Port de pollensa
Our first trip to Majorca was only a couple of years ago. We wanted to go somewhere fairly near for some sun, sea and sand so decided on a trip to Port de Pollensa.
Port de Pollensa is situated in the North of the Island and was once a small fishing village but is now a thriving holiday resort.
We weren’t sure what to expect as we’d never visited the island before. When we go on holiday we tend to stay away from the naturally touristy locations as we prefer to be a bit more immersed in the local life.
Although Port de Pollensa has a lot of tourists it has an easy going relaxed atmosphere to it and some of the surrounding area is stunning. You don’t have to go far to find a bit of seclusion and that’s the reason we’ve actually returned to the island a couple of times since.
Where to stay in Port de Pollensa
We’ve stayed in a couple of different hotels in Port de Pollensa, tow of our favourites are the Hotel Illa d’Or and the La Goleta Hotel de Mar. We’ve also stayed in Pollensa itself (the old town) and out in the countryside; I’ll tell you all about those next time.
The Hotel Illa d’Or was lovely and is situated down the end of The Pines. It overlooks the sea and has its own pool as well. There’s a bar overlooking the sea which makes a wonderful place to sit an enjoy a cocktail as the sun is setting.
But what makes the Hotel Illa d’Or legendary is that it was novelist Agatha Christie’s hotel of choice. Immortalised in one of her books as the hotel Pino d’Or.
The hotel was built in 1929 and has a charm and certain elegance about it. It is fairly large with 120 rooms but it has the feel of a much smaller intimate hotel and the service is very good. The hotel is still owned by the same family that built it back in 1929.
Hotel La Goleta de Mar on the other hand was at the other end of Port de Pollensa and was a small boutique modern hotel overlooking the beach above a small restaurant. The rooms were light an airy and there’s a lovely small rooftop swimming pool. The hotel is situated in a fantastic location and the staff are friendly and helpful. It’s very popular with cyclists.
Restaurants in Pollensa
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants and you can eat anything from fresh seafood and local cuisine to Chinese and an English Sunday Roast!
When you’re looking for a nice restaurant in Port de Pollensa just walk past the ones by the bus station and continue down Pine Walk and you’ll find lots of lovely little restaurants most with tables overlooking the sea. These restaurants tend to serve local food and we’ve had some wonderful paellas in them.
Another restaurant I really like is Stay which overlooks the Marina. It’s a large restaurant which is always busy, it’s a good idea to book in advance, but the food is always very good as is the service. The seafood there is cooked simply but is very fresh and tastes wonderful. With a glass or two of the local Mortix wine it makes a perfect meal in a lovely setting. Tip – ask for a table overlooking the sea when you book.
I find that some of the smaller restaurants change hands frequently so when we go back they have changed ownership so it’s always worth wandering around to check out what’s new. We always wander around the streets back from the seafront and we’ve found some great little tapas bars where we’ve enjoyed some wonderful meals.
My absolute favourite restaurant in the area is 365 at Son Brull, you’ll need a car or taxi to get there as it is outside Port de Pollensa but if you enjoy good food or want to go somewhere for a special occasion it’s definitely worth eating there. Read my review about Restaurant 365
Beaches in and around Pollensa
The Bay of Pollensa is all about the beaches and they’re all different. The main beach in Port de Pollensa is the long sandy Llenaire beach which offers a variety of water sports. You can also hire sunbeds and sunshades for the day on the beach. Further south is Can Cullerassa beach, this is quieter beach but not very good for swimming as there’s a lot of seaweed.
North of the marina and backed by the Pine Walk, Albercutx beach has clear shallow water and you’ll find school children practicing their canoeing here after school. A short drive from Port de Pollensa you will find the pine-clad Formentor beach in a beautiful cove, with mountain views. There are lots more small beaches and coves to explore along the coast so just take a picnic and go exploring for the day.
Chartering a Sailing Boat
One of my favourite things to do when we’re in Port de Pollensa is to go out on a sailing boat. Unfortunately, we don’t sail although Mr J is keen to learn but it’s easy to charter a sailing boat with a skipper for the day to take you out.
Hotel Illa D’Or has it’s own private sailing boat that you can hire. If you are out for the day they will provide you with a picnic lunch.
Sailing around the coast is wonderful and you get to see the island from a unique perspective and it’s wonderful to stop off in a secluded cove for a quick dip in the crystal-clear water and a spot of lunch.
If the conditions are right and you actually get to raise the sails, it’s a wonderful feeling skimming across the big clear waters.
The sheltered Bay of Pollensa provides excellent conditions to learn to sail so I think I’ve got Mr J’s next Christmas present sorted.
Overview of Port de Pollensa
If you’re looking for some sun, sea and sand in a relaxed informal setting then Port de Pollensa will suit you. It has a lovely relaxed atmosphere and there’s plenty to see and do in the surrounding area if you get bored of lying on the beach.
