Alcudia: sports, sunbathes, gastronomy and spring!

By Loren in Balearic Islands

You can’t find any better spring destination than Alcudia for a spring break, north of Majorca, a small cosy coast that lead us to one of the most beautiful bays of this Mediterranean island,   one of Majorca’s most authentic, natural and well preserved landscapes, making it the perfect place for all kind of outdoor sports while enjoying the calm and warm of these first days of spring.

Alcudia was declared an ecotourism destination, it has a coastal zone of 30 km long with paradisiacal coasts such as the own Alcudia beach and the famous Playa de Muro, one of the favourite summer destinations for Europeans travellers, a place where you can experience the Mediterranean relaxation, thanks to its safety environment, its touristic services and its easy road access to the rest of the island and with Minorca by sea (ships sail directly from Puerto de Alcudia to Ciudatella).

Despite being one of the most visited places of the island with a large quantity of hotels, Alcudia is still a place with tradition, culture and unexplored nature, such as the S’Albufera de Majorca National Park the largest of the island well preserved and famous thanks to its unique wildlife. The perfect place for family hiking, bicycle touring, or for enjoying a couple of days of ornithology, many travellers (especially from Britain) come to Alcudia only to be able to watch the unique bird species in the park.

One of the main tourist attractions is the cycling and cycling tourism red all over Alcudia and it connects it with the rest of the north coast. One of the main routes is Alcudia-cape Formentor, at the edge of Serra de Tramuntana, a high level cycling tour, special for experienced trainers, it’s a secondary narrow street, very sloped, we recommend to be careful, since it is commonly used by rent cars and tourist buses that go to the top in order to enjoy one of the most spectacular views of the Majorca island. May not be appropriate for children.

However, if you’re planning a family holiday, Alcudia in spring is full of family activities, since the Mediterranean water is still fresh (and it will continue this way until well into May), It’s a good plan to book your accommodation in Alcudia with sailing lessons, kitesurf course or kayak course, or other services that hotels offer inside and outside.

Plans for everybody

A nice way to spend the day is visiting Alcudia town, from yourfamily friendly hotel in Majorca such as a hotel in Port de Alcudia, it will only take a couple of minutes by car to go the little market on Sundays, and have a traditional breakfast in one of the lovely terraces, toasts with olive oil and tomato, visit the small handcrafted shops, the monuments and its beautiful narrow streets…

A picnic at the beach is ideal to spend the day in family. The coastal zone between Alcudia and Pollença offers you that special place where you can relax next to the Mediterranean ocean and have a picnic under the pines. Just a few steps from the sea, it’s a place with tables and benches for a comfortable meal, besides, courts to play and of course, a warm place to sunbathe.

Where to eat in Alcudia?

Gourmet restaurant in Alcudia

Gourmet restaurant in Alcudia

If you’re looking for a special destination for a gastronomic weekend, you should add Alcudia to your route list, since it has many options where you can enjoy the authentic Majorca’s cuisine, not only downtown but in Port de Alcudia as well, new places like Restaurante Alcuina, near the docks, combine perfectly with the traditional tapas of Can Punyetes and the typical cuisine of the S’Oli Verge restaurant, a famous place in the port. There are other restaurants at the Majorca’s beach that you definitely should know, such as the Can Cuarassa, located in a typical Majorcan house at the beach, terraces and gardens with an amazing view to the sea.

Another gastronomic jewel here in Majorca is the Sa Romana, an author’s cuisine restaurant (prices varies from 30 to 40 euros), a menu full of local flavours, enhanced with new culinary techniques, influenced by other Mediterranean cuisines. The place is meticulously decorated, a delightful terrace with an outer garden, perfect for spring nights. If you booked in a hotel in Playa de Muro or an aparthotel in Alcudia, we highly recommend you to visit at least one time, we promise you won’t regret it.

 

The best time of year to enjoy Majorca

By Luke Durden in Majorca

Although many believe that the best time to visit Majorca is during the summer, those of us who live on the island know that’s not quite true: while the arrival of the sunnier months is a blessing and the waters of the Mediterranean resemble a warm swimming pool, the large number of people and the suffocating heat of August,  are not the best company for a relaxing and peaceful trip to the sea.

Playa de Muro, Mallorca

Playa de Muro, Mallorca

Autumn, however, is indeed a perfect time to visit the island. It is likely that there will be some stormy days (which are much welcomed after the summer) while mass tourism has left the beaches with a peaceful and restful solitude that are ideal for rest. The water in the coast of Majorca still has a perfect temperature for swimming all day long and, although most of the beach bars and hotels are already closed, those remaining are a peaceful haven in which to enjoy good food and a more personalised service than one might expect during the summer.

Between October and November, Majorca is, really, the island of calm. Besides being able to enjoy the beaches, this is also the best time of year to practice all kinds of sports: the winds that come from time to time, turning the bays of Palma and Alcudia the ideal scenario to sail or practise Kite Surf. The Serra de Tramuntana is the perfect place to relax while hiking to end up discovering beautiful secret coves.. Cycling is very popular at this time, and golf courses become the centre for international personalities from all over the world.

Iberostar Suites Hotel Jardin del Sol

Iberostar Suites Hotel Jardin del Sol

At this time of year, it is also when the towns of Majorca enjoy their most authentic spirit including agricultural and livestock fairs, called Fira de Tardor, crafts and traditional markets, wine cellars are full after the September harvest, fish mongers dealing with tasteful fish and seafood…. Autumn definitely transforms Majorca into a gastronomic and cultural surprise.

For those who finally decide to explore this hidden side of Majorca, the best is to choose an accommodation that suits the type of trip you have in mind. Although there are all kinds of luxury hotels in Majorca and, in general, the whole island has many charms to offer, the location of your accommodation during this time of year is important.

Fergus Style Cala Blanca Suites

Fergus Style Cala Blanca Suites

If one dreams of an active holiday, the best alternative is to book a hotel in Playa de Muro. There are many interesting proposals, ranging from a spa hotel in the bay of Alcudia, surrounded by gardens and natural dunes, a special hotel for athletes, with bicycle storage and repair shop designed for those who come to the island to practice cycle tourism.

For those looking to relax and catch the last rays of sunshine of the year, one of the best places on the island is an area called Costa de la Calma, the Calm coast, a perfect place to enjoy a delicious and traditional pamb oli, while facing the Mediterranean and with one of the most amazing sunsets on the island.

Right on this coast , there are a couple of interesting hotels: Iberostar’s Jardin del Sol, which is a hotel for romantic escapades to Majorca, and Fergus Style Cala Blanca Suites, which is next to the beach of Cala Blanca, a small sea inlet with rocks and clean waters. Both are in the hidden part of the bay of Santa Ponsa, and is one of the most popular bathing areas by those who live in Palma.

Fegus Boutique Bon Repos

Fegus Boutique Bon Repos

Another good alternative is to stay in the town of Santa Ponsa. The summer’s racket has faded away and this town becomes the ideal destination to rest. In fact, many foreigners have chosen this location to buy a second home while the atmosphere is of a fisherman’s town that mixes local culture and the international influence.

In the centre of Santa Ponsa there are many hotels, but there are a couple that stand out from the rest. One of them, is one of the few boutique hotels in Calvia available, called Bon Repos, (good rest). The other is a hotel on the beach of Santa Ponsa, the Plaza Santa Ponsa, that belongs to the hotel chain Fergus Hotels, more traditional but with a fantastic location, next to the park and the town’s main square.