Ses Xalanes (Illetas)

Ses Xalanes beach (Illetas beach)

Ses Xalanes beach is a local toponym by which an area of Illetas beach is known. It is the bay of Illetas where there are some small houses for Xalanes (the typical boat of Formentera and the Mediterranean), hence its name.

Description of Ses Xalanes beach

It is one of the two busiest beaches in the area, and although it is technically called “de les Xalanes”, when someone wants to go to the Illetas area they are almost certainly thinking of this beach or the next one (Illetas beach, to the north of this one).

When you look for images of Illetas on the internet you can be sure that many of the pictures you see are of Ses Xalanes beach. Its spectacular scenery is on a par with the best beaches in the world.

Origin of its name

The name of Platja de Ses Xalanes is given because in its southern part there is a jetty for “xalanes”. The “xalana” is a typical boat of the Balearic Islands, with a flat bottom and very shallow draft, making it very useful as a cargo boat and for sailing in shallow areas.

The sea accesses to this small bay are surrounded by shallow reefs, so those boats with a deeper draft run serious risks of running aground if they decide to enter towards the coast.

The southern part of the beach of les xalanes is very shallow and is closed by the island des Conills, the reef des Palo and Posidonia meadows just one or two meters from the surface. This marine orography, which reduces the force of the waves, makes Platja de Ses Xalanes a naturally protected corner from the western storms (west). This natural protection led the fishermen of yesteryear to use the bay to build the small beaching houses – still standing on the south side – to shelter their boats: the Xalanes, the only vessels that could enter the bay without running aground. That’s where the beach got its name.

Crystalline and peaceful waters

This natural protection of the beach and its shallow depth makes its waters are always calm, offers a very safe and quiet bathing and turns the water turquoise blue. If you decide to snorkel you will find that the visibility is very good, being able to see several tens of meters ahead of you.

Together with its fine white sand and a 100% natural environment surrounded by marine dunes in an excellent state of conservation, the platja de Ses Xalanes has become one of the beaches par excellence when we talk about Formentera, one of the most photographed and the most used image to describe Illetas.

Accessibility and Occupancy Level

The occupancy of this beach is very high. If you arrive at rush hour it can be a bit frustrating and overwhelming not to find a place to put your towel. And it is even more frustrating if you have traveled by motor vehicle and therefore had to pay for access to the natural park.

If you want to be able to find your space comfortably, act with foresight and arrive at the beach first thing in the morning. Since Ses Xalanes beach is one of the busiest in Formentera, you can be sure that it will be crowded, especially in high season.