Unconditional lover of the white island, the author of the cult book Ibiza Bohemia reveals her favorite addresses to discover the most mythical island of the Balearic Islands throughout the year.

When and how did you discover Ibiza, and what are your earliest memories of the island? As far back as I can remember, Ibiza has been part of my life. At the end of the 1960s, my father lived in a hippie community on the island, so I was rocked by local tales and legends. At the age of 15, I went to the island for the first time with my older sister Sophie. Together we went to our first Manumission party, I wore a blue sequined dress and matching scrunchie . The Manumission parties were among the most cult and crazy parties of the clubbing scene at the time, it was surreal! I was literally bewitched. I came back to Ibiza throughout my teenage years, and a few years later I was a flyer girl for Café Mambo, on the famous sunset strip of San Antonio in the west of the island. In 2009, I decided to move there permanently, and started writing articles about Ibiza for the Vogue website. This period completely changed my outlook on life, I realized that my mission was to put the magic of this unique island into words. Your book Ibiza Bohemia is a must for any self-respecting lover of the island, and you accurately describe the great freedom that reigns there. Would you say that Ibiza remains a refuge for Europeans during this anxiety-provoking period linked to the pandemic? Ibiza has been a place of refuge for centuries, whether Greeks seeking a safe harbor or Berlin Dadaists fleeing the cold and Hitler&#39;s dictatorship. Since the 1940s, the island has attracted members of the avant-garde, from writer and artist Raoul Hausmann to beatniks and hippies. More than ever, Ibiza is an unspoilt paradise, a place to disconnect from the stress and issues related to the pandemic. There are few other places in the world that attract so many spiritual and environmentally connected people, and as such Ibiza could become a model for inspiring new ways of life in the &quot;next world&quot;. Can you tell us more about Ibiza Insights, the cultural initiative dedicated to the traditions and folklore of the island that you created? I am passionate about history. For such a small island, Ibiza benefits from one of the richest cultural heritages. Centenarians of occupation by peoples as disparate as the Romans, Phoenicians, Arabs, Vandals and Visigoths have left a unique mark, unparalleled in Europe. Unfortunately, since the 1970s, many customs have been threatened or have disappeared. As an author and an adopted Ibizan, I feel invested with a responsibility to celebrate and highlight this traditional heritage. There is also a large melting pot of international communities on the island (Dutch, French, English and German) curious to know more about the identity of the island, but not speaking Catalan is often an obstacle. I hope to change that through a series of talks and workshops that honor Ibiza&#39;s unique heritage. You have created your brand of accessories and objects inspired by Ibiza. How did the idea for this project come about? Casagaia is a passion project, on which I worked for years. I have a naturally creative profile, and after a decade of writing about Ibiza, I realized the need to pay visual homage to the island. Casagaía&#39;s DNA lies in its prints, its hand-painted designs that celebrate local icons, from Es Vedra to the old town of Dalt Vila to the fishermen&#39;s houses that line the island&#39;s beaches. My collection includes beach bags, pareos, tablecloths and ceramics, available on our eshop <a href="http://www.casagaiahome.com">www.casagaiahome.com</a> , at the Agora boutique at the Six Senses Hotel <a href="https://www.lofficiel.com/voyage/city-guide-l-ibiza-de-victoria-durrer-gasse-fondatrice-de-la-galeria-elefante">and at the Galeria Elefante.</a> When is the best time to visit Ibiza according to you? Spring is fabulous here. England is sometimes still covered in snow even though it is 25 degrees in Ibiza and the fields are blooming with flowers. Bars and restaurants that close during the winter are reopening, terraces are sunny and whitewashed fincas catch the light, there is a collective sense of awakening. The air is extremely pure, and it is therefore the ideal period for hikes and walks. What activities would you recommend to those who wish to reconnect with nature and escape urban stress during this winter period? My friend Stivi from Balearic Outdoor Adventures is a key contact. He imagines incredible excursions on foot, by kayak or by bike, in places off the beaten track. I also like horseback riding with Vicente from the Horse Country Club near Santa Gertrudis. He knows country roads like the back of his hand, and I love galloping alongside him at sunset. Spring is also the perfect time to discover the sea. Bohemian Boat Charters has a fleet of traditional Ibizenco fishing boats that can be rented from Benirràs beach, it is the ideal option for long picnics along the coast. the north coast of the island. Spring is the best time of year to spot dolphins, and even whales if you&#39;re lucky.

What are your favorite restaurants, those that tourist guides do not recommend? For a healthy lunch, I recommend La Paloma in San Lorenzo. Its terrace is bathed in sunshine, and the menu is inspired by Middle Eastern flavors. For seafood, I love the Fish Shack in Talamanca. It&#39;s an ultra-simple insider&#39;s den, with a few wooden tables perched facing the coast. There is no menu, just a selection of ultra-fresh fish of the day, served with potatoes and green salad. For winter dining, I like Finca La Plaza owned by my friends Sid and Sofija Mehta, who also own Beachhouse and Mikasa, a lovely restaurant in the port of Ibiza. There is also Los Patios, a place which will open at Easter and which I love. It is a hybrid concept, at the crossroads of the cultural hub, the private club, the wellness area and the gastronomic hot spot. It&#39;s an organic oasis in the very heart of Ibiza, and I&#39;m honored to be one of its ambassadors. What are your favorite agroturismos in the most rural part of the island? Cas Gasi has been one of my favorites for a long time, with its cozy sofas and library, it feels like a real country house. Casa Maca is also a delightful spot with a panoramic view of the old town of Ibiza, imagined by the Anadon family already at the origin of Café Mambo. The rooms are rustic and chic, and the terrace is ideal for long Sunday lunches, with DJ sets and a host of locals, regulars and island insiders. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have witnessed the emergence of exceptional villas that can be privatized; extraordinary places equipped with all the services of agroturismos, with the luxury of privacy as a bonus. Fincadelica is one of the most fabulous of them, it&#39;s a sort of hippie retreat in the San Lorenzo Valley. The decoration is sublime, with carefully selected works of art and exceptional mid-century furniture, an outdoor saltwater swimming pool and endless paths and corners where you love to get lost. It is one of the most spectacular places on the island, and it is the ideal address for a family holiday. What are the most beautiful beaches on the island to discover out of season? Cala Comte is wild and inspiring in winter, once cleared of the crowds that invade it in summer. Cala Xarraca is a beautiful beach in the north of the island, sheltered from the wind and waves. I recommend discovering the hills and valleys of San Jose up to Cala d&#39;Hort, a magnificent beach dotted with fishermen&#39;s houses that faces the mythical rock of Es Vedra, which is said to be a vestige of the island of Homer&#39;s sirens. The pirate tower perched above the sea offers one of the most fabulous viewpoints on the island. And to recharge your energies, the hike down to the rocky place called Atlantis is exceptional. Your favorite spa for a day of relaxation? The spa at the Six Senses Hotel is by far my favorite. I am now 40 years old, and the Rose Bar dedicated to bio hacking allows me to preserve my youthfulness! I then like to allow myself a paddle boarding session along the rocks, and a Xarraca Colada with spirulina on the terrace afterwards. Erin Knowles is also one of the best when it comes to yoga and wellness. Its My Island retreats bring together the best local practitioners in the same finca, and offer immersive stays to discover holistic health. The best bars to soak up the Ibizan spirit? I&#39;m a fan of places that are a bit old school, so I would say Bar Anita in San Carlos, or Can Curreu on the road to Santa Eulalia. I don&#39;t drink alcohol, so I order a non-alcoholic beer here with tapas. I have a weakness for frito de pulpo , an Ibizan specialty of octopus with a strong flavor of fried green chillies, garlic and herbs. The three places on the island that you find the most inspiring? The old town of Dalt Vila in the center of Ibiza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that allows you to understand the history of the island. I like the ramparts of this fortified old town, it is one of the best preserved citadels in the Mediterranean. At its top, we discover the cathedral of Ibiza, and this is where the Museu d&#39;Art Contemporani d&#39;Eivissa -or MACE- is located, one of my favorite places in Ibiza. The Morna valley near San Carlos is also a special place in my opinion, dotted with hills, fruit trees and almond trees. I find the simple fact of riding along the roads of San Joan, Portinatx and the side that leads to Cala San Vicente particularly inspiring. I love soaking up the atmosphere, discovering the lighthouses, the churches, the postcard-like coves such as the Cala d&#39;en Serra. This is where, in my opinion, all the magic of Ibiza lies. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mynameismayaboyd/">https://www.instagram.com/mynameismayaboyd/</a> <a href="https://www.casagaiahome.com/">https://www.casagaiahome.com</a>

Maya Boyd: "As far as I can remember, Ibiza has been part of my life"

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