S’Illa des Bosc is the closest islet to the beach of Platges de Comte and it dominates the horizon, together with sa Conillera, s’Espartar and ses Bledes. It is shaped like a tear-drop and there are various theories regarding its place name. One holds that it is named Bosc after a former owner, and some claim that it takes its name from the forest that covers the land where trees were once felled for timber.
It is very close to sa Conillera with which it shares the same lizard subspecies, which is green and bluish in colour, and larger than the lizards of the other islets. Although the cliffs are smoother here, they also serve as a nesting place for species such as Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) and the Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus).
The sandbanks at the northern end are known as Picatxos, and these laminated pointed rocks always draw the attention of sailors passing through the strait between s’Illa des Bosc and sa Conillera. The surfaces of the rocks have revealed archaeological remains from the 1st century AD and it is thought that they might have been part of a 448 metre long wall, the remains of which can also be found in the south and south-east of the islet, so it may be assumed that they had a defensive purpose.
The island was used in the past for military manoeuvres with artillery and there is also a geodesic point on its peak which was used by cartographers.
