This islands highly recognisable Spanish name is wrongly synonymous with a lot of mistaken preconceptions. For those who have discovered its true side however, they all leave with a surprised smile and fond memories of its beautiful landscape. Therefore, for the first part of this article, we are going to call this small slice of Eden by its Catalan name, Eivissa.

Eivissa is a beautiful island brimming full of breathtaking scenery, history and culture. Crisscrossed with quiet country lanes, fragrant citrus groves, and numerous World Heritage sites. This 220 square mile island, edged with secluded coves spilling golden sand into the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean is waiting to be discovered.

The third largest of the Balearic Islands, the tranquil sounding Eivissa is otherwise known as the hedonist paradise of Ibiza. But Ibiza’s true paradise is not to be found inside the super clubs that have made it so notoriously famous, but outside amongst its stunning scenery. Not so far from the beating thump of the clubs speakers a relaxing tranquil Ibiza awaits. Passing these clubs we headed inland to a quiet valley in the heart of the island and our accommodation.

Can Lluc is a traditional Ibicencan country house hotel, located close to the village of San Rafael.

Away from the high-rise hotels that line such popular resorts as Playa den Bossa and San Antonio, our accommodation was worlds apart from the concrete towers. The owners of Can Lluc have created a setting that transports you back to an Ibicencan abode found prior to Spain’s package holiday revolution of the late 1950’s; Whitewashed stonewalls, dark knotted wooden beams and gnarled juniper trees drape their twisted arms over stone patios.

After a filling, ‘light lunch’ we were soon whisked out of our rural retreat and back to the stunning coast we had passed on our journey from the airport. Passing a harbour filled with millionaires yachts we made our way to the islands capital.

The old town of Ibiza town, is a meandering winding maze of bright, whitewashed alleys and narrow stone cobbled streets that lead up to magnificent views. Granted UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 the ‘Dalt Vila’ is the most well preserved acropolis in the Mediterranean. Inside its ancient walls are craft shops, designer boutiques, historical museums and art galleries, a cathedral and even a convent that sells cakes and pizza!

Aside from its frenetic nightlife, Ibiza seems to conjure a way of relaxing that is truly in keeping with the chill out CD’s it inspires. The five star hotel, Hacienda Na Xamena, has harnessed this quality and almost succeeded in bottling it.

Eight bubbling outdoor pools cascade down the cliff side they cling onto. Overlooking the shimmering sea below, the Thalassotherapy saltwater spa is unique to the hotel and exists nowhere else in the world. Using the natural power of saltwater and heated to a steamy 37 degrees, each pool works on a different part of the body throughout the forty-minute treatment. Situated on the west side of the island, Hacienda Na Xamena is the perfect place to experience one of Ibiza’s famous sunsets either in the pool or from its gourmet restaurant Sueno de Estrellas.

Another healthy, active way to experience the island is by bicycle. The next day we got to grips with Ibiza’s many interconnecting tracks and roads. These offer varying levels of exertion for those willing to push themselves to the limit, however the island’s terrain also caters for those out for a more relaxing ride. Mammoth Ibiza delivered a range of mountain bikes straight to our doors at Can Lluc, whose location offered the perfect base for exploring the surrounding countryside. By mid morning we arrived at the bohemian whitewashed village of Santa Gertrudis de Frutera, home to one of the islands cultural gems, Bar Costa. During the 60’s hippy era, which saw Ibiza as a staging post for the bohemian’s pilgrimages to Africa, penniless artists would swap art for food. As such, the bar has amassed some eclectic and stylised works still on show today.

Later in the day we arrived at the spiritual hotel and spa, Atzaro. Atzaro is a century old finca, which is home to an oasis of tranquillity in the shape of its relaxing spa. The spa reflects an Asian design philosophy and is carefully blended with Arabian and Ibizencan influences. Under rays of warm golden sunshine, frogs croak their call mesmerically from lily ponds that surround a nearby bathing pool and lush lawns offer the perfect mat to perform yoga on. Also in the grounds, a shallow forty-three metre long training pool, cuts through fragrant orange groves of falling citrus blossom, whilst sculptures watch over you from between the shady boughs.

If yoga, swimming and cycling don’t offer you enough means to connect spiritually and physically to the island, there is always a breath-stealing walk. A hidden trail leads along the cliff tops from Cala d’Hort to the picturesque Torre de Savinar, which overlooks the mysterious isle of Es Vedra. Cloaked in myth, Es Vedra is the islands spiritual symbol and supposedly the third most magnetic place on earth. Numerous legends surround the island; it is the home of the Sirens, the tip of the sunken civilisation of Atlantis and also a place to meet ‘inter-galacticals.’

Whether you do choose to call it Eivissa or Ibiza, the small island has a wealth of varied, healthy opportunities to help you unwind and relax, whilst allowing you the chance to discover a different side of the white isle.