Jumping over the fence with some difficulty or going down a small stretch of the clayey rock that surrounds the beach of Es Bol Nou, popularly known as sa Caleta. This is how dozens of tourists managed to access this small cove, located in the municipality of Sant Josep, this Monday, despite the fact that access to this area has been totally prohibited since 26th April 2025 due to the risk of rockfalls.
However, despite the installation of security fences and information signs in several languages prohibiting access, these visitors decided to access this natural enclave surrounded by reddish earth cliffs. Precisely this spectacular morphology is, according to these visitors, the reason why they entered this ‘postable cove with spectacular views’.
An Italian couple on holiday on the island told the Periódico de Ibiza y Formentera that they were unaware the beach was closed to the public due to landslide risk. «We saw the signs when we arrived, but we came here specifically to explore this beautiful cove,» said the young man, standing inside the perimeter. He explained that the idea was to stay away from the cliff face for safety reasons.
Meanwhile, the visitors continued to look for a way in, joining the others who ignored the signs. Other sensible tourists approached the area after reading in this newspaper about the risk of falling rocks. They decided to walk around the area above and observe the preserved remains of the Phoenician settlement.
It should be noted that similar incidents occurred at Es Bol Nou this past Sunday, when around 50 people disregarded the ban and entered the area. Following this, the local police in Sant Josep evacuated the beach, addressing those present to explain the dangers of remaining in the area: 'There are 31 other beaches in Sant Josep. This beach is closed due to landslides,' they warned. According to municipal sources, Sant Josep will therefore reinforce measures in the area with periodic controls to prevent access to es Bol Nou beach. 'These controls will not be daily. We trust that the public is responsible enough to respect the closure,' they said, hours before dozens of tourists ignored the signs and entered the area. Following recent events, the agents also stated that they would carry out regular inspections to deter and penalise any breach of regulations, thereby enhancing protection against potential serious accidents resulting from unexpected landslides.
Penalties
According to the Town Hall, penalties can reach fines of up to 30,000 euros. The government team has expressed concern about the attitude of some visitors who ignore the physical barriers and signage in four languages warning of the danger. «This is not the first time that the local police have had to intervene to remove people from this beach,» explained municipal sources, who stressed the importance of respecting the instructions in order to avoid dangerous situations. The local police continue to identify and sanction those who disobey the prohibition, also using their vehicle loudspeakers to inform and warn people in the area. Sant Josep's mayor, Vicent Roig, recalled that the measure responds to a technical report from the Coastal Demarcation, which requires the closure to ensure public safety.
«People must not be allowed to take unnecessary risks. The beach will remain closed until the cliff stabilisation work is carried out and full safety is guaranteed,' he said in April when the closure was announced.
The authorities are also working in coordination with Demarcación de Costas to speed up the necessary work to allow the beach to reopen safely in the shortest possible time. In the meantime, the authorities remind that there are 31 other beaches in the municipality open and in safe conditions for the enjoyment of residents and visitors, insisting that the prohibition in Bol Nou must be complied with to avoid sanctions and, above all, to prevent accidents.