‘Ibiza….it’s not what it was’

There’s no doubt that the White Isle is rapidly evolving but the one phrase I hear more than any other these days is that Ibiza ‘isn’t what it was’.

I started coming to the island in the 70’s as a small child with my family for the typical bucket, spade and sangria holiday, I missed out on the 80’s but came over in the early 90’s and never left so when it comes to Ibiza’s recent history I can happily say I had a front row seat.

It’s not easy to objectively compare different eras but this debate has been raging since I first set foot on the white Isle, in fact I clearly remember being told that ‘Ibiza isn’t what it used to be’ in my first few days here, the cycle repeats itself every year.

Ibiza constantly changes, it’s a self perpetuating micro experiment of life and always will be. One of the worlds most beautiful islands run by the offspring of farmers and fisherman who had the spotlight thrust on them. In terms of a brand it’s massive, if Ibiza was a Fortune 500 company then it would have a hot-shot CEO but it hasn’t yet it still works.

There’s no debate that the island has changed beyond recognition especially over the last 10 years however every era has its place clearly etched in history.

For those who ‘discovered’ the island in the 60’s there’s still that romantic vision of free love, living in the countryside and big lunches with friends that cost next to nothing but when you analyse it every era has its pros & cons.

When you’re young and fearless with no ties you have an attitude that is totally different to when you’re middle aged with a couple of kids but the island’s magic repeats itself for every generation in different ways. What some see today as a backward step is viewed by others as exactly the reverse.

Like those from the 60’s we all have romantic visions of a time in our lives that was special to us and Ibiza is that seminal place that makes memories for a lifetime so if you return and it’s changed beyond recognition of course it’s not what it was but it doesn’t mean it’s worse, it’s just different.

The early days when I came to Ibiza will forever be a magic time in my life but you could also only get flights for 7 or 14 nights, the roads were death traps, the hotels were basic with no air conditioning and the big clubs were inaccesible to many, mainly through lack of knowledge (no ‘influencers’ in those days!).

Those long mornings on Space terrace can never be repeated but have now been replaced by daytime concerts attended by thousands, beautiful beach clubs and world class nightclubs showcasing the biggest DJ’s as well as emerging talent, it’s different but the joy and the thrill remains the same with the hands in the air moments creating an adrenaline rush and memories to last a lifetime.

The Ibiza of today isn’t without challenges but it’s still an amazing place, making an indelible mark on every generation. The social media obsessed world we live in has created different needs and the ‘new’ Ibiza is just a reflection of that but scratch below the surface and the island still retains the charm and beauty it always has, you just have to stop being part of the herd and work a little harder to find it. Of course Ibiza isn’t what it was, it’s better.

Author: Martin Makepeace

Englishman living and working in Ibiza since 1991. Entrepreneur with a passion for villas, boats, sunsets and San Antonio. Read my blogs, listen to my podcasts and get involved in the debate. View all posts by Martin Makepeace