My reason for going to Mallorca was 100% pure holiday fun with my British fiancee for 7 nights of uninterrupted bliss. I knew that I needed to visit as many of it’s glorious sun kissed beaches but I had no idea just how much natural beauty existed in one little island.
I landed in Barcelona jet lagged and exhausted from my long journey from San Diego but was super excited for the quick 25 minute puddle jumper to the Balearics. On my descent to Mallorca, I took note of the gorgeous mountain ranges and jagged coastline which promised many dips in that perfect blue Med.
I was like a kid in a candy shop and Mallorca is definitely the kind of European paradise I can get behind … I haven’t even gotten to my hotel yet!
Mallorca has so much to see and it’s natural landscape is extremely versatile. Depending on what you are drawn to, there is something for everyone! We stayed on the south side of Mallorca in an area called Portals Nous which is about 20 minutes from Palma, the capital, and where the airport is. Portals Nous is famous for it’s marina filled with multi-million dollar yachts and a swanky downtown with great gastronomy and rooftop bars. The area itself was pretty, a bit upscale but central and easy enough to rent a car to explore the island.
We headed north west towards the Tramuntana (mountain range) with the final destinations being Deia & Port de Soller. We stopped on the way for some fun drone footage of our tiny car, top down, music up and the open road.
But first .. Valdemossa…
This tiny village nestled in the Tramuntana is a must see on the way to the northwest of Mallorca. The cathedral is visible from the highway as you make your way in along with lush green mountains and hilltops. Once you arrive, park your car and set on foot to check out this picturesque town. The street are all cobblestone, no cars, bohemian art galleries, cafes, dive tapas joints such as S’Estret with regional tapas (octopus yum) and some spectacular views!
Port de Soller…
Way back in the day, modern day Spain was occupied by the Moors from 700 AD – 1493 and as a result, there is an incredible Moorish influence in Mallorca’s architecture and cuisine. As you navigate throughout the island, take notice of just how different the tapas in Mallorca are to mainland Spain along with Mallorqui which is their dialect of Catalan.
Mallorca is about 300 miles from Southern Spain and about the same distance from North Africa which makes it an ideal port into Europe. The ports and marinas located on the southeastern end of Mallorca tend to be more commercial and also host tourist cruise ships. The northern ports however are much more remote and you’ll only find private yachts/boats to admire.
Port de Sóller is a small coastal village which has become very well known and popular due to it’s historic tram, 15 minute long tunnel into the canyons, large bay and scenic surroundings. If those cliffs were a bit higher, you’d believe you were in Positano. Besides it being such a pretty area, the location of this small village plays a decisive role in its history. It is separated from the rest of Mallorca by the Tramuntana which made it hard for large trade ships to enter and thankfully from pirates to invade.
Today, Port de Soller is well preserved and protected from over-development of touristic properties/housing.
Head to the beach!
Whether you fancy white sand beaches or cliffs to jump from you’ll find your heart’s desires in Mallorca. This brings me to one of the highlights of my trip: Es Trenc, and Calo des Moro beaches in the southeastern tip of the island.
Calo Des Moro is the perfect contrast between the perfect blue Mediterranean, jagged coastline, sandstone cliffs, natural whirlpools and pine trees. It is probably one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever seen… absolute must see in Mallorca
Once you are done exploring Calo Des Moro, head west towards Es Trenc for an entirely different beach relaxation experience…
Apart from the beautiful beaches in southeastern Mallorca, there is one more little town worth the visit: Ses Salines.
This picturesque little town boasts old Roman architecture reminding us of much of southern Europe’s past lives. It is also colored in sand and turquoise doors/window shutters… well matched with the area’s white sand beaches and waters. While in Ses Salines, have lunch at Cassai : a Mediterranean fusion cafe/restaurant in a 300 year old Mallorcan house with a patio that will have you oo-ing and ahh-ing your entire lunch…
One of my favorite moments in Mallorca is getting in our Fiat and exploring without an actual destination in mind. It’s natural beauty far surpassed my expectations and the photos just do not do it justice. The people were super friendly, English is pretty widely spoken, easy to get around with great infrastructure, and a small amount of tourists since we were there in September.
This love story definitely had a happy ending….
World Adventures by Fz 