Mallorca in winter and autumn
Mallorca is best known for its seaside resorts. Sun, beach and parties. It is an island that I would avoid in the summer for several reasons. First, the massive influx of tourists, which makes for a less pleasurable experience.
Furthermore, with temperatures around 30º Celsius in July and August, I find it too hot to do anything. I rather lie on the beach or hang around the pool.
That is a double nope.
Therefore this kind of holiday will not end up on my list for Santa, despite the high vitamin sea and sun levels.
1. Mallorca in low season is more economical
Fortunately, there is life outside the high season on this Balearic island. After the hot summer months, the weather is much more pleasant, with average temperatures between 15 and 25º Celsius during the day. Indeed, too cold for swimming, ideal for an active holiday.
And, not unimportant, the hotel rooms tend to be a lot cheaper after the high season. Still, the coastal towns make an excellent base for exploring the interior.
2. The Mallorca golden beaches are just the beginning
After you enjoy the view:
- Rent a car, a bicycle, a motorcycle, or a boat tour and explore the island from the water. Discover the authentic mountain villages with their sandstone houses, which contrast with the modern coastal towns. Along the way, you will see almond trees, lemons, olive groves, cypresses and oak trees in a rural landscape.
- Admire the landscape, the colourful bougainvillaea, the oleanders, the scented jasmine and the unlikely blue of the Mediterranean. If you prefer to explore more actively, ride a bicycle or go on a hike.
- If you are serious about your sports endeavours, follow a golf or tennis clinic. Join one of the sports competitions, such as the triathlon in October or the cycling race in February.
- For culture, visit Palma de Mallorca, the capital.
- Finally, enjoy the food, wine, sunset and sea views at Puro Beach Illetas, the ‘oasis by the sea’, a beach club with wooden furniture, linen napkins, white umbrellas and views over the bay of Palma.For the ultimate relaxation, lunch on the terrace with a wok, burger, quesadilla, salad or vegetarian curry. Make sure you do not have other plans because it takes a long time until the food arrives. Therefore, drink that overpriced cocktail and enjoy the view of those handsome waiters while you wait for your meal to arrive. Then after your lunch/dinner, rest until the sun sets with a gin & tonic at hand. Success guaranteed
3. Relax at Hotel Calvia Beach The Plaza
Stay at the übercool Calvia Beach, just twenty kilometres from Palma de Mallorca’s capital. When you have the energy, jump in a taxi, take the bus or rent a bike to explore the old city centre of Palma, a maze of streets which are mostly pedestrianised.
Tired? Then go no further than the 5th floor of the hotel. You will find a ‘hanging’ pool with a glass bottom on the rooftop terrace. This allows you to look 25 meters down. If you suffer from a fear of heights, I recommend you hold your head high and enjoy the view over the Mediterranean instead.
The chances are that it is too cold for swimming beyond the summer months. That does not matter, as there is also a restaurant on the roof terrace, where you can delight in a meal with a view or hire a sunbed for a much-needed siesta—no need to feel guilty. Science is on your side. Yes, a nap in the afternoon is good for you.
If it is too windy to take a nap, go to your room. These are equipped with coffee and tea-making facilities, a fridge and a walk-in shower. The day starts with a breakfast buffet in the morning, with all kinds of bread, pastries, fresh fruits, yoghurts, eggs, cereals, etc.
In the vicinity of the hotel are dozens of restaurants, supermarkets, and shops, and within two minutes walk, you are at the Magaluf beach.
The municipality of Calvia has 53 kilometres of coastline with beautiful sandy beaches, of which six (Illetes, Cala Comtessa, Carregador, Palmanova, Son Maties and Peguera-Torà) have been awarded the blue flag several times.
4. The low season is ideal for hiking
- The Serra de Tramuntana is a mountain range that runs along the northwest coast from Andratx to Cape Formentor. In 2011, the area was given UNESCO World Heritage status because of the region’s beautiful landscape and cultural significance. It is a fantastic area to go hiking. From Calvía, there are over one hundred kilometres of trails.
Tip: buy the Mallorca Tramuntana hiking guide with good altitude maps and GPS coordinates.
- Puig de Galatzó is an iconic mountain in the municipality of Calvía, in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana. Various routes start from the Estate, two suitable for disabled people. The shortest route is 5.8 kilometres and takes about two hours.
5. Discover Mallorca by bike when the weather is cooler
In the Serra de Tramuntana, the Puig de Galatzó and the along the Calvia coast are five cycle routes. These come together at different points, which allows you to either shortcut or combine itineraries.
The options are:
- 122.7 km via Santa Ponça – Calvià – Es Capdellà – Peguera – Santa Ponça.
- 19 km route starts and finishes in Magaluf – Son Ferrer – El Toro – Santa Ponça – Cruce Andratx – Palma – Palmanova – Magaluf.
- 47 km route via Palmanova – Calvià – Coll des Tords – cruce Puigpunyent – Palma – Puigpunyent – Galilee – Es Capdellà – Calvià – Palmanova.
- 31.6km route along Illetes – San Agustín – Gènova – Coll de sa Creu – cruce Palma – Calvià – Calvià – Palmanova – Portals Nous – Illetes
- 27.5 km route to Peguera – Es Capdellà – Andratx – Port d’Andratx – Camp de Mar – Peguera.
6. Enjoy the sun on your plate
Your vacation only really starts when you have tasted the local cuisine. Mallorca is an excellent choice for a foodie with an exceptional wealth of home-grown olive oil, suckling meats, fresh seafood, home-baked pastries and sun-ripened vegetables.
- Start your day with an ensaïmada, a sweet roll topped with powdered sugar. Delicious with a cup of coffee for breakfast.
- Lunch with Coca de Trampó (a vegetable pizza); Panada: a meat pie and Pa’amb Oli: bread with garlic, tomato, smoked ham and olive oil. Of course, accompanied by a locally produced glass of wine.
- Your dinner is only complete with a dish from the extensive seafood buffet that the Mediterranean Sea offers its guests. Choose from octopus, salted cod, fresh oysters and, of course, paella.
Still, in the unlikely event that Mallorcan cuisine does not appeal to you, there is a wide choice of international restaurants on the island.
The small but excellent UMI (sea in Japanese) restaurant is at Port Adriano. The Argentinian owner Matías Provvidenti creates each plate like a miniature work of art. His fusion dishes are made with flowers, fresh vegetables, raw and cooked ingredients and taste as delicious as they look.
Leave some space for a dessert, especially the ‘green tea coolant and white chocolate dessert. As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of puddings, I rate this something extraordinary, probably the best dessert I have ever tasted.
7. Immerse in gorgeous nature
Even if you are no hiker or cyclist, you can enjoy nature in Mallorca. For example, birdwatchers can see many bird species, like cormorants, fulmars, curlews, vultures, chiffchaffs, eagles, etc.
Or go snorkelling. Indeed, the water is cold in the winter, but it is even tolerable to dive in the North Sea with a wet suit, so there should be no problem in the Mediterranean. While snorkelling, you might see sea cucumbers, bream, red algae, barracudas, jellyfish, anemones, sea urchins, cuttlefish and dolphins.
If you do not want to do anything yourself and still thoroughly enjoy nature, take a boat trip. If you are lucky, you will see dolphins.
And who knows, you even want to return to Mallorca in the summer.
Disclaimer
So you know, I was invited to visit the Calvía municipality by the Ajuntament de Calvià and the Calvià Foundation. Meliá Hotels International sponsored this initiative.
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