Cala Mondrago Mallorca Spain

Cala Mondrago is not a town, village or a resort but a 500 yds by 500 yds small 2-hostal hamlet which has one small road, a tiny shop, a couple of beach snack bar/restaurants and a car park and a handful of private homes which lie scattered among the pine trees.
Its significance as a holiday destination is its unspoilt stunning surroundings which is very suitable to those looking for a quiet holiday with a love of the outdoors.

Locality:

Cala Mondrago is found on the E coast, 5 mls SW of Cala d’Or, 40 mls SE of Palma, 35 mls SE of the international airport. It is an unspoilt protected nature reserve of low scrub- and pine-covered hills, sand dunes, wetlands and small rocky coves. Cultivated farmland and almond groves surround.

The area is particularly suited to those looking for peace and quiet, twitchers, beachcombers and those of an independent nature with a love of the outdoors. The area attracts day-trippers and locals at weekends.

In terms of accommodation there are 2 small privately run 1-star hostals; 1 small privately owned self-catering apartment block and an all-inclusive property 2 mls away. The area has 2 fine sandy beaches: s’Amarador, which is adjacent to a car park, flanked by rocky pine-clad slopes and packed with loungers; there are 2 snack bar/restaurants. The unspoilt Mondrago Beach, reached by a low path (220 yds) curving round a rocky coastline, is over 220 yds wide and 75 yds deep and backed by small dunes, pine forests and marshland.

Both beaches can get extremely crowded with day-trippers and, at weekends, coolbox-carrying locals. Main attractions include walking, hiking, bird-watching, cycling and horse-riding. There is a small picnic area with barbecue and children’s playground. The area has nothing in terms of nightlife. In terms of ‘food’ there are 2 basic beach snack bar/restaurants and a selection of fish restaurants on harbourside at Porto Petro (2½ mls).

Mallorca Spain Travel Guide

This elegant island has to offer anything a visitor might dream of. Tourism at Mallorca started to develop already in the 1920s, and until the Spanish Civil War it was mainly intellectuals and artists who were attracted by this island. Mallorca’s wonderful climate, beautiful landscapes as well as its cosmopolitan ambience make it a privileged holiday resort, with a cultural offer comparable to the one of many European capitals. The Auditiorio de Palma , for instance, ranks among Europe’s top concert halls. At Mallorca, you will find relaxation, inspiration, culture and entertainment.
Mallorca has a serious range of mountains, the Serra de Tramuntana, along the north-west side and a range of pine-clad hills along the east (the Serres de Llevant).

In between is the vast plain to the east of Palma called Es Pla, sprinkled with little-known historic country towns and planted with around six million almond trees.

Elsewhere olives, artichokes and melons vie for space alongside wild flowers, cactuses and migratory birds stopping off between Europe and Africa.
Towns such as Felanitx, where local farmers fill a colourful market around the old church on Sundays, and Petra, where families sit at quiet cafes in tree-shaded squares, give a glimpse of what life was like before the tourists arrived.

The flat north-east coast is heavily developed at Alcúdia but still has its out-of-the-way attractions, such as the Iron Age cemetery at Son Real, just outside Ca’n Picafort. The east coast is dotted with sandy coves.

Head for Cala Mondragó or Porto Petro, where low-rise development hasn’t destroyed the original charm. Of the competing caves in this area, those at Artà are the most impressive.
Mallorca’s south coast is a mix of lonely, windswept sand dunes, ideal for a romantic walk.

 

The liveliest resorts are around the bay of Palma – S’Arenal (more popular with German visitors), Magaluf and Palma Nova are where the massed ranks of hotels and apartments are crammed along the superb, sandy beaches.

Things to see in Mallorca include:

• Palma de Mallorca – the island´s capital is worth a trip on its own. Very old city where you will find architectural wonders, culture and mediterranean food.
• Serra de Tramuntana – wonderful range of mountains that run along the north-west coast of Mallorca
• Playa de Palma – Busiest destination on Mallorca.
• Valldemossa – Georges Sand and Frederic Chopin spent some time in this beautiful village
• Soller and Port de Soller – a beautiful town in the mountains that can be reached by a combination of train and tram
• Caves – several caves are open to the public, the Dragon Caves (Coves del Drach in mallorquin) being the most visited.

Things to do in Mallorca include:

• Beaches – this is what the most people come for. The main tourist areas are on the S and E coast but places may be crowded in high season. More secluded and quiet beaches can be found on the island but expect a difficult route (e.g. cliffs) and minimal parking. A must visit is Es Trenc, near the Colonia de Sant Jordi, but there are also many beaches which are not that popular that are well worth a visit.

• Hiking – The Serra de Tramuntana offers some fine trails.

• Cycling – In spring the island’s roads are popular with several professional teams in preparation for the next season.

• Palma – the island’s capital offers the famous cathedral as well as a nice city centre to stroll around. Cultural visits, shore excursions and private guided tours lead by official Mallorca Tour Guides to Jewish quarter and other sites and villages around the Island.

• Golf – There are eighteen, 18 hole golf courses on the island that are open to the general public. These are Andratx, Alcanada, Bendinat, Canyamel, Capdepera, Poniente, Pula, Golf Park Puntiró Mallorca, Golf Maioris, Santa Ponsa 1, Son Antem East, Son Antem West, Son Termens, Son Vida, Son Muntaner, Son Quint, Son Gual & Vall d’Or. There are two 9 holes courses open to the general public; Son Servera & Pollença. The courses Santa Ponsa 2 & 3 are ‘members only’ and finally there is a 9 hole golf course in the grounds of La Reserve Rotana, a boutique hotel located in the North-East of the island, just outside of Manacor.

• Nature – S’Abulfera is a large salt marsh near the town of Alcudia. Large numbers of bird species can be seen, including many species of heron, waders, ducks and warblers. The cliffs of Fortmentor are good for sea birdwatching and is one of the best places for a chance of seeing the rare Elenora’s Falcon.

• Free Classical Music Concerts – during the summer, free open-air classical music concerts are usually organised on Saturday evenings on the Bendinat Golf Course.

• Deep Water Solo / Psicobloc – the island’s unique geography has helped it become the premier destination for rock climbers wishing to experience deep water soloing or psicobloc, rock climbing above deep water.

• Yacht charter and sailing – Windward Islands – Windward Islands, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in the Baleares. Operating from 9 offices worldwide (USA, Spain, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Honk Kong and Dubai).

Mahe Seychelles Africa

Mahé, the largest island of the Seychelles Archipelago, is situated in the Republic of Seychelles in the western Indian Ocean. The capital city Victoria, the wonderful beaches, and the lush green vegetation of the island make it one of the mostly visited tourist destinations in the world.
Mahé, housing a well equipped international airport, destinations that provides you with relaxation and the much-needed break from the monotonous chores of daily life, attracts a good number of visitors all through the year. Surrounded with the calm and quiet neighbouring islands.
Mahé also serves as the base to access all the neighbouring islands on the ocean, ideal to make your weekend itinerary.

This area is suited to well-off honeymooners and families, it appeals to special-interest groups. Prices of accommodation and every day living here are high here. This is predominantly an international resort complexes and medium-sized hotels, all with modern facilities. There are family-run guesthouses and bungalows which are interesting cultural-exchange alternatives.

Mahé has a comfortable weather with temperature remaining between 26°C to 29°C all through the year. However, during the month of November to February, the island gets a good amount of rain.
Due to the position of the island, which is beyond the cyclone belt, you can keep your worries of high storm or thunderstorm aside. Looking at the Southeast trade winds and the Northwest monsoon the best time to visit Mahé would be between March and October.
Locality:
Mahe is situated off the east coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean (640 mls NE of Madagascar and 975 mls E of Kenya). The international airport is on the E coast, 6 mls SE of the nation’s capital, Victoria). The largest and one of the most northerly of the Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands. Its nearest neighbours are Silhouette, Praslin and La Digue.

The beaches here offer a wide choice, with around 70 in all, small or large, deserted or crowded, highly visible or hidden away in some remote part of the island. Beau Vallon, the main tourist beach on the NW coast, is a 2-ml-long arc of white sand with clear waters and a wide range of water sports on offer, it is also the calmest of the beaches, so good for young families.
Victoria offers a range of locally produced wares and a daily market for fresh fish and vegetables; the Codevar Centre has a wide selection of local art and crafts. All villages have small, basic grocery stores for every day living.
During the daytime there are many beach and water sports, including snorkelling, diving and sailing. There are also acilities for golf, horse riding, paragliding, bird-watching, walking and hiking.
The nightlife here is based mostly in hotels offering evening entertainment programmes, from barbecue nights to dinner dances and folk singing. There is one cinema in Victoria, a national theatre, 5 discos/nightclubs which are open mostly at weekend, and a couple of hotel-based casinos.

The main choice of food here is by far is creole, but many eateries offer a more bland “international” cuisine for those who can’t take the spice. A reputable pizzeria at Beau Vallon. Several takeaways can be found in Victoria. A few Chinese and Indian restaurants exist in the bigger hotels.

Most of the religious festivals that are celebrated in Port Victoria are related Roman Catholicism like Easter, Corpus Christi on June 10, The Assumption on August 15, and the Immaculate Conception on December 8. Festival Kreole is celebrated every year at the end of October to showcase the Crèole culture and tradition to the outside world.