Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, has some 550 kilometers of coastline. And what a coast! Beautiful, wild, paradisiacal, accessible, luxurious… these are just adjectives, words used to describe the Majorcan coastline. Because, if the coast of Mallorca has something —as well as its interior— it is variety.
In my opinion, a visit to Mallorca is not complete without one or more sailing days. We can choose from classic day trips, such as the visit to the Cabrera archipelago (maritime-terrestrial national park) or the short crossing from Sant Elm to Sa Dragonera. But let’s see first, roughly, what we can find on the Majorcan coast…
If we start with the West, we have to talk about contrasts. Eminently tourist areas and large resorts such as Peguera, Santa Ponça, Palmanova or Magaluf follow one another with natural paradises such as the Malgrats Islands. There is also room for large natural ports and their traditional fishing fleet, such as Andratx.
In the center of its bay, Palma and its Cathedral shine beautiful against the backdrop of the great mountains of the north. The great port of Palma and its bay are the scene of countless sailing regattas and nautical competitions of the highest level.
The South of the island is characterized by those beautiful coves with golden sand and turquoise waters. We speak, in many cases, of coves flanked by small cliffs, as is the case with the well-known Es Caló d’Es Moro, near the quiet Santanyí.
If we go to the East, in addition to a place as fascinating (and mountainous) as the Natural Park of the Llevant Peninsula, we find extensive sandbanks such as Platja de Muro, an ideal area for practicing Kite Surfing and other water sports, thanks to the wind conditions that usually accompany this area. The bays of Alcúdia and Pollença end the eastern part of the Majorcan coastline, already at its border with the northern Serra de Tramuntana.
The Serra de Tramuntana, a World Heritage Site
And so we come to the North Coast. The wildest and best preserved of the entire island. In the center of it, Port de Sóller, a small natural port surrounded by mountains with a charm that is difficult to match. The ideal setting from which to start a day of sailing to explore the great natural wonder that originates when the lofty mountains of the Tramuntana plunge abruptly into the Mediterranean. In their collapse, they give rise to enclaves as emblematic as the Sa Foradada peninsula or the Torrent de Pareis, the mouth of a deep canyon that pours its waters directly into this secluded fishermen’s refuge.
It is traditional to make the crossing by “ferry” from Port de Sóller to Sa Calobra. I, however, propose you to enjoy this adventure on your own. Renting a boat in Port de Sóller (it is possible even if you don’t have a navigation license) and going out there on board a small boat (provided the sea conditions are favourable), will allow you to live an unforgettable experience on the island. Sailing, exploring, stopping wherever you feel like to take a bath and snorkel, continue sailing, discover caves, cliffs, small coves… It’s something I can’t help but recommend on any visit to Mallorca.
