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Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands , with an area of 4,992 km², are located off the east coast of Spain in the Mediterranean. They are made up of 5 islands: Mallorca, Menorca and Cabrera to the north-east, and Ibiza and Formentera to the south-west, as well as several islets. Inhabited since around 4,000 BC, the first stable settlements occurred with the arrival of the Carthaginians in 654 BC. The main airports are in Palma de Mallorca , Menorca and Ibiza . There is also another small airfield on the island of Mallorca: San Bonet . Neither Formentera nor Cabrera have an airport. These islands must be reached by boat.
Mallorca
Mallorca, with 3,640.11 km², is the largest island in Spain and the seventh in the Mediterranean. Its capital, and also that of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands, is Palma de Mallorca . The island of Cabrera and all its islets belong administratively to the capital. It has 550 km of coastline with more than 345 beaches of very varied types, from small stone coves to long beaches of fine sand and crystal-clear waters and an infinite number of wonderful landscapes, as well as the great attraction of the Bay of Palma and the Serra de Tramuntana and a great variety of restaurants serving excellent Mediterranean food.
Some places in Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca: the capital of the island and of the archipelago has a small old town with a lively range of cafés and restaurants, art galleries and select shops, its cobbled streets a complex labyrinth of Arabic origin. You can reach Palma de Mallorca by plane from most major European cities or by ferry from some Spanish cities, including Barcelona. One of the must-sees is the Cathedral of Santa Maria, or La Seu, a Gothic site that began construction in the 13th century and dominates the Bay of Palma. It is located in the old town near the Port. Bellver Castle , one of the few circular Gothic castles in Europe, was built in the early 14th century on top of a pine-covered hill from where you can enjoy views of the city and the port. The Royal Palace of La Almudaina , a spectacular site by the sea, next to the Cathedral , tells the story of Mallorca offering an intense mix of the different cultures that came to the island to leave their mark.
Banyalbufar : less touristy than other better-known towns, it still retains the charm of those hidden places where it seems that time has not passed by. It has impressive views of the mountains, coves such as Cala Banyalbufar, Es Corral Fals and Son Bunyola and beautiful wineries such as Celler Ca'n Pico or Bodega Son Vives.
Deià : located on the Mediterranean Sea and the northwest of the Serra de Tramuntana with its succession of charming stone houses, the 16th century Parish Church of Sant Joan and the beautiful 17th century Municipal Cemetery.
Capdepera : where the highlights are its fortified castle , located in the centre of the town, Can Piricus (municipal library) or Can Creu d'Inca (municipal exhibition hall) and the Melis Cursarch Centre (archive and art gallery).
Fornalutx : named the most beautiful village in Spain in 2017, known for its conservation and protection of its landscape.
The Gothic church built in 1639 and the Town Hall are some of its main points of interest.
Some beaches in Mallorca
Beaches with crystal-clear turquoise waters and white sand that have nothing to envy of the beaches of the Caribbean.
Among its nearly 300 beaches you will find impressive natural landscapes and white sand beaches, some with all services.
Can Pere Antoni : urban beach in Palma, located just 2km east of the city centre. It is 750 metres long and 15 metres wide.
It has umbrellas and sun loungers for rent, public toilets and showers.
Coll Baix (Alcudia) : Located in a mountainous area, surrounded by powerful cliffs and thick vegetation, with crystal-clear turquoise waters and a lively seabed. It does not have facilities and services.
Es Trenc : located in the south of the island, in the municipality of Campos, next to the coastal town of Colonia de Sant Jordi, is 1,900m long and has fine white sand, with dunes, pine forests, mountains, salt flats and tamarinds. It is part of the natural area of the Es Salobrar marsh, a protected area of 1,500 hectares, one of the most beautiful in Mallorca.
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Menorca
It is the second largest island in the Balearic archipelago. Its name comes from Minorica, due to the fact that it is smaller than Mallorca.
It has an area of 702 km2. It is the easternmost island in the archipelago and was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993.
Mahón, the capital, and Ciutadella are its most important municipalities. It is a quiet destination, with beautiful unspoiled beaches and an ideal environment for family tourism, which surprises with the richness of its architectural, archaeological and cultural heritage and with a fascinating history due to its status as a strategic enclave in the centre of the western Mediterranean.
Some places in Menorca
Mahón: Its name in Catalan is Maó. Located in the eastern part of the island, it is the capital of Menorca and the gateway through which cultures as diverse as the Arab and the English have left their mark. The city was built around the large natural entrance that is the port, surrounded to the north by a gentle, undulating coast and to the south by a large cliff. The most interesting visits are: La Mola Fortress ; Menorca Museum; the Town Hall, the Bastion of Sant Roc and the Church of Santa María: with its 19th century organ.
Alaior : with more than 700 years of history built around the ancient hill of Ihalor, it was founded by King James II of Mallorca in 1304. Located 12 km from Mahón, the steep slopes of its streets form a labyrinth that culminates in the Plaza de la Constitución.
The most interesting visits are: The parish of Santa Eulàlia with its chapel of the Rosary; the Can Salort palace; the hermitage of Sant Pere and the mills that surround the town: d'en John, d'en Pujol.
Ciutadella : Located in the western part of the island, this city has preserved its traditional Mediterranean character, where culture and history merge in its cobbled streets. The most interesting places to visit are: the Cathedral of Menorca; the Plaza des Born and the Plaza de la Catedral; the Castle of San Nicolás, built at the end of the 18th century to defend the city's port and the Port of Ciutadella.
Fornells : is a fishing village located in the north of the central part of the island. It has a traditional port and a large bay of more than 3 kilometers in length. This small town has white-walled houses and narrow streets with a fishing tradition that makes it one of the obligatory stops for any good diner. The most interesting visits are: the Port, the Castle of San Antonio and the Tower.
Some beaches in Menorca
Menorca is known for its endless beaches, from crescent-shaped sandy beaches that stretch for miles to rocky bays with turquoise water called “calas”. The coast is lined with pine trees.
Cala Turqueta : located 10 kilometres from Ciutadella, a virgin and isolated beach that is one of the most famous on the island. The unmistakable turquoise blue of its waters, flanked by rocks and lush pine forests, embodies the most recognisable image of Menorca.
Cala Macarella : This is one of the most famous coves in Menorca; it is small with deep blue water, white sand, surrounded by pine trees and rocks and very popular. It is located very close to Cala Turqueta.
Cala Mitjana : Its crystal-clear waters, the pine trees that surround it and its easy access make it one of the most sought-after and visited beaches. It is located in the south of the island with a cove next to it called Mitjaneta, very small and charming.
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Cabrera
Cabrera is a small archipelago of 19 islets located ten kilometres off the south coast of Mallorca. It has an area of 16 km2 and belongs to the municipality of Palma de Mallorca, having one of the best ecosystems in the Mediterranean with an incredible seabed. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was declared a National Maritime-Terrestrial Park in 1991 and has been uninhabited ever since. The best way to get there is by boat, which leaves every day during the summer months from Colonia de Sant Jordi, located in the south of Mallorca. Some places of interest: The castle, a construction from the end of the 14th century at 72 metres above sea level; the N'ensiola lighthouse, at 102 metres above sea level; the Monument to the French prisoners and the Botanical Garden.
Some beaches in Cabrera
The beaches of Cabrera Island are known for their tranquillity, the nature that surrounds them and their crystal-clear waters teeming with life. You will find sand, stones or gravel beaches, surrounded by nature or steep cliffs.
Es Palmador: This beach is one of the longest in the archipelago, measuring 140 metres in length. It is made of gravel and the waters are calm. It is not usually very crowded.
Sa Platgeta: together with Es Palmador, these are the most important beaches in the archipelago. Made up of small stones surrounded by abundant vegetation, where the bushes almost merge with the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Cas Pagés: This beach is 270 metres long and 12 metres wide, making it the longest on the island. As with the other beaches in Cabrera, it is not very busy. It is made of sand and there are not usually many people on it, making it ideal for relaxing and enjoying the sea.
Ibiza
Ibiza is the third island of the Balearic archipelago and is located southwest of Mallorca and north of Formentera, together with the latter it forms part of the Pitiusas group. It has an area of 570 km2 and a population of more than 140,000 inhabitants. Its capital is Ibiza, declared a World Heritage Site and its territory is divided into five municipalities: Ibiza, Santa Eulalia del Río, San José, San Antonio Abad and San Juan Bautista. It is a national and international reference as a tourist destination, known especially for its lively nightlife and beautiful beaches. From the rest of Spain there are two ways to get to Ibiza, by plane and by ferry, if you can bring your vehicle.
Some places in Ibiza
Ibiza Town: Located in the south of the island, it is known for its lively nightlife and its endless nights. It is a lively city where in its picturesque streets we find an extraordinary number of shops and stalls that stay open until late at night. It was a historical enclave of importance since ancient times. Some of the places: The Monographic Museum of Puig de Molins, the best museum of Punic Art in Europe; The Penya and Bomba neighbourhood, a colourful and typical neighbourhood located under the city walls, the scene of daytime and nighttime activity; The old D'alt Vila neighbourhood, the historic centre of Ibiza, located on the top of the hill and surrounded by the old city walls; The Cathedral, whose Gothic tower dates back to the 10th century and the port area, which is full of bars and restaurants .
San Antonio: Located on the west coast of the island, it is the second largest town on the island. Called Portus Magnus in Roman times due to the remarkable width of its bay, it is an ancient village of farmers and fishermen that has become one of the main tourist centres of Ibiza. One of the most interesting places in San Antonio is its endless promenade, a pleasant place to walk during the months of May, June, September and October. San Antonio beach is not a marvel if we compare it with other beaches in Ibiza , but it has the great advantage of its accessibility, a plus for those who decide to stay in San Antonio.
Can Marçà Cave: Located in a beautiful spot in the north of Ibiza, this is an impressive cave that is over 100,000 years old and is located inside a cliff in Port de Sant Miquel. The cave was discovered by groups of smugglers who used it to hide their goods in the past and you can still see the marks with which they marked the entrance and exit. Since the 1980s, the cave has become one of the island's important tourist destinations.
Some beaches of Ibiza
Much of the island of Ibiza is made up of beaches that are coves and cliffs, as is the case with most of the coastline of the Balearic Islands. There are few corners where the land allows for a sandy space with enough substance to be considered a beach.
Cala Conta, or Playas de Comte, is located in the northwest of the island, just 15 minutes from San Antonio. It is a quiet and beautiful beach both during the day and for watching the sunset. It is one of the best beaches in Spain with golden sand and turquoise waters; it is about 800 meters long, surrounded by rocky cliffs with soft sand and shallow waters, making it a safe beach for children and an excellent place for swimming. It can be reached by bus, car or ferry during the summer from San Antonio .
Cala Bassa: This popular beach is very close to San Antonio, from where you can reach it in about 15 minutes by car, or by bus or ferry. It is surrounded by a forest of juniper trees with twisted trunks and has soft sand and calm, turquoise waters, making it a safe place for children to swim. It offers services such as showers, toilets, changing rooms, a sun lounger and parasol rental area, masseuses and lifeguards.
Cala Jondal: located about 15 minutes by car from San Antonio and accessible by bus or ferry from San Antonio, it is an exclusive and very lively beach very close to the airport. Its surroundings are completely unspoiled and full of pine trees and cliffs with various services, such as sunbed and parasol rental, showers, beach shops and lifeguards and restaurants.
Cala d'Hort: This is a beach in the west of the island, accessible only by car, located about 10 minutes from San José. It is narrow and sandy and is characterized by its crystal-clear and calm waters, making it an ideal place to go with the family. Just a few minutes away is the Es Vedrá viewpoint, a typical image that represents Ibiza and that you cannot miss to see its colors at sunset.
Cala Saladeta and Cala Salada : Cala Saladeta is one of the best beaches in Ibiza and one of the most famous, with white sand and turquoise blue water. It is very close to San Antonio, one of the best places to find excellent accommodation. While Cala Salada is located next to Cala Saladeta, connected by a path that is accessed from the top. Together they emerge from welcoming inlets that form two pleasant coves with golden sand and crystal-clear waters that reflect blue colors to create a dream landscape.
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Formentera
Formentera is the smallest of the Balearic Islands and the southernmost. With an area of 83 km2, it is located south of the island of Ibiza, separated by a 4 km channel. The capital of Formentera is San Francisco Javier, with tourism being its main source of income. It is famous for its white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters and is much quieter than Ibiza. The only way to reach this island is by sea to the port of La Savina, where boats arrive from Valencia or Ibiza.
Some places in Formentera
San Francisco Javier is the capital of the island and its main village where you can find, in addition to the town hall, the Church of Sant Francesc. Located in the centre of the island, in the middle of the main road, it is the hub of life for residents, as it offers shops, supermarkets, bars and restaurants that are open all year round. So it is essential to walk around this small village with some typical houses.
La Sabina is the first urban centre you come across when you arrive on the island and is home to the port that links Formentera with Ibiza . Although it is small, it is an essential and vital part of the daily life of the island, as it is the only entry point for passengers and goods. More than a million passengers pass through its docks every year.
Sant Ferran de ses Roques: located in the centre of Formentera, just a couple of kilometres from the island's capital and at the crossroads between the towns of Sant Francesc, Es Pujols and Pilar de la Mola. The island's main road also passes through here and it was one of the towns most visited by hippies in the mid-20th century. As far as tourism is concerned, the highlights are the church and strolling through its quiet streets. It is also an ideal place to establish your base as it is close to everything you have to see in Formentera.
Hippie markets : These are set up in different towns and are a worldwide tradition that began in the 1960s. Due to its proximity to Ibiza, this island was an important centre for this harmonious lifestyle of selling crafts at markets. The current markets are based on that way of life, which is why it continues to maintain its mystique. Every Wednesday and Sunday between May and October, people meet at these markets to show off their creations of fashion, accessories, jewellery, wood and other materials.
Beaches of Formentera
Fine white sand , turquoise waters and lots of flora surrounding them. They say that the weather in Formentera is the best of the Balearic Islands, so enjoying its beaches is a must.
Ses Illetes: This is the northernmost beach on the island. This space is part of a Natural Park in which there are stretches with beaches on both sides, located on a strip that juts out into the sea. This beach has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and its location between dunes gives it extreme beauty, being considered one of the 5 best beaches in the world for its fine white sand over its 500 metres in length and shallow waters.
Migjorn Beach: This is the longest beach, with more than 4 km, and it occupies a large part of the south of the island. The sand here is also spectacularly white, and this colour gives the sea an intense blue colour. Being a very wide white sand beach, there is plenty of space to relax and walk. Its name comes from the wind that comes from the south, the same orientation as the beach.
Es Pujols: this is one of the few beaches in Formentera that are attached to a town, in this case the town of the same name, known for being the centre of tourist activity on the island. This means that there are a large number of services very close to the shore. It is an ideal place to practice water sports. It is a sandy beach in a bay with crystal-clear waters, with a promenade, fishermen's huts and rocky islets.
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Gastronomy of the Balearic Islands
Its cuisine offers a good balance between vegetables, meat and fish. As it is an area culturally influenced by Catalonia, it has some common culinary customs such as eating bread with local tomato varieties.
Ensaimada: a bun made with flour, egg, sugar, dough and pork fat. It can be filled with angel hair.
Sobrasada from Mallorca: raw cured sausage made from selected pork, seasoned with salt, paprika and black pepper.
Frit mallorquín: of Mallorcan origin prepared with potatoes, pork, tomato, pepper and onion.
Arroz brut: broth-like rice mixed with garden produce with some rabbit meat and spices for flavour.
Bullit de peix: This is one of the most traditional dishes; it consists of a combination of typical Mediterranean fish such as scorpionfish, roosterfish, perlón or grouper boiled with aioli sauce (olive oil and garlic).
Mahón cheese: a cow's milk cheese made from uncooked pressed paste, with a parallelepiped shape and rounded edges.
