I’m lucky that I get to live on an island with so many beautiful beaches. Going to the beach is part of the culture in Mallorca so I started to think about which beaches are my absolute favourites – and why. Read on to see my recommendations for the best beaches for swimming, long lunches and the secret spots you might not have heard of.
Celebrated Swimming Beaches
There’s nothing like swimming in crystal clear waters, and you’ll find the topaz-blue Mediterranean Sea that cloaks the coastline of Mallorca absolutely irresistible. Azure waters are the norm pretty much everywhere you look, but in particular at beaches like Es Trenc, in the northeast where few rocks and lots of sand make for a stunning beach scene. But for the most spectacular turquoise water, I make time to go to Cala Sant Vicenç. This small resort is very close to my heart as this is where I spent all my childhood summer holidays, but not only that, the water here is transparent and makes a lovely place to swim. I recommend snorkelling around the rocks too, spotting Mediterranean fish flit around.
Relaxing Long lunches
Is there anything better on holiday than enjoying a lovely, long seafood lunch, sampling local wine before slipping down to the beach for a swim and a snooze in the sun? That’s why knowing where the best beach restaurants are is an important part of my job as I know this relaxing combo of great food and beautiful beaches makes the holy grail of holidays. Thankfully I have a few up my sleeve for those days when you need a rest from cycling! At Cala Deià, the iconic restaurant Ca’s Patró March is located over a tiny, pebbled little cove, with its terrace right at the water’s edge. Here simply grilled fish and chilled wine tastes out of this world. Allow me to book this in advance for you as since ‘The Night Porter’ was shot here, it’s become popular. My other in-the-know restaurants are around Playa de Muro including Can Gavella where you can have your toes in the sand while you feast on fresh seafood.
Family Fun
Families can have a great time in Mallorca, taking some gentle bike rides, having a day out at sea on a boat or simply splashing around the hotel pool. However, I always recommend families visit the beach at Alcudia. It has a long sweep of sand and shallow entry so there’s room for everyone to spread out and very safe for young children. Here you can easily partake in water sports from the high-octane such as paragliding and banana boating to more sedate pleasures like paddleboarding or kayaking. As the sun sets you might find live music from one of the hotels and bars set back from the beach, the perfect place to stop for a post-beach aperitivo.
Secret Spot
Living on the island for as many years as I have, you cherish those hideaway places where you know the crowds won’t be. That’s one of the reasons why I am able create such unique itineraries for you – I know all the secret spots! To find the ultimate peaceful beach, I’d recommend taking to the seas for a day aboard a yacht. Your skipper will find exquisitely beautiful little coves where you can drop anchor, snorkel clear-as-glass waters or swim ashore and sunbathe in solitude. I’d also recommend stopping at Sa Foradada, a beautiful bay where you can walk up to a nice “chiringuito” restaurant for delicious paella with the best sea view. It is also a great spot to see the sunset. In the north there are two beaches I like, Cala Figuera, which is the little cove beach one sees when cycling back from Cap Formentor (this one is also accessible by foot) and Cala Castells
I’m sure hearing at all these gorgeous beaches is making you want to come to Mallorca! Talk to me about creating the perfect cycling itinerary that includes stunning bike rides, beautiful beaches and luxe hotels.
Happy cycling!
Mar