CALA d'OR
Area: Majorca
Country: Spain


Location:
On the SE coast, 40 miles SE of Palma and the airport by fairly slow road. 8 miles NE of Santanyi, 10 miles SE of Felanitx.

Telephone code from UK:
34

Website:
http://www.balearics.com

Position:
A series of eight or nine coves that go by the collective name of Cala d'Or, though this is but one of them. Most are deep inlets edged with grey rocks and pine woods.

Description:
A purpose-built and continually expanding resort, with the majority of buildings being attractive white structures with terracotta-tiled roofs; most development dates from since the 1970s. The pedestrian zone NW of Cala d'Or and Cala Gran is a vibrant area and focal point of the town. Cala Llonga is the deepest inlet and contains the marina, whose wharves are thick with expensive restaurants and cafes. Some of the more modern areas are a little isolated from the centre and public transport.

Suitability:
Cala d'Or is comparatively smart and sophisticated and attracts visitors of similar ilk. The many ups and downs may not suit those with walking difficulties. Families are well-catered for in aparthotels.

Accommodation:
Though they are mostly middle order, they tend to be superior to the 3-star hotels in more populous and well-known Majorcan resorts.

Shopping:
The greatest concentration of shops, restaurants, banks, etc, is in the area behind Cala Gran and Cala d'Or. Each cove also has a small nucleus of amenities. There are expensive boutiques and leather shops as well as many "artesanias", and a few galleries; the usual tourist paraphernalia is also on offer. A large supermarket at the edge of town. Sunday market at Felanitx; Wednesday and Saturday market at Santanyi.

Beach:
Lots of choice but overcrowding is severe at peak times. Cala Gran is the biggest, 40 yds wide by 100 deep. The other half dozen are progressively smaller, reducing to pocket-handkerchief size. There is usually a steep hill or flight of steps to reach them. Protection from the strong seas of the E coast is afforded by the depth of the inlets.

Entertainments:
Daytime: activity centring on beaches, water and sun. Nightlife: although it is a low-key resort, there is limited nightlife here, both in the centre and marina areas. Music bars and a handful of discos, in reasonably good taste.

Eating:
Can be expensive. Several good restaurants. A great number of cafe/restaurants offering good food at reasonable prices. Handful of burger bars and fast-food outlets. Regional British and German cuisine dominates, with some Spanish, Chinese and Indian.

Public-transport:
Several buses daily to Palma and a frequent service connecting the principal coves with Porto Petro and Cala Mondrago. Sunday connection to Felanitx market. A "Tourist Train" operates in high season on the roads of the resort, a novel but expensive means of getting around. Reasonably priced taxis are readily available.

Local-excursions:
This part of the E coast is not ideal for tours as the roads tend to be narrow and winding, and many of the principal sights are on the opposite side of the island. Caves of Drach and Hams are, however, a convenient half-day trip. Other tours including Palma are generally full-day tours. Alcudia old town and Formentor Peninsula. The NW mountains; monastery at Lluc, Soller, Deya, Valldemosa. Boat cruises. Jeep safaris.