Blissful back-to-nature experiences in the Balearics

Unearth the natural beauty of the Balearics to find your island idyll

Look beyond the chi-chi clubs and trendy bars of the party set and you’ll find a sleepier side to Spain’s Balearic Islands. Whitewashed finca wrapped in rustic countryside, blooming bougainvillea, pastel-painted fishermen’s huts strung along white sandy beaches, and hidden coves in some of the Mediterranean’s bluest waters lull visitors into a slower pace of life. From seaside yoga sessions to cycling through citrus groves, slip into Spanish serenity with these back-to-nature experiences…

Saddle up in Menorca

In prime position between rolling farmland and vineyards, and the island’s sandy beaches with Mediterranean Sea views, Torralbenc boasts the best of both worlds when it comes to experiencing the natural beauty of Menorca. A traditional finca with fuschia flowers covering whitewashed walls, threshing floors, and a stable yard, the 27 rooms and cottages are decorated in a soothing, creamy palette. Trot along in tranquillity through the 77-hectares of the estate on horseback to make the most of the surrounding agricultural landscape, sprinkled with wild olive forests, fragrant orchards, and Mediterranean underwood.

Find your flow in Formentera

Figure out your flexibility in Formentera with Yiannis Mukta Om, resident guru at Gecko Hotel & Beach Club, a laid-back boutique retreat which makes the most of the natural beauty of the Balearics, where the dress code is barefoot and the vibes chilled-out. As a former pupil of master Sri Dharma Mittra, you will be in safe hands with Yiannis and the hotel’s highly trained teachers, who lead daily morning yoga sessions and year-round retreats on an ocean-facing deck or in the palm-lined gardens. Reconnect with yourself and with nature in the preserved area of Migjorn Beach, steps away from the Mediterranean Sea and the perfect place for some wild swimming.

Pedal and paddle through Mallorca

A rustic retreat in the heart of the Mallorcan countryside, Finca Serena is as idyllic as its name suggests. The delicate scent of olive trees and lavender greets you as you walk through the hotel grounds – past cypresses and lemon trees – with rippling hills and dramatic peaks as far as the eye can see. Hop on one of the hotel’s mountain or electric bikes and take the scenic route to nearby Montuïri, a traditional rural village surrounded by old stone windmills.

Meanwhile, the cycle station at converted 17th-century mansion Can Ferrereta comes with everything you might need to see Mallorca on two wheels, including an array of recommended routes – the protected salt flats of Es Trenc are an other-worldly landscape of pink lagoons and salt mountains, while unspoilt beaches and cliff paths surround Santanyí in the south-eastern corner if you’re looking to cool off with a post-cycle swim or paddle board.

Drift, dive and drive in Ibiza

With a location moments from golden beaches on Ibiza’s eastern coast, sustainably-minded Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel is a postcard of green gardens dotted with tropical plants and uninterrupted sea views. Borrow a hotel paddleboard to explore the rugged coast, which hides hundreds of cove beaches – or calas. Lesser-known treasures include Sa Caleta, which has a dramatic backdrop of red cliffs, while Cala Llentia is on the island’s southern-most headland and has well-placed rocks that become natural diving boards.

From Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, the endlessly captivating White Isle is yours to discover. Step from the hotel straight onto the sands of Talamanca Bay, where the warm waters are a paddle boarding playground. Drift along the mirror-flat Mediterranean and take in Ibiza’s sun-soaked coastline from its calm sea, or stay on the surface by snorkelling around the crystal clear waters of Las Islas de Poniente, the Natural Park and Marine Reservoir, home to a diverse underwater world of sea life. Back on dry land, the laid-back beach retreat offers Jeep safari tours of the island’s most scenic spots, taking back-to-nature adventurers through countryside flourishing with flora and fauna and to some of Ibiza’s best beaches.