Paguera Mallorca Spain

This is a compact resort with a bustling, thriving, occasionally chaotic, atmosphere, with tourists and traffic competing for limited space. A bypass takes some traffic away from the resort so the main coast road, which is packed for most of its ¾-ml length with shops, bars and restaurants, is slightly easier to negotiate than in the past.

There are quiet, winding residential streets on the uphill side, where most of the hotels are located, although parking is a problem even here. A small park with pine trees, near the tourist office, has a fair-sized water slide.

Before the growth of the tourist industry on the island during the 1960′s, Paguera was originally a tiny fishing village, however, the last 40 years has seen it develop and grow, into a popular modern tourist resort with plenty of restaurants and facilities.

It is a lively, crowded resort favoured by German visitors who make up the vast majority here. It would be regarded by most as being of superior quality to, say, Magalluf, but equally it is not ideal for those seeking peace and quiet. The traffic and hills make it less than ideal for the elderly or disabled.

The accommodation here is more hotels than apartments, which accounts for the large numbers of bars and restaurants. There are a few good-class 4-star establishments but most are in the middle order.

Locality:

Paguera is on the south west coast of Mallorca (14 mls W of Palma, 20 mls from the airport). It is sitated on undulating land on the margin of a broad, south facing bay, and is sheltered behind by steep, wooded hills.

Beaches are mediocre with the better beaches situated on the east side. Those in the central bay area are very narrow and crowded but shallow, equipped with pedalloes and good for children. All of the beaches are of moderately fine, light sand.

During the daytime the most populat activities are water sports and golf at the 2 golf clubs nearby.

The nightlife here is several small-scale disco/bars and nightspots. There are entertainment and shows in the hotels.

There are bistros, pavement cafes, seafood and general restaurants in particularly generous numbers.

There are dozens of souvenir shops and an adequate provision of minimarkets should meet most needs. Behind the promenade there’s a long shopping street know as locally “El Bulevar”, and it’s here where most of the restaurants and bars seem to be concentrated. Paguera has an excellent selection of souvenir shops and Spa type supermarkets, which are supported with others selling local arts and crafts and famous designer label clothes.

Maria de la Salut Mallorca Spain

Maria De La Salut can be found in north east Mallorca (30 mls NE of Palma and its international airport). It is located on a hilltop, surrounded by open countryside. Time seems to stand still in this tiny, sleepy little village, which measures only ½ ml by ¼ with just a few narrow, steeply sloping streets lined with pretty, low-rise houses built of mellow local stone.

The charming central church stands in the village “square”, really an elongated oval with some trees and a few tables and chairs put out by the 2 small cafe/bars. The few visitors that this village does get are attracted by its tranquil, traditional atmosphere. There is only one 4-star establishment situated on the outskirts.

There are a few small shops, which are very basic options serving the local community. If you want to shop, Palma is the place to go.

During the daytime activities include relaxing, and exploring the villages and the surrounding countryside.

The nightlife here is pretty much dinner and bed. The night owls will require a visit to the coast or to Palma for a more exhuberant evening.

There are only a few restaurants in the village.

Manacor Mallorca Spain

Manacor is just an ordinary town with a population of around 30,000. Narrow streets radiate randomly from its large, central Gothic-style church, whose spires soar above the surrounding low-rise buildings and tree-lined streets and squares.

Manacor is famous for its pearl factory and, more locally, for its good-quality wooden furniture. Apart from its attractive old centre, this is one of the lesser attractive towns on the island, and most visitors are simply passing through on the way to somewhere else.

However, Manacor is lively, restless, accessible, rapidly growing, and a great centre for sport activities, shopping, industry and culture, including art and is a commercial and industrial town and regional capital. The town of Manacor is situated in a hollow which experiences the freezing fogs of winter and the burning heat of the summer.

It is surrounded by a diversity of landscapes and a countryside where large manor houses with defence towers dominate the horizon, former refuges for those fleeing Burber pirate attacks. Today several of such towers have been reconverted into establishments catering for agricultural and rural tourism.

Manacor has recently experienced a great boom in tourism and the nearby beaches are well attended in the summer. The recent boom has encouraged an increase in the number of hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. It has also enabled the area to become more organised. Most of Manacors beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag for safety and facilities.

Another industry for which Manacor is famous, and indeed Mallorca in general, is olive wood. There is a good factory on the entrance road to Manacor that allows visits. You can visit the showrrom and see thousands of items hand crafted from olive wood. You will also see some of the antique machinery once used in the factory. The visit is free and prices are reasonable for the olive wood items. You will see everything from coffee tables to coasters, dominos and pens.

Typical of a small town, with modest everyday shops and supermarkets. No real choice for tourists, apart from shops selling locally made pearls. There is a Monday market and daily vegetable market.

During the daytime activities include walking, cycling and relaxing. There is a small local museum, and guided tours of local pearl factory.

The nightlife is limited to hotel bar/restaurant and low-key cafe/bars towards resort centre.

Restaurants are also limited. There is a handful of cafes selling simple salads and sandwiches, but not catering for tourists.

Can Picafort Mallorca Spain

The holiday resort of C’an Picafort is the principle coastal development of the municipality of Santa Margalida, 60km NE of Palma, at the E end of the Bay of Alcudia, on the N coast of Mallorca/Majorca.

Transfer time into the resort from the Son Sant Joan international airport on the outskirts of Palma is usually around 1.1/2 hours.

The town of Santa Margalida itself actually lies approximately 10km inland of C’an Picafort, and this is where most of the resident population of the area live.

This resort is much quieter than nearby Puerto de Alcudia, this is a place for families and couples to enjoy a relaxing seaside break.

There are a variety of hotels concentrated near, but generally not on, the 2 beaches, the better ones being at Son Baulo. Quality ranges from simple hostels to presentable 4-stars.

Locality:

C’an Picafort is on the north east coast, (it is 38 mls NE of Palma and airport, 6 mls S of Puerto de Alcudia). It is NE-facing, on land that slopes gently down to the sea, with a vast, flat agricultural plain farther inland.

The resort has a wide traffic free beachside promenade, which is lined with restaurants and bars running from the marina and fishing harbour to the more modern Son Baulo area of the town a further 2km away to the east.

For beach lovers of all ages, the best of the resorts two main beaches is found in the Baulo district too, where you will also find a small protected nature reserve.

Parents with small children should be aware that this area has a large pool of stagnant water and is host to a number of other “less protected” species of wildlife. Although again the local council are keen to point out that the presence of Mediterranean tortoises, red pheasants, hares, rabbits, weasels, dormice and Algerian hedgehogs, all contribute to making this area of great environment significance. In all fairness this beach a very clean has does have good facilities.

Other than the numerous bars and restaurants, the resort really has very little other tourist attractions, and with the notable exception of the two nightclubs in the town, evening entertainment is generally hotel based.

A regular bus service runs along the coast road, running through Playa de Muro into nearby Alcudia.

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).