Everything you need for a luxury and romantic rural honeymoon, if you’re looking for the most swoon-worthy bolthole on the White Isle, Wersha Bharadwa says this is it…
Location
It’s a solid 10 for the location. Remote and romantic Agroturismo Can Sastre is so hidden away in a sleepy and pleasantly under-developed lush residential valley in Ibiza, you’re very likely to miss it the first time you make your way down. The boutique hotel is a 12-minute drive from Santa Gertrudis, a super vibrant village with a bustling centre where people watching and downing plates of Iberico ham is a bonafide sport. Because Can Sastre boasts such an enviable location in the centre of the island, getting around by car or taxi is doddle. Ibiza Town lies around 20 minutes away as does the airport, and the Marina with opportunities for booking PADI certified world-class snorkelling and scuba diving excursions at Scuba Diving Center is only 15 minutes away from the hotel too.
First Impressions
A luxury farmhouse renovation if we ever visited one, a properly reassuring sense of laid-back timeless Ibizan glamour permeates here. The Dutch couple behind the sensitive renovation, Raymond and Bibi, bought the beautiful land and accompanying property back in 2018 and decided to dedicate their lives turning it into a seven bedroom luxury hotel welcoming discerning travellers and their families. Now, having sprinkled fairy dust all over the finca, the agrotourisme is a bonafide thing of beauty. Guests arrive, are surrounded by orange and olive trees, swaying palms and exteriors flanked by vivid bougainvillea, are met by affable staff serving mouth-watering cocktails, and shoulders instantly drop. Here you can expect to get back to nature and be spoilt in the sunshine at the same time. Each suite is as romantic as the next and you’ll have a hard time settling on the right one for you since Raymond and Bibi have managed to fill each one with boho allure and charm.
Nature plays its part to perfection in the serene outdoor living spaces; all you’ll need are books, some shade and loungers or chairs outside your suite and you’re good to go.
Often times it’s the humblest of honesty bars (Can Satre’s is exceptionally good) and an empty pool that can make for the best of days too. With no one around except the odd cricket stirring in the background and the sun gently casting shadows on the ground as you move slovenly around to sleep off the weeks of wedding planning in smart loungers or low-slung hammocks while gazing out onto the citrus groves, this is glimpse of bliss you’ve been after for months and the stuff first days of honeymoons are made of.
The petite sunken pool is hidden behind fringed trees, has an artistic water feature and is surrounded by large squishy daybeds for flopping onto and sun worshipping. You won’t need to reserve a space at the break of dawn either; during our visit we mostly had it to ourselves. Like us, you’ll relish the peace and quiet of it all. But be warned, this also makes it very difficult to leave and do any sort of Island exploring so be sure to carve a day or two for just idling and relaxing. The poolside area naturally flows over to the honesty bar which comes stocked with premium spirits and beers and all the tools you’d need to make a good cocktail (heartily encouraged at Can Sastre) too.
Suite Dreams
The suites with their farm-house glamour and unbelievable amounts of space are what makes the place one of the most sought-after destinations in Ibiza and Can Sastre isn’t interested in reinventing the wheel. Indoors, the natural world continues to permeate with seven earthy-toned, indulgent rooms designed with opulent, stylistic and rustic influences. They offer a cool take on the word sanctuary with gorgeous views of the surrounding patchwork fields and rolling hills. All are perfect for honeymooners and can also accommodate families with younger children on familymoons too. Punctuated here and there with treasures from the couple’s travels, local and traditional crafts and artworks also decorate walls and corners.
Complimenting the Scandi-style minimalism (think natural materials and clean lines) are touches of Ibizan elegance with exposed beams, crochet textiles in white and ochre textures.
The Supreme Suite, while part of the farmhouse, has a romantic outdoor bath and hammock making it the ultimate honeymoon escape, while the Casita Suite is housed in a separate stone cottage set discreetly away from the house to offer a little more intimacy and seclusion.
In the Grand Suite, an oversized dual sink sits a few feet away from a whopping super-king bed decked with cushions, quality pillows and ridiculously soft sheets. It comes with a double mattress topper and guarantees a blissful night’s sleep. The bathroom has a back-to-nature vibe with light, pristine bathrobes hung neatly above artistic furniture in the bedroom.
You’ll be treated to lots of pampering goodies from organic high end Dutch beauty brand Meraki including eco-friendly bamboo toothbrushes and full-on manicure kits with nail clippers for preening yourself on private terraces outside rooms or by those hidden suntrap day beds a little further away from the swimming pool. Can Sastre has even gone the extra mile by providing complimentary luxury make up wipes by Meraki in case you forgot to pack your own and all guests are gifted luxury jute beach bags.
Food
Best of all, dinners and breakfasts can be taken either in the dining cabana or poolside at the communal driftwood table where all the friendly guests gather most evenings for a sundowner. The menu is pared-back, unfaddy simplicity – healthy fusion cooking in a small, sustainable kitchen. It’s a farm stay experience and organic ingredients are sourced from Ibizan farms where possible with seasonal menus consisting largely of comforting pasta dishes, tapas and pizza. BBQ nights are a midweek treat during peak summer months and hiring a private chef is always an enjoyable deluxe option for honeymooners too.
Terrific Acai bowls and American pancakes laden with the most juiciest strawberries are whipped up for breakfast in a jiffy and delivered either to the dining cabana, poolside or to your room. A decent wine list matches the menu.
What You’ll Love
- Simply unforgettable, your stay at Can Sastre will be over all too soon. However, the high standards of service, wonderful personal touch, the food and impressive surroundings will ensure that like us, you’ll be booking your return visit well before checking out.
- The hotel is now open year-round, including for cosy winter honeymoon and Christmas minimoons. Get in touch with Bibi directly for expert advice on romantic ideas in Ibiza
- Firmly low tech, there isn’t a TV in our Grand suite – though the WIFI is superb – guaranteeing time hunkering down together really is just that.
- Memories are perfect and here it’s all about the simplicity of life and the big and little luxuries too
- You’ll embrace Can Sastre’s friendly staff like Barbara who are on call 24/7 and have insider knowledge on the Island’s best tables
- The outdoor gym is perfect for keeping up with your work out routines and is a recent addition to Can Sastre
How to book Can Sastre
Visit Can Sastre, Apartado 130 Camino Viejo de San Mateo 07816 San Rafael, Ibiza, Spain. Prices from £340 per night per room including breakfast. To book, visit www.cansastre.com or email [email protected] or WhatsApp: +31 624 216 900.
How to get to Ibiza: Flying with Jet2.com
Jet2.com offers friendly low fares alongside honeymooner friendly flight times to Ibiza from ten UK Airports, including Birmingham Airport and London Stansted Airport. Flights start from £36pp one way including taxes. As one of the UK’s leading airlines, JET2 is also currently offering 32 weekly flights to the Balearic Islands under its new 2023 expansion programme and 32 weekly flights to the Canary Islands too. This will add onto flight programmes to existing favourite destinations for summer 2023 including Antalya, Rome, Halkidiki, Crete (Heraklion) and Tenerife.
Online Booking
Booking online is simple with the options to upgrade to seats with extra legroom (recommended for the shopping you’re likely to do in Ibiza town) and add in up 22kg baggage allowance for checked in suitcases. You can pre-order hot meals for the flight too.
Check-in
Check in at Birmingham Airport is a breeze with extra helpful staff on the desks. The in-flight team are cool and collected, helping passengers with storing luggage in overhead lockers, safety demonstrations and later on, with snacks and drinks too.
Plane Interiors
The plane interior is light and clean with warm and super friendly staff who help make boarding quick for passengers on our early morning flight. Seats are comfortable enough to nap in and stretch your toes underneath for a short haul flight. We’re really impressed and highly recommend the airline. Flying from Birmingham is a cinch too. All prices and availability correct at the time of issue. For more information, visit www.jet2.com or call 0800 408 5599.
Read More:
Want more wedding information and inspiration? Just hit ‘Like’ on our Wedding Ideas Facebook page, and ‘Follow’ on our @weddingideas Instagram and @wimagazine Twitter. To join in the conversation, share your stories here.