Cala Dor or Cala d’Or is a well established location on the south east coast of Mallorca which has largely avoided the excesses of large scale tourism development. In the main it has developed outwards rather than upwards and is certainly nothing like the Magaluf style high rise resorts of the south coast.
Its small main town area contains numerous stylish bars and shops which lead down to Cala Gran, a very quaint beach which is overlooked by the Hotel Rocador and Rocador Playa. The water is beautifully clean and the beach is well maintained, a pleasant café bar restaurant provides typical beach refreshments. The four star Gran Hotel Tucan is a superior hotel to the others which stands at the back of Cala Gran. There’s also a lot of private residential property in this central area and apartments for rent though development has been controlled and the town maintains a certain charm.
The main resort area of Cala d’Or is little further north of this central zone. Here you’ll find a pleasant enough selection of mainly German and British bars and restaurants and two fine though quite small beaches.
Recommended Hotels
A popular choice amongst mature couples is the 3-star Hotel Barcelo Ponent Playa which offers a first class location right on the beach with stunning views out to sea. The enormous swimming pool is a major attraction and the activities organised by the entertainment staff are good fun. Well located near the resort’s shops, restaurants and bars and close to a relaxed sandy beach is the 3-star Gran Hotel d’Or Tucan. The hotel has a great swimming pool with poolside bar and good entertainment in the evening.
The 4-star Hotel Cala d’Or is a personal favourite in Cala d’Or thanks to its perfect location with the beach just down some steps from the hotel and the easy access to local bars and restaurants. If you’re looking for a classy 5 star hotel then look no further than the Melia Cala d’Or Boutique Hotel which is an absolute gem. It is in a superb location, rooms are large and spotless and the staff are first class in every department. The swimming pool and gardens are fabulous and the main town is only a few minutes away on foot.
Beaches Around Cala d’Or
Cala Esmeralda isn’t as large as Cala Gran but is a beautiful beach surrounded by tasteful properties including the Playa Esmeralda Hotel, the Cala Azul Park and the Esmeralda Park. If you’re looking for something a little more upmarket then you need only head a few blocks away from the sea to reach the five star Melia Cala d’Or.
The other golden, sandy beach is Cala Ferrera just a little further north which is larger than Cala Esmeralda lying next to some fabulous craggy rock formations and with nice bars at the end of the beach. Overlooking this spot is the very attractive Hotel Barceló Ponent Playa. There is also the 5 star the Robinson Club Cala Serena to stay in or visit for golf and tennis facilities.
To the north of the main town is the very impressive Cala d’Or marina which ouzes wealth. A wide range of very expensive boats are moored there. The restaurants overlooking the marina are a fine choice for dinner one evening.
As much as Cala d’Or is a pleasant resort you really should rent a car if you’re going to stay here. Nothing is very far away in Mallorca and along this stretch of east coast coastline you’ll come across countless small coves and some beautiful little towns tucked away inland. Just rent your car, get a map and off you go. The roads are in excellent condition and on the whole driving is very straightforward here.
Portopetro is just a couple of kilometres south of Cala d’Or and is certainly a place to make the effort to get to. It is still at heart a Mallorcan fishing village in spite of the arrival of tourism which provides the visitor with a handful of pleasant little bars and restaurants. Aim to get there for lunch and go to either La Caracola or Porto Mar. The terraces of these two restaurants overlook the small fishing port and offer great value ‘menus del dia’.
A little further south is the stunning national park of Mondragó. Just park at the visitor centre and walk down to Cala Mondrago via the road (5 mins) or take the scenic stroll through the countryside (15 mins). They’ll give you a map at the visitor centre. The first beach when arriving from the road has beautiful turquoise water and is surrounded by an impressive cove. Follow the path alongside the sea to the right of the beach which takes you round to a another larger sandy beach. The Hotel Playa Mondragó lies down near the main beach if you fancy some serious seclusion.
If you do get a car for a few days the other main attraction locally is a trip to Porto Cristo to visit the Caves of Drach.