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Ibiza is an island in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain. It is a popular holiday destination that has become well-known especially for its nightlife and club scene. But Ibiza holidays offer so much more than a party haven (or hell, depending on how you see it)! In this post, I explore what Ibiza holidays offer to wheelchair travel in terms of wheelchair-friendly accommodation, beaches and activities. If you travel in a wheelchair, Ibiza could be for you. Join me on this journey!
Ibiza holidays accessible hotels with awesome facilities
Iberostar Santa Eulalia is a newly renovated, wheelchair travel friendly 4-star hotel in Ibiza with rooms from 56 € per night. It is located in Santa Eulalia, a laid-back and family-friendly part of the island, away from the never-ending parties. Santa Eulalia has 229 rooms in total, of which 10 are adapted for handicapped guests. The adapted rooms are equipped with disabled toilet seats, grab rails in the bathrooms, and roll-in showers. Ramps all around the hotel make the whole facility accessible to those who travel in a wheelchair, and there is a pool lift.
Iberostar Santa Eulalia is an adult-only hotel. This guarantees a peaceful atmosphere and relaxing time, whether you are travelling alone, with your beloved one, or with friends. There is a SPA where guests can enjoy treatments such as Asian and Hawaiian massages, chocolate wraps and rose masks. The hotel also organizes a wide selection of activities, of which many are suitable for disabled people. Or how about origami, special dinners for two, theme nights and live music sessions? I found this hotel at Iberostar.com, where you can also easily find other hotels and resorts, on Ibiza and beyond.
26 wheelchair travel friendly beaches
With 210 km of coastline, Ibiza is surrounded by countless beaches. The good thing is that 26 of them are wheelchair accessible, according to a recent survey. Most of them offer full wheelchair travel access; all the way from the parking lot, to the water. Some beaches also offer amphibious wheelchairs and crutches, as well as assisted bathing with help from the lifeguards. Should you want any of these services, do inform the lifeguard tower beforehand, to make sure that wheelchairs and extra lifeguards are available when you arrive. Your hotel can help you contact with the lifeguard tower.
Santa Eulalia is Ibiza’s third largest resort, and definitely one of the best choices for those who travel in a wheelchair, thanks to its well-planned infrastructure. The water in Santa Eulalia is also calm and shallow, making it an ideal place to enter the sea in an amphibious wheelchair. In Santa Eulalia, there are two fully wheelchair accessible beaches; the Santa Eulalia beach itself, and Cala Llonga. Both of them offer amphibious wheelchairs and crutches, as well as adapted bathrooms and showers.
In the middle of Santa Eulalia, there is a broad and flat seafront promenade surrounded by palms. This is the ultimate wheelchair-friendly place to enjoy this seaside resort. Just slowly roll down the promenade while observing the movement of people, feeling the sea breeze against your skin, and gazing out over the sea. The seafront promenade also features many waterfront bars and restaurants where you can watch the sunset with a drink in your hand.
Almond trees, salt extraction and underwater meadows
Ibiza holidays are perfect for wheelchair travel adventures in nature, and the countryside is easy to travel by car. With everything from long white beaches with crystal clear water, to wetlands, cliffs, woodlands and scrubs, a trip into nature guarantees stunning and varied scenery wherever you turn. The almond orchards in Santa Agnès de Corona are really worth a visit in the spring when the trees are blooming. It’s their white flowers that have given the island its nickname: “The White Island”.
Beside almond blossoms, Ibiza is strongly associated with another white thing: salt. Ibiza holidays offer the chance to get up close and personal with salt production. For centuries, salt extraction was the island’s most important industry. Visit the historically important Ses Salines Natural Park where salt extraction began more than 2,000 years ago, and still continues. Ses Salines also features unique terrestrial and marine ecosystems with high biodiversity. The marine part of the park, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, is famous for its underwater meadows of Posidonia Oceanica, a rare type of seagrass that helps keeping the seawaters of Ibiza crystal clear.
If you are up for more lively wheelchair travel activities, many nightclubs in Playa d’en Bossa and San Antonio are actually wheelchair accessible, thanks to their size. All in all, Ibiza is certainly a suitable destination for everyone. Regardless of your physical abilities, you can enjoy lazy days by the pool, sightseeing in nature, and a vibrant nightlife.
Discovering the local cuisine
Finally, what would Ibiza holidays be without exploring the local cuisine? Ibiza’s gastronomy is typically Mediterranean with large amounts of fish and seafood, such as lobster, seafood stew and squid with “sobrasada” (a local sausage). Two of the most typical local fish dishes are “bullit de peix” and “guisat de peix”; kind of fish stews. Other typical dishes are Spanish tapas, seafood paella and “frit de matances” (rice and fried meat).
For more info on Ibiza, check out Lonely Planet’s Pocket Guide to Ibiza.
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