Ibiza has a bit of everything: flat plains, gentle hills and relatively mountainous regions, especially in the north and west of the island. You should therefore always expect to encounter various inclines. In contrast, Formentera is flat almost everywhere, except for the 2 kilometre climb up to Es Pilar de la Mola. The signposted cycle routes run almost exclusively along country lanes and quiet side roads, where there are few cars, especially in the low season.
3 TOUR TIPS incl. GPS data
Tour 16: Es Canar 31 km, easy, takes a good two hours. Santa Eularia des Riu (start at the information board by the municipal swimming pool) - (hinterland) - Sant Carles de Peralta - Platja des Canar - Punta Arabi (hippy market) - Santa Eularia des Riu
Tour 19: Es Vedrá 60 km, medium difficulty, around four hours cycling time. Sant Antoni de Portmany - Port des Torrent - Cala de Bou - Cala Tarida - Cala Vedella - Es Cubells - Sant Josep de sa Talaia - Sa Caleta - Sa Capellata d'en Serra - Sant Antoni de Portmany
Tour 20: Es Pobles 67 km, medium difficulty, just under five hours cycling time. Port de Sant Miquel - Benirras - Sant Llorenc de Balafia - Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera - Sant Antoni de Portmany - Santa Agnes de Corona - Sant Mateu d'Albarca - Sant Miquel de Balansat - Port de Sant Miquel
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
Pleasant cycling weather at 20 to 25 degrees prevails from mid-April to the beginning/mid-June and from mid-September to the end of October. At the height of summer, the heat and the hustle and bustle of swimming prevent you from enjoying cycling.
ARRIVAL
There are direct flights to Ibiza from several German airports between Easter and the end of October, e.g. with Air Berlin and Condor. Otherwise you can change planes in Barcelona or Mallorca. Bicycles usually cost 50 euros there and back. From Ibiza town (Eivissa), there are up to 20 speedboats a day to Formentera (journey time 30 minutes) and ferries (journey time 1 hour) (www.balearia.com, www.medpitiusa.net).
RAD-SERVICE
In the larger towns, such as Eivissa and Sant Antoni, there are qualified bike shops with hire, service and sometimes also tour offers, e.g. Mammoth Ibiza, Calle Soledad, 32, E- 07820 Sant Antoni, Tel. 0034-971/348949, http://www.ibizasport.com
OUTDOOR TIP
Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera is a small, friendly village in the centre of the island. Locals, immigrants and visitors enjoy meeting up in the cafés, bars and restaurants around the church.
ACCOMMODATION
Representative of some comfortable, quietly located fincas in the centre of the island: Agroturismo Can Planells, Venda de Rubio, 2, E-07815 Sant Miquel de Balansat, http://www.canplanells.com
ORGANISER
Wikinger Reisen has a cycling week "Island Paradise Ibiza" in its programme, including flight, half board, five guided day tours, bike hire, tour guide etc. from 928 euros per person (http://www.wikinger.de).
MAPS/LITERATURE
The ideal all-round guide for travellers is "Ibiza & Formentera" from Michael Müller Verlag, 256 pages, 15.90 euros. Very good for orientation: Compass map WK 239 on a scale of 1:50,000 "Ibiza, Formentera" for 8.95 euros. Cycling tour tips with elevation profile and map sketches: "Guide to cycling routes on Ibiza", available from the Ibiza tourist office.
INFORMATION (GENERAL)
Spanish Tourist Office, Kurfürstenstr. 63, 10707 Berlin, Tel. 030/8826-543, Fax 030/8826-661 (with further branches in Munich and Düsseldorf), http://www.spain.info
INTERNET
http://www.ibiza.travel (general tourist tips, but also detailed route recommendations for cycling and mountain biking)
The full-length article from issue 2/2011 is available as a free PDF download.
