Wersha Bharadwa checks out the life-affirming powers of a honeymoon at Atzaró – nicknamed the Ferrari of Ibizan agrotourismes – where there’s no faltering, just perfection.
Location
Set among 13 hectares of lush orange groves and a sun-soaked vibrant landscape that very much feels like that which first drew the bohemian artists, musicians and hippies to the island back in the 60s, upmarket Atzaro is tucked away in a secluded north-east inland spot in the charming area of Sant Llorenc.
It’s no grand odyssey after stepping off the plane either; transfers by road take a mere 30 minutes. Ibiza town with all its cultural delights is a 20 minute drive away and it takes 10 minutes by car to get to the photogenic beaches of Cala Llenya and Cala Nova. San Carlos village, once home to the island’s earliest hippy communes is only 10 minutes from the agrotourisme and is great for lazy afternoons soaking up some free-spirit ambience along with ambles around artisan shops and pit stops at cute local cafes.
First Impressions
Atzaro started life 200 years ago as a sprawling and quintessential Ibizan finca surrounded by pine and Sabina tree forests.
While it still operates as a working farm for the island’s Guasch family (who’ve held onto the property and land for generations), since 2004, they have helped it undergo a masterful evolution as a sophisticated agrotourismo with outbuildings converted into large and peaceful bedrooms, four pools, exceptional restaurants, a world-class spa and attentive and ever smiling staff, The appeal at this creme-de-La-crème of agroturismos is understated and it offers a village-within-a-village serene and super chilled out yet decadent retreat away from the hubbub of the flashy super clubs and nightlife the White Isle is renowned for.
Arriving here feels exactly like you’ve stepped into a living and breathing painting with views of the sun-drenched tranquil countryside and the striking, whitewashed façade of the finca before you. As soon as you set foot on the bougainvillea-filled dreamy estate, you’ll be greeted by the delicate scent of orange blossom in the air and an instant rush of rural peacefulness where time stands still, and any post-wedding fatigues quickly vanish into thin air.
Because idyllic seclusion is the name of the game here, it’s become a firm favourite with international A-listers, the fashionista glitterati and model types. Florence Pugh, Penélope Cruz, Shakira, Kate Hudson, Rhianna, Sienna Miller and heir to the Fendi empire, Paola Fendi (who tied the knot here in 2021) have all sought refuge at the hidden oasis and that’s because Atzaró is where you come to quietly unleash inner free spirits and exude sophisticated glamour – especially around the main pool areas, zen spa gardens and with the in-crowds at the gorgeous and esteemed restaurants.
Once inside, you’ll find enticing and harmonious earthy-hued interiors of polished terracotta tiled-floors, natural-wood carved doors, locally-spun textiles and antique furniture. When you’re ready to fully unwind, flop onto any one of the day beds (there are lots dotted around) as days spent lazing around the Olympian sized, 43-metre freshwater pool – bookended with an instantly Instagrammable ‘love’ sign – is a bonafide leisure activity.
Gardens
You’ll while aways hours – days even – strolling hand in hand through the lush cypress and olive tree filled gardens filled with hidden pathways and secret arches including a vegetable garden with artichokes, tomatoes, squashes, courgettes and cucumbers spanning three hectares and an orchard filled with apples, papayas, avocados and pomegranates alongside fig and citrus fruit trees.
The family-run operation gives credence to sustainability with self-generating electricity from 200 solar panels providing power to the hotel and a filtered drinking water supply in glass bottles in bedrooms coming directly from the on-site well.
Suite Dreams
If romantic seclusion is what you’re hankering for after a busy and fun-filled wedding, fear not; with only 24 suites spread out inside the original farmhouse and in newer outbuildings – and lots of alluring corners around the sprawling grounds to nestle down in – opportunities for stolen kisses and whispered conversations with only nature as your witness seem properly tailor-made.
Bedrooms are full-on enchanting retreats, each decorated with traditional bone white plaster walls and terracotta tiled floors with rustic Sabina wood beamed ceilings and billowing white muslin curtains.
Most have snow white sofas in living areas where you’re fully able to unwind. Solid teak four poster beds with plump mattresses are adorned with the coolest, white cotton sheets and pillows are so cloud -like, they almost cradle your head while you drift off into a state of peaceful slumber.
On top of that, some suites come with private verandas, terraces or pools with loungers and hand- curated furniture from the owner’s trips to Asia – offering you and your beau even more downtown away from prying eyes. Atzaro’s commitment to natural and organic offerings extends inside excellently lit marble bathrooms where you’ll find delightful homemade bath products including soaps and shampoos all skillfully infused with estate-produced, healing botanicals.
Eat
You can opt to have light lunches of organic farm-to-fork salads like beetroot with orange, kale, feta cheese and pomegranate syrup with many ingredients straight from the hotel’s garden, or plump for heartier dishes beef tenderloin with sweet potato gratin, wild asparagus and sage demi-glace over in the main finca-style restaurant La Veranda.
You’ll sip on bottles of the finest rose during lunches that roll well into late afternoons because the cusine and service – along with the beautiful setting – is outstanding. Dinners at La Veranda are a fairytale-like, sophisticated affair either indoors in a rustic setting or on the terrace under the open and starry skies.
During the summer, guests dine here or on tables next to swaying palms and under draped vines on an overhead wooden pergola at the al fresco Orange Tree restaurant which is spread out across the gardens and water ponds.
It’s all haute cusine here as British chef James Adams (whose CV includes time at The River Cafe and Heckfield Place) draws hugely on healthy farm produce grown on the estates land. It’s again, another fabulously romantic setting in which to feast on delicious sharing starters of roasted pumpkin carpaccio with hummus, stracciatella, pomegranate, radish and cashew nuts or grilled scallops with parmentier, baby courgette and crispy Iberian ham.
Ibiza style mains such as Iberian pork fillet served with potato, roasted aubergine, tomato and pistachio vinegarette, are a work of art as are wholesome Mediterranean dishes like Payese chicken served with traditional potatoes and goat’s cheese sauce and sea bass with Kalamata tapenade.
Evening dinners are only topped by dessert choices – try the coconut flan or orange pie – both are superb, especially when rounded off with a glass of Orangecello liqueur – made exclusively from the hotel’s own oranges.
Spa
With one of the most magical settings and an unwavering focus on pampering and wellness, Atzaro’s world-renowed spa is undeniably the crown jewel here. Incorporating Balinese design aesthetics with ornate and intricately carved, heavy wood doors to treatment rooms, stone floors, oversized terracotta pots and a temple-like reception, even more interesting is how all the blends used in Atzaro’s own range of beauty and holistic products used in treatments are made from the abundant organic, aromatic herbs, plants and ingredients like hibiscus and jasmine, grown and harvested from the estate’s grounds.
Treatments are top-loaded with signature massages such as the muscle-relieving ‘Integration Massage’ which combines Swedish, Balinese and Thai techniques and can be tailored to target specific areas using gently heated lavender and camomile oil.
After you’re finished you can either curl up with a book or have a snooze outside where there are plenty of nooks for hiding and rolling around on humongous king-sized Bali beds or loungers while sipping cocktails with ingredients from the botanical gardens under the shade when the heat gets too intense.
There’s also a Finnish sauna and hammam, gym and Pilates studio for couples wanting a full-on spa day experience.
Getting Married at Atzaró Ibiza
For brides wanting an authentic rustic yet glamorous sun-soaked Ibizan wedding, Atzaro, with it’s romantic rolling countryside and citrus groves, is a seriously paradisal place to tie the knot.
Catering for up to 450 guests, cocktails can be had in a chill-out area filled with daybeds and sofas and you can choose to exchange vows boho style in the stunning olive garden at sunset, beside the 43-metre freshwater pool in the spa garden or in the tranquil ceremony garden.
Reception celebrations can be hosted in a glass pavilion, inside the main finca, on the vine and palm-tree filled terrace under twinkly fairy lights or, for bigger nuptials, in a luxury tent filled with bougainvillea on the estate’s spacious, manicured lawns. For couples wanting to throw post-reception afterparty – you’re on the famed White Isle after all – Atzaro even has its own soundproof mini-club where you can extend the dancing until late.
Along with a dedicated events planning team, wedding package options include catering, accommodation, transfers, flowers, photography, DJs and wedding styling.
What You’ll Love
- You may find, like us, that you’ll want to book your return visit before you leave. We’ve been raving about Atzarro to all our bride-to-be friends ever since and all have returned home having experienced the same dreamy, romantic and restorative time at the property.
- The hikes and cycle routes to Sa Talaia – one of the highest points on the island – from the hotel are just the ticket for when you’re ready to get active again and want to be rewarded with breathtaking and panoramic views of Ibiza’s picturesque landscape.
- Rejuvenating yoga classes beside the main pool allowing you both to get a daily fitness dose and perfect those lotus poses before breakfast are complimentary for hotel residents
- Watching movies on beanbags under twinkling open skies in Atzaro’s outdoor cinema located around the vegetable garden with freshly made popcorn is a romantic must on Thursdays during the peak summer season.
- This August the hotel hosts food maestro Yotam Ottolenghi in the vegetable garden for a special evening of locally-sourced, five-course dining served on long wooden communal tables, prepared by Ottolenghi and his team. Guests will be entertained by live flamenco music and a chance to meet the super chef.
How to Book
Visit Atzaro, Ctra. Sant Joan KM 15, 07840 Ibiza, Spain. To book your room directly, visit www.atzaro.com, email agroturismo@atzaro.com or call +34 971 33 88 38. Wedding enquiries can be sent to eventos@atzaro.com.
Getting to Ibiza
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 a checked in bag/ suitcase. 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.
Interior of Plane
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. The 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 and flying from Birmingham is a cinch too.
For more information, visit www.jet2.com or call 0800 408 5599.