MIXMAG UAE GOES INSIDE THE WORLD OF PACHA IBIZA

We’ve just spent three days immersed in the world of Pacha Ibiza and experienced the cherries from every angle. Our base was The Pacha Hotel, before heading poolside to Playa Pacha for a taste of Ibiza in in the slow lane. From there, things shifted up a gear with an unforgettable daytime session at Destino Five, where Solomun delivered the soundtrack as the sun dropped over the Mediterranean.

And because no Pacha experience would be complete without stepping onto its most famous dancefloor, we headed deep inside Pacha Ibiza for Marco Carola Presents Music On, taking us to a full blown after dark session of rolling beats and CO2 cannons. Three days, four Pacha experiences and a serious amount of house music, here’s how it all went down…

The Pacha Hotel became our base and crucially, somewhere to reset between everything the island was about to throw at us. Sitting opposite the legendary Pacha Ibiza, the hotel carries the same unmistakable DNA as the club, but in a much more laid-back form. The famous cherries are present but rather than leaning too heavily into its nightlife heritage, the hotel feels grown-up, stylish and distinctly Ibizan with just enough Pacha attitude to remind you where you are.

The location is also difficult to beat. When your night involves Marco Carola's Music On, being able to walk across the road to one of the world's most famous clubs and, more importantly, walk back again several hours later is a luxury in itself and all guests staying at Pacha Hotel receive complimentary access to Playa Pacha at Destino Five Ibiza and Pacha Ibiza nightclub.

That afternoon we headed to Destino Five which has entered a bold new chapter, under the ownership of Dubai-based FIVE Holdings. Following an extensive transformation, the legendary clifftop escape now brings together two worlds that Ibiza has always understood better than almost anywhere else: unapologetic luxury and the irresistible pull of hedonism.

With panoramic views stretching across the Mediterranean towards Ibiza Town and Formentera, Destino Five isn't simply somewhere to stay. It's a resort, pool club, restaurant, sunset destination and, on the right day, one of the best outdoors dancefloor experiences on the island right now.

At the heart of the daytime experience is Playa Pacha, Destino Five's pool club. Those of you used to Playa Pacha at FIVE LUXE JBR will relate to this venue, with similar daytime offerings of great poolside vibes and an awesome menu.

Here, the soundtrack begins early afternoon, on the day we were there, their resident Sam Oui took control moving through Balearic grooves, downtempo deep house and vocal lead chilled classics, as guests drift between oversized daybeds, a huge cherry shaped pool and long lunches.

The sound system throughout the day was low but was enough for middle of the afternoon with the emphasis being firmly on atmosphere rather than nightclub volume. The real magic of Destino Five Ibiza, however happens at Pacha ICONS, which once again transforms Destino Five into one of Ibiza's most impressive open-air electronic music venues. The parties typically run from 17:00 until 23:00, creating that uniquely Ibizan transition from blazing afternoon sunshine through golden hour and into darkness.

At the center of the programming is Marco Carola Presents Mucis On, where Carola hosted eight dates across June, July and August this summer. The line-ups read like a snapshot of the artists currently driving global house and tech house culture. Across the 2026 season, Carola has been joined by names including PAWSA, Loco Dice, East End Dubs, Franky Rizardo, Carlita to name a small few.

Another major addition to the 2026 programming is Solomun Outdoor which was what we attended. After years of memorable appearances at the former Destino Pacha Hotel, Solomun had expanded his presence this season to four dedicated outdoor dates and he's brought some serious company with him.

Joseph Capriati and Magdalena joined him on the day we were there and it absolutely went off all afternoon, track after track of unreleased bangers, huge remixes, massive build ups and non-stop hands in the air moments. The series closes this weekend on August 27 with Vintage Culture and Volkoder, giving the final Solomun Outdoors event of the season another suitably heavyweight line-up.

Under FIVE, Destino Five Ibiza hasn’t lost any of the magic that made it one of Ibiza’s most iconic destinations — if anything, it’s turned everything up several notches. And naturally, when the main party finished, we found ourselves at an after-party in one of Destino’s villas. The accommodation takes things to another level: seriously luxurious, generously sized and, in some cases, complete with its own private pool.

Underneath it all remains the same Ibiza philosophy: beautiful surroundings, beautiful people, exceptional music and the feeling that at almost any moment, a relaxed afternoon could turn into a party, which it sure did!

The next day we headed to Marco Carola Presents Music On at Pacha Ibiza, just a 2 minute walk from Pacha Hotel. By the time we arrived, the cherries were glowing, the queue was building and that unmistakable low-end rumble was already escaping from inside the club, it was time to experience the brand in its natural habitat: a packed dancefloor at 3AM.

And Music On doesn't mess around, created by Marco Carola, the night has become an Ibiza institution, built around the Italian DJ's relentless blend of rolling tech house, stripped-back grooves and marathon sets. At Pacha Ibiza, that sound is paired with one of the most famous rooms in clubbing and when both are firing, it's an incredibly potent combination.

Not going to lie, the room is dark, sweaty and you're absolutely locked in. Pacha Ibiza's ‘d&b Audiotechnik’ sound system delivers the kind of bass you don't just hear, but physically feel. Carola's rolling grooves punch through the room while the club's lighting and visuals build around the music rather than overpowering it. There are no unnecessary visual gimmicks required here, the DJ, the sound system and several thousand people moving together provide enough theatre.

Three days, countless cherries and very little sleep later, it’s easy to understand why Pacha remains such an integral part of the Ibiza experience. Every part we experienced felt connected, yet completely different. FIVE may have brought a new level of luxury and polish to the experience, but the spirit that made Pacha an Ibiza institution is still firmly intact. Poolside or dancefloor, sunset or sunrise, chilled or completely unhinged — after 72 hours living beneath the cherries, one thing became pretty clear: Pacha isn’t just a nightclub anymore. It’s an entire way of doing Ibiza.