy during the high season. Some other more original places nearby to see the sunset from are a sunset boat or paddle boat trip.
- Beaches: Connected by local ferry boats, you can visit one of the many nearby beaches for a change of scenery.
- Aquarium Cap Blanc: A little aquarium, fun for children, ideally combined with a trip to Cala Gracio or Cala Gracioneta beach.
These are things you can do in or close to Cala de Bou. For a full list of things to see and do in Ibiza, have a look here.
Restaurants, bars and nightlife
Cala de Bou has many restaurants, most offering budget-friendly Spanish, British or Irish cuisine. Many bars and pubs are open until after midnight, but there are no real clubs here. If you want to go dancing, however, a few small-scale dance venues are nearby and open till the early morning. You need to go across the bay to the San Antonio area for the bigger clubs and venues.
Ibiza Airport to Cala de Bou
- Public transport (4.00 €/pp): Budget option, but in summer, this route gets very busy, and you might struggle to get on the bus. Also, the bus might stop far from your hotel in Cala de Bou.
- Shuttle bus online (23.75 €/pp): Best for solo travel.
- Taxi or minibus online (101.59 €): If you need child safety seats, this is the only way. Also, there is no waiting or losing time at the taxi stand at the airport during busy times. If you are more than 4 or have a lot of luggage, then the minibus option is excellent.
- Taxi at the airport (32.00 €): Base pricey for weekdays. If there are roadworks, traffic jams, and detour the price is higher. During weekends and evening, the price is always higher.
You can find more about the public transport options here and here you can book a taxi, shuttle or minibus online.
Cala de Bou: When to go
Cala de Bou can feel a bit empty during the first weeks of May and the last weeks of October. So if you like a lot of nightlife, restaurants and bars nearby, you might want to consider staying on the other side of the bay in San Antonio during these weeks. If you like relaxation, these months are good in Cala de Bou. The best but more pricey time to go is June, July, August and September.
Is Cala de Bou the best holiday destination for you?
Cala de Bou is great for anyone looking for a well-developed holiday destination with lots of activities, things to see and experience, and plenty of restaurants and bars. It is also great for families, especially those with young children, given its family-friendly beaches and activities.
Those looking for a bustling nightlife with clubs might find Cala de Bou a bit quiet. If you are seeking a more lively club scene, you might want to stay on the other side of San Antonio bay. Additionally, travellers who prefer secluded, untouched beaches might find the popular beaches of Cala de Bou a bit crowded during the high season.
Not sure if Cala de Bour is the best holiday destination for you? Then, find out where to stay in Ibiza here.
