Sweet summer sunsets

Just last night I was once again rendered breathless by the sheer awesomeness of this iconic spectacle of nature. It was a rare late afternoon when I’d finished writing in time to jump in the white-mobile and hit the highway to San Antonio, driving directly into the blazing sunlight and counting down the minutes to the ‘official’ sunset, praying I’d make it and find parking in time to get a good seat and watch the sun sink into the sea.

While a sunset anywhere in the world obviously signifies the break between night and day, here in Ibiza it is the time of day that brings together the day and the night people. For some, it’s an ice cold beer at the end of a long hard work day, for others, it’s cocktails and pre-parties as they’re preparing to hit the party scene. And of course there are those who let the sunset punctuate the two – the pit stop between work and party. We also can’t forget those for whom the sunset is actually work – whether they’re manning the sunset strip bars, shaking cocktails in the beach clubs, parading and promoting on the promenade or providing the all-important soundtrack at a clifftop hotel. Back to my sunset. Deciding to avoid the crowds of the sunset strip and enjoy a nice chilled glass of cava instead, we headed to Hostal La Torre in Cap Negret – the outskirts of San Antonio – where the sun was almost melting into the Med as we hopped on the last remaining bar stools. You’ve got to be quick (Ed’s note: You could just plan ahead and make a reservation) these days – no sunset spot is sacred!

Whereas in the winter we get intense, fiery skies rippling with hues of violet, fuschia and god, in the summer there’s a lot more clarity to the sunset. The sky was a pastel haze of blue, as the horizon met the sea and the sun’s reflection cast a violet tinge onto the water. The blazing ball of orange was completely un-obstructed by clouds, just casting an additional burnt amber hue to each side. It was, quite simply magic. Every Ibiza sunset is a special occasion. And I truly believe no two sunsets are ever alike. All you have to do is find the right sunset spot to suit your mood, assemble your sunset crew and you’ve got the makings of your own magical Ibiza sunset experience right there…

Do you feel like a fast-paced vibe, complete with cocktails, shots and music (Café Mambo, Savannah) or are you looking for a more traditional chillout type of affair (Hostal La Torre, Café del Mar, Sunset Ashram)? Do you want to be immersed in nature (Punta Galera, Es Vedra, Benirras) or do you prefer to be lavished with five-star luxury (Hacienda Na Xamena, Experimental Beach Ibiza)? Do you fancy a night with the girls, the guys, the gang, just you and your partner? Maybe, just maybe, you feel like going solo. As I type, there’s still time to dash to the car and hit the road again. I’m tempted… but if you’re reading this from the other side of the world, don’t worry – the best thing about the Ibiza sunset is that it happens each and every night of the year. There’s always a next time!