Es Marès Hotel & Spa is the Formentera choice for couples who would rather stay in a village than on a beach. It sits on a pedestrian street in Sant Francesc Xavier, the island's small capital, a few steps from the whitewashed church square, boutiques and some of the island's best restaurants. It describes itself as Formentera's only 4-star superior hotel.
The family-run hotel opened in 2011 and takes its name from marès, the local sandstone that shapes its traditional island architecture. Interiors use noble woods and natural materials. There is a small outdoor pool with loungers, a restaurant, a café-bar and a spa working exclusively with the Spanish skincare brand Natura Bissé. Free bicycles are available on request.
It suits couples who want evenings strolling to dinner, a good spa and an easy base for exploring the island by bike or scooter. Every beach is a short ride away. The trade-offs: there is no sea view or beach on the doorstep and the pool is small and unheated. Couples who dream of waking up on the sand should look at Migjorn or Cala Saona instead.
Highlights at a glance
- On a pedestrian street in Sant Francesc
- Family-run 4-star superior hotel
- Natura Bissé spa with jacuzzi pool, sauna and steam bath
- Traditional design in local marès sandstone
- Free bicycles for guests
Why Couples Love Es Marès
The village setting is the reason to choose it. Sant Francesc is Formentera's prettiest town, with a fortress-like church, a shady square, craft shops and small restaurants that come alive after dark. Staying here means you can walk to dinner, browse shops in the evening and return to your room without needing a car.
The hotel's design reflects the island. Its use of marès sandstone, wood and natural materials gives it a calm, earthy feel that is very Formentera, with a modern level of comfort.
The service is personal. As a family-run hotel, Es Marès has a warmth that larger properties sometimes lack and the team is happy to recommend beaches, restaurants and routes for your bikes. Many couples like the mix: lazy beach days anywhere on the island, then a spa session and dinner in the village.
Rooms to Book
The hotel offers three room types.
- Double: a comfortable base for couples who will be out most of the day.
- Double Superior: more space and extra touches.
- Junior Suite: 40 square meters on the first floor, with a 180 by 200 centimeter bed, a pillow menu, bathrobes and slippers, a coffee maker and kettle and beach and pool towels.
All rooms are designed in the island's traditional style, balancing freshness and warmth. Expect air conditioning, a fan, free Wi-Fi, a minibar and a safe.
For a honeymoon, the Junior Suite is the right choice. The extra space makes afternoon rest periods far more pleasant, which matters on an island where the best plan is often a nap between the beach and a late dinner. Ask for a quiet location and mention your honeymoon when booking.
The Spa, Pool and Food
The spa is the hotel's highlight. It has a jacuzzi pool, a sauna with chromotherapy lighting, a steam bath, an ice fountain, an aromatherapy shower of sensations, heated loungers and two treatment cabins. Treatments use Natura Bissé products exclusively, with massages, body and facial treatments and beauty rituals on the menu.
A spa circuit at the end of a beach day is a lovely way to shake off sun and salt. Book treatments ahead in summer.
The outdoor pool is small and unheated, with loungers and umbrellas and is best for a quick dip on a hot afternoon. Breakfast is served as a buffet or à la carte using local products and the restaurant and café-bar offer more meals. With so many good restaurants on the square and nearby streets, though, most couples eat out in Sant Francesc in the evenings.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Use the hotel's free bicycles to explore. Formentera is small and flat and its green routes link villages, salt flats and beaches. Ses Illetes, the famous sand spit in the north, is about 15 minutes by car or longer by bike; arrive early in summer and note that vehicles pay an access fee for the natural park.
Cala Saona, a small cove on the west coast, is about 10 minutes by car. Cap de Barbaria lighthouse, the island's southern tip, is a classic sunset spot. Migjorn, the long south-coast beach, has relaxed beach restaurants for long lunches.
Drive up to La Mola on the eastern plateau for its lighthouse and craft market. The sun is intense in summer, so bring high-SPF sunscreen, hats and water on every outing. Scooters and electric cars can be rented in La Savina, a few minutes away.
Getting There
Formentera has no airport. Fly to Ibiza Airport (IBZ), take a taxi of about 20 minutes to Ibiza port, then a fast ferry of about 30 minutes to La Savina. From La Savina, Sant Francesc is only about 3 kilometers away, a 5- to 10-minute taxi ride.
There are no regular nonstop flights from the US to Ibiza, so most couples connect through Barcelona, Madrid or another European hub.
The hotel has private parking behind the building, though guests should check availability and rates before arrival. If you rent a car or scooter, pick it up in La Savina. Formentera's season peaks in July and August. June and September are the best months for a honeymoon, while May and early October are quieter still. Check opening dates for your travel period, since much of the island slows down in winter.
Is It Worth It?
For couples who want a village base and a good spa, yes. Approximate rates often start around $350 a night for two in the shoulder season, with junior suites and July and August higher. That is fair value on an island where good hotels are scarce.
It is not for couples who want to wake up on a beach or swim in a big pool. Gecko Hotel & Beach Club on Migjorn and Hotel Cala Saona & Spa on the west coast both offer direct beach access and sea views.
For honeymooners who enjoy strolling to dinner, cycling between beaches and finishing the day in a spa, Es Marès offers a different and very appealing way to experience Formentera. It also pairs well with a beach hotel: two or three nights here, then a few by the sea.
Insider tips
- Book the Junior Suite for 40 square meters of space.
- Reserve spa treatments in advance in July and August.
- Borrow the free bikes early in the day, before the heat builds.
- Combine two or three nights here with a beach hotel elsewhere on the island.
