When you think of the Balearic islands you should think of
beaches: stunning, sparkling, sandy wonders blessed with
the near-perfect climate that draws millions of tourists to the
eastern shore of Spain and this Mediterranean island chain.
There are four main Balearic islands: Mallorca, Menorca,
Ibiza and Formentera, each with its own distinct character.
Mallorca is the largest and best-known Balearic, with a
reputation for partying similar to Ibiza. Indeed, the Bay of
Palma is crowded with trendy bars, restaurants and discos,
but Mallorca also boasts stunning mountains and unspoiled
coves, as well as the Balearics' one "real" city and the
Balearic capital, Palma.
Nearby Ibiza is the party spot (and also a friendly spot for
gay tourists), with a trendy resort reputation that seems to
draw every club-going European to the outrageous summery
street scene. Daytime hours are spent on the beaches at
Las Salinas and Es Cabellet, while nights are danced away
in any of the bars and discos which compete for tourist
dollars.
Formentara, in contrast, is more reclusive, a haven for
artists and solitude-seeking tourists who enjoy quiet clothes free
bathing amongst the wild rosemary bushes and omnipresent
bright green iguanas. Windswept Menorca is a bit more
conservative and quiet, littered with stone reminders of its
prehistoric past, and perfect for tourists looking for peace
and beautiful, relatively isolated beaches.
An interesting cultural note about Mahón, the capital of
Menorca: mayonnaise or "mahonesa" was first created here!
Without doubt some of the best beaches in Spain are located
around the Balearic Islands. The beautiful Island of Menorca has its fair share of fantastic beaches including the Cala de Algaiarens being the pick of the Calas or coves
dotted all around the island. One the main reasons I visit this part of Spain is to for the "Cala hopping" stopping off for a quick swim
at each as I make a slow circle around the Island. Quite a lot of them though are only accessible via the sea and there position only given away by
the yachts and small craft anchored slightly offshore around them. Other Calas I would recommend
on the island are Cala Macarella, Cala Es Talaier. Cala N,porter, Cala Mitjaneta, Cala Galdana and Cala Pregonda.
Some other treasured beaches in this area would have to include those located around the Colonia de San Jordi in Mallorca
including Estanys, Dolc and Carbo. This beautiful stretch of coastline offers clear blue waters and isolated and unused beaches of
fine white sand and an abundance of vegetation.
You can see our articles on the best beaches in Spain here .
Leading online travel agents such as First Choice, Travelsupermarket , Direct Holidays and On The Beach offer a wide range of
Balearic Island holidays which including flights and car rental.
A large number of individual property owners offer their
Villas on the Balearic Islands for holiday rentals so it is well worth searching the net for best deals.
