Officially, Ibiza’s temporada (high season) is from the beginning of May to the end of September. During October, things start to shut down, the tourists peter out and island is given back to it’s people. For Ibicencos, this time of year comes as a relief as, after five months of non-stop hard work, they can finally relax. You can tell that people are happy to see the end of the giris* and can’t wait to get some much needed rest. I’ve heard people celebrating on the streets, saying things like ‘I could sleep for months.’ Such a relentless period of intense tourism certainly takes its toll on the locals. And the change is certainly noticeable. During the winter, the islands population shrinks dramatically as not only do foreigners stop coming but many Spanish people go back to the mainland in search of work, as it becomes much more limited out of season.
(*giris is a negative reference to the stereotypical English tourists that visit Ibiza. I’m talking about the ones that walk around in half naked, are covered in tattoos and drink like fish. We have certainly given ourselves a reputation out here!)
On the one hand, the boarding up of hotels and restaurants and the emptiness of certain areas can be a little depressing. However, I am also rather relieved to see the tourists go; the intense crowds and party lifestyle that dominated the island in the summer really wasn’t my scene.
Moreover, although the season has officially finished, the warm weather has continued. Throughout the whole of October, I was putting on shorts every day and enjoying the warm sun; amazing! Apparently it hasn’t always been like this, as in the past autumn arrived much earlier, but I’m certainly not complaining. While cold temperatures are fast approaching in Northern Europe, mid 20’s in the middle of October couldn’t be nicer.
The islands beauty could now be enjoyed by it’s people, as glorious beaches became much quieter, increasing their appeal. I experienced this a few weeks ago when mum came to visit. It’s well known that the best way to get to know Ibiza is by car. You miss out on a lot of beautiful nature if you have no way of getting round the island so we dedicated our time to exploring in our little rent-a-car. Despite coming to the island in May, we came across some stunning new places. Ibiza has endless beaches and coves and I’m still a long way off seeing them all.
Take note: Mid October is a great time to enjoy Ibiza. You can soak up the soft Autumn sun and comfortably swim in the sea’s crystal waters.Recommended over high season!
La Buena Vida 