Balearic Islands

Taxis in Palma include Taxi Palma Radio (+34 971 40 00 04) and Taxi Teléfono (+34 971 74 40 50). Book ahead for a taxi, especially in high season, and remember that children under 12 will need car seats.

Any amount over 10,000 euros (€), or the equivalent in any currency, taken into or out of Spain must be declared. For specific information about restrictions, visit the EU portal for links.

The currency is the Euro, while Master and Visa cards are accepted widely in larger stores and restaurants, but you may need cash for independent, small businesses. You can find ATMs at the marinas and banks. Banking hours are Monday to Friday (9:30am to 2pm).

You’ll find free Wi-Fi in some restaurants and cafes, but you may find that speeds vary.

Export of endangered species without a permit is banned. The importation of meat and dairy products from outside the EU, unauthorized firearms and ammunition is also banned.

Cover bare legs and shoulders when visiting churches and historic religious sites.

Day 1: Walk along the cobblestone streets of Palma and visit one of the most famous gothic cathedrals in Europe. The Palma Cathedral, also known as “La Seu,” or “the seat”, which refers to the bishop’s seat. Take in Palma’s historic atmosphere and charm, stock up your provisions and dine aboard at one of many great restaurants. Spend overnight aboard.

Day 2: Cala Pi, Majorca, has a lovely beach with calm, turquoise waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Enjoy the beach bar and three restaurants or stock up at the small supermarket and pharmacy. Centuries ago, pirates were a problem in this area and the remnants of a medieval watchtower still remain. This is a very popular anchorage but keep in mind that Cala Pi is a very narrow cove.

Day 3: After a leisurely breakfast, set sail for Colonia Sant Jordi, known for its beautiful white-sand beaches. Try Es Carbo, frequented by the Spanish royal family, and Es Trenc, a two-mile natural, isolated beach with lovely golden sand and clear waters. In town, there are many popular restaurants and tapas bars along Avinguda de la Primavera (Primavera Avenue) for lunch or dinner. A good, sheltered place to anchor for the night lies between the islets of Gabina and Redona, but take care to avoid the sand banks and rocks in this area.

Day 4: Sail north and enjoy the scenic coastline on the way to Cala Figuera. Known to the locals as “Little Venice,” this is a secluded anchorage along the southeast coast of Majorca. The port is part of a traditional fishing community with whitewashed cottages and boathouses that stretch down to the water’s edge. Eat lunch or dinner aboard and enjoy the quiet, natural setting, or try one of the local dishes at a café or restaurant near the marina.

Day 5: Explore Cala Figuera, where there are a number of small coves that may be accessible for anchorage in good weather. One is Calo des Moro, which has a sandy bottom, clear water and a nice, small beach. There are no services available here, just a nice place to swim and snorkel. There are anchorage areas east of Colonia between the islets of Guardis and Moltona, but take care to avoid the sand banks at anchorages between Gabina and Redona.

Day 6: Heading west from Colonia, you’ll discover the quiet port village of Sa Rapita and the lovely beach S’Arenal de sa Rapita, which stretches over half a mile from the port to the small village of Ses Covetes. You’ll find a white, sandy beach ringed with turquoise blue water that is shallow and perfect for windsurfing. A beach bar and restaurant are near the port end of the beach.

Day 7: On the return trip to Palma, you’ll see the beautiful, steep cliffs of Cap Blanc with its lighthouse. Much of the coastline in this area is protected and undeveloped, so provides a beautiful backdrop with rocky inlets and secluded coves. Calo des Cap d’Alt and Cala de Cap Falco are two good examples for waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

Day 1: Walk along the cobblestone streets of Palma and visit one of the most famous gothic cathedrals in Europe. The Palma Cathedral, also known as “La Seu,” or “the seat”, which refers to the bishop’s seat. Take in Palma’s historic atmosphere and charm, stock up your provisions and dine at one of many great restaurants. Spend overnight aboard.

Day 2: After a leisurely breakfast, set sail for Andratx. Along the rocky coastline, you’ll pass Cala Portals Vells beach. It’s popular with sailors and offers dinghy service ashore if you want to eat at the restaurant. Rounding the cape you can try the golden, sandy beach at El Toro, which offers calm waters protected by Port Adriano. Once you reach the harbor of Andratx, one of the prettiest in Majorca, you can anchor there for the night.

Day 3: As you head north, you’ll encounter Sa Dragonera (The Dragon), which is the main island off the coast and home to the Sa Dragonera Natural Park, with its huge colony of seagulls. There are two good spots for anchoring on the east side of the island, but only when the sea is calm. Eat lunch aboard. Along the way, you’ll pass by Cala de Valldemossa where actor Michael Douglas owns an impressive home. Anchor in the port of Soller for the night.

Day 4: After breakfast aboard, visit the attractive port of Soller where you can climb the Es Faro lighthouse. Or travel inland a short distance via a vintage tram, called the “Orange Express”, to visit the town of Soller with its ancient olive trees and fragrant orange groves. The valley and surrounding mountains are a UNESCO world heritage site and popular with ecotourists. Eat lunch in one of the local tapas bars or in a café. In the afternoon, there are also two nice beaches at either end of Soller Bay for swimming and sunbathing.

Day 5-6: Eat a hearty breakfast, and then sail to the port of Pollensa at the foot of Serra de Tramuntana, the island’s highest mountain, where you can anchor for the night. Along the way, you may want to stop at Cala Sa Calobra, a pebble beach and a small cove wedged between two cliffs. Nearby, the Torrent de Pareis (Paradise Stream) has carved a deep chasm in the cliff, which has its own pebble beach.

Day 7: The village of Pollensa is a typical Majorcan town and definitely worth a visit. If you’re searching for the perfect beach, head north to reach the beautiful sandy beaches at Cala Agulla. Relax on the sands, swim or hike up to the Capdepera lighthouse to enjoy the panoramic views. It’s a short sail to the resort at Cala Ratjada, where you can eat dinner and anchor overnight.

Day 8: Porto Cristo’s natural harbor has been sheltering fishing boats for centuries. Today, this peaceful fishing village and its harbor cater to visitors from all over the globe. There are popular beaches near Porto Cristo, but there are plenty of alternatives. You might want to take a glass bottom boat tour or head to Europe’s largest underground lake, Lake Martel, which is a short walk from the Nautico Marina area (or you can hire a taxi). The lake lies in the Cuevas del Drach (the dragon’s caves), a large, limestone cavern system. There are one-hour tours of the impressive stalactite formations, and visitors are often treated to short classical music concerts by musicians who take advantage of the fine acoustics. There are charming cafés in the Placa del Carme as well as restaurants overlooking the marina.

Day 9: Portocolom’s large, natural harbor provides excellent and safe overnight anchorage. It was named after Christopher Columbus and still retains the feel of a quaint fishing village. Stroll the nearby beach at Platja de s’Arenal, which is divided into s’Arenal Gran and s’Arenal Petit. S’Arenal Gran has good underwater conditions for anchoring boats as it is sandy and sheltered from the Mediterranean’s winds and waves.

Day 10: Head to Cala Figueras and enjoy the scenic coastline along the way, part of which belongs to Mondrago National Park. You can stop at Cala Mondrago, a small, beautiful beach with a restaurant and clear, turquoise waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Nearby is Cala s’Amarador with its white-sand beach edged in pine forests. Both coves have depths of up to 20 feet and sandy bottoms, but they are exposed to east and southeast winds. If needed, there are port facilities nearby in Porto Petro. Dock for the night in Cala Figueras.

Day 11: The port of Cala Figueras is still primarily a fishing community with attractive whitewashed cottages and boathouses that stretch down to the water’s edge. Eat dinner aboard and enjoy the quiet natural setting, or try one of the local dishes at a café or restaurant near the marina.

Day 12: It’s a relatively short sail from Cala Figueras to the port town of Colonia San Jordi. Colonia is known for its beautiful white-sand beaches, including Es Carbo, where the Spanish royal family is known to visit. Colonia is also just 10 km from the Cabrera archipelago and the National Maritime Park of Cabrera. In addition to serving as a sanctuary for Mediterranean sea life, the park has a lighthouse, caves and a 14th century castle.

Day 13-14: Enjoy another day at the beach and bring a picnic lunch. Visit Es Trenc, a two-mile natural, isolated beach with lovely golden sand and clear waters. There are many popular restaurants and tapas bars along Avinguda de la Primavera (Primavera Avenue) for lunch or dinner. After an early breakfast on the following morning, set sail for Palma.

• Call the marina on VHF channel 9
• Only take soft bags and not suitcases as they are too cumbersome on board
• On land electricity is 230 Volts – 50Hz (power sockets are F type)
• International country dialing code for Spain is +34 and the area code for the Balearics is 971
• Cell Phones can work depending on zones but don’t forget the roaming fees!
• WiFi internet is available in the marina