Mallorca – An Insiders Guide

Before the 1950s, when the first tourist charter flights arrived on the island, Mallorca was an exclusive destination for artists, writers, and more adventurous travellers. They all found Mallorca the ideal retreat for an escape from Northern European winters, inspiration and relaxation. Anyone visiting Mallorca today will understand why. Roman, Moorish and Byzantine occupation have all left an impression on Mallorca, presenting a colourful mix of architecture and history in the towns and villages. Adventure is one way of describing the island today still, especially if you are prepared to go out and about. The narrow cobbled streets of the cities and towns are all too easy to become lost in, and every corner reveals trendy shopping opportunities, great places to eat out and traditional markets and fairs.

But Mallorca is much more than just sandy beaches and interesting rural villages. The landscape too beckons a feeling of discovery and anticipation of the unexpected on finding a pretty Mallorcan scene. There are mountains, rugged cliffs, vast nature reserves in the interior and some remote but stunning areas that only a few visitors manage to locate. Getting around the island is easy, with good roads, low cost and regular bus services and some good rail services between the major towns.

The east coast is largely given over to tourist developments and resorts, mainly due to the almost continuous string of beaches, although the emphasis is on quality, especially some of the stylish villas and other holiday accommodation. Mallorca resorts can suit a range of tastes, and some can be ideal as a base to explore the island, as well as contain everything you need for the perfect sunshine holiday.

For those who can afford, it an interesting way to get around the resorts on Mallorca is by boat or water taxi, while longer excursions are available if you want to truly discover the wonders of the Mallorcan coastline. Numerous picturesque coves and inlets dot the sweeping bays of Mallorca, where there are some fantastic walking opportunities. Outdoor types will love Mallorca, and the amount of variety means there is usually something for everyone when it comes to sporting activity and recreation. With sea temperatures averaging at over twenty degrees in the summer and at least fourteen degrees in winter, it's no wonder that Mallorca is ideal for swimming, sailing, diving and windsurfing.

While Mallorca is well known for it's glorious coastal sunsets, it often goes unnoticed as a holiday destination for mountain walking. The Tramuntana mountain range in the north of the island easily rivals many more famous mountainous regions. A drive or a walk through the mountains is made all the more worthwhile for the astounding array of wildlife, tucked away villages, and some of the most breathtaking views of the island – sunsets from a Mallorcan peaks are as good as from the beach.

The further inland you travel, the more you forget Mallorca as a holiday island and discover its traditional charms. Little ochre villages and vast olive and almond groves, almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, can be found around every corner. You'll find villas in Mallorca in rural areas and as well as on the coast so if you prefer the rolling countryside then they provide an option for a few days of sylish luxury away from the crowds. Tours of the olive farms and vineyards are available all over rural Mallorca, and gives you a real flavour of the island's important farming history, with many historic buildings and traditional methods of agriculture still practised.

The Mallorcan way of life is easy to appreciate. It's easy to experience the colourful everyday life of Mallorca, while enjoying the island for a holiday. With some top class places to stay, luxury and relaxation combine perfectly with adventure and leisure pursuits.