Cala Comte, Ibiza: the sunset, the snorkelling and how to get there

Ask anyone in Sant Antoni where to watch the sun go down and most will say Cala Comte. Ibiza’s west coast ends here in a series of low rock platforms and small sandy coves, and beyond them the sea is dotted with islets: S’Illa des Bosc closest in, then Sa Conillera, S’Espartar and the low reefs of Ses Bledes. When the sun sets between them, the rocks fill up with people who walked out an hour early to save a spot for the Cala Comte sunset.

Officially the place is Platges de Comte, “the Comte beaches”, in the plural, and that is the right way to think about it. It is not one beach but a string of interconnected coves with very fine, pale sand. The Sant Josep council listing counts about 600 metres of shoreline in all, while individual coves are only a few dozen metres across.

The beaches and the water

The two main beaches face different ways: the Platja de Tramuntana looks north and the Platja de Ponent looks west, with a rocky outcrop between them. Between the sandy patches the rock shelves into shallow channels of clear water. The colour is the reason the photographs of this place look edited.

Winds here are usually light, sometimes blowing off the land or along the shore. The islets sit inside the Es Vedrà, Es Vedranell i els Illots de Ponent nature reserve, and the council asks visitors to stay on the marked paths and not to anchor outside designated areas.

Lifeguards work in high season, there is sunbed rental, and toilets come with the restaurants. A wheelchair-accessible ramp leads to the sand. The beach is listed as non-smoking.

Snorkelling at Cala Comte

Snorkelling at Cala Comte means the rock platforms, the best snorkelling on this stretch of coast. Even in water you can stand in, you can see the seagrass, the rock and small shoals moving through them. Stay close to the rocks and keep an eye on the boat traffic towards S’Illa des Bosc. In summer the channel between the shore and the islet is busy with small boats, so swim where people on board can see you.

The Cala Comte sunset

The Cala Comte sunset works because the western beach faces open sea, with the islets as a foreground. In midsummer the sun sets well to the north-west; around the equinoxes it sets due west; in winter it moves south-west, towards the open water off Cala Tarida.

The venue most associated with the evening here is Sunset Ashram, on the rocky outcrop between the two main beaches. There are also two seafood restaurants on the cliffs, plus S’Illa des Bosc restaurant and the Cala Escondida beach bar. Nothing requires you to book: the rocks are public, and many people bring their own drinks and a jumper.

The sunset calculator shows the time, compass bearing and the length of the afterglow for any date. On the 7-day forecast a westerly wind means a choppier swim but often a clearer horizon.

How to get there: Cala Comte by bus, boat and car

Whichever way you choose, plan how to get there and back: the return after sunset is the hard part.

Bus. In summer 2026 the P4 line and the new A14 serve Platges de Comte. The A14 continues to Cala Bassa and Cala Tarida, so you can combine beaches without a car.

Boat. Cruceros Portmany sails from Sant Antoni harbour, about 40 minutes each way. Check the last return time, which is in the afternoon, before you plan to stay for the sunset.

Car. It is about 12.5 km and 21 minutes from Sant Antoni, or 25 km from the airport. The road to the beach is closed by a barrier, and the designated car park is a few minutes’ walk before it. For sunset in July and August, arrive by early evening.

On foot. The coastal track from Port des Torrent passes Cala Bassa and the 1763 Torre d’en Rovira before reaching Comte. Sant Josep lists the whole Port des Torrent to Comte route as 14.57 km out and back by bike.

Best time to visit

Cala Comte is very popular in high season, and island guides suggest early morning or late afternoon. For snorkelling at Cala Comte without the crowd, the quietest good weeks are late May, June and the second half of September, when the sea is warm but the car park is not yet full at five o’clock. In winter the beach bars close and buses thin out, so check how to get there before you set off, but the sunset is still there, and it comes early enough to fit after a late lunch.

Updated: 13 October 2026