This increase is by no means insignificant as no fewer than 52 new air routes into Mallorca have been added compared with the previous year. Of course, Germany remains the country on top of the list of connections, with 64 cities with direct flights to Mallorca international airport. This year that number will rise to 78.

Second in popularity is the UK which will add 7 more flights to their current 63 to reach 70 destinations. Other popular countries are Italy, Russia, France and Norway, each received 4 new connections this year. There are some countries that will receive 2 new more routes this year and these are Switzerland, Finland, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Ireland.

All these countries and new routes bring the grand total for the Son Sant Joan to a respectable 339 destinations mostly inside of Europe. Among the top companies that operate flights to Mallorca are Ryanair, Air Berlin, Easy Jet and Air Europa.

This can only good news for the local business operators like the hotel owners and yacht charter operator who are already announcing higher occupancy rates, a promising beginning to the high season.

Considering that last year was a record year for the Palma international airport, with 3 million tourists handled in August alone, it looks that this year that record is ready to fall.

For those that don’t remember, last year’s Palma Boat Show was cancelled due to lack of funding and lack of interest from participants, but this year organizers are enthusiastic and eager to make a great comeback of a nautical event that is very important in this part of the Mediterranean.

Considering the importance of the sailing and yacht charter industry in Mallorca, it’s no wonder that local authorities are struggling to promote this event as best they can in order to attract great numbers of participants and exhibitors. It is estimated that the yachting industry creates a massive 800 million euros of revenue per year, out of which 200 million euro come strictly from ship building and repairs.

A parallel effort of the Mallorquin authorities is the first edition of the International Yachting Forum, which will be running at the same time as the boat show. This event was created as a large networking platform where yachting professionals could cooperate and interact.

Recent studies have shown that a person who attends the boat show spends in average more than a typical tourism so that’s why the local businesses and hotels are eager to the beginning of the event, which will mark the start of the tourist season this year in Mallorca.

In January, you can celebrate the Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastian fiestas, together with the locals, which make large parties in honor of their patron saints and also marking the start of the new year. Bonfires, outdoor cooking, animal processions as well as religious ones can be seen in every town and village on the island during this time.

In February you can enjoy the Almond Festival in Son Servera.

In March there is a pottery fair in Marratxi and a nature sport fair in Excorca which is perfect for the people who love nature and sports.

April is full of numerous events, one more inviting than the other: the spring festivals in Andratx, Calvia, Eugenia and Santa Maria del Carmi, the Sant Francesc festival in Muro, the Wine Fair in Polleca and the Sepia Fair in Alcudia dedicated to sea food and cuttlefish in particular.

The month of May marks the beginning of the sailing season with the Palma International Boat Show where yacht charter sailors converge to get the pulse of the new year. There are also medieval fairs in Soller (reenactment of the battle between the Moors and the Christians – a wonderful experience) and Capdepera , as well as spring fairs in different towns all over the island.

June is full of festivals dedicated to flowers and herbs in places such as Porto Cristo, Son Servera (apricot festival) and food festivals in Pollenca and Portocolom.

In July the Mallorcans have set up numerous cultural festivals in Porto Cristo, Valldemossa, Sant Jaume, Manacor, Playa de Muro in w2hich they celebrate local arts and crafts. Most of them take place at night and some of them on the beach (for the places by the water) which makes it even more attractive to tourists.

In the hot August days, there aren’t many events set up, mostly markings of historical events such as the battle of the Christians and the Moors in Pollenca, the devil dance in Montuiri and the Cavallets dance in Felanitx.

September brings with it cooler days and the harvest, which is celebrated throughout Mallorca with all sorts of festivities.

October is filled with different types of events, ranging from gastronomical like the one in Cala Ratjada or the one in Campos, as well as art shows like the one in Petra.

November is all about arts and crafts: there’s the Pollenca Artisan Fair, the Pumpkin Fair in Muro, the Olive Fair in Caimari, the Honey Fair in Llubi, the Autumn Fair in Sa Pobla and the Mushroom Fair in Mancor de la Vall.

December brings with it the Christmas market fairs like the ones in Palma taking place in Placa Major, La Rambla and Placa Espana, the one in Escorca and the one in Puerto Portals.

The celebration of Sant Sebastia encompasses a wide array of festive manifestations all through the island over the course of several days. Also famous this time of the year is the celebration of another saint, Sant Antoni, the protector of animals, held in high regard by farmers in Mallorca. He is celebrated on January the 17^th and mostly nowadays people take animals (pets too) to get blessed for the coming year.

Floats are paraded through the center of towns such as Llucmajor and Felanitx and animal parades are also often organized, much to the delight of the little ones. The fiesta usually ends with the process of blessing the animals which takes place in front of the churches.

When it comes time to celebrate Sant Sebastia, you’ll see torrades in the street, barbecues where they serve traditional dishes such as botifarró, sobrassada and xua. In the cities from the north part of the island it is customary to cut down a large pine tree and have people trying to reach the top in a sort of athletic contest.

All in all, this is a good time to visit the island, since most towns will be dressing up in their festive clothes and organizing all sorts of fun activities that will not only make your trip memorable but will also offer you a glimpse in the history and traditions of the Mallorquin people.

The organizers have decided to revamp the boat show which has its beginnings in 1983 on the north side of the island in Port Alcudia. In order to do this, they have enlisted the help of some private key players in the local yachting business.

Palma de Mallorca has slowly but surely become one of the top names in yachting business thanks to the gradual development of the local marinas such as Club de Mar, Real Club Nautico, Marina Port and Moll Vell, as well as some other marinas in the vicinity: Port Adriano in El Toro, club vela in Andtratx, Cala d’Or Yacht Club and Marina Ibiza.

The perfect sailing weather, the wide open seas surrounding the region and the cosmopolite air of the city have also helped Palma become the darling of the sailing regattas in this part of the Mediterranean. Among the most famous are the Copa del Rey, Princess Sofia, Palma Superyacht Cup, the Classic Trofeo Almirante Conde de Barcelona, as well as a host of other, small events which take place throughout the year.

The Palma boat Show prides itself in being an outdoor event, which means you won’t be sitting in stuffy halls or tents, and you’ll be able to take in the sunshine and the sea breeze. The organizers have also been thoughtful enough to provide plenty of  shade and sitting places where a weary guest can take a load off their feet. They guarantee “no boatshow fatigue or burn out”. Considering that the Mallorcans excel at relaxing, it’s safe to say this boat show will be more laid back than usual.

Generally, every village on the island organizes a small festivity to celebrate the winter holidays which they call a “fireta”. Some of these festivities start as early as the middle of December and last until the New Year, so make sure you look into it whenever you might be located on Mallorca.

Among the towns that organize such Christmas festivities are Muro, Valldemossa, Bunyola, Marratxi, Capdepera, Alaro and Palma, of course. The festivities range from concerts, Christmas fairs to culinary shows and other pleasurable activities.

For example, Marratxi will be hosting the Almond Milk Fair, a birds of prey exhibition, a theatrical recital and a performance from a local band. Bunyola will be celebrating with a Christmas food fair, a chocolate fair and a Bingo celebration in honor of the Three Kings’ arrival.

Capdepera begins with a Christmas market and continues with a festival of Christmas stories in the local library which ends with a musical performance from the local school band.

Palma de Mallorca announces the beginning of its Christmas Fair on the 25^th of December with the inauguration of its ice rink. At the fair there will be holiday merchandise such as sweets, decorations and Christmas trees. The stalls will be set up all around the city in major markets such as Placa Espanya, Placa Mayor and Las Ramblas.

Since autumn is the harvest season, yacht charter Mallorca too celebrates a plentiful year and organizes a lot of events to events to showcase the traditions and the local produce. The first event that comes to mind are the traditional firas which are hosted in Mallorca each weekend of the month.

These are basically chances being given to small rural producers to showcase their products in the big cities. Among the towns that host such firas are Port de Soller where the Gerret Fish Fair took place, or the town of Muro which hosted the annual Pumpkin Fair in the north side of the island. Pollenca will host the artisan handicraft fair.

The largest fira of the all will take place this weekend starting with the 15^th and it’s called the Dijous Bo which translates as “The good Thursday” hosted by the town of Inca.

This year 48 tapas restaurants throughout the city are participating at the event and the purpose of the contest is for each restaurant to try and create a different tapa that it can sell to its customers for 2 EUR with an added 1.2 EUR for a small glass of beer or wine.

These culinary concoctions will be evaluated by a panel of judges which will be offing marks for originality, taste and presentation. Last year, the winner was a mini “torrija” pie with almond oil, orange marmalade and truffle dressing with was served at Tasca de Blanquerna.

Each day the Tapalma will begin at 12.30pm and last until 4pm for the lunch time session and starts again at 7.30 lasting until midnight for the dinner session. The organizers are hoping to attract even more people than last year and for this purpose they have even made suggested routes and selected restaurants that are mostly from the Santa Catalina area, the Plaza Espanya, Centro and Sa Llonja.

This is an extra incetive for those yacht charter sailors that are discovering that Mallorca is an all-year-round destination not just for the summer season. If your sailing holiday takes you to Mallorca these days, make sure that you stop by any of the tapas restaurants that are participing in this year’s Tapalma for a delicious tapas.

Whereas the east side is low and mostly hilly, with large flat areas filled with orchards or fields, the western one is mountainous, rugged and wild, with just a few settlements perched high on top of some steep peak, clinging to the side of the mountain, only to be revealed to those brave enough to venture on the narrow, winding roads that cross them.

Among the most appreciated towns in this part of the island by yacht charter sailors is Port de Soller, a picturesque natural gulf that offers not only great protection to yacht mooring here, but also a great view to people enjoying a cold sangria in the bars on the waterfront.

35km from Palma, Soller is more reminiscent of some Italian mountain village set upon the horseshoe shaped bay that makes up the town. The main attractions in town are the modernized tramway system (Tren de Soller) which also connects with Palma around 5 times a day and the large marina with lots of old wooden boats, not to mention the 2 local sandy beaches known as “Es Traves” and “Ca’n Repic” which are connected by a large promenade that is full of bars and restaurants and even a few shops.

This destination is mostly great for sailors since it provides safe mooring if you’re on the western coast of Mallorca but you may also find the hotels in town full of middle-aged foreign couples who come here for the scenery, the laid back atmosphere and the peaceful location.

People from all over Europe are still pouring into Mallorca and especially in the beach resorts such as Palmanova, Alcudia, Cala Major and Pollenca. In fact, this steady stream of tourists is keeping hotels and apartments on the island at a steady 70% occupancy rate, the highest it’s been for 4 years, and 16% higher than last year.

This seems to be good news for local hotels and tourist-related business that have had such an excellent summer season this year. They would like nothing much but to extend the holiday season well into November but it’s not really that simple since most flight operators with trips to Mallorca begin decreasing the frequency starting with October and cancel them altogether starting with November.

Usually, Palma remains open to tourists throughout the year but it’s estimated that during the winter months yacht charter Mallorca functions at only 10% of its capacity for the coastal resorts. The numbers of passengers flying to Mallorca and landing at Sant Joan International Airport has been increasing rapidly in the last years and 2012 was no exception, but as soon as autumn arrives, that number decreases dramatically.

Local authorities and hoteliers are currently making efforts to expand the tourist season by promoting Mallorca as a winter destination. Truth be told, the island does have things to offer in winter too as its mild climate afford outdoor activities such as walking or cycling.

With such a host of great actors, there are bound to be lots of people hanging about the set which will take place in the coastal resort town of Camp de Mar. The production team on the film has been working with a local company, Palma Pictures to select some locations for the shooting and the collaboration has been said to go smoothly for both sides.

The movie is an adaptation of the novel written by British novelist Nick Hornby and it’s said to be the story of four people who meet on a New Year’s Eve to form a surrogate family to help them get to different difficulties in their lives at the time. The release date for the film is 2013.

This is certainly not the first cinematic endeavor that takes place in Mallorca. The Balearic island has been the set for a number of films recently, many of them actually famous like “Cloud Atlas” which starred Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, the teen comedy “The Inbetweeners” and the Sky TV series “”Mad Dogs”.

The Oyster Regatta takes place in Palma each year because Oyster Yachts has a longstanding relation with the region, having 2 separate offices for sales present here, as well as charter and customer service and support facilities.

It has come to a point that Oyster yachts have create a tight community that gathers year after year for numerous events bearing the yacht company’s name. This year too, Oyster  owners are looking forward to a series of exclusive events that will surely bring many owners and enthusiasts together.

The regatta also includes 3 days of sailing in the Palma Bay, connecting in the end with Andraitx. This will be the perfect opportunity for the owners to put their boats and skills to the test, will also enjoying the support of Oyster yachts technical teams.

For those that aren’t keen of pushing their yachts to the limit, there is also a concours d’Elegance in which the owners have to prepare their yachts to look their best in order to have home the prize of beet looking yacht.

So if you’re in Palma these days, make sure you check out the events.

But the reasons some come here, to the most frequented island in this part of the Mediterranean, is ironically to get away. Though populated from May to October by hordes of tourists from all over western Europe, yacht charter Mallorca still holds its secrets well kept.

The mysterious island of Mallorca can still surprise you with its secret coves and idyllic bays where you can lose yourself for a day and play Robinson Crusoe. Choose one of the more remote locations such as Bay of Pollenca or Bay of Alcudia and you’ll discover the true beauty of the Balearics.

Azure blue waters that ripple softly and transparently onto rugged rocks and shallow cliffs from which shrubs and small vegetation cling, giving way inland to thick forest of pine, make up the scenery here. No sand, no organized beaches, no amenities, and yet one of the most beautiful places on the island. It’s known to few locals and even fewer tourists.

Skippers and fishermen know the tiny coves which offer protection from the open waters and create a space hard to describe in words. They say that places such as this are perfect for dropping anchor for a day and enjoying the seemingly slower pace of yacht charter Mallorca. Sometimes, you can go on for an entire day and not see another human being.

So if you just want to get away from it all, book a last minute Mallorca yacht charter trip, and you’ll see the rugged Balearic beauty for yourself.

Now it seems local authorities are trying to close in the gap between the summer and winter seasons by making the island more popular during the off-season period. This effort is aimed at revitalizing not only the yacht charter industry which sees dramatic decreases in winter, but also the rental property market that has a similar fate.

Public institutions on the island of yacht charter Mallorca such as the Port Authority and the Airport Authority  have joined forces with private companies such Air Berlin and Iberostar to set up massive PR campaigns aimed at promoting the islands.

The idea on which this entire campaign of Mallorca 365 is based is that most of the people prefer several mini breaks during a whole year, rather than a fortnight of vacation. This means that yacht charter Mallorca can provide them with sun and warm waters in the summer, but during its mild winters, they can come here to enjoy a weekend of music, art, culture, cuisine, fiestas, wellness and shopping.

Also, it’s been pointed out that the large Palma marina caters to a year-round series of events. Indeed, as the locals or ex-pats might confirm, the sailing season never really ends in Mallorca, although the marinas are much fuller from April to October and especially in August.

When you take into consideration the fact that winters in Mallorca are pretty mild with little rainfall and temperatures that go well into the 20s, you realize the true all-season potential of the island. On top of that, there are a of sporting activities you can engage in year-round on the island such as golf, cycling, football or tennis and, in fact, there are many professional athletes that come to yacht charter Mallorca to hone their skills during the off-season.

It would seem that the days when smaller sisters island Ibiza took all the spotlight thanks to all the wild parties are now behind, and Mallorca is re-emerging as the real Queen of the Balearics. This can be seen in the ever increasing numbers of people travelling to the island but also in the large numbers of people moving here for good. Those numbers are especially high in the ranks of British citizens.

Just last month travel journalist Anna Nicholas was saying that yacht charter Mallorca is the perfect place for Britons to buy property and now figures from the National Statistics Institute appear to confirm that theory revealing that as many as 23,773 British citizens are now leaving on the island. If that number doesn’t mean anything to you, let us remind you that it represents a huge 75% increase since last year.

Mallorca is used to foreign nationals  as 21.6% of its total population is made up of non-Spanish people (the largest percentage in all of Spain), meaning it’s has strong expat communities from several countries, but none as numerous or as strong as the German and British ones. The average age of the British expat is 46.6 years old whereas the Germans have an average of 48 years old. But then again, the Germans are more numerous with a population of 36,727 people.

The main reason for Yacht charter Mallorca’s popularity is its beautiful weather which extends the summer season longer than in other places in the Mediterranean, stunning inland villages, beaches, marinas, 26 golf courses, a medieval-looking capital city, a 90km-long mountain range which in 2011 was entered in the World Heritage List by UNESCO and, most importantly, a large international airport which caters to the entire Balearics archipelago.

The Nautical Weekend is organized to be a boat fair that will be taking place at the local marina and it’s said to be in celebration of 25 years of existence of the local port which is in essence a luxury marina and widely regarded as a good sailing destination which offers top services for any yacht charter enthusiast.

Among the benefits of the yacht charter Puerto Portals marina are the fact that it’s close to the local airport, the lovely weather which counts no less than 300 days of sunshine per year guaranteed and unbeatable offshore/coastal conditions.

The event will have a large number of yachts on display for the public on floating quays, a shore-based exhibition in the central boulevard area, as well as numerous local yacht charter companies that will be bringing their 2012 offers to the interested customers. Add to that the local chandlery and yachting accessories local companies which will have products on display and you understand why this would be a good day out for a sailor.

Entry to this Puerto Portals Nautical Week has been announced to be free, as the event is made possible by a cooperation of the major local and international marine products and service suppliers as well as the local officials, all in an effort to bring more attention to the Puerto Portals marina and port.

Update: Because there weren’t enough participants for this year’s Nautic Fun Regatta to enlist in time, the event has been postponed to next year, in 2013, when we hope to see you there!

Since the sailing season is well under way all over the Mediterranean, we thought we might bring you news of sailing events from the sunny side, the yacht charter Balearics, more to the point, from the beautiful island of Menorca.

The local club of Nautic Fun Menorca, together with the Mahon Yacht Club, the Ciutadella Nautic Club and CANALMAR are organizing the Mahon-Ciutadella-Mahon Regatta between April 28^th and May 2^nd 2012. The details of the regatta are listed below, but the main reason you should enter this regatta is because, although it’s a competition class cruise race it does have an amateur spirit, aimed at the beginner racer or the ones seeking improvement.

The organizers offer to participants 20 charter yachts available in all lengths. In addition to that, there is the option of people participating in their own yachts, in a separate classification. This hopefully widens the categories of people who wish to apply, be they sailing enthusiasts or beginners who simply wish to get a feel for their own yacht in a sailing competition.

The schedule of the race is made up of two separate rounds, one from Mahon to Ciutadella and the other for the return trip, Ciutadella back to Mahon. The first round begins on Sunday, the 29^th of April and the second one Tuesday, the 1^st of May.

The racing program is as follows:

Sunday April 29:
Departure 10:00. First run, Mahon – Ciutadella.
Depending on weather conditions the round may be shortened.
More details in the Sailing Instructions to be provided to employers.
Arrival at C. N. Ciutadella, where free mooring will be available.
Barbecue for the crews in the C.N. Ciutadella.

Monday 30 April:
Free day in Ciutadella.
Free berth at the C.N. Ciutadella.

Tuesday, May 1:
09:00, meeting patterns.
Departure at 10:00. Second set, Ciutadella – Mahon.
Depending on weather conditions the sleeve may be shortened.
More details in the Sailing Instructions to be provided to employers.
Arrival at Mahon, dinner and awards ceremony at the Yacht Club of Mahon (21:00 hours).
Wednesday May 2:
Throughout the morning, check-out.

The yachts that are available for charter are fully equipped. The organizers advice that you take into account the possibility of sharing cabins for more numerous crews.We rent a complete vessel. Consult the possibility of empty seats in the latter case it is necessary to share cabin.

Here is the list of yachts that the organizers offer for hire:

Boats Year
Bavaria 32 2011
Bavaria 32 2007
Bavaria 37 2006
Oceanis 393 2005
Bavaria 45 2011
First 21 2006
Dufour 375 2011
Bavaria 32 2005
Cyclades 43 2007
Bavaria 34 1999
Bavaria 36 2005
Bavaria 36 2005
Bavaria 38 2005
Cyclades 43 2006
Sun Odyssey 40 2005
Elan 384 2007
Elan 384 2007
Oceanis 37 2012
Hanse 350 2011
Sun Odyssey 34 2002

However, this small village, perched high on the slopes of the Tramuntana has a very idyllic feel to it, with its abrupt, narrow streets, covered in cobblestone. The serpentine streets will eventually lead you to some high point from which you can observe the beauty of the island.

All around Deia, there are terraces which have been cultivated with olive trees and citrus trees for centuries now. If you look beyond them, you’ll notice the Teix mountain peak, which dominates the whole village at 1062m above sea level. Of course, there’s always the Puig Mayor, the highest on the island, which is located near the neighboring village of Soller.

The village is small by any standard, with a surface just over 15sq km and a population of 840 people, a number which hasn’t changed in a while, like so many other things around here. Of course, for those seeking the old Mallorca, that’s exactly what they’re searching for.

An interesting fact is that despite being one of the smallest and most remote localities on the island, Deia is widely regarded as the cultural center of Mallorca. Why? Well, because instead of bars full of drunken tourists and karaoke bars, this small village instead has museums, art galleries, literary and and musical heritage which is still visible today.

In fact, in the last centuries, there have been lots of writers and artists in general who chose this place as their vacation place: British poet Robert Graves, erotic writer Anais Nin, and Costa Rican novelist Carmen Naranjo.

Most recently, the string of artists and writers have been replaced by modern notorious people such as Virgin owner Richard Branson, Mick Jagger, Mark Knopfler and Mike Oldfield, all of whom have property here and can be seen occasionally hanging out around town.

Sant Antoni is the patron saint of animals which means the feast is mostly celebrated in the small villages around Mallorca like Arta, Sat Joans and Sa Pobla. These celebrations include grand processions and parades, not to mention daytime celebrations or blessings of animals in local churches.

The “Tres Tombs” parade is a traditional event which involves carriages and animal blessings  and it constitutes one of the highlights of the festival.

Other manifestations of the Sant Antoni festival are giant puppets being chased around the streets by painted devils, which is surely a sight to be seen and admired. When all the traditions are finished, you’ll be able to witness the real fiesta, with people organizing street parties with live music and drinks on the tap, a lot of singing and dancing in general and a lot of people having fun.

This is only one of the first festivals in the year in Mallorca, generally taking place in January of every year. It also is celebrated in other parts of Spain too, but for a real traditional experience, we invite you to yacht charter Mallorca with the promise that you haven’t seen anything like this before.

Among the companies attending, there are a few with international prestige, such as Burgess, Camper & Nicholsons International, Dahn International, Fraser, Yachts, Northrop & Johnson and Ocean Independence, all of which are expected to bring their best products in their catalogues on show. As it happens, this is also the first event for yacht sales and rental for superyachts to be held in Spain.

The setting of Port Adriano was chosen for its new installations which can handle the superyachts’ generous sizes as well as their special needs. Also, with a position just 30 minutes away from Palma, it would be easy for all the guests and participants to arrive.

Port Adriano has a total mooring area of 25,000sq m and 82 berths that range from 25 to 80m which makes it the best places for superyachts in this part of yacht charter Mallorca. The Port was first built in 1992 but it underwent a remodeling which also involved adding more berths as well as enlarging some of them to cater to bigger boats – up to 60m in length.

The only bad part is that admission is made only on the basis of personal invitation, which will be issued by companies which take part in the event to their customers. This means that it will be most likely a closed event to the public, but that doesn’t stop anyone who’s in the vicinity of admiring the beautiful yachts moored at Port Adriano.

Despite being under 50km from Palma and the airport, the trip to Colonia Sant Jordi takes sometimes even more than one hour due to traffic and the generally poor condition of the road in this part of the island. Maybe it’s for this fact that the resort is not present on any tourist operator’s package. That means that the resort can be considered somewhat of an undiscovered gem. Most of the people who come here have found out about this place either by coming here on previous locations or by word of mouth.

This means that the yacht charter Colonia Sant Jordi is very tranquil, originally established in 1879 as a fishing colony. For this reason alone, many of the locals think of this as a new town, despite the fact that most of the tourist developments started out in the 60s and 70s. From that time the town has undergone a slow but steady and controlled development.

The original fishing harbor still exists and every morning there is a ferry which operates trips to the neighboring island of Cabrera, a tiny rock island whose name literally translates to “Goat Island” which is a national park. This is a great place to visit if you have a yacht charter available, since the island’s history is very tumultuous, ranging from pirate hideout to prisoner camp during the Napoleonic wars. It’s also a lovely sail, but you’ll need prior permission to moor here, and only 50 boats max can harbor here every day.

The locals hold a weekly produce market every Wednesday afternoon. This is a nice opportunity for yacht charter crews to stock up on some fresh produce, but if you miss them, you can find the sellers the next day at the market over in Ses Salines.

Another thing definitely worth visiting is the neighboring Botanicactus garden, which incidentally represents the largest botanical garden in Euroep (150,000 sq mi) and the only navigable lake in the Balearic Islands. The name comes from the over 1000 species of cacti being grown here, including a 300 year-old specimen from Arizona.

The distance from the Son Sant Juan airport in Palma, the main entry point to the island is 65km. The trip to the resort is timed at about one and half hours by car although it depends on the traffic. Probably the best attraction in town is the Torre de Canyamel, a wonderfully preserved medieval fortified tower which has been recently transformed into an artisan center though originnaly it served as a refuge from pirate attacks.

The resort you’ll notice tends to be relatively undeveloped even for Mallorcan standards and in spite of the fact that it was built in the 1970s. Apart from a few hotels and other tourist accommodation, the resort is pretty much surrounded by pine forests. There are some low mountains in the background and a wide sandy beach and a fresh water torrente (there are no rivers on Mallorca, just temporary water courses after heavy rains called torrente).

Probably the most famous thing Cayamel is famous for is water activities. This place is widely regarded as the one of the best places for water sports on yacht charter Mallorca. On land also there is plenty of fun to be had since there are lots of tennis courts in the eastern part of the resort. No less than 100 courts await you and your friends for a nice match. Also available locally are 4 golf courses all of which are no further than 15 minutes by car.

Generally, the transfer time from the airport to the resort is calculated at about one and a half hours depending on the traffic. The closest large city is called Santa Margalida and you will more than likely pass through it on your way to the resort, which is 10km away.

C’an Picanfort has been described as having a distinct German feel due to the numerous bars and the restaurants which are aimed at the German tourists. This might make the tourist from another country feel somewhat of an outsider here, despite the fact that the locals welcome one and all to their resort.

Little remains of the original fishing village that stood here up until the late 60s and which was replaced with the modern buildings that today number close to 9000 beds for accommodating visitors.

There are really no attractions in the resort outside the beach itself which is very clean and has great facilities but it somewhat expensive when compared to other places on Mallorca. Also, most of the entertainment is hotel-based, save for 2 clubs and a couple of restaurants. To make up for it, C’an Picafort has a great many bars, all with a distinct German feel.

Outside the resort, there is the S’Albufera Park which is home for many species of birds from all over Europe. The park can be very fun because there are numerous hides wherefrom you can spy on the birds and their nests as they go about their usual business. This makes for a lively day out and it gives you something else to do when you tire of the beach.

As a measure of the area’s importance, the 8000 permanent residents of the Andratx district swell up to 24,000 during tourist season. Also, you’ll find that many international stars the likes of Claudia Schiffer, Tom Cruise or Michael Schumacher have summer homes built here making Camp de Mar no stranger to the rich and famous scene.

Among the local attractions are the Dragonera National Park and the Dragonera Island, a 6km long rock which was named after its likeness to a dragon’s back. Nearby, in the resort of Paguera, you’ll find the best tennis courts in all yacht charter Mallorca. Also in the region, you’ll find no less than 6 championship standard golf course.

On Wednesdays, a trip to neighboring Andratx will reveal a market which can provide you with the best fresh produce as well as local crafts, but be warned: haggling is a must if you want to get the best price.

The main events in Camp de Mar are on the 29th of June when Sant Pere is celebrated in Andratx, the 16th of July in Port Andratx for the Verge del Carme, the August Fiesta de Mores y Christians at Sant Elm     and the Verge de la Trapa on September 8th at S’Arracó.

Driving a car from the Palma International Airport takes about one and a half hours (two on a bad traffic day) but only if you have a rented car or take a taxi. By bus the journey is longer    so many yacht charter arrivals tend to choose the taxi, despite the sometimes steep price which only increases with numbers of bags and people.

Before the big tourist boom of the 1960s, yacht charter Cala Ratjada was a quiet fishing town like so many other coastal settlements on the island. The name literally translates into “The Bay of Rays” and although the harbor still exists, it no longer moors fishing boats but rather expensive yachts and cruise ships.

Because this is the closest point in Mallorca to the island of Menorca, the port of Cala Ratjada has always had an economic importance. On a clear day it’s even possible to see the capital city of Ciutadella on Menorca from Cala Ratjada. The resort is very popular with Germans and also with French but UK tour operators are just beginning to discover it.

One of the local attractions is common to other resorts on the eastern coast: the jagged and steep cliffs which fall often directly into the sea, making for an impressive view from out at sea, and for a great view from land out at sea too. There are also several beaches in the vicinity to choose from. The main beach in town is called Son Moll but since it’s not that big it often gets crowded and noisy during summer. The other beach, Cala Gat is also small, so for people looking for solitude and silence, it’s better you go to the neighboring Cala Guya, Cala Agulla or Cala Mesquida.

Nothing more than a village in the municipal district of Pollensa on the northwestern coast of the island, yacht charter Cala San Vincente is about 60km of Palma and 5km of the old town of Pollensa. Traditionally, this part of the island made a living with fishing and farming and even today the village still makes only little income from its limited concessions to the tourist trade, relying heavily on the sea and the land to make a living.

But don’t let that lack of tourism fool you, this part of the island has always been one of the wealthiest. The concessions when you come to Cala San Vincente is that you share the beach with the local fishermen who will actually use part of it to mend their fishing nets and storing their goods. Also, since much of the region is residential, you’ll always feel like a guest, although the locals are pretty warm and welcoming. That means that you will have to respect the same rules that apply to a visiting friend.

The upside is that you get to witness life in a real Mallorcan village, away from the influences of mass tourism which have modified much of the traditional way of life in other parts. The coastline is scenic and dramatic, as much of the rest of the eastern seaboard, with rugged high cliffs that fall suddently in the deep blue sea.

There are 3 beaches, the best one of all being Cala Barques also the biggest and complete with restaurants, bars and shops, not to mention amenities such as sun beds and umbrellas. The second beach is Cala Clara, smaller yet closer to one of the few hotels in the resort which means it’s often crowded during summer. The third beach is Cala Molins and it has the finest sand which is imported by the locals.

Because the buildings here are of a more recent nature, there have been those that have branded the local architecture somewhat inappropriate for the overall style of the rest of the island, but the majority of people coming here time and time again don’t seem to mind it. However, this means that there aren’t too many historical attractions to be visited here.

The closest large town is Manacor, home of the artificial pearl manufacturing in yacht charter Mallorca, where you can not only purchase some nice jewelry for the missus back home but also take a peek into the production of these wonderful products of the sea.

Just outside of town you’ll find the Exotic Parque Los Pajaros where you can watch parrots performing acrobatic and also flamingoes. Onsite you’ll also find a children’s zoo and a small botanical garden with a variety of cactus species.

The more adventurous yacht charter crews can either hire bikes and explore the surrounding countryside or take on a tour in a glass-bottomed boat which will allow you to sail along the east coast and see from the water its remote beaches and pine fringed coves.

On land the Caves of Hams and their peculiar formations are worth a visit being 2km west of Porto Cristo. Also in the region are the famous Caves of Drach, definitely worth a trip.

The local night scene doesn’t really kick off until midnight, but after that it’s happy hour at most clubs and bars and you’ll bump into a lot of British tourists, especially in the sports bars which have huge screens where they broadcast the latest sporting events in the UK.

The name literally translates into “The Better Bay”, a reference to the neighboring resort of Cala Bona (The Good Bay) which is probably some competition among the local fishermen. Regardless of the name, the resort came to live on top of a local settlement after in 1933 a man by the name of Jaume Vicens Adreu saw its potential and built the first hotel in town – the Eureka.

Today, the resort boats some 16,000 beds in 61 hotels and an additional 65 self-service apartments. The major appeal is the intricate maze of caves and coves, typical of yacht charter Mallorca’s rocky eastern shore, which culminates with the 6 km long beach stretching in all its glory. For many, this is the best island on yacht charter Mallorca island so it’s definitely worth a trip.

Nearby, the resort of Cala Bona offers equally great sun bathing opportunities, as well as a chance for a day trip and can be easily reached since the two share a common promenade to the north. The more adventurous, can try to visit the nearby resorts of Sa Coma and S’Illot or the famous Caves of Drach.

There are good shops in town, but for a real shopping experience, check out one of the local market days, like the one in San Servera or the one in Manacor, where the local pearl industry is perfectly represented and can make up either for a lovely souvenir or for a nice gift for someone special back home.

Among all the resorts on the northeastern part of yacht charter Mallorca, Cala Millor is definitely the liveliest and with the best night life, so that many of the tourists from neighboring resorts come here after dark in search of fun. There are bars, clubs and karaoke joints for those looking for a night out on the town.

Only a 65km trip separates Cala Bona from the Palma International Airport, a distance which can either travelled using local transport or by renting out a car, in which case, the trip won’t take too long, usually about an hour. If you are in a hurry or don’t like the wait, there’s always the option of taking an airport taxi, but in this case, you’d better be prepared to pay a little bit more money.

Because Cala Bona was not purposely built as a holiday resort, it’s basic architecture is that of a small fishing village with small, narrow streets which are hell to drive through and an equally small but still working harbor.

Like most other settlements along yacht charter Mallorca’s coast, you’ll notice the harbor is the beating heart of the city as here you’ll find the majority of cafes and restaurants, all lined up facing the water. A pleasant surprise is the fact that Cala bona still retains that quintessentially Mallorcan feel, as opposed to larger resorts on the island that have since developed a German feel. This makes it a favorite of British tourists.

The best thing about Cala Bona (The Good Bay) is the 2km long sandy beach which runs all the way to Cala Millor (The Better Bay) which in later years has gained some recognition and in consequence also received some improvements from the local council. But other than that, there’s really not much else to see in town. However, Cala Millor, just 15 minutes to the south, is a bit livelier.

In July this year the EU Transport Commission in response to questions raised by the Balearics and Catalunya, suggested that the Spanish tax law on ‘certain means of transport’ (IEDMT) burdens with the 12% mat tax, yachts longer than 15 metres dedicated to commercial charter in Spanish waters coming from other EU member states. And crucially does so, even if they have satisfied all the certification and matriculation requirements demanded by the country of residence of their owners.

The argument behind their opinion was that the tax prevents the development of commercial charter activity in Spain from taking place on an equal footing with the rest of the EU, and effectively harms the principles of free circulation of peoples and services which is enshrined in the EU constitution.

Therefore the suggestion was that a proportional tax payment relative to the time the yacht is actually available for charter might be a fair compromise, and better adjusted to the EU principles on free movement of goods and services.

Meanwhile the major yachting associations in Spain, (ANEN, FENIB, AEGY, AENB, ANAVRE etc,) are as united as ever in their lobbying efforts towards politicians, particularly with regard to the potential incoming party, which is widely expected to be the Partido Popular.

In several meetings the associations have had with prominent PP politicians, they have been encouraged by the understanding of the irrefutable business case facts and figures, which seem to have been readily understood and fully acknowledged.

In the latest move, a top Madrid law firm are being approached to present the facts to Madrid before the year end, along with suggested wording for a reframing of the tax law as it is applies to all EU flagged charter vessels over 15 metres.

This is now a constantly changing and fast moving situation due to the impending national elections, and the necessary finance ministry budget process which will have to take account of any changes in tax law and its revenue generation before the new government takes over in the new year.

Up until very recently, the town remained only by locals and kept its old architecture. The change came with 2004 when EU funds were pumped in and tourism began to really take off. 32km away from Palma, the region remained for a long time “undiscovered” by tourists and even major tour operators and even today, very few reach here and when they do it’s out of sheer curiosity.

A curiosity is that originally, the town’s residential area was built inland, away from the port, as a means of protecting from pirate attacks. The only testament of that today can be found in the upper part of town where you’ll find the fortress-like church of Santa Maria. This is also a good place to get a nice view of the whole region and certainly of the whole town so make sure to bring a camera.

Despite the relative closed nature of the town, the first thing you’ll notice when you arrive here is that you’re not the only one who has discovered this treasure as numerous celebrities have fancy villas built here. Names like Claudia Schiffer, Tom Cruise or Michael Schumacher are frequent when talking about local real estate.

Even if commercial fishing is still being carried in Andratx on a small scale, the real attraction of the town is the local marina and its 300 berths where luxurious yachts moor and contrast with the local Mallorcan feel and architecture. In fact, this town remains one of the best (if not the best) preserved example of a Mallorcan town.

The only downsides to Andratx are the fact that in summer (July and August) when the season is in full force, the streets can get a little crowded and the fact that the town doesn’t really have a beach. Although there are some excellent locations for sunbathing outside of town, you’ll have to travel some distance to get there.

For some, this isn’t a problem as they use Andratx as a base to explore some of the more remote regions of Mallorca on the western coast along the Tramuntana.

95km from Palma, the journey to Cala Mesquida will take as far north as you can travel east on yacht charter Mallorca. If you’re travelling by car, the journey will probably take one and a half hours, and at least three and half hours if you venture to use the public transport which takes you through Manacor and Capdepera.

The main attractions of the island are the azure waters surrounding it and the white sand beaches that border them. Of course, much of the coastline is made up of steep cliffs covered in pine forests whose deep green color contrasts beautifully with the blue waters. Having started out as a famed stronghold of smugglers, today Cala Mesquida enjoys a much more tranquil lifestyle which revolvs mainly around tourists.

Despite being far from the regular circuit, you’ll find that the local beaches are rather crowded during weekends and especially on Sundays, but that’s only because of late, people seem to prefer these isolated beaches rather than the large, popular ones, and they are willing to travel great distances to get to these coves.

Another reason to come here is the water sport potential. If you didn’t know, the whole north region of yacht charter Mallorca is famous for the constant strong winds, meaning that all beaches here are known hot spots for windsurfers, kite surfers and other extreme sports. At times, when the sea is particularly rough, you might see signs warning of potential hazards to swimmers such as jellyfish.

You can find a series of shops in Cala Mesquida, mostly clothing stores, sporting goods and some souvenirs, but overall there is little in ways of spending your hard-earned cash. For this you’re better off heading to the neighboring Cala Ratjada.

Currently, the Spanish law demands that a commercially chartered yacht of over 15m pay 12% of its value in matriculation tax every year it operates in Spanish waters, even if the yacht is taxed and registered in another European country. In other words, if you have a boat bigger than 15m and want to sail it in Spanish waters, then you have to pay year after year.

Normally, this annoyed the local charter operators in Mallorca who complained to the European Comission that this tax was hindering their development. Now, Brussels has taken a look into the matter and ruled that the Spanish law currently being enforced is discriminatory and that it breaches the EU principles of freedom of movement of people and goods which is noted in the EU constitution.

Local yacht charter operators have also added that if their industry is allowed to flourish (and yacht charter Mallorca has plenty of potential) many more jobs would be created thus alleviating the high unemployment problem which currently affects the Spanish Balearic Islands.

The outlook seems favorable for the yacht charter industry as this weekend there are general elections to be held and the pro-business Partido Popular party is the favorite for the win. This may mean the end of the Spanish matriculation tax, an event which is highly anticipated by the yacht operators in Mallorca.

The building was taken over last year by the locally based chandlery, rigging and yacht-painting specialists Rolling Stock Group. It has always been a central building in the boatyard providing canteen facilities for workers and yacht crews, as well as some workshop and storage space in its old guise.

Now the RS Global Company have completely refurbished the building which offers a new restaurant facility called the Dock Bar, together with modern well appointed offices for up to 20 local and international superyacht refit and repair specialists.

The STP yard has had massive investment over the last few years since being taken over by its present management on a long-term concession awarded by the Balearics Port Authority.

With a number of travel lifts up to 800 ton capacity, several keel pits for sailing yachts up to 60 metres and a large number of deep water moorings, the STP yard is undoubtedly the premium superyacht repair and refit facility in the Mediterranean.

Attending the opening were invited VIP guests from the local authorities included the President of The Balearic Port Authority, Sr.Jose Maria Urrutia Mera,  the President of The Mallorca Chamber of Commerce, Sr. Juan Gual de Torrela, and Margarita Dahlberg, President of The Balearic Nautical Business Association (AENB)

The tenants include:

Rolling Stock Group (yacht painting, chandlery, rigging, shore support)

RSB Rigging Solutions (rigging)

Astilleros de Mallorca (complete shipyard services)

e3 Systems (advanced marine electronics)

Tehnocraft Scaffolding (scaffold, covers & fittings)

Pinmar (superyacht refinishing)

Pendennins Shipyard (tehnical refit solutions)

Pure Superyacht Refit (specialist superyacht refit)

Metalnox (Lloyds approved welders)

Soft Interiors (custom-made interiors & exteriors)

Master Yachts (refit management)

Palma Refit (superyacht furnishing specialist)

Trappmann Consulting (design, carpentry, upholstery)

Universal Nautic (upholstery, covers and carpets)

Pendennis Shipyard (yacht builders & repairs)

The Dock Bar (bar/restaurant)

Among the most interesting attractions for yacht charter tourists remain the parish church of Santa Maria la Mayor and the convent of San Jeronimo, as well as the very original Son Fuster Inn, which reminds the modern-day traveler of simpler times.

The local cuisine is very good as it combines elements of Spanish and Portuguese recipes, but it also has a lot of reminiscent ingredients and flavors from the Moorish occupation, which can only increase the pleasure of the visiting tourists. There are local markets which are famous throughout the island that provide the restaurants with fresh produce for the best tasting experience in the Balearics.

It used to be that the town was famous throughout Europe for its wine cellars until in the 19^th century phylloxera destroyed the town’s wining industry and the locals were forced to specialize in different things. That is why today the town is famous for its leather craftsmanship and you’re advised while here to purchase some of the local footwear.

Although the town lacks in aesthetically pleasing buildings or even that special island charm that the other coastal settlements enjoy so much, Inca is still worth a visit because of the local heritage, the industry and the produce that can be found here. For sailing enthusiasts, a trip to the hinterland might prove beneficial as well as educational, since on the way you will also experience the Mallorca landscape.

The local city council has only recently begun promoting their resort so this really is “virgin territory” in terms of tourist popularity. The transfer time from Palma airport varies from around 1 hours to 1 and a half hours, depending on the type of transportation you choose (car or bus) and the traffic.

Unlike many other villages in the region, Porto Cristo is not solely dependant on tourism and has a thriving fishing industry but also a furniture making industry and the neighboring town of Manocor also specializes in pearl making.

The main interest in yacht charter Porto Cristo for  sailors is the large natural bay which, along with the one in Portocolom, are the biggest in the east coast of the island. There are also a set of caves which pose interest to tourists which are called Caves of Drac and Caves of Hams.

Among the benefits of spending your holiday in Porto Cristo are the cheap accommodation fares and the relative calm atmosphere here which is suited for a more mature tourist crowd. You’ll find here a few 3 and 4-star hotels which offer quality services, but also plenty of bars and café where you can experience the Mallorcan lifestyle.

The name of the village is surrounded in legend and two most popular versions speak of a crucifix with Chirst. The first version of the settlement of “The Port of Christ” is that a boat carrying one such a crucifix was ashore here and the second is that a cart of oxen carrying an icon of Christ to Palma stopped here and refused to move and the people took it as a sign that the icon wanted to stay here and they settled the area.

One of those places is the Balearic island of yacht charter Mallorca where temperatures are still in the 20s and the sun still shines all day long, making it very lovely for the entire family without being too hot like it is in August for example.

Another advantage is that the prices have dropped since the tourist season is by now officially over so you might get a nice deal on a yacht charter boat at one of the local marinas. There are special discounts to be found by using the Yachtfinder search we have provided for you and last minute offers on boats very well equipped and built recently.

And finally, one of the best things is that you can find mooring more easily than you would during the high season as most of the boats that used to be berth at marinas all over the coast have now left.

So take advantage of these few last days of warmth and sunshine in the Balearic Sea by making a visit to Mallorca and taking a boating trip around its rocky shores. Get yourself a last minute tan and make summer last just that little bit longer.

This is a small village, near Cala d’Or, a resort on the southeastern shore. The village is so small it only has a population of 500, but that increases during the summer months when visitors come here to enjoy the peace and quiet that they can’t find in neighboring resorts.

One of the main reasons people come here is the beach which is secluded, a fact that always popular with those that enjoy their privacy. In fact, the beach is an important part of this small settlement that is made up of a harbor, a small marina and a number of restaurants and bars lined up along the waterline.
Another nice thing about Porto Petro is the fact that life here doesn’t follow the touristic pattern present on the rest of the island, meaning that during the off season it does not become a “ghost town”. Bars are still open and life continues here despite the crowds of visitors leaving for home.

In this authentic Mallorcan village you will be able to find and enjoy the unadulterated Balearic lifestyle, its traditions, its tastes and smells and its laidback nature, that has been long gone in other places on the island thanks in part to the masses of tourists coming here each year but also to the numerous German and English expats who now call Mallorca their home.

Travelling by yacht charter, you’ll find this place very easily and be able to enjoy its full potential. In fact, we recommend sailing in as the best way of travelling to Porto Petro, with its quaint waterfront and small marina.

The two companies have joined in a program which receives the full support and even funding from the European Union in what will hopefully be a success. At the moment, “Within the SCV sector, a UK commercially qualified skipper, boating in Spanish waters, can only work commercially on UK registered vessels; he is not allowed to work on Spanish or any other EU registered vessels unless he holds Spanish or other country specific qualifications. Equally, Spanish nationals boating in Spanish Waters with Spanish commercial qualifications can only work on Spanish registered vessels regardless of their knowledge, ability, experience and competence” said Mike John, Director at the Sea-Tech School Principle.

He also added the only solution “currently available to both skippers is that they must both re-qualify, i.e. the Spanish skipper must be re-trained and examined under the UK system with the condition that the training and examination be carried out in English language. Likewise the UK skipper, in order to work on a Spanish registered vessel in Spanish waters, must complete a Spanish course and examination in Spanish language”.

In order to solve this problem, the initiators of this project have enlisted the help of 7 partners from 6 other European countries. Their first meeting will be on the 27 & 28 October at the Cala d’Or Yacht Club in yacht charter Mallorca. Also present at that meeting will be Peter Franklin, editor at the local magazine “The Islander” which is a sign that the locals are not only proud of this initiative but also highly interested in its outcome.

The organizers of the yacht charter Mallorca regatta have called it a qualifying event and thus no points were awarded to the participants. However, there was one event which seemed to outweigh the others, and that was the fact that for the first time the six Volvo Ocean Race yachts have sailed together side by side.

It seems that the key point in the race was passing Ibiza island because, as Iker put it: “The weather forecasts were terrible, with no wind anywhere”. Their strategy was simple, go through the middle: “As we saw the entries in front were stationary, we decided to go through the middle, where there was a bit more pressure. We got more luck than anything else. We managed to get through well and to close haul back with a fair bit of breeze”.

The fact that the 6 boats sailed together meant that competition was very high as they performed equally well: “When the boats are together they perform very, very equally and that will make this regatta very, in fact, extremely tough”, but that only meant more excitement for the people following the race on dry land.

The winners of Telefonica however have no time to gloat over their victory as they have to head out for the next race and make measurements to make sure they qualify for the class they’ve entered in. The regatta is said to begin next weekend so the team has 5 days to get everything in order.

The event will take place at the prestigious Real Club Nautico in Palma de Mallorca and it features several models from the Oyster range of yachts, 13 to be precise, from the Oyster 46 to the Oyster 82. All the proud owner and their families and friends have been gathering at the Mallorca capital for several days now and expect a week-long smooth sailing trip, dotted with after-hours parties.

One of the circuit’s veterans, Richard Smith, having sailed his Oyster 655 in 12 regattas had this to say: “This will be my fourth regatta in Palma but I also love the variety of locations, Sardinia, the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Antigua, they are all spectacular venues that I have fond memories of. Purely and simply, I really enjoy the Oyster events and that is why I take part. The crew of Sotto Vento are all friends from home, I wouldn’t have it any other way, it adds to the fun and the excitement because we sail the boat ourselves rather than have a professional crew sail the boat for us, for me that is so rewarding”.

All in all, there are 5 races scheduled to take place in the Bay of Palma and in the ancient town of Andraitx located in the southwest of Mallorca. The Oyster regattas are famous for their elegance (there is a Concours d’Elegance scheduled to take place), their supportive staff and meticulous planning, as well as the social events. To kick off the regatta, there is a cocktail party scheduled to take place at the Real Club Nautico and later a barbeque supper on the club’s impressive terrace, overlooking the impressive Oyster fleet moored at the docks.

There’s a given rule that whenever mountains meet sea, the resulting landscape is always very beautiful. The small town of Port de Pollenca on Mallorca, the biggest of the Balearic Islands, sitting at the foot of the Tramuntana mountain range in a peaceful bay seems to have been built with that particular rule in mind.

At the very northern tip of Mallorca, the small fishing village Port de Pollenca is known for its peaceful atmosphere not to mention for the sandy beaches bordered by the seawalk. In the evening tourists and locals alike can be found wondering on the paseo or stroll, according to a tradtion that has been kept for decades.

Despite being renowned for its quiet, family-friendly atmosphere, you might find that there aren’t that many things to do while in Port de Pollenca. But you’ll find that there is a bustling cultural life here, thanks to the high numbers of painters that have been making trips here in search of inspiration. Art enthusiasts can visit the Museum of Pollenca, Casa Museu Dionis Bennassar and the Museu Marti Visenç.

The historical points of interest are to be found in the churches in Pollenca and the Roman bridge built in 123 BC that actually leads into town. Apart from these, an art lover can visit any of the numerous galleries that display paintings and hold regular exhibitions.

Keeping with its reputation as a tourist town, Pollenca has over 100 restaurants and cafes that offer everything from Chinese to Swiss dishes. But as always, the hungry visitor will want to sample some of the local delicacies and for this he should try the Pa amb Oli (basically bread with oil, a reminiscent Roman tradition), Coca (the local equivalent of pizza), Tumbet (ratatouille with potatoes) and the delicious Lechona (roasted suckling pig).

Though in the local shops you’ll find everything the modern sailor needs to fulfill his needs, you’re invited to taste one of the types of wine served in the local bodegas, as the region is famous for growing vines and producing organic wines for export.

To the usual sunbathing and water sports that are common to every resort, Port de Pollenca has some other interesting activities on land. Bird watching, though not so popular nowadays, still thrives here, and goes hand in hand with biking and hiking in the countryside of Majorca.

The old town of Pollenca is rooted in tradition, and that’s why, throughout the year, there are numerous religious events, saints’ days, carnivals and fiestas. You’re bound to catch one no matter when your party arrives here.

This resort lies on the northern tip of yacht charter Mallorca. Whereas other resorts on the eastern and southern shores like Cala d’Or, El Arenal or Portocolom have evolved from fishing villages, Puerto Alcudia was actually a regular town which is why today the tourist can still see a lot of medieval architecture.

Located in the Bay of Alcudia, it has Moorish and Roman influences that have since turned into a touristy location. Though the resort is situated on completely flat terrain, there are a series of lakes and canals inland where the visitor can go exploring.

Considered by many as a perfect family destination due to the quality of the beaches, the services and the general atmosphere, Puerto Alcudia also caters to younger crowds. Today it’s full of restored narrow medieval streets where you can find shops, restaurants and cafes. The most interesting places for foreign saiing crowds are the old bridge which is well preserved and the remains of the theater.

Despite their large numbers, the shops in Puerto Alcudia don’t offer high end merchandise so you can forget about luxury shopping. However, there are good deals to be had at the markets happening every Tuesday and Sunday and generally dealing fruit, vegetables and handicrafts. There is a Wednesday market in neighboring Sineu (30 km due south) which is considered the best traditional Mallorcan market so it’s worth a trip with your yachting friends.

Even if you are in the heart of the Spanish culture, you will be amazed at the number of establishments that serve traditional English breakfasts, due to the large numbers of visiting Brits that chose this location as their summer retreat. Also on the local menus you’ll find Mexican, Italian, Chinese and Turkish specialties as well as a wide array of fast food places.

Good news for those pleasure sailors looking for a good time after dark. Puerto Alcudia is the night time entertainment center of the north side of the island so there’s plenty to do and see. There’s one huge club and a hoard of several other smaller clubs that stay open through the night. Also, around the harbor there are lots of live music and karaoke bars. Even so, you can’t compare these places with the much livelier and noisier resorts from the south of the island.

The beach receives a lot of attention from the summer guests which is why you’ll find it offering exceptional services, with golden sands, water sport equipment hire, lifeguards and even an option to paraglide. On land, you’ll enjoy a few holes at the local golf course, go karting or cycling around town and the local countryside.

The resort of El Arenal is situated on the south side of the island of Mallorca, on the eastern shore of the Palma Bay and it has acquired a reputation in the last years as a quintessentially German retreat thanks in part to the large number of German tourists who call this place home during the hot season but also to the ones that made this place their town by building homes here.

The main part of town is the promenade where everyone converges as soon as the sun sets and it connects with the one in yacht charter C’an Pastilla and Palma to form a continuous pedestrian zone, free of traffic. That doesn’t mean you have to walk all that way because there is a mini train which operates here and that can take between resorts in a matter of minutes.

Shopping in El Arenal means you get the same touristy shops and merchandise, but for a real shopping experience you need to go to the markets in C’an Pastilla where you can purchase ceramics, leather goods, embroideries and jewelry.

The eating scene is pretty similar to any tourist resort and offers a wide variety of establishments and tastes, but if you want to sample some real local food, you simply have to try the Mallorcan fish recipes served with a chilled glass of local wine that is fragrant yet inexpensive.

The party scene in yacht charter El Arenal is pretty cool as previously mentioned and often it can become chaotic. The pubs, bars and restaurants stay open until the early hours of the morning so don’t plan on getting much sleep when coming here. However, if you seek some peace and quiet, head to the holiday complexes outside of town.

It was a moment of pride for local yachties and enthusiasts to have Mallorca as the starting port of the world famous Global Ocean Race, a double-handed Class 40 event. The fact that this event is probably going to bring even more tourists to the already popular yacht charter Mallorca port was mentioned and thanks were addressed to the people who made that possible.

The start of the race will be given Sunday, September 25^th and already 5 of the 6 teams participating in the event have arrived in yacht charter Mallorca to begin preparations. Some crews, like the one from New Zealand and the one from South Africa have been down in Palma for several weeks now, planning and get used to the weather and waters.

The participants to the race were graciously invited by locals to the Camper Welcoming Regatta which is organized by the Real Nautico de Palma and which will take place in the Bay of Palma. This will be a good chance for the crews to get a hang of the challenges they will have to face in the race.

Why come here

Before we get into describing this quiet and quaint resort, it’s worth mentioning that though it’s located on the island of yacht charter Mallorca, this is by no means a wild place full of parties like some of the other Balearic towns. On the contrary, it’s more like a peaceful retreat where you can bring your family for a little time off.

Yacht charter Ca’n Pastilla is located on the eastern side of the Bay of Palma which means it sits on the more peaceful part of the island, as opposed to the more wild western side where you’ll find Palma and a range of other resorts that are suited for the younger crowds.

Where to hang out

It’s a common known fact by now that the eastern side of yacht charter Mallorca is quintessentially British, while the western part is frequented more by German groups. However, there isn’t much to be visited, as the town is just one main street with the small parish church of Sant Antonio de la Playa, the harbor and the yacht club marina. This is mostly due to the fact that up until the 60s this was nothing more than a sleepy fishing village along the coast. However, there is plenty of sightseeing to be done in neighboring Palma.

The town’s harbor is the right place to head to if you’re looking for a nice dinner. Here, you’ll find restaurants that specialize in the exotic and tasty Catalan cuisine but also in international dishes, especially for the travelers that crave a taste from back home. Fish dishes like the dried sardines served with paella will go well with the Mediterranean atmosphere and are fairly priced.

When it comes to entertainment after dark, many of the restaurants by the promenade also act as bars, some with a distinct British feel to cater to the numerous regulars that come here from the Isles.

It’s been said that the beaches in Ca’n Pastilla are among some of the best in this part of the Mediterranean, and they extend all the way to yacht charter Palma, with lots of sun beds so there are really no crowded days here, just people having fun. Visitors young and old alike can also have fun at one of the biggest waterparks in Europe that can be found in the vicinity of the town. The promenade is also great for strolls and bike rides and generally a quiet outing at dusk.

Regarded by many visitors to have the best beaches in yacht charter Mallorca, Cala d’Or is located on the east coast of the island, approximately  65km from Palma. It evolved from a traditional local village into the modern resort of today, expanding continuously and now it covers 4 km of sandy beaches and hidden coves.

Most of the town is made up of buildings painted in the traditional Mediterranean white, also found in the Ibiza area, while the outskirts are made up of private holiday villas. There is a large pedestrian zone in the center, where all the bars, restaurants and shops are massed together which makes it a virtual tourist magnet.

Because building is severely restricted here due to lack of space, there are few places that attract interest. Among the most important are the modern marina and the pedestrian region found in the center of the town. These are the places where the visiting crowds congregate religiously when they’re not on the water. The Castillo de Santueri near the village of S’Horta and the the Aquarium de Mallorca next to the Caves of the Drach are also interesting places to visit.

If it’s shopping you’re looking for, your crew should check out the weekly market at Felanitx happening every Sunday morning. This is considered the best market in yacht charter Mallorca. It’s a good place to grab some locally produced pottery, fruit and other produce. However, be warned that getting the best prices requires some haggling, but then again there are people that enjoy that.

If you’re getting peckish, just head on to the pedestrian street downtown and there you’ll find most restaurants which serve an eclectic mix of Spanish, Catalan, Italian and African cuisine, with a couple of establishments which also serve International menus. Cala d’Or is one place where you and your friends won’t go hungry.

The nightlife is different from other parts of the island. The bars around the marina and the central market are the best chance you’ll find for some nighttime entertainment. Also, some of the local hotels put on shows for their guests, but pleasure craft sailors will find themselves going to bed past midnight, as most establishments close up by that time.

One of the biggest parties around here is undoubtedly the Fiesta de la Mare de Deu del Mar (Our Lady of the Sea) which takes place on August 15th and involves a maritime procession near the harbor and some musical manifestations. And speaking of music, some of the regulars will surely enjoy the Cala d’Or International Jazz Festival, that goes on each July.

Among the most popular daytime distractions are sunbathing, sailing in glass-bottom boats along the coast, go-karting and cycling. The explorers can always check out the Caves of Drach which are open for visits each year from April to October.

Why come here

Despite it not being as popular as yacht charter Palma, C’an Pastilla or El Arenal, yacht charter Portocolom is the main harbor town on Mallorca’s southeast coast. It’s located in the district of Felanitx and it’s approximately 65 km east the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca.

The overall region is made up of mountainous relief which slopes down to the coast to form numerous bays and quays, and one of the biggest and safest natural harbors in yacht charter Mallorca. Today, the Bay of Portocolom is mainly used for fishing boats and private yachting which means that the naval traffic is very relaxed.

What to See

Just like most tourist resorts in Mallorca, yacht charter Portocolom has very good beaches, the main being Cala Marcal, just 500 m from the town center. The most important thing in town and indeed the reason for its economic boom in the 19th century is the harbor, when it was used to ship wine from neighboring Felanitx to France but a vine disease meant that the locals had to return to fishing to make a living.

Today, one can still see the fishing boats come and go, with the fishermen living in quaint and colorful cottages at the north end of the quay, setting a discerning note from the hotels and the holiday homes closer to the city center. Here, you’ll also find the sandstone church of Sant Jaume I. Little else in terms of touristic attractions can be seen in yacht charter Portocolom.

Where to hang out

If you’re looking to do some shopping, you need to head out to the harbor, where you’ll find various shops for tourists and two large supermarkets, perfect for stocking up the pantry on your boat.

A testament to the fishing heritage of the region, you’ll be happy to eat out in Portocolom. The few establishments around the marina and in the hotels serve nice fish dishes as well as Italian and international cuisine in case you’re a little picky when it comes to eating local recipes.

Sadly, there is no nightlife in the true meaning of the word, at least not in the way you’d find in other resorts along the yacht charter Balearic shores. Most of the venues are hotel-based but there are also a number of British pubs that cater to party crowds coming from England.

The biggest plus and the biggest crowd draw is the blue flag beach which is cleaned every night, has lifeguards on duty and is perfect for children due to its gentle slope which makes the waters shallow. Other attractions for sailing enthusiats are the golf course, the water park, and the exploration of the beautiful coast by sea kayaking, diving or climbing.

Why is it worth it

Known simply as Palma to residents of yacht charterMallorca, the city is the largest settlement on the island and the capital of the Balearic Islands autonomous region of Spain. Though settled in prehistoric times and taking its name from the Romans, the town began to prosper as a tourist center beginning with the 50s. Today it’s almost doubled in size and population.

Nestled safely in the bay of Palma on the northwestern part of the island, yacht charter Palma de Mallorca saw the passing of many cultures over the years, including the Moors, the Ottomans and finally, the Spanish. What this means to the curious visitor is that he will find here a place of incredible diversity and beauty, an intriguing mixture of modernity with a touch of ancient.

What to see

Downtown Palma is wonderful to behold, as is the old quarter. You’ll find the overall architecture is a blend of the intricate eastern style and the imposing western style. Here is a list of the most important sights to see while in Palma: the Castel de Bellver, the Pueblo Español, the Paseo Maritimo (boardwalk, great for nighttime entertainment), the Catedral de Mallorca, the Museum of Contemporary Arts and the infamous Bull Ring, which used to be very popular with the tourist crowds.

Where to hang out

Most of the city’s shopping is concentrated in the El Corte Ingles, the famous chain of department stores which is the largest in Spain. Here, you’ll find shops that sell everything you’ll ever need. Of course, for those more nostalgic sailors, there is some souvenir shopping to be found along the narrow streets of the old town, in quaint little shops.

Once in yacht charter Palma, you won’t be able to leave without trying the “lomo” or pork loin, the local specialty being served in any restaurant. Among the other delicacies there are the sabrosada which is a sausage made out of pork, the sopas mallorquinas which is basically any type of soup made out of greens and thickened with bread. Connoisseurs will revel in the local wines, yacht charter Mallorca being the only of the Balearic islands which produces its own wines.

As mentioned before, the nightlife in yacht charter Palma is very exciting and one needs only to head on over to the promenade known as Paseo Maritimo. This is where you’ll find the best clubs, bars and terraces, all overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and all packed full of merry visitors.

Not a day goes by in Palma that there isn’t some sort of party, and there is no actual yachting season per se. From January to December, there’s always something going on here. For example, in November, there’s the Atlantic Rally for Cruises sailing event, the World Press Photo exhibition in November and December, the Caja Madrid Gospel Festival in December and many more.