A Tale of Two Islands

Discover Ibiza's tranquil side, with beautiful beaches and a diverse culinary landscape beyond its bustling nightlife.

- Leila Najafi

Port de Sant Miquel is a sleepy, protected cove on the north side of Ibiza, perfect for travelers seeking some peace and quiet away from the island's buzzy beaches.

BOOKING A LAST-MINUTE FLIGHT from Los Angeles to Ibiza, Spain, just seven days after returning home from the island might just top the list of the most nonsensical things I've ever done. But after years of mistakenly writing off this little Balearic island as nothing more than a clubber's paradise, I'd experienced firsthand that Ibiza had much more to offer-and a voice inside was urging me to return as quickly as possible. So I did.

My first visit to Ibiza took place in early June. (Spring is the ideal time to go-just before summer's hordes of tourists and the inevitable heat wave arrive.) Looking down at the small Mediterranean island from 35,000 feet in the air, I was struck by its intense cerulean waters and myriad idyllic coves. I was eager to trade my layered airport attire for a bikini and dip my feet in the soft white sand.

I'd been skeptical of Ibiza's appeal since I studied abroad in Barcelona nearly 20 years ago. When a few of my classmates had excitedly asked me to go on a weekend jaunt to Ibiza, my reply had been a resounding, "No, thanks!" The Ibiza I'd heard about, dubbed a party island, was where raves and revelry carried on until the wee hours of the morning. I preferred getting lost in narrow alleys and trying local mom-and-pop eateries over joining frenzied partygoers packed like sardines in dark, sweaty rooms.