Best things in life are free.

When you Google ‘Natural Bridge Ibiza’ you will find hikes from 8 to 15 kilometers. After our hike to ‘Atlantis of Ibiza’ we got bitten by the bug to do another Sunday hike, but we did not feel like a four to five hour trek. But we really wanted to see that Natural Rock Bridge, another one of Ibiza’s secret natural wonders.
My brother Gertjan had bought a book with ‘Secret Walks Ibiza’ by Rob Smith and in there I found a long hike to Cala d’Albarca with an optional extra hike after you had completed the rest of the route. This extra part is going to the natural bridge we wanted to see!

After we have parked the car under a shaded clearing at the top of the cliffs we start our way down. The walk is rated medium/hard and is about 1,5 kilometers steeply downhill, through pine trees on a rutted path with loose stones underfoot.

Spiderweb with dew drops

We are treated to some stunning views over the bay. This bay, between capes Rubió and Albarca, was a destination for Berber pirates, from where they went inland to assault the small communities of the area.

Without stopping to enjoy the views the hike will take you about half an hour, at an easy pace. When we arrive at the stone natural bridge we are in awe. The bridge is hanging 28 meters above the sea. It is supposed to be 5 million years old and when we see the serious cracks we are not sure if it will survive much longer. Fortunately it is not a frequent visited tourist destination, thanks to the mystery it is surrounded by. We take lots of pictures of each other.

We somehow missed the left turn to a secret beach with an extraordinary perfect pyramid rock and a massive pale yellow rock that seems impossibly balanced on one edge, but that probably would have been in the shade any way this time of day. So, we will try to find that beach next time.

From the parking lot it is a short 2 kilometer drive to the town of San Mateu where the Es Camp Vell restaurant served PJ and me an excellent late lunch with a view on the white washed church. We had arroz de matanzes, rich rice soup with chicken, beef and fish. Gertjan and Johan are having a hard time, because they have just started a 9 days cleansing Detox and can only drink a shake.

Detox shake

Thanks to: www.walkingibiza.com, www.independent.co.uk, www.ibiza5sentidos.es, www.theibizaconnection.net and of course Rob Smith’s book Secret Walks Ibiza North