Ibiza is undoubtedly one of Europe’s favourite party islands, loved by clubbers, package holidaymakers and the rich and famous.
The Balearic island’s nature is also a big draw for visitors, and even though preservation and partying don’t go hand in hand, mass tourism and selfie culture have ensured that it happens anyway.
This is the case at the s’Era des Mataret area next to Ibiza’s Cala d’Hort beach, which has become known for its instagrammable sunsets . The lookout is usually referred to as the Mirador des Vedrà.
For most of the day this lookout point where Carthaginian ruins are found remains quiet, but in the hour or so leading up to sunset, it becomes overrun with tourists.
Cars line both sides of the road leading up to the viewpoint as thousands of visitors go to watch the setting sun in front of the small islets of es Vedrà and es Vedranell.
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Aside from the barely visible ancients ruins, this spot is part of Natura 2000, a protected area, home to a wide variety of endangered plants and animals, including nesting Balearic shearwaters (the most endangered seabird in Europe), the Eleonora falcon and the Pitiüses lizard.
The problem is that most tourists who visit Cala d’Hort are unaware, or rather are not made aware, that it’s a protected natural area.
There’s no denying that it’s naturally beautiful, but the hoards of people and the lines of jewellery and mojito sellers come sunset belie this space.
At the beginning of summer, Thomas Wesley Pentz, also known as DJ Diplo, caused anger among locals after organising an illegal party here.
Diplo’s free party may have cost him €300,000. 😬
The impromptu party hosted by Diplo on Monday was held at the much loved island spot, Es Vedra.
Ibiza council is supposedly considering a fine of €300,000 for holding unauthorised event at protected spot pic.twitter.com/ngCQRTkotM
— Ibiza Club News (@IbizaClubNews) July 7, 2024
The celebrated music producer, recently uploaded a social media video to his thousands of Instagram followers, boasting about the party, despite the fact that the Sant Josep City Council have already taken disciplinary action against him.
City mayor Vicent Roig confirmed that the DJ faces a penalty of up to €300,000. In addition to the municipal fine, he will also receive a regional government sanction of between €6,000 and €100,000.
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Sant Josep City Council told El Diario newspaper “Given the obvious problems in these areas, work is being done to find solutions, but today we cannot set dates or specify what actions will be carried out. It is a matter of great complexity that requires time so that the measures carried out can be truly effective and do not fall on deaf ears”.
As well as illegal parties, tourists are treating the area like a club, buying cocktails in plastic cups and leaving rubbish all over for others to clean up.
One of the solutions being proposed is to restrict the number of vehicles to the area which has already happened in some places on the islands of Mallorca and Formentera.
In Ibiza, as well as Mallorca, Menorca, Barcelona, the Canary islands and other cities across Spain, there have already been mass demonstrations against tourism this year, which has locals say has a negative effect on housing prices, the natural environment and water resources.
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