Mallorca boasts a huge selection of fabulous beaches ranging from quaint coves where you’ll be amongst just the few people who can find it to the massive beaches serving the popular holiday resorts. Indeed as you arrive at Palma airport you are just a few minutes away from the resorts of C’an Pastilla and El Arenal where a beautiful 6km beach makes up what is known as the Playa de Palma. This is the top beach East of Palma.
Beaches West of Palma
Cala Mayor has a small golden beach looking up to the Marivent Palace and San Agustin a little further west has a similarly small but pleasant stretch of sand. Illetes consists of two pretty coves with pine trees stretching as far as the shore. Portals Nous has a small beach lying between holiday developments. Both Palma Nova and Magaluf have excellent beaches with great sand. It’s no wonder this is one of the most developed tourist sections on the whole island. Santa Ponsa is yet another beach with fine sand and crystal-clear waters. Paguera has beaches with fine sand surrounded by pine trees. Camp de Mar is highly recommended whilst Andratx is pleasant because it is quieter than in the big resorts. Further along is the delightful town of Sant Elm off the south west coast which is sheltered by Dragonera island.
Beaches on the North-West Coast
Heading up the north-west coast from Sant Elm you come to the beautiful small village of Estellencs on a road offering some spectacular rocky coastline views . Further on is Banyalbufar with its small beach and rocky coves. Valdemossa does have a small port a few kms from the historical town. The quaint village of Deia has a small beach nearby and the Llucalri cove. The Port of Soller offers a fair size beach whilst further along the coast Sa Calobra is a fascinating cove near the Torrent de Pareis. Cala Tuent is the most attractive beach around this area.
Beaches on the North-East Coast
Some of the most pleasant resort beaches can be found up on the north-east coast. Although the area is popular with tourists it never feels that is suffers the excesses of some of the mass tourism resorts west of Palma. A beautiful beach lies at Cala de Sant Vicenc before arriving at the popular destination of Puerto Pollenca. A great excursion from Pollensa is along the Peninsula de Formentor which has spectacular coastal scenery. The Platja de Formentor offers some of the best views on the island. Puerto de Alcudia has an excellent main beach with fine, clean sand as well as smaller bays locally. Other popular spots as you continue east along this coastline include C’an Picafort which again has a great beach with pine groves growing upto the start of the fine sand.
Beaches on the East Coast
Cala Ratjada is close to where you’ll find the Arta Caves. The east coast has impressive beaches at Son Moll and Cala Guia. Cala Bona and Cala Millor are popular resorts with magnificent sandy beaches in a lovely bay surrounded by pine trees. Mass tourism is now part of the summer season in these two resorts so beaches do get overcrowded. Cala d’Or consists of eight coves and is the most upmarket spot on this coast. Colonia de Sant Jordi is a popular resort with a nice beach looking towards the national park of Cabrera. Nearby is the quaint little beach of Es Trenc which was not so long ago one of those ‘hidden treasures’ but the secret’s out and the beach now attracts more than its fair share of visitors.