Cala Gracio & Gracioneta Beach Review

A far cry from the crowded town beaches with their dark sand and urban surroundings these two beaches are picture perfect coves with deep soft white sand, turquoise water and surrounded by pine trees with all big developments tastefully hidden from the eye-line, these two beaches are a great example of Ibizan idyll.

You’ll find these beaches easily if you walk 15 minutes north of San Antonio either along the rocky coastline or along Carretera de Cala Grassio, if you don’t fancy the walk take bus number 1 from town or drive and you’ll find ample parking scattered around the beaches. You’ll come first to the larger beach; environmental award winning Cala Gracio which you can descend to via wooden ramp or stairs. The beach is strangely shaped, being basically a crescent shaped cove around the waters edge but with a funnel shape leading back from the water into the trees. This enables the beach to have several lines of sun loungers and parasols along the waterline and still have plenty space behind for others to set up camp, progressing all the way back into the trees where you can set up in the shade and where one well prepared beach goer set up his hammock and tent.

The sand is deep and soft and white and the sea is beautifully clear with a sandy bed, there are some banks of seaweed around and but you’ll find clear areas to swim without a problem. The cove is well protected on both sides by arms of rock which make for a calm swimming area and also gives you great spots to snorkel, in fact the fish here are exceptionally unafraid of people and will be darting around you as you swim whether you like it or not.

Cala Gracioneta is located just a short walk north of Gracio, it’s a miniature version of its larger neighbour and home to the renowned El Chiringuito restaurant specialising in fresh seafood and Mediterranean fusion food. The restaurant overlooks the pretty little beach and serves cocktails and drinks to the sun loungers and tables down on the sand, or you can sit up in their beachy, elegant restaurant and enjoy the beautiful view.

The layout of the beach is similar to Gracio it’s a tiny crescent shape that is deeper than it is wide, its generally quieter than its larger neighbour and more favoured by the Spanish. If it does get busy sunbathers tend to spread out along the rocks to the right of the beach where there are some flat patches to lay a towel. The sea is the same as at Gracio, a shallow and sandy entry, protected on both sides and with some great snorkelling along the rocks.

Both of these beaches are great for families, the water is safe, calm and shallow to enter and the beaches are shielded from any roads by lines of trees and rocks that are great for exploring. Gracio is probably the best however as it’s the only one that has a lifeguard and is much more accessible than its neighbour which doesn’t have ramps or wooden walkways; access is via paths over the rocks unless you come off the road and directly through El Chiringuito.

Gracio also has a restaurant of it’s own, Sa Bresca, a much less refined affair but cheerful and selling cold drinks, ice cream and food. A sandwich here will cost you €3-6 and they also have burgers, pasta, salads and seafood averaging around €10. If you would rather provide your own picnic and drinks then stock up in San Antonio before walking over because there isn’t actually a shop next to the beach.

The short distance from San Antonio seems to keep the massive crowds away so head to Cala Gracio or Gracioneta if you’re looking for a quieter and more beautiful alternative to the beaches in town, come ready to relax in an idyllic setting and schedule your walk back to town for sunset when the view is quite incredible.