Formentor Mallorca Spain

Formentor comprises a famous hotel, a ferry landing stage with a cafe for day-trippers and a few classy, well-spaced private houses, all situated on a narrow 1-ml dead-end road off the equally narrow Cape Formentor road. Surrounded by countryside of great natural beauty, this is an important location for the observation of migratory birds.

Formentor is situated toward the extreme N of the island, 6½ tortuously winding mls NE of Puerto de Pollensa, 44 mls NE of Palma and the international airport on mainly good roads. It is located halfway along the Formentor Peninsula, a spectacular promontory with sheer cliffs rising 650 ft above the sea. It is set alongside a small, sheltered, crescent-shaped bay with steep, pine-forested, rocky ground down to the sea edge.

Wealthy bird-watchers and upmarket seclusion-seekers will enjoy this destination. Otherwise attractions and activities are a bit limited.

Accommodation consists of just the one hotel, occasionally visited by the rich and famous. The beach here is Cala de Pi which is a thin strip of fine sand backed by pine trees. It can be crowded with day-trippers. There are a small number of pedalloes, catamarans and surfboards for hire.

Non beach attractions include bird-watching; horse riding; walking in surrounding countryside. Nightlife here is low key, provided by the hotel in season.

Local excursions include a trip to: Cape of Formentor; village of Pollensa; ferry trips to Puerto de Pollensa; Alcudia.

Cala San Vicente Mallorca Spain

Set around a rugged bay which is dominated by the Hotel Don Pedro, Cala San Vicente is a modest fishing village of character, with older houses, a church and several beach restaurants clustered about the larger beach, one side of which is still used by fishermen for repairing nets and storing goods.

The stunning location is surrounded by parched hills and craggy cliffs, reached via a good road from Palma airport. The cliffs of Formentor peninsula are spectacular and give a fabulous back drop to this village. Set back from the beach is a sleepy hamlet of leafy villas and a few ammenities which provide a modicum of holiday provisions. It is a family venue and entertainment is something most visitors create for themselves unless they’re staying in the resort’s large hotel complex.

Locality:

Cala San Vicente is located on the N coast of Mallorca, 35 mls NE of Palma and airport, 3½ mls NE of Pollensa.
The area is suited mainly to mature couples and families with older children; this is a quiet retreat for the discerning, and those who enjoy exceptional coastal and rural scenery.

A clutch of hotels from simple to middle grade, with one or two small luxury establishments form the accommodation options in Cala San Vicente.

Beachwise, Cala Barques is the principal and prettiest, separated by a rocky knoll and a hotel from the tiny Cala Clara. Located around a sizeable headland is Cala Molins, a third sandy beach, this one augmented by imported sand each May. The waters are beautifully clear and the views tremendous.

Shopping provides only basics and souvenirs but greater variety is found in nearby Pollensa, which also has a colourful Sunday market.

Entertainment and activities like most of Mallorca’s resorts don’t spread too far away from the beach. Walks and general relaxation is about as much as the area offers, although for this purpose the area is fanatastic.
By night the larger hotels put on shows but this is more of a place for quiet enjoyment than organised nightlife. Puerto Pollensa is the nearest port of call for a more lively night with greater options.

Excursions tend to consist of several excellent walks, prehistoric caves just inland, an Inca Market and the old town of Pollensa and its port and Alcudia.

Cala Millor Mallorca Spain

Cala Millor is a modern purpose-built resort with little local character, dating from the 1950s and clinging to an impressive length of beach.
The central part has a fine seafront promenade, lined with plenty of trees; a clean wide pedestrianised artery runs parallel. Most of the nightlife is found here and there are plenty of British and German pubs, karaoke bars and fast-food eateries.

Son Moro (adjoining to the S) is somewhat smarter and quieter. Overall, though, it is a varied destination with something to please most holidaymakers. The entire bay is nearly 4 mls long and contained within largely unspoilt headlands. One of them, the Punta Amer, has been declared an area of special natural interest. It has a 17th-century watchtower from which the coastal area may be admired.

Locality:
Cala Millor is located on the E coast, 12 mls E of the town of Manacor, 44 mls E of Palma. The resort overlooks Levante Bay between the mountains of Puig Sa Font and Puig Son Lluc; on land that slopes gently down to the sea from low pine-covered hills backed by farmland, almond trees and orchards. Adjacent to the protected nature reserve of Punta Amer.

Cala Millor is a sizeable resort of wide appeal, and one with which few would be disappointed. It is a popular and good package-holiday destination, though not the best of bases for exploring the rest of the island. The area is particularly popular with German holidaymakers.

Accommodation consists of a wide variety of hostels to holiday villages. There is also a good choice of hotel and self-catering accommodation, mainly in the modern middle range of quality. By far the main attraction to Cala Millor is its large impressive beach (900 yds by 55 yds) of fine, light sand with clear blue waters. Plentiful sunbeds and water sports are available and there is a nudist beach at Punta Amer.

Those looking for some souvenirs will find mainly “Artesanias” (handicraft shops) which sell tourist bric-a-brac. Boutiques, leather and jewellery stores, are present which are adequate but not special. There is a market in Son Servera on Friday; Porto Colom on Tuesday and Saturday; Cala Ratjada on Saturday; Arta on Tuesday; Manacor on Monday. The latter also has a renowned pearl factory.

Local excursions from the area tend to include: Half day: interesting old town of Arta, boat trips, glass-bottomed boats, pirate boats. Full day: Reserva Africana wildlife park on the edge of town; caves of Drach, San Salvador monastery; fishing port of Cala Figures; Caves of Hams (8 mls); Palma shopping; Alcudia, Formentor and monastery; Pollensa; Valldemosa and the west. Magalluf water park. Other local attractions include a 9-hole golf course nearby; range of water sports; several tennis clubs; karting. By night there are discos and music bars. Seasonal open-air disco just outside town.

Alcudia Mallorca Spain

The resort of Alcudia is situated in the north east coast of Mallorca at the top of a long curving bay with an endless white sandy beach. It is situated 34 mls NE of Palma and the airport by way of a good, mainly straight road.This sprawling, purpose-built resort, together with its neighbour Playa de Muro, stretches for five miles (eight km) either side of the coast road and is particularly popular with British, German and Scandinavian families. It has a fairly relaxed atmosphere; its spectacular beach is the major attraction, though it is also well placed for exploring the attractions around the north of the island.

The activities in Alcudia are mainly focused along the spectacular five-mile (eight km) beach that fronts the resort. All sorts of watersports can be arranged from scuba diving to banana rides.
There are tennis and squash courts in the resort and nearby attractions include a water park, a go-kart track and horse riding stables. Boats trips can be arranged to the stunning Formentor promontory where passengers can snorkel or simply take in the views.

The nearby towns of Pollenca and Alcudia (old town) and the mountain village of Lluc are worth exploring in search of a little culture, while those looking to get away from it all can take a trip to the mountainous western side of the island. Alcudia doesn’t have a distinct shopping centre: shops selling buckets and spades and tourist trinkets line the beach road and the other small shopping areas dotted around the resort also cater for tourists. The satellite resort of Playa de Muro has an upmarket mall with some nice boutiques and the port area has a selection of designer shops.

The supermarkets are good, stocking all the well-known brands along with cheap alcohol and cigarettes. The local market opens on Tuesday and Sunday mornings and the market in Inca, 15 miles (24km) inland, opens on Thursdays. Good buys include the porcelain and leather goods, but bargain hard.

As far as eating options, most restaurants in Alcudia cater for the unadventurous British palate with plenty of fast-food joints and cafés offering something with chips. There are also a few Italian, Indian and Chinese restaurants. The better restaurants are mostly in the port area, where diners can find some decent Spanish, French and seafood restaurants within a lovely harbour setting.

Alcudia has lots of bars, pubs and discos catering for most tastes but this is not the resort for those after some serious clubbing. Many of the hotels offer in-house entertainment ranging from flamenco dancers to comedians.
The resort of Alcudia is not known for its architectural merit; its skyline is dominated by 1960s style apartment blocks. To the relief of many, Alcudia is not the resort for party animals; those looking for some serious clubbing should head for the south of the island.

Local excursions include the nearby old town of Alcudia with medieval streets and Roman remains; Puerto de Pollensa and peninsula of Formentor; monastery of Lluc and onward to Soller, Deya and Valldemosa; Caves of Drach and Hams; Palma; market at inland town of Inca (Thurs); jeep safaris; boat cruises; evening shows.