11 Things to Do in Ibiza in February

If you're planning to visit Ibiza during the winter, you'll be able to enjoy the island's peaceful landscapes with fewer tourists and get to know the more alternative side of the island.

From taking part in local festivals to experiencing the Ibiza Carnival, hiking trails, the almond blossom of Santa Inés and the old walled city, there are many activities to see and do in Ibiza in February. Here I'll tell you about the best alternatives.

The old walled city of Ibiza is one of the essential visits to get to know the history of the island and, during February, you can discover it at your own pace and at your own pace, either on a private tour of Ibiza, which includes this part of the island, or on your own.

The small number of tourists and the cooler weather will make it easier for you to explore the Portal de Ses Taules, the Cathedral, the Castle and the Plaza de Armas.

Dalt Vila is also home to the ruins of the medieval walls that made Ibiza one of the symbols of Spanish resistance in the Balearic Sea and will allow you to get to know the cultural side of the island.

I can already tell you that in February, being low season, you won't find a wide range of activities and excursions to do, as you can see in the summer or spring seasons.

However, quad tours are usually available practically all year round, with February being a month in which you can enjoy this activity any day of the year. If I were you, I'd take advantage of it because in the summer, places sell out quickly.

Enjoying a quad tour in Ibiza means getting to know the most traditional landscape of the island, but in a totally different and much more fun way, there's no doubt about it.

Sunsets are a big attraction in Ibiza during the summer, but the island's haze sometimes prevents you from enjoying the phenomenon clearly. In winter, on the other hand, Ibiza's skies are clear and the panoramic views gain ground, especially those overlooking the sea.

The islet of Es Vedrá, a natural mass of massive stone almost 400 metres high, offers one of the best sunsets during the winter and adds to the experience all the secrets and mysteries that surround this island territory and its Triangle of Silence.

You can get to know Es Vedrá on a boat excursion from Ibiza, renting a sailboat or a small boat that allows you to reach the coast or contemplate it from Cala d'Hort, although the closer you get to the islet the closer you will be to one of the most beautiful and unobstructed sunsets in the Balearic Islands, in a benefit that Ibiza only offers during the winter months.

The 12th of February is the feast day of Santa Eulalia and in Ibiza, specifically in Santa Eulalia del Río, the festivities last until March, so if you plan to visit the island in February you can attend the events which include activities for children, live music shows, local food stalls and sporting activities.

Santa Eulalia is a reference point for Barcelona and the same goes for Ibiza, which celebrates the bravery of the little girl from Sarriá who stood up against the prohibitions imposed by the authorities of the Roman Empire.

The northern tip of the island, which is crowned by the beautiful Faro des Moscarter lighthouse, a tall marine lantern that stands out for its striking striped paintwork and offers a sweeping view of the rocky coastline.

The Moscarter lighthouse is the best-known lighthouse on Ibiza and the largest at 52 metres high. It can be seen from all points along the north coast, and the waves are pounding just a short distance from the lighthouse, so it is best to visit it on a day when the sea is not rough.

You can reach the lighthouse, which forms part of the Route of the Five Lighthouses, on a walk from Portinatx, which in February, when there are few tourists, becomes very peaceful.

If you visit Ibiza in February you can witness many of the island's celebrations, and one of the most famous is Carnival, which is notable for the popular parades of troupes through the main streets of Santa Eulalia del Río, San Antonio and the capital of Ibiza.

Carnival on the island is very colourful and in every corner of Ibiza you can listen to themed music, attend the prize-giving ceremonies and enjoy the gastronomic contests that choose the best paella and the best omelette in the Rúas de Carnaval.

Enjoying Carnival in Ibiza is also one of the best plans if you plan to visit Ibiza with children and if you want to take part in one of the most traditional celebrations of the Balearic Islands, which also has its edition in Formentera.

Among Ibiza's traditions, one of the most famous is in the village of Santa Inés, which during the month of February becomes the island's main attraction with its Pla de Corona fields , where the almond groves cover everything in a blanket of white.

The blossoming of the almond trees is a spectacle that Ibizans follow closely and enjoy taking the best photographs and visiting the village of Santa Inés, even when the weather can turn a little chilly.

If you plan to visit the almond groves in Pla de Corona, don't miss the Church of Santa Inés and the tortilla bar Can Cosmi, which is opposite and just a few minutes away from the white blanket of almond trees.

One of the positive aspects of visiting Ibiza during the winter is that it is possible to discover areas such as the island's unspoilt or wild beaches and to do so in peace and quiet and at your own pace without the large influx of tourists. Here are some of them:

• Cala Llentrisca
• Es Codolar, in San José
• Es Portitxol and Es Canaret, in San Juan
• Ses Balandres, in San Antonio,

The complexity of the access depends on the location of each one, with those in San Juan being the most accessible and the best for watching the sunsets, which is one of the best activities in Ibiza.

Ses Balandres is the most difficult cove to access due to its remote location and therefore the one that receives the least number of visitors, especially in February or during the winter months. To reach this cove you will have to descend a rope down a vertical rock face, but it is well worth it.

During the winter, the weather in Ibiza is ideal for hiking along the island's hiking trails, where you can discover different landscapes of varying difficulty. From Es Broll to Cap Llentrisca you can visit mountain trails, urban centres, valleys, crop fields and canals.

On these trails you will discover the beauty of the Mediterranean landscapes, with their cliffs, caves and islets and also the open views of the island towards Formentera and Es Vedrá.

These routes vary in length depending on the complexity of the routes, but some, such as the Cap des Falcó route, can be completed in a couple of hours, which will be useful if you are planning a short stay in Ibiza. If that's your case, here's a list of activities you can do on the island during a 3-day visit.

The true architectural tradition of the Ibizan style is not to be found in the old walled town or in San Antonio, but in the small village of Balafia, a group of medieval towers, fortifications and rural dwellings built as a fort to defend against invaders.

This village of Sant Llorenç, which is almost in the centre of the island, can be visited by car from Santa Eulalia del Río. Balafia is an enigmatic village that has been standing for more than 10 centuries and that keeps the history of the island as a territory besieged by the conquerors during the Middle Ages.

In February you will be able to visit this village in a quiet way, without so many tourists and with an ideal climate. During your tour of Balafia you can also visit the picturesque church of Sant Llorenc and the winding streets that wind through the mountain paths.

Sant Mateu is a rural village near Santa Inés that is characterised by its leafy plantations and the tranquillity of its streets, which escape the tourist bustle of the rest of the island.

It is also a popular destination for cycling enthusiasts and an ideal place to go for tapas and enjoy the local wine, especially if you want to take shelter from the island's wind or you've had a rainy day.

You can visit Sant Mateu during February after your visit to the blossoming almond trees of Santa Inés or to ride out the colder days and have lunch or dinner in some of the famous local bars and restaurants, such as Juntos House, Ses Casetes or Sa Tanca de Mossènyer, all of which serve winter food and offer heated spaces in the winter.

Despite the winter, the weather in February in Ibiza is rarely cold, averaging 16°, with lows of 8° and highs of 20°. It is also a month in which the skies generally remain clear, so sunsets and panoramic views can take place as normal.

Temperatures can drop at night, especially in coastal areas, and I recommend that you protect yourself from the wind, which can be very cold on cloudy days.

If you plan to visit Ibiza in March or February, you'll be visiting the island during the months when there are fewer tourists, so you can enjoy the sites at your own pace and without the crowds.

Bear in mind that Ibiza is a place that tourists visit mainly in summer, so in the autumn and winter months many of the island's attractions are closed and some excursions are not available.

It is also not a time for swimming in the sea, although you will be able to walk on the beach without inconvenience and enjoy Ibiza's natural sites, which will be available almost exclusively for you.

If you're planning to visit Ibiza in February you'll find one of the months when prices drop by almost 30%, so hotels, some excursions and basic services such as food and tourist transport become cheaper.

Although the weather in Ibiza in February isn't too cold, you should ideally pack warm enough to cope with the wind and possible rainy days. Below is a list of the clothes I recommend you pack for your trip:

• Thermal T-shirt
• Thermal socks
• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof gloves
• Waterproof and comfortable boots
• Woollen scarf
• Woollen hat
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Trousers
• Sunglasses
• Fleece trousers
• Woollen jumpers
• Thermal coats

The vast majority of Ibiza's plans are outdoors, so the best way to protect yourself is with the right clothing during the excursions and attractions you visit, although you also have alternatives for rainy days or bad weather on Paseo Vara del Rey, where you can shop or eat, or visit the Museum of Contemporary Art in Dalt Vila, the Puget Museum or the Archaeological Museum.

You can also opt for the shops in the Marina area or the cinemas in the island's capital. And if you have a rented car you can visit some of the inland villages of the island, because even in bad weather, Ibiza has some of the best landscapes and sunsets in the world.