Punta Arabí is where Ibiza's hippy market tradition began. According to the Balearic tourism board, the market started in 1973, when a hotel on the point allowed local hippies to sell their handmade goods to its guests. It grew into the largest and oldest hippy market on the island and now supports many artisan families. More than five hundred stalls spread through a pine forest at Es Canar, between the beaches of Cala Martina and Es Canar, in the municipality of Santa Eulària des Riu. They sell handicrafts, fashion, jewellery, scarves, natural cosmetics, antiques, musical instruments, food, imported pieces from around the world and products made on Ibiza itself. The market has a children's workshop area, a street of craftsmen where visitors can watch things being made to the sound of live music, a large concert tent and a section for young designers. It is open on Wednesdays from about April to October, from ten in the morning until six in the evening, so it is a warm-season outing rather than a winter one. In the colder months, the Las Dalias market in Sant Carles, which runs on weekends, is the one to choose.
What the market feels like
The setting is half the appeal. Stalls sit among the pines in dappled shade, which keeps the site comfortable even on hot days, and the layout winds in lanes rather than straight aisles, so it rewards slow wandering. Expect a mixture of true handmade work and imported goods, so look closely at the stitching, the materials and the maker before you buy.
Browsing is free, and haggling is usual but should stay friendly, particularly with the artisans who make their own work. Carry some cash in small notes, because not every stall takes cards.
Getting there
Es Canar is on the east side of the island, roughly twenty-five minutes by road from Ibiza Town and a short drive from Santa Eulària des Riu. A car or taxi is the easiest way to arrive, and local buses and organised excursions also serve the market on its opening day. Parking near the site fills up around midday in the busy months, so arriving soon after opening gives you the calmest browse and the easiest space. The market is held in a natural setting, with some uneven ground, so sturdy shoes help.
Timing and season
Because the market follows the warm-season calendar, check the current schedule locally before you plan a trip around it, as start and end dates move slightly from year to year. On the days it runs, mornings are quieter and cooler, while the middle of the day is the busiest. Food stalls and a few cafes on the site make it easy to stay for lunch. If you are travelling with children, the workshop area gives them something to do, and the open ground gives them room to move.
Making it a plan
Pair the market with a swim at the nearby beaches in the warm season, a stroll along the promenade of Es Canar or an afternoon in Santa Eulària des Riu, where the whitewashed church of Puig de Missa sits on its hill above the town. For a fuller picture of the island's alternative history, visit this market and Las Dalias on different trips, because they have a quite different feel, one set in a pine wood by the sea and the other in a garden inland. Both are best approached as an outing to enjoy rather than a shopping errand.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided wander through hundreds of stalls in a pine wood, with food, live music in places and a craftsmen's street.
Best time
Wednesday morning soon after opening, when it is cooler and quieter and parking is easy. The market runs from about April to October.
How long
Two to three hours, longer with lunch on site or a swim nearby.
Tips
Bring small notes and some cash, wear sturdy shoes for uneven ground, and check the current schedule locally before you set out.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Browsers and gift hunters who want the original hippy market in a shady setting.
- Families
- Children's workshops and open ground, but crowded in the middle of the day.
- Couples
- A relaxed morning of browsing followed by lunch and a swim at Es Canar.
- Pair with
- Puig de Missa in Santa Eulària des Riu, or a beach afternoon on the east coast.
- Time needed
- A morning, or half a day with lunch and a swim.
Good questions
When is the Punta Arabí market open?+
Wednesdays from about April to October, from ten in the morning until six in the evening. Check locally for the current schedule.
Is it free to enter?+
Browsing is free. You pay only for what you buy, and some stalls prefer cash.
How old is the market?+
It began in 1973, when local hippies started selling their goods to hotel guests, and it is now the oldest and largest on the island.
Is there a winter alternative?+
Yes. The Las Dalias market in Sant Carles runs on weekends through the quieter months, with shorter hours.
Where is it?+
At Es Canar on the east side of the island, in the municipality of Santa Eulària des Riu, between Cala Martina and Es Canar beach.
