Top activities to enjoy on a Mallorca holiday

Thursday, 31 May 2012 9:46 AM

Mallorca is a beautiful Spanish island that enjoys a favourable climate, making it the ideal place to escape to in order to soak up the sun and spend your evenings eating sumptuous local cuisine.

Once your plane lands, you'll be just 5 miles away from the capital Palma de Mallorca. This takes around ten minutes to get to when driving, so booking car hire in Mallorca means you can get your holiday started as quickly as possible.

This is certainly a wise move to make, as there are plenty of activities to get stuck into when staying in this part of Spain. Below is a roundup of some of the best things to do on holiday in Mallorca.

Sunbathe

While not an activity that requires much exertion, Mallorca boasts some stunning beaches, so make sure you take the time to soak up the rays on one of its stretches of sand. Cala Blanca in Calvia is surrounded by pine trees and affords beautiful views of Santa Ponca. It is comprised of gravel, though, so if you would prefer to lie back on sand, head to Playa de Palma Beach. With white sand and calm waters, it is perfect for adults and kids alike who like a gentle swim to cool off. There are plenty of shops and restaurants along the promenade you can nip into for a spot of lunch or to buy some souvenirs.

Get wet

With 7 km of beaches, two marine resorts and around 230 days of sun, Mallorca is well placed for water sports, and there is enough here to keep even the most thrill-seeking among you occupied. The scuba diving here is brilliant, with meadows of posidonia to explore, while you can also snorkel, waterski, parasail, kitesurf, kayak, surf, windsurf and sail. Don't worry if you're not keen on tackling the waves yourself. There is the chance to enjoy a trip on a catamaran, as well as go on a day's cruise to explore the island's coastline.

Go walking

Although it's tempting to spend all your time around the pool or on the beach, make the effort to visit one of Majorca's many national parks and nature reserves. You might be surprised just what the largest of the Balearics has to offer, and you'll still be outside enjoying the warm weather. The Cabrera Archipelago National Park takes about an hour to get to by boat and, once you step on to it, you'll have 10 hectares to explore. Armed with bottles of water and comfortable shoes, head off on a walk to the 14th-century castle, lighthouse and La Miranda caves. If you happen to be a keen birdwatcher, you'll be pleased to hear that large colonies of birds call the national park home.
The Mondrago Nature Reserve is also worth visiting, if not just to see with your own eyes how turquoise the sea is here. If you are missing the beach, there are plenty of stretches of sand you can relax on, but with 785 hectares at your feet, make sure you follow a walking trail. You might come across wildlife such as the redshank and black-necked grebe.

Play a round or two of golf

With beautiful scenery and a lovely climate, it's no wonder Mallorca is popular among golf enthusiasts. For a central course, Golf Son Muntaner lies 2 km from the centre of Palma and has 18 holes. It's fairly new, having opened in 2000. Calvia is home to several greens, including the 18-hole Santa Ponsa I, which has been drawing in players since 1977.