Majorca’s eastern coast – natural bays and pristine port atmosphere
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Yacht Charter in Majorca – Eastern Coast
View from Serrania de Levante over the eastern coast.
“Levante”, the region along the eastern coast of Majorca, ranging over 42 km from the cape Cabo Salines in the south to Cala Ratjada in the north, is famous for its rocky coastline, fjord-like bays (Calas) covered with pine forests and exceptionally clear waters.<br /><br />
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Cabo Ses Salines
The distinctive lighthouse of Cabo Ses Salines marks the south-eastern cape of Majorca. This is the southerly point of the eastern coast of Majorca.
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Cala Mitjana - Majorca
The small bay of Cala Mitjana lies good protected at all weather conditions except of winds from the east. It is one of Majorca’s most beautiful bays. From the land side, the bay is private property.
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Cala Sa Nau - Majorca
Cala Sa Nau lying between Porto Petro and Portocolom is a good place for a stop on sunny days.
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Entrance of Cala Figuera
You recognize the fjord-like bay of Cala Figuera by a defence tower on one of the rocks.
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Natural park area Cala Mondrago – Majorca’s eastern coast
Cala Mondrago is a nature protection area. The water in the bay is crystal clear and inviting for swimming and snorkelling.
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Cala Figuera – Fisher port
The small “fjord” of Cala Figuera has two arms in its end. In front of it, there’s a pier with moorings for transit yachts.
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Sailing along the eastern coast of Majorca
The southern part of Majorca’s eastern coast has steep rocky coastline like here, near Cala Figuera. There are numerous long bays lying just some few sea miles away from each other.
The mountain range Serrania de Levante, which has given its name to the whole coast, ranges parallel to the coastline from Santanyi in the south-east to Arta in the north-east. This beautiful region is full of valleys and there are numerous stalactite caves, such as the famous Cuevas del Drach near Porto Cristo. The landscape along the coastline is much diversified. The steep rocky coastline between Cabo Salinas and the nature reserve Cala Mondrago is unimproved and covered with macchia and pine trees. Some beautiful anchorages like Cala S’Almunia or Cala Llombards are situated in this area.
One of the most beautiful fisher harbours on Majorca is Cala Figuera. The far-reaching fjord-like bay of Cala Figuera is surrounded by small fisher houses built on the rocks. The houses can only be reached by steep stairs. Some 1,5 sea miles to the north, the nature reserve Cala Mondrago is situated. About 17 sea miles to the south lies the unique national park of the island group Cabrera.
The land is more mountainous starting from Porto Petro, which lies around 3 sea miles to the north from Cala Figuera. The highest mountain is Puig Sant Salvador, 510 metres high, which is good distinguishable from the sea. Despite some high-density areas with hotels and holiday apartments, such as in Cala d’Or and Porto Petro, there are still coastal areas with wonderful anchorages. These are for instance Cala Mitjana and Cala Sa Nau situated 1 or 2 sea miles away from Cala d’Or. Both bays have very clean water and a small sand beach. The rocks around the bays are perfect snorkelling areas.
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Cala Marcal - Majorca
Cala Marcal southerly from the port entrance of Portocolom. However, the beach is empty like here just in the low season.
Approximately 3 sea miles to the north from Cala d’Or, just near the port entrance of Portocolom, you can stop in Cala Marcal, which has a very nice sand beach. The beach is especially beautiful in the low season. In the high season, however, it is full with the surrounding hotel and apartment guests.
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Portocolom - Majorca
The port entrance of Portocolom is easy to recognize because of its distinctive high lighthouse.
The highlight of Majorca’s eastern coast is the port town Portocolom with its well preserved old town (“pueblo”). Portocolom is one of the most beautiful natural ports in the Balearics and has a unique fisher village atmosphere – typical majorquin style houses with green shutters, pine trees and agaves surrounding the watersides and varicoloured geranium and hibiscus plants in the gardens.
In the northern part of the port, there are 25 moorings for transit yachts situated in front of the port promenade, just some few steps away from the famous taverns and restaurants of the town.
Portocolom is a good port for long stays, as it offers various leisure possibilities like swimming, snorkelling, canoeing along the coast, excursions to the most interesting spots on land, great port town with famous restaurants and pubs.
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Porto Colom - Sant Salvador
The monastery on the mountain Puig Sant Salvador on the way from Portocolom to Felanitx is worth seeing. The view over Majorca’s Levante is fantastic.
A good excursion from Portocolom is a trip to the old gorgeous monastery Santuario de Sant Salvador, lying on the 510 metres high mountain Puig Sant Salvador. To the monastery, you follow a serpentine road going off the main road Portocolom – Felanitx. On the road you will pass several beautiful viewpoints, a small chapel and a stone rood. The monastery was founded in 1342 and the origin pilgrim church was built in 1348. The present church, however, was built on the place of the old church in 1715. It is famous for its baroque altar and gorgeous adornments of the 15th century. There is also a 37 metres high tower with a 7 metres high statue of Christ. The panoramic view over the whole island is breathtaking. The monastery was functioning and held by monks until 1992. Since then, it is being administrated by two mallorquin families who run an authentic restaurant and a small hotel there. An incomparable view opens from the room windows.
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Majorca Cala Romantica
Cala Romantica has a nice wide sand beach, clear water and is one of the few low-density areas around Porto Cristo. The bay is quite open to the east, however, so there’s no good weather protection.
The northerly coastline of Portocolom is referred to as “the coast of anchorages”. All anchorages are great because of their clear water. Some of the bays are Cala Magraner and Cala Virgili just next to the holiday place Calas de Mallorca. In sommer, however, you have to reckon with many tourists and overcrowded beaches. There are also some holiday places with hotel and apartment chains. These are Cala Barques, Cala Romantica and Cala Anquila as well as the big bay of Arta up to its northerly part Costa de los Pinos, “the pine coast”.
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Majorca Porto Cristo
Porto Cristo is one of the best protected ports on Majorca. In the foreground you see the berths of Club Nautico. Left – the wave breaker and the port entrance.
The old fisher and yacht port Porto Cristo is also worth seeing. The port has numerous mooring places for guest yachts. The yacht port Club Nautico was rebuilt and modernised after the heavy storm in 1989. The town itself has a nice atmosphere and is – like Portocolom – good for staying several days. In the surroundings of Porto Cristo, there are many good places to visit, such as the famous spectacular Cuevas del Drach (the Drach caves) or the two-deck sea aquarium demonstrating the flora and fauna of the Mediterranean and the tropical seas.
The famous stalactite cave system Cuevas del Darch extends underground to 1700 metres length. The caves have a huge diversity of stalagmite and stalactite formations as well as six underground lakes. The lake Llac Martel is referred to as the biggest known underground lake in Europe. The caves have a long history of thousands of years. There are numerous historical documents, paintings and maps witnessing of the knowledge and exploration of the caves by our ancestors. A legend explaining the name of the caves says that Templar and pirates used to hide their treasures inside the caves under protection of a dragon. Until 1886, the caves had been practically unexplored. Then, a Frenchman Edouard Alfred Martel first managed to explore and cartography the stalactite cave system. Inside the caves, Martel found the big crystal clear underground lake, which then got his name. The lake is 177 metres long, 40 metres wide and 9 metres deep. After Martel, many scientists and explorers have dedicated themselves to the exploration of the cave system. 1922 Juan Servera from one of Majorcan rich families bought the land with the cave entrance and arranged for the construction of stairs, ways, seats and illumination. Since then, the cave spaces are being used for fabulous music and ballet performances where orchestra boats decorated with lights slowly slide on the lake surface. Visiting the caves today, you will be amazed by this unchanged tradition and experience this unforgettable classical music performance.
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Majorca Cala Ratjada
The port of Cala Ratjada has only a few berths for guest yachts. During the high season, the town has a vivid night life.
The next port lying 14 sea miles northerly of Porto Cristo is Cala Ratjada. This port is usually used as a starting port for a trip to Menorca, as the second biggest island of the Balearics is situated only some 25 sea miles easterly from here.
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Majorca - Cala Gat
Cala Gat is a really good alternative to the town port of Cala Ratjada. The town is just some minutes walk away.
If the port of Cala Ratjada is overcrowded and there are no free berths, you can just anchor in Cala Gat, which lies just some hundred metres to the north-east from Cala Ratjada. From this beautiful bay, you can walk some minutes along the coast to Cala Ratjada.
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Majorca Capdepera
A good day trip from Cala Ratjada is an excursion to the Castel of Capdepera. The stairs lead to the castle through crooked streets of the town. From the top, there’s a fantastic view over the sea.
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Castell de Capdepera
Castell de Capdepera – Bell tower
Some good bathing bays with beaches such as Cala Agulla, Son Moll, Sa Perdusca and Sa Font de sa Cala surround Cala Ratjada. The old town Capdepera lying about 2 km away from Cala Ratjada is worth seeing too. This little town is famous for its well-preserved medieval castle, which used to serve as protection from pirates. The high castle walls frame the triangular building of the gothic monastery Sanuario de Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza. Inside the castle, there’s a museum of traditional Majorcan braiding trade. From the top of the castle you have a fantastic view over the narrow crooked streets of Capdepera reaching Cap Arta and Cala Ratjada.
The international charter company Veritas Yachting runs in Portocolom its second charter base. Exclusive charter yachts between 12 and 17 metres length can be chartered for sailing trips in the Balearics from the charter base of Veritas Yachting in Portocolom.
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