Most visitors never think about the rules on an Ibiza beach until a lifeguard blows a whistle or a patrol boat pulls alongside. The ones that matter on the west coast are few and easy to follow. They protect the seagrass that keeps the water clear, the people swimming, and the neighbours who live above the coves. This page sets out the Ibiza beach rules that apply between Sant Antoni and Cala Tarida, with the regulation behind each one.
Two councils cover this coast. Sant Josep de sa Talaia has Port des Torrent, Cala Bassa, Platges de Comte and Cala Tarida. Sant Antoni de Portmany has Cala Gració and Cala Gracioneta. The Balearic government’s rules on posidonia apply to the sea off all of them.
Posidonia and anchoring
The clear water at these coves exists because of Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass that grows in dense meadows from a few metres down. It filters the water, holds the sand in place and shelters fish. It grows extremely slowly, and an anchor dragged through it destroys decades of growth.
Decree 25/2018 of the Balearic government, of 27 July 2018, prohibits as a general rule the anchoring of boats on posidonia. In April 2021 the Balearic high court annulled the decree’s own sanctions article, but the government and environmental groups maintain that anchoring on posidonia remains punishable under other environmental law. Press reports put the fines between EUR 100 and EUR 6,000 for minor cases, with much higher ceilings for serious ones.
The problem is real here. In the 2025 season, the posidonia patrol boats recorded that about 21% of anchorings in Ibiza were on seagrass, against 6.4% across the Balearics. In August 2025 boats were fined for anchoring on posidonia inside Cala Bassa.
What to use:
- fondeos.caib.es, the Govern’s free web tool, shows on your phone whether anchoring is allowed where you are.
- Posidonia Maps is a free, unofficial app mapping the meadows around Ibiza and Formentera.
- Regulated buoy fields are booked through Ports de les Illes Balears. A field planned for Cala Bassa is not operating in 2026, because its funding was withdrawn.
Beach flags and swimming
Article 65 of Sant Josep’s civic ordinance sets out the flags:
- Green: no danger, normal bathing
- Yellow: take extreme care in the water
- Red: swimming prohibited
The same article bans swimming from breakwaters and in signposted no-swimming zones, using soap at beach showers, and jumping from cliffs. In 2026 Sant Josep’s full lifeguard service began on 1 May at Port des Torrent, Cala Bassa, Platges de Comte and Cala Tarida, among others. Sant Antoni’s contract covers Cala Gració and Gracioneta from 1 May to 15 October.
Sant Josep’s 2026 civic ordinance
Sant Josep’s new Ordenança de Convivència Ciutadana was approved on 28 May 2026 and published in the Balearic gazette (BOIB no. 74) on 13 June 2026. It applies to the municipality’s beaches. The points visitors meet most:
- Alcohol: drinking in public spaces is banned unless authorised (EUR 500). Leaving drink containers behind costs up to EUR 500, and more for glass.
- Camping and sleeping out: tents, caravans and campervans in public spaces, and sleeping there by day or night, are banned (EUR 750, or EUR 1,500 in protected natural areas).
- Noise: speakers, music and shouting that disturb others are banned (EUR 750.01 to 1,500).
- Clothing: nudity is banned except where authorised by decree. Swimwear alone is fine on beaches and the promenades next to them.
- Vehicles: cars and motorbikes are banned on beaches.
Dogs, smoking and drones
Dogs. Sant Antoni’s beach ordinance bans dogs and other animals on its beaches unless an authorisation is posted at the entrance. Sant Josep has banned animals on its beaches during the bathing season since 2008. The nearest designated dog beaches are in Santa Eulària and Ibiza town.
Smoking. There is no general ban yet. Platges de Comte is listed as a non-smoking beach. A national law extending the smoking ban to beaches was approved as a draft by the Spanish government on 21 July 2026 and still has to pass parliament.
Drones. Ibiza airport lies within Sant Josep, and flying near it without authorisation is prohibited. Check ENAIRE’s official drone map, drones.enaire.es, before any flight on this coast.
A practical summary
Most people never get near a fine. Anchor on sand, not seagrass. Watch the flag. Take your bottles and cigarette ends home. Keep the music for the beach club. For what to bring, the packing list covers a no-trace beach day, and the cove guides note which beaches have lifeguards and when.
Questions people ask
Can you anchor on posidonia in Ibiza?
No. Balearic Decree 25/2018 prohibits, as a general rule, anchoring boats on Posidonia oceanica meadows. Use sand patches or a regulated buoy field, and check your position with the Govern's free web tool at fondeos.caib.es.
Can you drink alcohol on the beach in Sant Josep?
Sant Josep's civic ordinance of June 2026 bans drinking alcohol in public spaces unless authorised, with a fine of EUR 500. Leaving drink containers behind can cost up to EUR 500, or more if they are glass.
Are dogs allowed on the beaches near Sant Antoni?
Sant Antoni's beach ordinance bans dogs and other animals on its beaches unless an authorisation is posted at the entrance. Sant Josep bans animals during the bathing season. The nearest designated dog beaches are in Santa Eulària and Ibiza town.
Is smoking banned on Ibiza beaches?
Not across the board yet. Some beaches, including Platges de Comte, are designated non-smoking. A national law extending the smoking ban to beaches was approved as a draft in July 2026 but still has to pass parliament.
What do the beach flag colours mean in Ibiza?
Green means no danger and normal bathing. Yellow means take extreme care in the water. Red means swimming is prohibited. They are set out in Article 65 of Sant Josep's 2026 civic ordinance.
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