Majorca is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean. Its exceptionally good climate makes it one of the most popular destinations, and it has more to offer families than neighbouring Ibiza. Here are some places the youngest members of the family may enjoy.

Family Outings
Cuevas dels Hams in Porto Cristo
Majorca is brimming with magical spots and natural spaces that will pleasantly surprise you, such as the spectacular and beautifully maintained  Hams caves near the town of Porto, which were first opened to the public in 1910. It’s an easy drive on good roads, and the play of coloured lights inside the caves will delight your children.

Excursion to the Cúber Reservoir
A great place to take small children, the Cúber reservoir is in a lovely setting at foot of the island’s tallest mountain, the Puig Major. To walk around the perimeter of the reservoir takes a bit more than two hours, starting at kilometre 33.8 of the Sóller-Pollença road, where there is a small parking lot. A little higher up the mountain there’s another parking lot in the Font des Noguer recreational area where the walk begins, and you can enjoy the views as well as the flora and fauna.

Beaches for Babies
The island boasts numerous coves with beaches, but not all are easily accessible or suitable for taking very small children and babies. Cala Ferrera is an exception. It’s just 1,500 metres from the centre of Cala d’Or, and very popular with holidaymakers. There’s a restaurant on the beach itself, with stairs and a boardwalk to the sand. Cala Serena is quieter and semi-developed, and shallow waters make it ideal for children. Cala Esmeralda (also known as Caló des Corrals) in the middle of the Cala d'Or residential and hotel district. Its white sands are ringed with vegetation and rocks. Cala Sa Nau is another charming beach some 13 km from Porto Colom, and boasts a charming restaurant on the smallish but very attractive beach. Cala Marçal, in Felanitx, is distinguished by its large parking lot and its Wi-Fi zone. It is very clean and has good services, including showers, as well as several places to eat.

Changing of the Guard at the Palacio de la Almudaina
At midday on the last Saturday of each month there is a colourful changing of the guard ceremony by the Palma 47^th Light Infantry division in front of the Palacio de la Almudaina. The soldiers wear elaborate dress uniforms designed in 1808 for the volunteer corps. The palace was once the official residence of the viceroys of Majorca.

Where to Eat
The Ca’l Dimoni in Algaida is to be recommended for its limited but excellent offering of typical Majorcan dishes such as torradas (grilled sausages and meat), and probably the best arroz brut (“dirty rice” with meat and veg) on the island. Prices are reasonable and the quality is tops. When dessert is served, the famous Dimoni de Ca’l Dimoni or masked demon makes jokes and hands out sweets to the children. Francesco, the owner of the Café El Trotamundos (Calle Annibal, 18. Palma de Majorca), in Palma’s friendly  and traditional Santa Catalina neighbourhood, is serious about the quality of the food and service at her cafeteria, and the fresh toasted panini are a favourite with her youngest customers. There’s even a play area for the children.

Where to Sleep
Pirates Village (Avenida del Rey Jaime I, 114. Santa Ponsa) A pirate-themed hotel, is it designed especially for families with children. It has a special swimming  pool for smaller children, and water slides for older ones. As well as a children’s activity programme. It’s near the beaches of Santa Ponsa and Caló d’en Pellicer. 

Why don’t take a trip to Majorca with the family? Have a look at our flights here!

Text by Isabel y Luis Comunicación

Photos: Fundación Turismo Palma de Mallorca 365, Turisme Petit, Cuevas dels Hams.

Menorca's lighthouses are part of the island's environment and its rugged coastline. That is why they are located in some of the most beautiful and wild areas, turning your route into an encounter with Menorca's nature and its diverse landscapes. Beyond the first function to point the way to the boats, they form a unique postcard in the already beautiful coast of Menorca.

All lighthouses are managed by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands and on their website you can find the technical specifications of each.

Favàritx Ligthouse
Its location in the natural setting of the Natural Park of s’Albufera des Grau, the wettest part of Menorca, about 20 miles north of Mahon, makes it one of the most visited.
Key Point of the Island’s Biosphere’s Reserve, here we find a variety of waterfowl and raptors such as the osprey, the kite or the booted eagle

Cavalleria Lighthouse
About 14 kilometers from Es Mercadal, at the southernmost tip of the island, this impressive lighthouse stands on a cliff over 80 meters and with fantastic views over the sea.
If you visit the lighthouse of Cavalleria you will observe a curiosity: a few piles of stones facing the sea will surprised you. They are build by the tourists who come to the lighthouse because, according to tradition, who creates these forms and expresses the desire to return to Menorca to the Lighthouse, will see their wish come true.

Punta Nati Lighthouse
Opened in 1913, its creation comes from a tragic accident. And it is because in this area of ​​strong winds and ocean currents the modern French Général Chanzy steam was wrecked by a big storm three years before.

Days with strong wind from the north you can enjoy a natural spectacle when the crack near the lighthouse ejects water with great force, in a sort of bufador lambasting the headlight, which sometimes has been damaged by the pressure.

Illa de l'Aire Lightouse
On Mahon’s south, in the town of Sant Lluis, there is the touristic Platja de Punta Prima. From here you can observe perfectly Illa de l'Aire and its lighthouse’s silhouette surrounded by turquoise waters and rich marine life.
One feature of the island is to house an endemic species of Menorca and Mallorca: black lizard. But not only the small reptile inhabits the island, it also houses numerous birds on their migratory path.

Artrutx Lighthouse
With carachteristic thick black and white stripes, the lighthouse Artrutx is 7 kilometers from Ciutadella. It was built in the mid nineteenth century, in 1858, and at first, it worked with oil until 1930 that electricity came to the lighthouse. Now the Artrutx Lighthouse it is part of the historical heritage of Menorca.
Near the lighthouse there are the coves den Bosch and Son Xoriguer, one that has the greater waves and therefore enables windsurfing.

Sa Farola
It is located on the seafront of Sa Farola so you can get there calmly strolling about 30 minutes from the center of Ciutadella. During the trip you can enjoy the beautiful scenery or a swim in the Caleta es Frares with its platforms for the bathers located halfway.

Sant Carles or Mahon Lighthouse
Considered to be the first lighthouse on the island, it was built in 1852 on the ruins of Castell de Sant Felip, on the tip of Sant Carles. After some discussion about its location, it was replaced by a metal tower of black and white stripes.
Near the lighthouse there is Fort Marlborough, a unique hexagonal shape building surrounded by a trench dug in the ground and built by the British between 1710 and 1716, with galleries that you can visit.

Pictures by www.portsdebalears.com

Why not take a trip to Menorca? Have a look at our flights here!

While “The Times” recently described Palma de Mallorca as “the best place to live in the world”, it should be noted that Majorca is not just Palma and that you are likely to come across your “ideal spot” at any location on the island. I imagine that the Germans would agree, too… On this, the largest of the Balearic islands, there are so many hedonistic enticements that they can scarcely be encompassed in a single getaway. That is why many finally decide to “occupy it”. With the island’s gastronomy as a pretext, here are some key venues in Palma and the rest of the island for tasting it, according to one’s appetite and urges. Some might seek a simple snack; others, a full-blown banquet.

Ensaimada. You will get tired of seeing them everywhere, but at Ca’n Joan de S’Aigo they make the best ensaimadas, which are also for takeaways. Plain or filled with custard, cream or apricot. Don’t be put off by the queues or the time-worn appearance of this pastry shop, arguably resembling your grandparents’ living room. If you’d rather try something different, go for the gató or the cuarto, two traditional, homemade Majorcan sponges.

Sobrasada. Still in Palma, you will come across lots of grocery stores that sell sobrasada. The legendary one is Santo Domingo, where you can see it on display in all its shapes and varieties. The sobrasada sold at the Xesc Reina delicatessen, or La Luna, in Sóller, is delicious spread on toast and honey.

Well-Starred Cuisine

Enogastronomy is on a high, riding on the back of names, paradigms and also Michelin stars. The island is now a foodie destination of the first order, thanks to the cuisine and “gastro-activism” of such chefs as Andreu Genestra and Fernando Pérez Arellano. Both use ingredients sourced locally which they show off in style in reasonably priced/quality tasting menus.

Andreu, in the Son Jaumell hotel, and Fernando in the spectacular Castell Son Claret, grow and pamper much of the raw material for their dishes in situ. Andreu also explores new techniques in his recipes, such as smoked spices, while Fernando dishes up signature breakfasts coveted by other hotels on the island.

Casual Cuisine

Stop off at Claxon, preferably with a prior booking, to discover the “composite cuisine” typifying this establishment, with its garden, lunch menu and portions menu. Amid the bustle of Santa Catalina, head for Patrón Lunares, featuring well-known dishes reworked with aplomb and served up in ingenious guises. You can also have a drink at both places.

Eclectic Cuisine

Rialto Living is the place to head for in downtown Palma if you’re looking for a classy, arty, cultured multi-disciplinary space with fine cuisine. A new restaurant will shortly be opened on the first floor, but you can meanwhile take a seat at one of the café tables and order a snack, or try their fusion cuisine.

And, Two Stayover Options in Palma

Sant Francesc. The hallmark of this hotel, housed in a listed building in Palma’s historic centre, is the well-being of their guests. With spacious rooms and common areas, a rooftop swimming pool, a cocktail bar and a substantial collection of contemporary art and photography, no wonder this spanking new hotel is already one of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World.”

Can Alomar. On the most exclusive stretch of the Born de Palma promenade, this classical-style luxury hotel affords panoramic views of the Cathedral and harbour from its rooftop solarium, as well as from its restaurant terrace, where sipping a drink on high is an elating experience.

Delicious, isn’t it? Why wait to discover these five gastronomic idylls in Majorca? Check out our flights here.

Text by Belén Parra (Gastronomistas)

Photos by Belén Parra y Vera Lair