© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
Small beach resort with crystal clear waters in the north-west
Cala Sant Vincenc is a spot of real beauty in north Mallorca, an old fishing village arranged around various little cove beaches and stunning blue water. This cala is known in Castillian Spanish as Cala San Vincente and in Mallorquin as Cala Sant Vicenc.
Tucked far away on Mallorca’s northwest coast, Cala Sant Vicenc is part of Pollenca’s municipal district, located more or less half way between the town and port. Originally a fishing village, the town of Cala Sant Vicenc has several small bays, surrounded by rugged rocks & dramatic cliffs. Offering a collection of small beaches, the main attraction here is Vicenc’s tranquillity. Bear in mind that the entire village here is built on steep hillsides with varying levels, thereby unavoidably involving some uphill and downhill walking.
The resort is divided into two parts, thanks to a protruding rocky outcrop, dividing the beaches of Cala Barques and Cala Molins, with the third petite Cala Clara making three in total.
It’s no wonder the three small beaches found at Cala Sant Vicenc and their crystal-clear seas are particular favourites for both locals and tourists visiting the area. Cala Molins is the largest of the three and is therefore the hot spot for summer sunbathers. A little pathway leads to the smallest, Cala Clara is a stony pebbled beach, and although not ideal for sunbathing, it often provides a great location for snorkelling with lots of crabs to be found hidden in the rocks.
Sunbeds and umbrellas are available to rent amidst local fisherman seen preparing their nets for the day ahead. You’ll find lifeguards on duty at both Cala Molins and Cala Barques and for good reason, given the open resort of Cala San Vicente is often exposed to winds and high waves during bad weather and storms. Swimming is forbidden during such conditions, with ample warnings issued and monitored by the local lifeguards.
Restaurants
Located by the romantic San Vicente Cove, there is a hotel offering delicious Mediterranean dishes including paella and fresh fish delicacies, as well as a wide selection of Spanish wines.
The beachside restaurant at Cala Barques offers spectacular views of the nearby mountain, Cavall Bernat in addition to their popular specialities such as ‘arroz a bordo’ (a rice dish traditionally prepared by fisherman), as well as daily lobster, grilled seafood grill and freshly caught John Dory from the surrounding Mediterranean Sea. In the beach’s surrounding restaurants you’ll find an extensive list of local wines, superb seasonal produce often presented in a ‘Surf ‘n’ Turf’ or ‘Mar y Montaña’ cooked on woodburning stoves.
Nightlife
A few bars are dotted around the beaches for casual drinks with a relaxed vibe, but for anything more upbeat you’ll need to venture further afield to Pollenca or the port.
Hotels
As you approach the town of Cala Sant Vicenc, a lovely budget friendly hotel sits just above the beach with stunning views. Another slightly more luxurious hotel is located above the Cala Molins beach with views across the entire resort and out into the distance to sea. Both hotels are popular with couples seeking a romantic getaway.
You’ll find a number of other nearby hotels with all the necessary amenities including, swimming pools, beauty treatments, gyms and restaurants with a fantastic selection of gastronomic delights including a 5* resort located along the main road into the town.
Cala Sant Vicenc also has many apartments and villas for rent during the summer months usually with sea views across the bay and surrounding Tramuntana mountains. For a more tranquil ambience benefitting from some peace and quiet, several larger villas are dotted between the roads from Cala Sant Vicenc to Pollenca or Puerto Pollenca.
About 6-7 km west of Puerto Pollensa, Sant Vincenc is the most northern holiday resort on the island, located around 67km from the airport.
Next to some of northern Mallorca’s best hiking routes, Cala Sant Vicenc is unsurprisingly a popular destination for walkers. The area between the beach and Puerto Pollenca is home to the island’s native black vultures and a fantastic place to spot flocks of migrating birds including Eleonora’s falcons; peregrine falcons; swifts and nightingales.
Shopping in Cala Sant Vicenc is fairly limited offering mostly tourist-friendly convenience stores. There isn’t a wide variety of shopping options here other than supermarkets found on the road from Port Pollenca to Pollenca. A popular market is held in the port selling seasonal fruit, vegetables, olives, local sausage as well as clothes, handbags and souvenirs, plus an additional market in the town of Pollenca every Sunday morning.
Although crystal clean, be warned that fierce winds can often make the beaches particularly unfriendly. Remember that the lifeguards are there for a reason and extra caution should be administered in high winds.
Known for being quieter and less busy, the beaches are great for couples and older children as well as being full of fine sand and surrounded by jaw dropping scenery. With three beaches to choose from, decide between them based on your desired level of occupancy.
Scuba diving is hugely popular in the area with excursions available on most days during the peak season. The underwater rock formations are perfect to explore the underwater ecosystems. Many of the dives here are suitable for beginners as the depth is around 12m and it is an exciting place to have your first dive. Fish that can be found here include rabbitfish, scorpionfish and wrasse. Most scuba diving companies are based in nearby Puerto Pollenca with two being located very near to each other on streets behind the marina, one on Carrer Verge del Carmen and the other Carrer de Magallanes.
Retreat to the exquisite Villa La Font 64, a stunning three-bedroom Mallorcan villa located in the leafy and exclusive La Font suburb of Pollensa. Positioned in one of the most sought-after residential areas in La Font, this villa is just a stone's throw away from the historic Pollensa old town.
Casa Leon is a fabulous house in the heart of the sought-after town of Pollença. This welcoming property is a great gem to be discovered.
Villa Can Barbas is ideally located just half a kilometre from the centre of Puerto Pollensa in the popular residential complex of Gotmar.
Price: €2,443
Spacious five-bedroom villa with private heated pool, classic Mallorcan features, and a wealth of thoughtful facilities.
Located in the highly sought-after area of La Font, at the foot of the stunning UNESCO Tramuntana mountains in Pollensa, Villa Esquina is just a 15-minute walk from the beautiful historic town of Pollenca and a 10-minute drive from the Port of Pollenca and surrounding beaches, making it ideal for large families or two families with children. This stunning family holiday home has 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3 balconies with amazing views of the surrounding area and a large heated saltwater pool (15 metres long).
Villa Eu Bosch is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom detached villa with private swimming pool and air condition located in Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca, very close for you to enjoy the amazing beach/restaurants/bars/shops in this beautiful location.
Run by a German couple and set in a rural location in central Mallorca with views over the local countryside and mountains, Finca Son Jorbo offers style and comfort in a restored 17th century country house. With the convenience of bed and breakfast and the added benefit of fully equipped self-catered apartments, Finca Son Jorbo is the perfect combination.
Ca's Xorc Luxury Retreat is the place to stay if you're looking for somewhere that's rich in history but with all the modern amneties. Breathtaking views, gourmet cuisine and a relaxing environment, the ideal place for a peaceful stay in a beautiful location.
Son Bunyola Hotel offers an intimate stay, providing the perfect base to explore Mallorca’s vineyards, olive groves, and charming countryside.
This charming hotel is located in the historical old town, in the very heart of Palma de Mallorca. It is within easy walking distance of attractions such as the 10th century Arab baths and Palma's breathtaking gothic Cathedral.
Price: €2,455
If you're looking for a perfect hideaway from your usual routine, then this lovely 15th century Mallorcan manor is the place to escape to.
Price: €2,033
Set in the heart of Palma, on the tree-lined avenue of Paseo del Borne, you'll find the new and beautifully decorated Can Alomar hotel.
Discover Mallorca’s stunning coastline from two unique angles - glide past cliffs and caves by kayak or dive below the surface on a guided snorkelling tour. These separate activities offer different ways to connect with the island’s wild beauty.
Eu Moll Tennis Club is situated in attractive countryside on the outskirts of Port de Pollença, on the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana. The facilities belong to Apart-Hotel Duva ****.
This seventeenth century house is where artist Dionis Bennassar lived for half his life. It is now home to the Dionis Bennàssar Foundation, which is a cultural foundation of private non-profit organization created to promote, publicize and defend the manifestations of the human spirit.
This traditional town square is located in the heart of Pollença and is the centre of the town's social and commercial life.
S'Albufereta de Pollensa is a wetland nature reserve in the north of the island, however, it is largely private property. Visitors can drive along the main road from Pollenca to Alcudia to view the habitats.
The hike to this remote mountain castle, 7 km north of Pollenca, is one of the loveliest in Mallorca.
Nuns settled on Puig de Maria ('Mary's mountain') in 1371 and remained for several hundred years, refusing to leave even when the Bishop of Palma ordered them down for their own safety.
Pollentia was founded by the consul Qintus Caecilius Metellus in 123 BC in the strategic location between the bays of Pollenca and Alcudia. It was the most important city in the Balearics duing the Roman period and covered an area of 15-20 hectares.
This golf course lies 10 km north of Palma de Mallorca. Designed by Harris Group & Josè Rodriguez, the course opened in 1998.
Maioris Golf Club is located 15 minutes west of Palma de Mallorca on the south coast of Mallorca. The course was created in 2006 by Dieter Cabus and is of a championship standard.
The Bendinat Royal Golf Course is magnificently situated 7 kilometres west of Palma, in an extensive wooded valley and in the heart of the Bendinat Housing Estate.
Par72 offers luxury golf experiences in Mallorca hosted by British PGA Professional Jamie Knight.
There are two courses at Son Antem Golf Club - the masterpieces of Francisco López Segalés, one of Spain’s leading course designers. Since 1990, he has designed courses in all the major resort areas of Spain. With Son Antem, Segalés has garnered rave reviews from professional golfers and vacationing ones alike.
This golf club is renowned as one of the most beautiful courses on Mallorca. Situated in the far northeast of the island, the course sits in the foothills of the Llevant natural Park overlooking the Mediterranean sea.
Known in Castillian Spanish as Cala San Vincente and in Mallorquin as Cala Sant Vicenc, this is one of the smallest resorts on Mallorca.
Puerto Pollensa, also known as Port de Pollença, is an established, family-friendly tourist resort in the north of Mallorca. Like many Mallorcan coastal towns, the resort was formerly a fishing village servicing the local area. It still features a large marina which nowadays harbours leisure boats more than fishing boats, but you can still see many traditional ‘llaüts’ used by the Mallorcans for catching fish.
At the eastern end of the Serra de Tramuntana, tucked between two hills, lies the ancient rural town of Pollença (also written Pollenca or Pollensa). An enchanting Mallorcan town packed with ancient blonde stone architecture, Pollenca doesn’t feel like many of the other towns which have surrendered to tourism. Although tourists have long been attracted here, Pollensa has learned to accept and adapt to tourism without losing its soul.
The medieval town of Alcúdia is the main hub for visitors in the north of the island. Set on a peninsula between the bays of Pollença and Alcúdia, it offers a lovely mix of historic charm and genuine local character. Its beautifully preserved old town and welcoming atmosphere make it a popular spot throughout the year.
On the north coast of Mallorca lies the Bay of Alcudia, a gorgeous coastline comprising of turquoise shallow waters and long, soft golden sandy beaches. It is therefore not much of a surprise to find Majorca's biggest beach resort here. From Port d'Alcudia, in the west, to Can Picafort 10km down the coast, you will find a strip of apartment blocks and resort style hotels that offer everything from budget self-catering to luxurious five-star accommodation.
Sa Pobla, 4km north of Muro, is known as Mallorca's vegetable basket. This fertile area of marshes reclaimed as farmland is referred to as 'the land of a thousand windmills', and there is a decent autumn fair that showcases their local agricultural produce in November. Some of these wetlands have been protected as part of s'Albufera Natural Park.
Find out all about what is happening in Mallorca and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, fabulous beaches, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see, and experience on the island.
See allLatest News & ReviewsThe island hosts all sorts of events, including agricultural fairs in the spring and autumn, live music and DJs in the summer, religious fiestas and international sporting events. Some of the most popular are the Mallorca 312 cycling race in April, the Copa del Rey sailing regatta in July and the Moors vs Christians mock battle in September.
See allUpcoming Events
