If you want to feel the real Ibiza, which also attracts thousands of people around the world each year, be sure to visit the island out of season. Leisure and activities, especially on the weekends, is spectacular. Festivals of all kinds, food shows and gatherings, medieval fairs, exhibitions, open days at museums and typical houses, local organic products and crafts markets, ... The island in winter doesn't stop at all. An active combat to offer's "seasonality" is becoming more noticeable in emblematic businesses and several of them have already announced that this is the first year they are going to be open year round.
("Closed. See you in April!! Thanks.")
But apart from the specific commercial and cultural offer oriented to residents and winter visitors, Ibiza offers a number of unique charms that I will gladly detail.
Rural Life: winter is probably the best time of year to explore the vast network of plantations and farms scattered throughout the interior. Many of them develop ecological crops and raise local breed livestock, promoting the consumption of such local and seasonal products. Especially interesting are the craft centers in small villages of the North, located between extensive pine forests that exemplify the natural exuberance of the island.
The Phoenician Ibiza: did you know that the ancient Phoenicians were the ones who gave the present name to the island? "Ibossim" was already a strategic location for this civilization 3,000 years ago. A good example of this importance is the village of Sa Caleta, in Sant Josep, place of their first dated settlement. We can admire its archaeological remains from the seventh and eighth centuries BC. Still more important is the necropolis of Puig des Molins. It is the the largest and best preserved of the Phoenician civilization Worldwide and displays invalulable historical remains. It is a pleasure to walk through the calm and beauty of this huge place also declared a World Heritage Site. Surrounded by olive trees, it houses about 3,500 "hipogeos" (underground tombs) through which we can penetrate the ancient history of the early inhabitants of Ibiza.
Almond Blossoms: Yes, I know it's a classic, but this time of the year means for many the most magical and interesting moment to wander on Ibiza. Those days in mid-January to mid-February also attract the special feeling of the imminent arrival of spring. You can find almond trees throughout the island, but without doubt the greatest show to admire is the valley of Santa Agnes de Corona, literally carpeted with white petals. If you are fortunate enough to visit during the full moon of February, the experience will be unforgettable.
Winter Gourmet: from gastronomic point of view, winter invites you to try the suculent Ibizan typical dishes. There are many restaurants in operation at this time offering an extensive variety that leverages the traditional richness of indigenous raw materials. As our friend Xescu Prats points out in his guide "Ibiza 5 Senses" (http://www.ibiza5sentidos.es/), these places deserve our appreciation and honor as, far from throwing in the towel during the off season, they make the effort to stay open all year, giving us the opportunity to continue enjoying the superb cuisine of our beloved island without interruption.
Sunsets: If you like collecting sunsets, near the coast of Ibiza you will find colorful postcards to keep in your memory forever. Some of the most impressive can be experienced over the winter, when the silver skies play with reflections, lights and shadows, making some of them even more glorious. If we had to choose a couple of them we would start by the one admired over the salt ponds of Ses Salines, or from the tower d'Es Savinar in Cala d'Hort against the islet of Es Vedra. Classics of the summer such as Cala Conte or Sant Antoni bay are also magical because we'll surely observe the sunset in a total solitude provided by winter twilights.
Have no doubt, a visit to Ibiza in winter will provide you the same special sensation of peace and disconnection of the summer without hassles or crowds. Sharing with friends a hearty "arroz de matanzas", sitting close to a good fireplace in any of the traditional restaurants that stay open is the best way to regain strength and temperature after an unforgettable walk around the Ibizan countryside. Of course, the prices at this time are very different when considering the trip. The offer is limited but not less varied.We're expecting you!
