If you’ve seen my video snapshot of our week in Mallorca (if not, check it out!), you may have got the idea that all we did was soak in the sunshine, play in the pool, and splash around at beautiful beaches. And you’d be pretty much right! Far from the mad crowds and concrete strips of Magaluf, we based ourselves in this incredible villa near the small town of Felanitx. I couldn’t recommend this beautiful property more highly.
Snacks and drinks game strong
Each twosome of our group had their own apartment with comfortable beds and spacious ensuites. Because we had the whole place to ourselves, it was easy to pop down to the local market and cook up delicious meals in the large modern kitchen. We also made sure to utilise the pool-side barbecue. And speaking of that pool…. it was incredible. I quickly found my sweet spot dangling off the side, Kindle in one hand, watermelon in the other. Perfection!
But, being a big bunch of Kiwis, exploring is in our blood – and given most of us are generally marooned far from the ocean in London, we weren’t going to pass up the chance to visit a beach or two. Luckily, a friend who works in Palma had given us the inside word on a couple of the best spots nearby. We headed first to Cala Mondrago, where a chain of three beaches meant there was a plot of golden sand for everyone. We parked in the public car park up top and wandered down the shady road to the sea. Prior to London, I had never lived more than a 30 minute drive from a glorious beach, and so my heart thrills every time I get a glimpse of ocean. Here was the Mediterranean in all its aquamarine beauty!
The rock path skirting the side led us to our beach of choice, and it wasn’t long before we were in the water, soaking in the warm temperature and revelling in the chance to float in the sunshine. And of course, having a little fun with the Go Pro!
Ravenous from all the leaping about, we stopped in at nearby Portopetro for our paella fix. Bar Pescis had us covered, with these incredible seafood beauties. Delicious!
Wandering back to our cars this gelato shop caught our eye, with the challenge of a 10-scoop cone that just couldn’t be passed up. It appears that not everyone is unable to resist, as even the waitress asked for a snap of her creation! Of course, we made the birthday girl Nat pose with her treat, which she then generously shared with us all.
After another day spent alternating between reading beside the pool and reading in it, the urge to explore struck us again. The nearby Castell de Santueri had caught our eye while out driving, and after a couple of false starts we found our way up the seriously steep switchbacks (there was a hairy moment where we thought our gutless Ford might actually start going backwards!) to the top. A €4 entry fee proved to be a fairly small price to pay for the panoramas that greeted us in every direction.
A handy pamphlet and informative billboards meant that we learnt a lot about the history of this hilltop bastion. The area has been inhabited since pre-historic times and there are traces of Roman and Byzantine occupation on the hill itself. The present walls date from the fourteenth century, when the area saw battles between the Christians and the Moors, and parts of them are still well-preserved.
We wandered around the hot site, taking in the views of the sea and the surrounding countryside. I’ll just say this, if you go yourself make sure you take plenty of water. The entrance fee is taken by a tanned older lady sitting in the shade of a temporary gazebo, and from there you can wander the whole site without seeing anyone else – there’s certainly no cafe and it gets hot up there!
There was only one way we were going to sufficiently cool off – it was time to head to the beach again. This time, we were being a little more adventurous. Our friend’s directions were to head out to Cala Varques on a long dusty road, then “park where everyone else does, and follow the path to the beach”. Dusty one-way road found, we parked the noses of our little cars in behind a lengthening string of other vehicles. At the end, a single turning point meant logistical issues for those who’d driven on in search of closer parks. We found the unmarked rocky path half-hidden in the scrub, and walked along with no idea how far it was, or exactly what we’d find at the end. This made the view of crystal-clear waters all the sweeter at the end!
But the beach, although beautiful, was already crowded and we’d been told to persevere a little longer. We climbed the scrubby headland and followed footmarks around to find, heaven. This stunning cove was virtually unpopulated, with just two boats and a handful of people already enjoying the serene waters. Climbing down was slightly tricky, but as soon as I slipped into the sea I knew it had all been utterly worthwhile. We swam, explored the cave, and just floated, basking in the sunshine. Utter bliss!
Our week in Mallorca was nothing short of heavenly – and we didn’t go near a super-club or heaving bar once! For more don’t forget to check out my video here.
Have you experienced the quieter side of Mallorca or one of the other Balearic Islands?
