The best natural park of the Islas Baleares, Ses Salines

Reading Time: 4 minutes

If you are thinking of visiting the Balearic Islands this summer to enjoy the sand, sun, and sea, don’t forget to visit the Ses Salines Natural Park, one of the largest nature reserves in Ibiza, which will leave your mouth open if you visit it.

The nature reserve of Ses Salinas will undoubtedly surprise you and, if you come with your family, partner or friends, you will be able to spend a day full of emotions and discover places you have never seen before in your city unless you have Ibizan blood.

Do you want to know more about this natural park of Ses Salines? read on!

What is the origin of the Ses Salines Natural Park?

Agriculture traditions are still working nowadays and it’s part of the Rural memories in Mallorca.

Its history is coming from the first invasions. The reason was, of course, the salt and all the new cultures knew the power of this natural product. The first civilization was the Carthaginians, during the 5th century BC, many of the buildings across the island to keep the salt that remembers their presence; and after that, Moors invaded the territory and the turned this resource into the main saltworks in the Mediterranean.

During the 18h century, the property passed to the Crown, and at the end, it was under private owners. The traditional methods are being used until now yet. How you can read, even for the islands, the invasions took places and the cultures gave a rich knowledge for the foreign people.

Where is located the Natural Park of Ses Salines?

Ses Salinas is located between Formentera and Ibiza island, in the south of the last one. This island is a great producer of salt, and formed mainly, by dune landscapes, beaches, swamps, cliffs and a quite large sea surface covered with peculiar plants.

How we told before, it’s the most southerly point of the island of Mallorca. It composed on 3,000 hectares of land and 13,000 marine hectares. If you want, you can cover the territory by bicycle for a short while.

The distinctive of the land is the Mediterranean climate, characteristic for the mild-warm and dry temperature. Short rains and warm winter offer a fantastic space for everybody. Moreover, the surface area is 83.2 km2 and the coastline is 69km; the altitude is 192 meters.

What will we find in this great Natural Park of Ses Salines?

Flora and fauna which you discover a wonderful world in Ses Salines

Firstly, Ses Salinas has a wide and wonderful species, both fauna and flora. In 1995 was designed a Natural Reserve and Natural Park in 2001. The ecosystem is rich in sea life and the rest of the species. Even, it’s a space named World Heritage site in 1999 and an area of Special Protection for birds.

There are more 210 cataloged species of birds, including flamingos, white waterfowl, black-footed plover, Baudouin’s seagull and Balearic shearwater, flying across the island.

On the other hand, there are registered 178 species of plants. Between local species, these ones smaller, and for this reason, they can resist the extreme conditions of the coastal climate and the salt situation. 11 species of the species of plants are endemic, 7 of the species classified rare officially and 8 are very vulnerable.

In fact, there are a great number of pine forests, almond tree plantations, carob, and oranges trees. On the island, it’s the largest and oldest huge colonies of Marine plants as the Posidonia oceanic, an endemic plant.

Places in Ses Salinas that you will want to see

• Sal Rossa Watchtower. Pirate attacks were a problem for 16th. The tower was built to defend the salt cargo boats. On the top, you’ll see the fishermen’s huts where they keep their sailboats. Behind the tower, the panoramic view of Playa d’en Bossa beach.
• Bird watching site. Flamingos habit this space. An impressive point of interest to photograph birds and enjoy the nature. Between August and October, the flamingos and other birds as the Ringed Plover or Peregrine Falcons come to spend the cold season there, living a softer season.
• Cap des Falcó. A perfect place for a picnic activity. However, to get there you must take an invisible road full of salt mountains and ponds. Bordering the water, you’ll enjoy an ecological area and the direct view of the coast.
• Es Cavallet beach. A beach full of dunes joins by flora and fauna so common on the island. Located behind Sa Revista and including a narrow path to walk. Pay attention in case you see naked people, it’s the first nudist beach in Spain.
• Ses Portes watchtower. An old point of defense where government kept the artillery and guns, always against the pirates. It’s the sea entrance to Ibiza.
• Sa Canal. The exit for the salt boats in the past. Yet, the rails and rest of the actions are shown under the plants and sand.
• San Francesc de S’Estany. Sunsets and sunrises are the protagonists of the small village. The little church, built in 1785, was a spiritual point for the habitat of employees of the salt industry.
• Montañas de Sal. The main point what along the history, was exploited by the civilizations which lived in this land. Nowadays this salt is a good product and it’s demanded in many countries around the World.

• Ses Salines. It classified as one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The sand has a characteristic white color and crystalline waters offer a great view of the Mediterranean Sea. You’ll be able to ask for a massage while you’re enjoying a cocktail or the typical cuisine from one of the chiringuitos bordering the coast.

The Natural Park of Ses Salines in Isles Baleares has a powerful point of interest for every person who visits yearly the islands. Even for the summer activities, we think of you and we have a variety of activities you can book. Visit our website and contact us for more information.