On June 20th; after my stay in San Antonio, i arrived at the Hotel Vibra Mare Nostrum in Playa D’en Bossa. These 10 nights were the 2nd part of my trip on sunny Ibiza.
The taxi got me to the hotel for about 9am and was about 30 euros. I couldn’t check in til 2pm, so sat outside reading my book and had a few drinks. I finished my book about Buddhist meditation that morning. It was an excellent read and really brings you back to present moment thinking.
I could already tell that this was a very different type of hotel to the last one. Part of a chain (Vibra have hotels in Ibiza and Mallorca) and geared more to the 18-30 clubbers market. Less friendly/family, more trendy/fashionable and bigger. It even has a tattoo parlour. Its a bit pricier than the last one aswell. In Ibiza, you get the feeling that everything you could want is on your doorstep. Well in this hotel that is near enough true. Want a massage? No problem! Want to go parasailing? Ive got you covered. Going clubbing? check out these hats, beads and glow sticks!
The first thing I booked was to go to Pacha and see CamelPhat on that night. But that would be after settling in to my new location. See this picture of the pool area during a quieter moment after some time on a sunbed.
The food was good. Buffet options for healthy mediterranean fish and salads. But plenty of stodgy meat and carb-filled choices like macaroni cheese or sweet potato fries and beef slices. I liked the selection of desserts aswell, such as the sticky toffee pudding to keep us Guiri english bastards happy!
Then chilled with a drink for a bit before the big night ahead in Pacha.
I decided to walk there using directions on my phone. This was a nice walk in the dark through Ibiza Town. I arrived at 11pm, about an hour early so took a wander to the quay of San Rafael. This small village holds 2 of the most famed nightclubs in Ibiza: Pacha and Lio. Lio is an exclusive sit down meal and club music experience. It sits on the quay by millionaires’ (maybe a billionaire or 2) yachts docked there. It looks like something you would see watching the Monte Carlo grand prix. There were luxury brand shops still open here aswell.
I took everything in and then walked over to Pacha to queue for its midnight opening time.
I arrived and got myself a Rum and Coke which was a whacking 21 euros!
Pacha is very cool. Historic in Ibiza, it has a classy underground vibe with the signature 2 cherry logo towering above (Ive got it on a t-shirt!). The outside smoking area is full of colourful decor and palm trees.
The opening DJs were Tech and Euro House courtesy of Patrice Baumel and Rex Axes. Pacha play a variety of House styles, but stick to some form of House music. It is what they are known for globally in the EDM world. With beautiful dancers on plinths, like you can see above. Dressed in sparkling, futuristic costumes and getting eyed up by just about every guy (and some women im sure) in the place. It was a good vibe and I was at the front and then a bit further back, dancing towards the centre of the DJ booth.
CamelPhat came out at about 3 am. This scouse house duo whilst Ibiza regulars now, are in their first summer of residency at Pacha. They started with a nice mix of experimental stuff before throwing in some of their well-known favourites. You can really feel the bass in here with some dark underground sounds. Below is them playing the track “Panic Room”.
This kind of house music gives you a nice little sway. It’s mesmeric but unforgettable. Electric but with peace. Pacha is a big part of that, there’s really no place quite like it. I had another Rum and coke and went outside for a cigarette. They played their hit track “Breathe” below. Excellent set.
This was their closer for the night. Special. I then took the hour long walk back to Playa D’en Bossa to my hotel. Had a fat breakfast, a shower then got my head down til the late afternoon. Got up for a sunbathe. I was half board again here so had my dinner at half 7, which this night was a bowl of Paella. After dinner i went to the Hotel’s Aqua Terrace, to dip my feet in the shallow pool and have a cocktail. Living the life eh! Beats my norm of a pint of Tennent’s down a Glasgow social club! This was supposed to be just for all-inclusive guests, but I was paying enough for the room and they probably wouldn’t care. One of the pools has a glass bottom directly above the main lounge. See the video below:
As the sun went down, I had a few drinks there and talked to a few different people from England. Then back to my room to get my head down with the brand new air conditioner on full blast. The best.
Woke up bright and early for breakfast. To quote Mike Skinner; “Plenty of scrambled egg and plenty of fried tomato”. Then i walked into Playa’ D’en Bossa towards the beach. In just my swim shorts with my room key to head into the sea. It was the perfect temperature. Crisp aswell. Swimming in the mediterranean feels like just about the most naturally restorative thing you can do, even if you didn’t feel before that you needed it. Stayed in for ages (don’t ask me how long).
Then a stroll through the town, had a browse in a few touristy shops. Looked at mugs, hats an funny t-shirts, you know the type. That took me to early afternoon, so i arrived back at the hotel and went for a dip in the pool. A huge pool as it goes, for a big hotel. Decided that I was going to Ushuaia that night. A short walk from my hotel. You can see me below enjoying a mojito early on.
I sat there with my drink, feet in the water. Talked to an Italian girl for a bit who lived in London. Here on holiday with her mates. The headliner was Dutch house DJ Martin Garrix. Mostly a progressive house set. The crowd were young, not that i cared. They loved their beats, thats the main thing and you could feel a vibrant energy from Garrix’s mix. Ive said this before, but Ushuaia is a beautiful venue. The hotel is quite simply a millionaire’s playground.
After a fun night I headed back to the hotel on close, got back about midnight. Housekeeping had cleaned the room and changed the linen during the day, so slept peacefully.
The next morning I had some meat slices with croissants and coffee for brekkie (continental i know!). Afterwards I headed out for a walk into Ibiza Town. Baking heat that day. First of all I had a cold glass of orange Fanta at a bar by the beach of Platja de ses Figuerettes. Then a look round the shops close by. Picked up a nice Ibiza t-shirt with a palm tree on it.
Walked into the main part of the town, including in the Ushuaia shop and got an official wristband for 3 euros. You felt the life of the locals here more than many other places. Small businesses like shops and restaurants that survive with the season’s trade. Found a funky shop where i bought another Ibiza t-shirt (this one with a lizard on it).
Walked back to Platja de ses Figuerettes and soaked up el sol for the rest of the afternoon, reading my book when I felt like it. Its one of my favourite beaches in Ibiza. What a holiday’s about.
Had 2 cans of beer on the beach and some snacks. Walked back about half 5 and had some curry for dinner back at the Vibra. Later I took a stroll into the Playa D’en Bossa nightlife with no plan or prior agenda. This is usually how the bar reps catch you with your pants down and before you know it you’ve spent 40 euros on a round! I found a bar called Tantra for a few drinks. I went in because they were playing trance that night, which can’t keep me off the dance floor. Especially when “Carte Blanche” by Veracocha came on. Shared a joint with another solo traveller from Belfast. Back to the hotel and slept like a baby on Night Nurse.
The next day I chilled by the pool. Read my book, sunbathed and swam in the pool. Had some beef lasagne for dinner and a few pints of Madri. Early night as the next day i was off on a boat trip.
I got the bus first thing to San Antonio harbour where the boat departed from. This was a 10.30 am departure time for the Ibiza beaches tour. To drink you had a choice of Beer, Champagne or Sangria. I helped myself to Sangria and had a seat on an edge of the top deck in the windy open air. This is the link to the trip: https://www.floatyourboatibiza.com/ibiza-beach-cruise/.
The guide talked us through landmarks along the west coast of the island. Tried out my spanglish again and got a chuckle when i called a him a “bueno hombre”. Then we stopped at a beach.
The first beach stop was the glorious Cala Bassa. I found this spot to plant my towel and sunbathe. Plastered another layer of factor 500 on!
Cala Bassa is a relatively small beach on a long coastline. The water a perfect turquoise colour. I went in up to my ankles for 5 minutes. Lovely and warm in and out the sea.
When the hour was up I returned to the boat and we cast off.
20 minutes later, we stopped for an open water swim. I borrowed snorkelling gear and could see fish floating around underneath me, which was idyllic. The kind of warm holiday memory that stays with you.
We headed south to the 2nd beach, Cala Comte. On the way, the guide pointed out luxury celebrity homes along the coast. Like Will Smith’s and the late George Michael’s.
When we landed I took a full cup of Sangria with me to enjoy. Some beauties on this beach. By now it was about 3.30pm.
The appeal of the crystal clear sea just irresistible (and swimmers, see the photo!). Very busy that day on a sunday, when spanish people go out with friends and family. This is clearly a beach the locals enjoy just as much as us tourists and travellers. Golden sand.
So after a bit of paddle, a read of my book with my Sangria, I headed back to the boat. That was that. I headed back after a grand day out.
Next day, I went to Playa D’en Bossa beach again and lay in the sun all day. Finally starting to get some colour on me. Its the longest beach on the island, but one of the perks of being solo is that you get less attention from people hustling. Had a few cold cans there and read again. Chilling before a big event later on.
I went to Amnesia for this monday night triple-header. Hadn’t been there since 2015 and the venue seemed more intimate than before. Danny Howard kicked things off to a strong start. He’s a Radio 1 Dance regular, you might have heard his show.
I don’t have any pictures or videos of this night. I didn’t take my phone, with all the pickpocketers in Amnesia. So this video is a track that was played including all 3 of the DJs on the night; one of the island’s anthems of last summer.
Sonny Fodera was exceptional. Was circle dancing with a group of Indians for most of this. The balcony (posh seats) was alive aswell with a good mix of a crowd dancing.
When headliners, Gorgon City blast out their track “4 Walls” the place was palpably rocking (4 walls moving). They sampled some good stuff aswell, like Noizu’s “Moon Grove” also a 2022 summer hit. “Voodoo” was their closer and you definitely felt you’d seen something special. Had an absolute blinder, taxi back to the hotel at 6 am.
Woke up about midday. Had lunch at the hotel snack bar. A bacon and cheese sandwich which hit the spot. Nothing better than that when you wake up after your rave. Had a massage by the pool for 15 euros. First time for everything and it wasn’t bad actually. I always thought I fidgeted a bit too much for that type of thing.
Got out early wednesday for another swim in the sea.
Had a mojito by the pool on this lazy afternoon (see photo). New groups came and went with the tide. My 10 night stay was longer than most.
For dinner that night i had a steak with lots of spanish potatoes and veg. Apple pie for dessert with lashings of ice cream (greedy sod i know!).
My final day was a boat excursion to Es Vedra. The mystic island of rock, home of many a myth and legend. From the greeks to the phoenicians. The nice woman i booked the trip with, had a tattoo of it on her arm. It is a nature reserve and you cannot land on it. The Summit stands at 400 metres high. The guide talked us through how in greek mythology, sirens from Es Vedra caused ships to veer off course and lead sailors to watery graves. Including King Oysseus as the legend is told. The phoenician lunar godess Tanit is said to have been worshipped here through forms of human or animal (disputed) sacrifice.
Our guide explained that Es Vedra’s geology dates back to a break away from the Balearic Islands due to major shifts and tectonic movements nearly 100 million years ago. He also told us that Es Vedra is formed mainly of mesozoic limestone which is over 66 million years old.
It really is a spectacle, that i recommend fitting into any Ibiza trip if you can. Looking up at this is awe inspiring. It then made sense that so many stories had been made about this place. We came right up close to the rocks and underneath a reaching part of Es Vedra itself.
We stopped for an open water swim after and the boat had a slide to smash fast into the sea (good fun, I did it 3 times). The sea was turquoise again. I asked the guide how to deep where we stopped, he said 7 to 8 metres. We then had a lunch spread including pizza (delish!) and lovely fresh fruit, I had more Sangria all day long (when in Rome).
On the way back, we stopped off at Formentera and I had a walk around for just over an hour. Just a mooch and heres one final picture as we cast off back to Playa D’en Bossa.
The perfect way to round off my trip.
If you have enjoyed this post please subscribe, like, comment, share etc.
Safe Travels!
Instagram: armchairexpert22
