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Puerto Pollensa, originally a fishing village, is an extremely popular resort with families, located on a sweeping horseshoe bay on the Northeast coast of the Island of Mallorca and backed by the impressive Tramuntana Mountains. It is just a 45 minute drive from the Capital Palma and the old towns of Pollensa and Alcudia are both just a stone’s throw from the resort. Having been developed earlier than many of the busy resorts on the South Coast, Puerto Pollensa has escaped the mass tourism and development during the 1960’s and 1970’s and has managed to retain its charm.
Beaches
The beach at Puerto Pollensa is in two main parts – to the North of the Marina, is the Albercutx Beach running in front of the Pine Walk , and the larger beach to the South of the Marina is called the Pollensa beach. Both boast fine white sand shelving gently into the crystal clear waters, and extend for some distance, ensuring that there is always a quiet spot for those wishing to relax in peaceful tranquillity. A little further afield is Platja Muro which is part of Alcudia Bay but offers a quieter alternative to the main resort areas. The long pine backed sandy beach at Formentor is a great place to enjoy the turquoise water.
Eating Out
The resort has an excellent selection of restaurants, which serve everything from tapas to pizza, but to enjoy a true taste of Mallorquin cuisine, head into the nearby village of Pollensa. Traditional favourites include Pa amb Oli (bread with oil), Coca (a sort of pizza), delicious Tumbet (ratatouille with potatoes) and Lechona (roast sucking Pig), and if you are a fish lover, there will be no shortage of fine dining opportunities.
Leisure
The beach at Puerto Pollensa caters for all members of the family, offering sun beds and parasols for hire, beach bars and pedaloes for the children. For the more adventurous, there is also the possibility of wind and kite surfing on both Pollensa and Muro beaches, both of which have school/hire places on the beach. The bay of Pollensa is one of the best on the Island for all waterports opportunities, including sailing, windsurfing and water-skiing. For Golf lovers, there is a 9 hole par 35 course just outside Pollensa. For great shopping opportunities, Palma is the place to be, with a fantastic choice of designer shops as well as larger centres on the outskirts of the city. The leather capital of the Island is Inca, where many bargains can be had in the factory shops as well as the excellent Thursday market. Local markets are held in Pollensa on Sundays, and Puerto Pollensa on Wednesday.
Places to Visit
Whilst there are many spots across the Island worthy of a visit, those of particular interest in the Northeast would be Cap de Formentor for breathtaking scenery - once the winding roads have been navigated there are several viewpoints from which to admire the dramatic coastline. The old walled town of Alcudia, once the Island’s Capital, has one of the most picture postcard town centres with its restored stone houses and pretty cobbled streets. The main square is the hub of activity with restaurants and cafes. The ancient village of Pollensa has a maze of pleasant narrow streets leading to the main square full of tasteful café and restaurant terraces. North of the main square is the impressive Calvary Hill, 365 stone steps lined with cypress trees leading to a hilltop pilgrimage chapel. The views from the top look out across the town towards the coast. And don’t miss the beautiful capital of Palma with its spectacular Cathedral dominating the sea front, Bellver Castle, many galleries and even an open-top bus to help you get around. |
