Sea & Beach Reviews from Mallorca

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.

Can you keep a secret?

There are so many great beaches in Mallorca. White sands and clear waters can be found all along the north, south and east coasts and Majorca beach resorts like Magaluf, Illetas & Puerto Portals all have sheltered bays.

Take a coastal stroll or cycle to little hidden gem Platya des Morer Vermell with its white sand and crystal clear water perfect for snorkelling.

The always cool, always sexy Nikki Beach opened up in Mallorca this summer bringing the world famous Nikki Beach cocktail of cool, sexy glamour to the south west coast of the island. We went down last weekend to see their "Amazing Sundays" party.

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.

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.

The Port of Soller is heating up (35 degrees today) and welcoming its visitors for the summer. The Repic beach is the main playground, and the choice of which part of the beach you sit on is a decision of the day. Some of the deckchair vendors are attached to local restaurants and the expectation is that if you sit on their deckchairs you will buy your snacks and lunch from them. 

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.

We left our lovely home town of Pollensa and set out for the west of the island. One of the great things about the island is that everywhere is so accessible, within 50 minutes we had traversed the island and arrived at Port d’Andratx for a leisurely walk along the sea front. 

I drove down to see what Cala Ratjada was like as a friend had suggested I take a look. It is clear when you arrive that the town is another German stronghold on the island, with specials boards outside restaurants written almost exclusively in German, with the odd bit of Spanish and English.

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.

In addition to the smart beach clubs that Mallorca has to offer, there are a number of more relaxed beach bars where you can enjoy food and drink either right on the beach or right next door to the beach.

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.

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.

A secret was revealed to me this past weekend and I thought long and hard about sharing it with you, readers..

The bay of Alcudia is well known for it's endless Playa de Muro beach. Not quite as well known is that the bay is excellent for wind and kite surfing. And just a a little bit further down the coast from Playa de Muro, the wind surfers and kite surfers have laid claim to one of the best places on the island to ride the waves.