Cala Nova is a long open beach just north of Es Canar on the east coast, and it is one of the very few places on Ibiza where the sea does anything at all. Most of the island sits in sheltered bays. This one faces open water, so when the wind is right it picks up a swell that the island's small surfing community drives across to find.
That exposure is the whole character of the beach. The sand is soft and pale and the water is shallow at the shore, but further out there are currents, and they are strong enough that you should keep an eye on anyone who swims badly.
Swimming here
Close in it is fine, and families use it happily. The shelf is gentle and children can paddle a long way out before it gets deep.
Beyond that the currents and the waves are real, and on a windy day the beach is for watching rather than swimming. There is no shame in moving round the headland to Cala Llenya or Cala Pada when the sea is up.
Surfing
When a swell arrives the waves are small and clean, which makes this a reasonable place to learn rather than a serious break. Bodyboards outnumber surfboards most days.
Conditions depend entirely on the wind, so it is not something to plan a week around. Ask our team what the forecast looks like if it matters to you.
What is there
Showers, including hot ones, loungers, parasols and space for volleyball. The dunes behind the sand are protected, so the development stops short of the beach itself.
Two places stand out for eating. Atzaro Beach is the beach club end of it, with a cheaper chiringuito alongside the restaurant, and it reopens for the season in late March. The Seagarden does pizza from a stone oven.
Parts of the beach are used by naturists, towards the northern end.
When to come
The beach faces east and gets the sun from early. It is busier in August than its size suggests, because Es Canar is a short walk away, but the sand runs far enough north that you can always find space.
Spring and autumn suit it best. That is also when the swell is likelier, if waves are what you came for.
Quick answers
Can you surf at Cala Nova? Yes, when the wind brings a swell. It is a beginner's wave, not a big one.
Is it safe for children? At the shore, yes. There are currents further out, so supervise.
Where can you eat? Atzaro Beach and its chiringuito, and The Seagarden for pizza.
Is there a nudist section? Yes, towards the northern end.
How far is Es Canar? A short walk.
Are there showers? Yes, including hot showers.