15 Day Yoga Holiday in Ibiza, Spain

Villa Roca

Villa Roca is a hacienda of Bauhaus design, built by the late Ibizencan architect Erwin Bronner, whose own house is now a museum in Ibiza Town. The villa features terracotta floors, tiered balconies and open fire places. It has a large living room area, and a spacious outside open plan terrace, where guests dine, relax and socialize.

The villa is situated 30 meters above sea level, and a 3-minute 180-meter walk to the beach, along a private path. Villa Roca sits in 20 acres of land which is filled with wild flowers, pear, olive, apple, orange and banana trees. To cap it all, it is nestled amongst a beautiful pine forest. On clear days, it has almost uninterrupted sunshine from early morning to late afternoon. With five large bedrooms, two of which have balconies, and one with its own door leading to the garden.

Rooms:

• Room 1: Situated at the back of the Villa with its own side entrance and windows that face East, so plenty of morning sunshine as it rises in the morning. No other room in the villa has this aspect. The double doors open out to the large garden which contains many fruit trees. Sit outside the room and view distant pinewood hills and forests. There are large cupboards and wardrobe for storage. This is the only room upstairs in the villa that has its own entrance although it only locks from the inside so guests use it to air the room or sit outside in the sun but not as a door to enter through. There is a washing line close to the room for your private use. The room is next to a bathroom which is shared with Room 3. Pagoda 6 can be seen in the garden from this Room.
• Room 2: Situated at the back of the villa a very basic bedroom but a favorite of many returning guest and historically tends to get booked up first. Receives the least natural sunlight / daylight as there is only one small window. All the other rooms have ceiling to floor doors that open out of the Villa. This room is enclosed within the Villa and that is the appeal to some guests. The one window has the view of pagoda 3 in the garden and the landscape beyond. The window's wooden shutters open up to on to the steps that lead up to the yoga deck. The pagoda guests use the steps to access their pagodas. There is a large wardrobe for storage and a full length mirror. The Bathroom is next door and is shared with Room 4.
• Room 3 (with balcony): Large ceiling to floor windows containing french doors opening on to your own balcony and possible to step off your balcony on to the terrace where guests eat the daily meal. Situated at the front of the villa overlooking the garden, driveway and the distant road that heads in and out of Benirras. There are large wardrobes for storage. There are two ways of entering this room, from the terrace and from inside of the villa. You can book this room as two single beds or one double bed.
• Room 4 (with balcony): Ceiling to floor windows containing french doors that lead on to own private balcony. Situated at the front of the villa overlooking terraced garden, pagoda 1 ,stairs to enter the villa and the main terrace where guests eat the daily meal. Pagoda 2 is situated on the roof directly above this room. There is a large wardrobe for storage. Room 4 shares a bathroom with Room 2.
• Room 5: On ground floor level overlooking Villa Nova and its gardens. Directly above room 5 is the communal terrace where the daily meal is served. The main part of the villa is upstairs from room 5. This is the only accommodation in Villa Roca with en-suite shower room. It offers from a communal terrace its own entrance with double glass doors and non opening floor to ceiling windows. Next to this room is the laundry and store room. The room does not receive much direct sunlight due to its North facing aspect. If you like some privacy this is the room to book.

Pagoda Garden at Villa Roca

If you want to feel closer to nature, why not try one of our delightful pagodas , in the garden of Villa Roca. It has easy access to the yoga deck and its facilities include a really refreshing, powerful shower. By day, you can surround yourself with the sounds of countless birds, including robins, hawks, swifts, sparrows, and gulls, and feel the sea air fill and clean your lungs.

At night you can send yourself to sleep listening to the gentle sound of nature and the sweet scent of pine trees. If you live in a town or city, you will be taken aback by its silence, save the calming sounds of crickets and feel of the breeze. On moonlit nights you can see the shimmering trees and fauna cast their shadows in what can only be described as magical.

On clear summer nights, you will recognize the many constellations, with the Milky Way spread across the sky like magic dust, and if you are really lucky, you can see shooting stars. After a night or two, you will forget all about the traffic, noise and pollution of the big city and almost imagine you are back in time, when people lived simply, spending their lives amongst nature.

Benirras is a valley and both the Tipis are in the base of the valley at sea and road level . There are people walking along the road , cars driving along it. The garden gate is the access point for the guests of the main villa and the Casita to use . Noise travels very well at night. Guests sit on the balcony of the villa or the outside area of the Casita voices are heard as they chat and sometimes strum a guitar. August and September the whole area of Benirras is a busy place. Quiet from 1am to 8am is usual but outside these hours its a buzzing laid back vibe. We try to explain it the way it is so there are no disappointments.

The WiFi only works in the Villa, on the terrace and in Pagoda 2 and 3. Drop down lockable shutters block the sunlight and give extra privacy in all pagodas. One hot water outdoor shower and one cold outdoor shower two sinks and a toilet service the entire pagoda garden. Towels are not supplied but can be ordered at when booking at check out. We suggest that you bring one pair of walking shoes / trainers for walking along the paths but not necessary for Pagoda 2 or 3. Pathways are partially lit by solar lights, please bring a torch. There are two lockable draws underneath each pagoda , we hire out padlocks for free but ask for deposit. The villa is only available for tea/coffee making and internet during the hours of 8am to 10pm. All meals are served on the terrace of Villa Roca. If you are travelling alone and we do not find you a 'pagoda room-mate' you will have the pagoda to yourself. Beds are made with fresh bed linen and pagodas are cleaned on Saturdays only leaving week-day bed making for the guests to do. Only the outdoor shower block and communal area is cleaned each day.

Rooms:

• Pagoda 1: Traditional Balinese Pagoda hut. Situated in the garden on a terrace high above the Villa in a row of three pagodas over looking the valley, and pine clad hills.3 sides of the pagoda are nestled into the cut away hillside. North East Facing. It has its own electricity. Underneath are lockable draws for luggage. Fairy lights illuminate the interior, window shutters on two sides, and one plug socket. Two single beds and can be made into a double.
• Pagoda 2: Situated on the roof of the villa above Room 4, close to the yoga space with views over the garden and valley. Wooden window shutters , single beds, interior is surrounded with fairy light and there is one electrical point. Many of the therapies such as massage that are offered at the retreat take place on the yoga space outside of yoga class hours. This space is next to Pagoda 2. The wall of the pagoda that faces East is solid wood. The 2 sides with wooden shutter windows look towards North West and North. This pagoda and Number 3 are the only pagodas to receive wi-fi.
• Pagoda 3: Traditional Balinese Pagoda hut. Closest pagoda to the villa positioned on a terrace in the garden. It is close to Room 4 and the stairs that lead to the yoga space. Large under floor lockable storage draws. Sleeps two with views of garden. Use of outdoor shower facilities & toilets. Pagoda Guests are only allowed to use the Kitchen & Living Room inside Villa Roca, all other rooms and facilities are for Villa Roca guests only. You can receive WiFi from this pagoda and there is a power point. The wooden shutter window doors open up and face North . The back of the pagoda is nestled into the cut away hillside that has been brick walled.
• Pagoda 4: East Facing Situated on the highest terrace overlooking the villa, pagodas and garden. Tucked behind a large bush and nestled into the side of the mountain with Northerly valley views from 2 sides. This is usually the first pagoda to get booked and has already been booked for many of the weeks of 2017. It has its own little garden, with a few plants and a small tree. Has the most private position. Fairy lights illuminate the interior, drop down blinds & lockable shutters for total privacy, one plug socket. There are many steps up to this pagoda , it has a very good position and has a secluded element , year after year guests return to stay here. Situated to the far right of the garden in a row of three pagodas being number 1 to its left and number 5 further along and higher to the left.
• Pagoda 5 The Queen: Traditional Balinese Pagoda hut. Situated in the highest position of all the pagodas built on large concrete stilts. The best views are to be had from this pagoda and it is the favorite of many returning guests but is the furthest from the villa. This pagoda and number 4 are the most re-booked pagodas but returning guests. The Queen Pagoda has two single beds. One electrical point. Fairy lights illuminating interior. Large lockable storage draws under pagoda floor.
• Pagoda 6: Traditional Balinese Pagoda hut. Built on the same level as the villa facing North East. Pagoda 6 is 15 meters from Villa Roca. Sliding panelled doors to the front & lockable shutters to 2 sides this allowing the cool night air flow through. single beds and one electrical point. There are large lockable storage draws under the pagoda floor. Situated closest to the driveway, a 30 second walk to the yoga deck and close to the shower block.

Villa Roca and the Pagoda Garden are closed between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm on a Saturday. It is possible to be on site early or leave late but for this we make a charge. The reason we need the property empty for those hours is to clean it throughout ready for the arrival of the incoming guests.

Please note that between the months of November and April the central heating is switched on from 7.30am to 10am and 5pm until 11pm daily. We do not supply electric heaters outside of these hours as they overload and trip our electrical system.

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flights to Ibiza Airport (IBZ). Ibiza Yoga can put you in contact with an independent taxi service that will collect you from the airport (approximately 45 EUR from airport to the retreat, 25- 30 minute). Please send an inquiry for more information. Taxis hired from outside the airport arrivals lounge charge a similar price and more at night. There are also car hire companies at the airport. If you are visiting the retreat in low season, April and October, it might be worth checking out car hire, as the price of car hire for one week can sometimes be cheaper than a return taxi fare.

From the airport there is a bus direct to Benirras 23 and 23a from Ibiza Town, San Antonio. Check out their website Ibiza Buses. This started in June 2017 and it runs up until September 2017. Ibiza Bus Timetables and Island maps can be found at the Tourist Information Desk, that is situated immediately in front of you when you come out of the arrival gate. The bus stop where you can get the "L10" bus to Ibiza Town, is situated just outside of the front doors of the airport, to the right of the Tourist Information desk. Cost to Ibiza Town is approximately 3 EUR. The L10 bus will drop you at the Bus station on the Avenguda Isidor Macabich (Ibiza Town). There are several bustops running along this strech of road. From here you can catch a bus to either San Miguel or Port San Miguel (our nearest villages). The bus that runs to San Miguel is the L25 and the one that runs to Port San Miguel is L25a. The bust to San Miguel is much more frequent than the one to the Port. These buses will cost approx 4 euros. During the winter season the only bus service that runs is the L25. It is a more limited service so please check www.ibizabus.com for times.

On the bus journey, look out for Santa Gertrudis, a small town situated in the middle of the island. San Miguel is around 7 minutes from here. You can identify when you are arriving in San Miguel when you can see a beautiful white church on a hilltop, approaching ahead. To walk from San Miguel will take approx 1 hour 20 minutes and a taxi will cost around 10-12 euros. Please be aware that the walk follows narrow, windy, steep country roads with little to no footpath. To walk from Port San will take approx 45 minutes or a taxi will cost around 8-10 euros. Please be aware that this walk also follows narrow, windy, steep countryside roads along a cliff with no pedestrian footpath.

Driving directions from the airport

• From the airport follow the signs for Eivissa (Ibiza Town), you will then see signs for Santa Eularia, follow these signs, bypassing Eivissa.
• Half way to Sta Eularia (about 10-15 minutes in to the journey), look out for a Left Hand Turn, signposted Santa Gertrudis and San Miguel. Take this turning. If you miss the turning dont worry you can continue along this road for several miles before seeing the sign to Benirras.
• Follow signs for San Miguel. You will drive past Santa Gertrudis, following a newly built, smooth road that has a cycle lane and pedestrian walkway on either side.
• On the approach to San Miquel you will see white church of San Miquel, sitting high on the approaching hilltop.
• When you reach the town of San Miquel you are looking for a right hand turn with a brown signpost for Benirras. Take this turn.
• Follow this road for about 5 minutes (approximately 2km), you will then see a brown signpost for a left hand turn to Benirras, this turn is at a cross roads. Take this turn.
• This winding road will bring you all the way to Benirras. In the daytime you can see the Pagodas and Villa Roca on the hillside, from the road, on the left.
• Approximately 100m from the beach, you will find a staggered crossroads, signposted, to the left for “caves” and Port San Miguel. You are on Ibiza Yoga's doorstep now.
• To find Villa Roca, turn left at the crossroads, signposted "caves" and Port San Miquel, you will pass over a small bridge. Immediately after this bridge, you will see the driveway on the right, leading up to the villa, this is indicated by a painted stone. *There is another villa sitting just below Villa Roca. Drive straight up to the villa and you will see a car parking area in front of a small, squared, rock wall. Welcome to Villa Roca
• The island is very small, well signposted and only about 30km long but if you do find yourself a bit lost, please call us and we will be more than happy to give verbal directions.