Things to do in Cala d’Or
Things to do in Cala d’Or
On the east coast of the island of Mallorca is the small town of Cala d’Or. What made this place popular is that there are many interesting things to do in Cala d’Or, because it offers tourists numerous attractions, hotels, restaurants, as well as exciting activities. Whether you are a fan of water sports, national parks or sunbathing on the beach, Cala d’Or can offer you quality rest and enjoyment.
Cala d’Or is about 60 km from the capital Palma de Mallorca and the airport, in other words, about 1-2 hours drive, depending on breaks. If you find yourself in this beautiful region of the largest Balearic island, our guide will help you discover the best things to do in Cala d’Or.
Cala d’Or Beaches
The name of the town, Cala d’Or, actually means Golden Bay, so when we talk about things to do in Cala d’Or, we have to start with beaches.
A special attraction in Cala d’Or are the coves, or “calas”. These small bays are popular among tourists because of the extremely blue hues of the sea and the beaches with white sand. Some of the famous beaches you can visit are:
- Cala Ferrera
- Cala Serena
- Cala Gran
- Cala Petita
- Cala Esmeralda
What is characteristic of these beaches is the calm water and marked swimming spots; some of them also have lifeguards on duty. The edges of these coves are generally rocky, and you may also encounter deeper swimming areas where there are ladders to enter the water.
Beach rental
Many of the beaches in Cala d’Or offer visitors the following benefits:
- restaurants and bars overlooking the beach
- beach equipment rental
- rental of water sports equipment
- toilets
- showers
Sunbeds and umbrellas can be rented for the whole day at a price of €14, and the use of the safe is included in this price. The service can be paid for by cash or card.
Visit Marina de Cala d’Or
One of the things to do in Cala d’Or that is a must on our list is a visit to the marina. Marina de Cala d’Or is about half an hour’s walk from Cala Derrera beach, and if you decide to take a taxi, you need to spend about €6.
In this marina, you can see spectacular yachts and private sailboats, and you can also enjoy a one-day luxury cruise.
Beach activities and excursions in this town of Mallorca
If you find yourself on one of the beautiful beaches, things to do in Cala d’Or must include some of the available boat trips. The Starfish glass bottom boat is especially popular. This colorful catamaran is an excellent choice if you want to visit one of the beaches. There are different schedules of stations and a number of interesting routes. In addition, there is a possibility for a break and rest in the form of swimming, as well as a trip to watch dolphins.
If you want to enjoy freshly cut fruit on the beach in Cala d’Or, don’t miss the opportunity to buy fresh coconut, mango, cherry or pineapple from the fruit sellers.
Watersports in Cala d’Or
When it comes to things to do in Cala d’Or, it is mandatory to mention the numerous water sports that you can enjoy.
Some of the popular water activities and sports in Cala d’Or are, apart from swimming in the beautiful water:
- Snorkeling (the most popular water sport in the region)
- Scuba diving
- Diving
- Boat trips
Paddleboards can be rented at Cala Ferrera and Cala Gran beaches for €13 per hour. You can also enjoy pedal boats for €15 per hour of rental. For lovers of adrenaline and adventure, we recommend renting jet skis in Marina de Cala d’Or, which cost around €140 per hour of use.
Dolphin Watching in Cala d’Or
One of the must-do things in Cala d’Or is dolphin watching. Starfish glass bottom catamaran is a great way to have this unforgettable experience.
Cruise tours are available several times a day, and the route consists of stops along the coast. In this way, tourists can also visit several characteristic calas (bays) with their beautiful beaches. The Starfish catamaran sails towards the fishing boats, where you will have the opportunity to see dolphins.
This exciting excursion along the east coast of Mallorca is available at a price of around €50 for adults, and around €30 for children. The catamaran takes a break for swimming and snorkeling at Cala Mondrago, meaning you get more exciting adventures on this boat trip than just dolphin watching.
Golfing in Cala d’Or
At the address Ctra Cala d’Or, Porto Colom km 7.7, 07669 Felanitx, Mallorca, there is an excellent golf course, Vall d’Or golf club, if you are looking for relaxing things to do in Cala d’Or.
Golf enthusiasts have the opportunity to enjoy one of the best golf courses in Mallorca, which offers visitors the following:
- Golf course 5,538 m long, with 18 holes and par 71
- Enjoying food at the excellent Máxime restaurant
- An impressive view of the Mediterranean coast
- Possibility of renting golf equipment
- Three lakes along the golf course, a large number of bunkers (small hollows in the course filled with sand)
The elevated location of the field allows for a pleasant sea breeze in the afternoon.
Horse riding in Cala d’Or
Things to do in Cala d’Or are very diverse and can satisfy everyone’s taste and desires. For this reason, we recommend discovering this town of eastern Mallorca in another interesting way – riding a horse.
Rancho Jaume is a professional center that offers the opportunity to experience the surrounding villages, beaches and coves on horseback. There are a variety of excursions and horseback riding trips available in this rural Cala d’Or region, no matter what level of riding skill you have. The tours are not held during the peak season, which you can also keep in mind if this activity in Cala d’Or is attractive to you.
In addition, Rancho Jaume can customize the tour according to your wishes, so you have the options of visiting the Mondragó nature reserve, visiting the monastery in Alquerίa Blanca or exploring the Es Trenz beach.
Scuba diving
Of the exciting things to do in Cala d’Or that belong to water activities, we recommend that you try scuba diving.
If you are a lover of seascapes and underwater life, you will enjoy watching fish in the Cala d’Or reef. This marine activity is available to you regardless of whether you are a professional diver or simply want to explore the reefs of the Mediterranean. This is possible thanks to the many diving schools, where lessons are available in multiple languages and your progress is monitored by an instructor, whether you are a beginner or an advanced level.
Playing tennis
Sports activities are also part of the things to do in Cala d’Or, and among the favorite sports activities is tennis.
You can perfect your tennis skills at the famous Cala d’Or tennis club, where you will be able to train with a professional instructor as well as an excellent tennis court that you can rent. You also need a reservation in advance, so keep that in mind.
Some great benefits are available to you:
- Individual and group tennis lessons
- Rental of tennis rackets
- A bar to enjoy after a game of tennis
- 5 clay courts
Santuari de Sant Salvador
One of the relaxing things to do in Cala d’Or is a tour of the monastery of Sant Salvador. This monastery is located on top of a hill, 509 m above sea level, and is 21 km from Cala d’Or.
What Santuari Sant Salvador is famous for is the impressive view of the sea, mountains and plains of the area. This is precisely why the viewpoint within the monastery is one of the favorites on the island. The monastery can be reached on foot or by bicycle, and access by car is also possible.
Parque Natural de Mondrago
The list of things to do in Cala d’Or cannot be complete without a visit to the beautiful Mondragó nature park, which is located 6 km from Cala d’Or and 3 km from the fishing village of Portopetro.
The Mondragó Nature Park is located in the Santanyí area, in the south of Mallorca, which is characterized by indigenous species of wildlife, beautiful bays and nature trails.
This nature park covers 766 hectares, and only 95 hectares are in public ownership. It is characterized by numerous viewpoints, bays of transparent water and wetlands. There are four trails that lead visitors through this park. The most beautiful beaches in the coves of this park are Cala Mondrago, Caló des Borgit and S’Amarador, which are extremely popular during the summer season.
What Mondragó Natural Park offers to visitors is:
- Hiking between coves, as well as a tour on horseback
- Restaurant Sa Font n’Alis that serves Mediterranean specialties
- Stay at the three-star Mondragó Playa hotel
- Several beach bars that are often called chringuitos
If you want to find out information about tour routes, you can ask at the reception, which is open from 9 am to 4 pm. Parking is available, and the park is open all year round, so you can choose when to visit it.
Cala d’Or nightlife
In addition to the popular daily activities, things to do in Cala d’Or include nightlife and going out, especially in the summer during the tourist season.
The best bars in Cala d’Or
You can enjoy fantastic cocktails and yacht views in one of the restaurants and bars along Cala d’Or Maria. If you want to relax with covers of popular music tracks, we recommend restaurant Diferent and bar Dugan’s.
Nightlife in Cala d’Or can be experienced in one of the excellent bars, pubs and restaurants:
- Lola
- Sky Bar
- Calle d’en Toni Costa
- Calle Santanyi
- Buddha Pub
Drach Caves
Among the particularly interesting things to do in Cala d’Or, a visit to the Drach Caves must be mentioned. These impressive caves are located 25 km from Cala d’Or, they are 25 meters deep and 1200 meters long.
What makes the Drach Caves distinctive is the large number of stalagmites and stalactites that adorn these caves, and a special large cave at the end. What will delight you is that you can enjoy classical music within this cave. In this way, this cave functions as a unique concert hall, and the music comes from a boat from an underground lake. The pleasant lighting and incredible colors of the water and walls inside the cave contribute to the unique experience of this attraction.
Yachting in Cala d’Or
Sailing and the yachting industry are extremely developed on the island of Mallorca, which makes it one of the most popular destinations for luxury yachting.
Boat trips and charter boats
Renting a boat is the best way to explore the Mediterranean and the beautiful coast of the island, and is one of the things to do in Cala d’Or.
You can experience the amazing landscapes of the island from one of the rented boats, and the available options are:
- Motor boat rental
- Private luxury yacht charter
- Special tours for catamaran trips
- Classic boat trip and day trips, individual or group
In addition to enjoying the seascape, many of the boat rental options or excursion tours include enjoying local specialties, swimming and snorkeling breaks, special barbecue breaks, and an outdoor bar.
More attractions in Cala d’Or
Things to do in Cala d’Or include places, events and activities for everyone’s taste.
If you are a fan of festivals, you can visit one of the local celebrations that are one of the main characteristics of the island. Summer festivals and holiday celebrations are held in Cala d’Or in August, during the first two weeks of the month. Then you can enjoy concerts, sports tournaments, carnivals and stalls with handicrafts. In addition, in the last week of May, you can attend a jazz festival that lasts for 6 days.
Some more interesting things to do in Cala d’Or or in the surrounding area that you can try are:
- Tour of bodegas (wineries) in Canonge and Son Alegre vineyards, located 5 km from Cala d’Or
- Numerous cycling paths in Cala d’Or itself or in the surrounding countryside
- Visit to the historic town of Santanyi, its art galleries and market
Cala d’Or Restaurants
Of course, an ideal stay in Cala d’Or cannot be imagined without excellent service in one of the best restaurants that offer a varied menu. Popular restaurants are:
- Port Petit
- Infinity Restaurant
- El Rincón
- Yaya’s
- Yacht Club Cala d’Or
- Chrimalù
- 17 Bar & Restaurant
- Restaurante Proas
- Cala D’ice
Conclusion
Whether your ideal vacation includes an adventure in the form of a boat trip or enjoying some water sports, or you’re more attracted to sightseeing and playing golf, Cala d’Or is an excellent choice. Things to do in Cala d’Or will fulfill all your expectations regarding an idyllic vacation and quality entertainment in the east of Mallorca.
