Portocolom – Sailing the Traces of Christopher Columbus
Natural coast, a historical town as well as excellent restaurants make Porto Colom the perfect home base for a few-days-harbour-stay. It serves also as a direct entrance port for yacht charters in Mallorca and/or around the Balearics and the main port for yacht charter Spain arrivals on the island.
General Info
Though not as popular as Palma, C’an Pastilla or El Arenal, Portocolom is the main Yacht Charter harbor town on Mallorca’s southeast coast. It’s located in the district of Felanitx and it’s approximately 65 km east the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca.
The overall region is made up of mountainous relief which slopes down to the coast to form numerous bays and quays, and one of the biggest and safest natural harbors in Mallorca. Today, the Bay of Portocolom is mainly used for fisher boats and private yachting which means that the Yacht Charter traffic is very relaxed.
Travel & Arrival
The San Juan International airport is just 65 km on the southern side of the island which makes transfers very easy, however, the roads and the traffic make the journey somewhat longer than it should be. Yacht Charter arrivals will find that there aren’t many possibilities of arriving here by land, just busses, taxis and the occasional car rental service.
Also, there are no ferries docking here, the closest ferry terminal also being in Palma, with connections with mainland Spain and the other Balearic islands. So, the only way to get to Portocolom by water directly would be in a Yacht Charter boat.
Avant & Apres Sail
Just like most Yacht Charter resorts in Mallorca, Portocolom has very good beaches, the main being Cala Marcal, just 500 m from the town center. The most important thing in town and indeed the reason for its economic boom in the 19th century is the harbor, when it was used to ship wine from neighboring Felanitx to France but a vine disease put a stop to that, meaning that the locals had to return to fishing to make a living.
One can still see the fishing boats come and go, with the fishermen living in quaint and colorful cottages at the north end of the quay, setting a discerning note from the hotels and the Yacht Charter holiday homes. Here, you’ll also find the sandstone church of Sant Jaume I. Little else in terms of touristic attractions can be seen in Portocolom.
For shopping, you also need to head out to the harbor, where you’ll find various shops for Yacht Charter visitors and two large supermarkets, perfect for stocking up the pantry on your boat.
A testament to the fishing heritage of the region, you’ll be happy to eat out in Portocolom. The few establishments around the marina and in the hotels serve nice fish dishes as well as Italian and international cuisine in case you’re a little picky when it comes to eating local recipes.
Sadly, there is no nightlife in the true meaning of the word, at least not in the way you’d find in other resorts along the Mediterranean shores. Most of the venues are hotel-based but there are also a number of British pubs that cater to Yacht Charter parties coming from the United Kingdom.
Events & Actions
The biggest plus and the biggest crowd draw is the blue flag beach which is cleaned every night, has lifeguards on duty and is perfect for children due to its gentle slope which makes the waters shallow. Other attractions for Yacht Charter clients are the golf course, the water park, and the exploration of the beautiful coast by sea kayaking, diving or climbing.