Cala Saona: through the torrent to the beach

Artículos de Josep Rubio,Rutes | March 25, 2025

The torrent will serve as our path, allowing us to enjoy one of the defining features of Formentera’s coastline: the absence of urban developments that have eliminated the coastal ecosystem.

At the final stretch of the torrent, we leave the forest behind and enter the dune system, where reeds and rushes flourish. To the left, slightly elevated above the bottom of the channel, we will discover the well of Cala Saona.

Test: Josep Rubio| Fotography: Próximo Ferry

Cala Saona offers a unique landscape in Formentera. Nestled between limestone cliffs, it appears as a sandy tongue caressing the sea, flanked on both sides by fishermen’s boathouses. The view is extraordinary: to the north, the Gavina Tower; to the west, Ibiza and the islet of Es Vedrà. On days with good visibility, at sunset, one can even make out the Montgó mountain range in Denia.

When travelers first admire Cala Saona, they often recall other distinctly Mediterranean spots, such as the coves of Menorca or the Costa Brava. However, since no two first impressions are ever the same, we propose rediscovering this scene from a different perspective, with refreshed senses. We will do so with a walk of less than a kilometer, uncovering what lies beyond the usual road access.

The torrent will be our path, allowing us to appreciate one of Formentera’s coastal features: the absence of urbanization that could have erased the natural ecosystem. To find the ravine, we take the road to Cala Saona and, on the left, turn onto the path leading to Punta Rasa. After a few meters, we will spot a depression to the right—the torrent.

We will follow this path, advancing through a forest that mixes pine and juniper trees, characteristic of areas frequently affected by drought. Alongside these trees, this first stretch hosts various shrub species such as rosemary, juniper, mastic, and rockroses. As we move deeper into the torrent, the terrain changes, with soil gradually giving way to sandy ground. Reflecting this transition, we will occasionally see shrubs like aubada, espinadella, and honeysuckle.

Once the surface becomes entirely sandy, junipers will dominate, along with dune-specific vegetation such as reed grass, sea holly, and sea lilies.

At the final stretch of the torrent, we leave the forest behind and enter the dune system, where reeds and rushes thrive.

To the left, slightly elevated above the bottom of the channel, we will find the well of Cala Saona. Historian Santiago Colomar references a map drawn by Calvi that already mentioned it in 1555. It is a public well with distinctive features for Formentera, having a raised stone neck with built-in steps leading to the opening. The elevated neck likely served as protection against strong floods that could bury the well, which was renowned for supplying Cala Saona’s people with high-quality water, even during dry summers.