2013-04-16 10:05:26 +02:00

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# Ibiza - Active holidays
## Ibiza isn't just about clubbing and sunbathing - there are plenty of
opportunities to get active too, from horse riding and harness racing to
mountain biking and kayaking.
![Ibiza has plenty activities, you can go horse racing, mountain biking or
kayaking][1]
Ibiza has plenty activities, you can go horse racing, mountain biking or
kayaking
Richard Madden 1:09PM BST 29 Jul 2009
Today is a day for exploring. But instead of touring the island from the
comfort of my hire car, I have decided it's time to feel the breeze in my
hair. This evening, as I sip that cocktail while watching the sun descend like
a blood orange into the sea, I intend to have really earned it.
To this end I find myself donning a riding hat at Can Mayans stables a few
miles from my hotel, near Santa Gertrudis, in the centre of the island.
Emilio, my guide and fellow caballero, leads my mount, Macarena, and me
through the neighbouring countryside. I'm immediately seduced by the red
earth, ancient olive groves and intoxicating fragrance of pine forest.
Seriously distracting, I almost forget there's a horse to steer.
After a two-hour ride and a leisurely lunch, I am off on another adventure. My
guide, this time called David, is helmeted, clad in Lycra and sporting the
hardcorelooking eyewear of the professional mountain biker.
My garb is a little more relaxed, but I am determined to show David I am no
pushover. We are dropped off by a support vehicle at the tiny village of Santa
Agnes, in the rural north-west of the island. David leads me through a maze of
bumpy farm tracks, and we stop in front of some ramshackle farm buildings,
where an old well offers welcome cooling refreshment.
Two-and-a-half hours and 15 miles of mostly coastal riding later, I am nursing
that cocktail at a clifftop bar as the sun has its way once more. And this
time, I really have earned it.
## Related Articles
* [Ibiza - Beyond the nightclubs][2]
29 Jul 2009
* [The history of Ibiza][3]
29 Jul 2009
* [Ibiza - Island art and artists][4]
29 Jul 2009
* [Ibiza arts and crafts][5]
29 Jul 2009
* [More things to do in Ibiza Old Town][6]
29 Jul 2009
* [Ibiza: Agroturismo hotels][7]
29 Jul 2009
**HORSE RIDING AND HARNESS RACING**
Get off the beaten track in Ibiza and the island's true spirit is quickly
revealed, but few modes of transport are as magical as horseback. Can Mayans -
along the Santa Gertrudis-Sant Llorenç road - has handsome, wellschooled
horses. Trote, a type of horse and buggy race, is a popular pastime on the
island, and there are races every Saturday at Hipodromo de San Rafael.
Can Mayans: 0034 971 187 388
**MOUNTAIN BIKING**
A selection of 21 tried-and-tested routes covering every corner of the island
is available on Mammoth Ibiza's website. These are graded from Green (nine
miles/one to two hours) through Blue and Red to Black (53 miles/eight hours),
and include route directions that can be downloaded to a GPS. Bikes can be
hired and Mammoth's excellent team of nine guides are on hand if you'd prefer
to have an expert accompany you.
Mammoth Ibiza: 0034 971 348 949; **[www.ibizasport.com][8]**
**WALKING**
Until the Sixties Ibizans had lived off fishing and subsistence agriculture
for centuries - and the main routes of communication were along stony tracks,
linking small villages and meandering through olive groves and alongside
rugged cliffs. In the cool of the evening, a walk ending with a view of one of
Ibiza's unparalleled sunsets is a hard act to follow, and there are more than
124 miles of coastal walks to choose from.
Ecoibiza: 0034 971 302 347; **[www.ecoibiza.com/secretwalks][9]**
**DIVING**
Ibiza's coastal waters, even in and around the major resorts of San Antonio
and Ibiza Old Town, are one of the island's true marvels- and as pristine and
perfect as you will find anywhere in the Mediterranean. This is in part due to
the depolluting presence of one of the largest colonies of Posidonia (Neptune
grass) on the planet. One strand is more than five miles long and at least
100,000-years-old, making it the oldest living organism in the world. Crystal-
clear waters and uninhabited islands like Tagomago off the east coast make
Ibiza an excellent diving location.
Vellmari Diving: 0034 971 192 884; **[www.vellmari.com][10]**
**KAYAKING**
Kayaks are an excellent way of getting close to nature without disturbing it,
and are ideal for beginners or pros. Whatever your level of expertise, it's
always good to go with local experts who will show you the best spots and keep
you safe. Kayaking to a standard necessary to explore hidden coves and off-
shore islands like the magical Es Vedra Conillera or Tagomago is very
achievable, and you'll feel you've experienced a side of the island few others
have.
Ibikayak: 0034 647 953 168; **[www.ibikayak.com][11]**
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## [Ibiza][17]
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[Ibiza Videos »][22]
### [Watch videos from Ibiza][22]
[![Sant Joan Festival Ibiza][23]][22]
Get a sneak preview of some of the amazing things you can see and do on a
holiday in Ibiza, from agroturismo hotels and summer festivals to mountain
biking, kayaking and outdoor yoga.
## [Ibiza hotels »][24]
### [Ibiza: Agroturismo hotels][7]
[![A recent celebration of Ibizan culture has brought about a rise in
Agroturismo hotels][25] ][7]
The recent celebration of Ibizan culture has found powerful expression in the
growing number of agroturismo hotels.
### [Ibiza: Can Lluc boutique hotel][26]
[![Can Lluc is one of several luxury boutique hotels that have sprung up on
Ibiza in recent years. ][27] ][26]
Hidden in a beautiful Ibizan valley, Can Lluc is boutique hotel with
traditional roots.
### [Festivals in Ibiza][28]
[![Ibiza's festivals are both important cultural events and a great excuse for
a street party. ][29] ][28]
From the festival of Sant Joan to the Festes de la Terra, Ibiza's festivals
are vibrant, colourful and often deeply moving.
[1]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01688/IBIZA_P12-13_horse_1
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[2]: /sponsored/travel/spanish_tourist_board/ibiza/5917888/Ibiza-Beyond-
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of-the-island.html
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[8]: http://www.ibizasport.com
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