This fishing village, once the port for Felanitx, was named in honour of Christopher Columbus, who is said - without much evidence - to have been born here. Popular with Mallorcan and Spanish visitors and set inside a deep natural harbour, Portocolom still has the feel of a small fishing port, with boats around the quay and pastel-coloured houses lining the Waterfront, each with its own landing-stage.
Until the late 19th century Porto Colom was busy supplying wine to France. The Felanitx district is famous for it’s wines, grown in the Pla & Llevant vineyards. But when phylloxera killed the vines just before the 20th century, Portocolom's role as a port diminished and it has only recently discovered a new life as a peaceful tourist resort.
The nearby town of Felantix was the birthplace of artist Miquel Barceló who has international fame for creating the installation on the UN Palace of Nations in Geneva in the Chamber of Human rights and Alliance of Civilizations.
When staying in Portocolom it is a great idea to hire a car to easily get around some of the other fantastic areas in the east - you could visit the Natural Park of Mondrago or the pretty sandstone village of Santanyi.
Beaches in Porto Colom
The most popular beach of Portocolom is Cala Marcal which lies to the south of the marina and village. It is a blue flag beach with very soft sands and water that is fairly shallow and which gradually deepens. It stretches 500m along the seafront to the south of the town. The beach is ideal for families as the sand slopes into the sea and so there is plenty of space for children to swim and play.
Other beaches around the area near the harbour are S’Arenal Grand and S’Arenal Petit which you'll find on the peninsula looking back towards Portocolom. A bit further afield are the beaches of S’Algar in the north and Cala Sa Nau in the south.
Events in Porto Colom
Portocolom hosts it’s local fruit and vegetable market along with souvenirs and other produce every Tuesday and Saturday throughout the year. The larger town of Felanitx hosts markets every Sunday.
Each year, Portocolom celebrates the Fira Gastronomica D’es Pop over the last weekend of June. 15 restaurants across the town take part and offer their finest gastronomic delights which include ‘pop’ meaning octopus in Catalan.
Portocolom is home to the TriStar Mallorca triathlon. It generally attracts over 600 participants and takes place in April over two distances of either 111km or 55.5km.
The Rockin’ Matxin Festival has been hosted in Portocolom for the past two years. Held at the end of June, it features local Mallorcan rock bands taking to the stage.
Things to Do in Porto Colom
Scubadiving is a highly popular activity in Portocolom and the Mallorca Diving school offers PADI courses and guided dives around the beautiful calas in the east of Mallorca. Other activities the school offers are kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling and cave exploration. The diving school is located along one of the main streets Calle Pescadors.
Because the coastline is home to so many beautiful but isolated coves and beaches, consider taking a boat trip to explore Mallorca from the sea. The clear sea is great for snorkelling too.
If you like wine, why not visit some vineyards of the area? The Pla y Llevant region is on your doorstep and there are several vineyards open to the public for tastings and tours.
Just outside of Portocolom is the Vall D’or Golf Club on the carratera Cala D’Or. The golf club also has a pool, driving range, padel courts, restaurant and sun terrace. 18 holes of golf costs €112 during peak season and a padel court costs €15 for 1 hour.
Porto Colom’s main historical attraction is the Naveta. This is a prehistoric burial site where there is evidence of life dating back as far as 2000BC. Other sights in the area include the Sanctuary of Sant Salvador and Santueri Castle. Slightly further afield are some spectacular cave systems - to the north, you might want to try the Coves des Hams or the Cuevas del Drach, both in Porto Cristo.
Dining in Porto Colom
Sa Llotja is one of Porto Colom’s finest restaurants and is located by the towns marina. Serving fresh fish and Mallorcan meat dishes the restaurant offers both ‘a la carte’ and also a weekly menu of chef’s specials.
The Florian restaurant along Calle Cristobal Colón also offers the freshest fish and meats from Mallorca in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Along the main road, Carre Vapor Santueri, into the Portocolom seafront is the modest and traditional restaurant of Es Pamboliet. Here they serve up traditional paellas and pa amb olis and other traditional Mallorcan dishes.
Both the Carrer Pescadors (fisherman’s street) and Carrer Cristofor Colom have many restaurants including Celler Sa Sinia which has been serving meals in Porto Colom for many years. The Restaurant Colón is a very friendly and welcoming restaurant with a great atmosphere.
Further afield from the main port are restaurants in the Bassa Nova Cala on the Ronda Creuer Balea such as the Restaurant Ses Portadores and the Es Retorn restaurants.
Nightlife in Porto Colom
Named after Fidel Castro, the Fidel Club is one of Portocolom’s finest late night bars. Here you can relax and enjoy cocktails while marvelling over the original characteristics of the building. It has a laid back atmosphere and is located along the main road in town, the Carrer de Cristóbal Colón. La Costa on the far side of town has a large open terrace over looking the calas. The bar has an extensive range of cocktails and also serves dinner earlier in the evening. La Costa is located on Calle de los Sivines.
Hotels in Porto Colom
The Hotel JS Cape Colom is set in picturesque cliffs which shelter the hotel and offer fantastic views of the sea. The hotel also offers a spa including sauna, jacuzzi and a gym. The hotel only accepts guests over 18 years old however their sister hotel JS Es Corso offers family accommodation. The JS Es Corso has a large swimming pool, tennis courts and children’s play area.
The El Vistamar hotel is part of the Ola Hotel chain which also provides adult only accommodation. Only a short walk from the beach and with stunning views across the sea this hotel has modern decor, spa and wellness centre including massage treatments and two large terraces for sunbathing. The Ola hotel chain also owns the Cecila Aparthotels a short walk from the main beach of Cala Marcal in Portocolom. There is a large swimming pool and sunbathing area in the centre of the complex. The rooms are very simply decorated with the largest room accommodating 2 adults and 2 children, most other rooms provide enough space for 2 adults and 1 child.
The HPC Hostal in Portocolom is a charming hotel where the rooms are decorated with a sort of beachy theme. The hostal also has a cocktail bar, restuarant and a wine shop.
Located at the far end of the resort, the hotel BelleVue Belsana is a quiet hotel with views across the bay and the rest of the town. The hotel offers a poolside bar and is a short distance from many stunning beaches and calas in the area.
Specialising in diving, the Hotel Bahía Azul is a friendly, family run hotel. This small hotel offers boat transfers to diving spots and training from beginner level. This hotel is located near the end of the bay along Ronda Creuer Balea.
