Sea & Beach Reviews from Mallorca

The sound of clinking glasses, popping corks and champagne bubbles filled the air around the harbour in Palma this weekend as we celebrated the end of the 2010 Superyacht Cup. The Superyacht Cup, which has been running for 15 years, is a race like no other. Twenty privately owned sailing yachts, which are generally designed for cruising rather than racing, set off in a staggered start with the fastest at the back of the pack and the slowest at the front. Over the course, the boats behind catch the slower vessels out in front so that the finish is close one with all the boats meeting at the line. First one to cross is the winner.

We arrived 15 minutes late. It would have been considered early if we were meeting Spaniards, however Mark and Chris are proud Yorkshire men. They are also the father and son team who run the yacht charter company in Puerto Soller, on the western coast of Mallorca.

During the peak season even the quietest beaches and most secret bays in Mallorca become busy. Finding a space on the beach in Palma or any of the popular beach resorts can become difficult and the water becomes cloudy as hundreds of people stir up the sand.

Son Serra de Marina is a quite little coastal town in North Mallorca. Laid back and sprawling it covers a 5km stretch of coast and is made up of houses initially built as weekend getaways for city dwelling Mallorcans. 

With its crystal clear waters in an almost unbelievable blue and its soft white sand Playa de Formentor also known as Calla Pi is absolutely breathtaking in the way that is usually reserved for the most unspoilt secret spots.

Port d'Andratx is one of the many beautiful harbour towns in Mallorca. The bay is a stunning natural cove and the harbour has a quaint charm with little fishing boats and yachts coming and going.

The sheltered bay of Puerto Pollenca features the stunning back drop of the Tramuntana mountains which can be seen from all over the resort. The warm summer evenings are ideal for taking strolls along the pedestrianised promenades along the front which lead towards the famous Pine Walk where you'll also find the D’Albercuix beach running along side.

Sailing in Mallorca is big business. In the last few alone decades new marinas have been built at Puerto Portals and Port Adriano to accommodate luxury yachts and Palma has one of the largest harbours in Europe for non commercial vessels.

Living near the sea in the Port of Soller, Majorca, has many advantages. Waking to the sight of the perfect horse shoe bay surrounded by mountains is still a thrill. The beach is coming to life with strategically placed tin bins which are used by the local bar owners to burn the bamboo.

Cala Mesquida cove lies at the Northerly tip of the Eastern coast of the island in the Capdepera district and it is well worth the drive to get to it, though you can take the bus from nearby Cala Ratjada if you prefer.

The Sol Wave House Hotel in the Majorca beach resort of Magaluf is part of an plan to bring a bit more class to the resort. The main attraction at the hotel are the two wave machines that make learning to surf and even ride barrels a reality in the flat calm of Mallorca's beaches.

Cala Sant Vicenç, also known in Spanish as Cala San Vicente is a small beach resort located on the Mallorcan coast between Pollenca and Puerto Pollensa. Tucked away between the Tramuntana Mountains, the clear waters of Cala Sant Vicenc are surrounded by impressive rocky cliffs. There are three magnificent beaches here each boasting views that stretch out across the sea for as far as the eye can see.

The Port of Soller is on the North West coast of Mallorca, nestling in the foothills of the Tramuntana mountain range. In my opinion we have got it all here – from the majestic mountains that surround us down to our perfect horse shoe bay. Despite a thirty year association with the place, I would never have envisaged what is happening here today.

Last Saturday I decided that it was time for a change and I should visit one of the other beaches in Mallorca rather than my beloved Cala Llamp. There are so many beaches in Mallorca to choose from but I had set my expectations of what a beach should offer pretty high with Cala Llamp.

Mal Pas – Playa de Sant Pere and Playa de Sant Joan, two quiet, beautiful beaches for the price of one!