S'ILLOT
Area: Majorca
Country: Spain


Location:
On the E coast, 42 miles E of Palma, slightly less from the airport, along a moderately good road. 3 miles NE of Porto Cristo.

Telephone code from UK:
34

Position:
On flat land backed by low hills.

Description:
Cala Moreya is an old fishing settlement turned resort, with mature buildings and streets overhung with great pine trees. The remaining fishing boats have no sheltered harbour, but are hauled up onto a concrete ramp, on the rocks at the end of the beach. Sa Coma is reached by a footbridge across a freshwater lagoon and a slightly more circuitous road bridge. The contrast is striking, for here is a resort of smart modern buildings. For convenience they can both be referred to by the same name: S'Illot. The streets of sleepy Cala Moreya were resurfaced and improved in 1992, though change here has not kept pace with boom town Sa Coma, with its newly landscaped and pedestrianised seafront and seemingly endless conveyor belt of hotels and apartments. The visitor benefits from a choice between a vibrant and lively modern development and a relaxed, more traditional one. Besides the attraction of the beaches, the surrounding countryside is of interest to naturalists and, by virtue of its prehistoric remains, to archaeology buffs.

Suitability:
Aspiring jet setters will find the slickness and facilities of Sa Coma to their liking, and affordable to boot. Whilst it is not exactly classy, it has certain pretentions of quality. As with all of the E coast resorts, it is not the best strategic base for excursions to other parts of the island although these are, of course, possible.

Accommodation:
A noticeable bias towards the upper end, with several good four-star options and a tendency towards quality in the three-star. There is a marked preponderance of holiday apartments. Cala Moreya is the place for the more economical lodgings.

Shopping:
There is no real centre, but the size of the combined resort is small enough for this not to matter. Concentrations of shops and restaurants are found in Cala Moreya, another at the N extremity and a third, conveniently, near the mid point. No specialities but a selection of tourist bric-a-brac, boutiques and jewellery shops. Friday market in Son Servera; Tuesday in Arta.

Beach:
Sa Coma has an exceptional sandy beach, nearly half a mile long. The neighbouring one of Cala Moreya, in a bend of the coastline, is much smaller but also good.

Entertainments:
Daytime: windsurfing and other water sports; tennis club; horse riding. Nightlife: disco in town; another state-of-the-art, outdoor "Nite City" just outside.

Eating:
German and British pubs compete for the patriotic trade; ubiquitous fast food chains are here also; ample if predictable resort-type restaurants.

Public-transport:
Unreliable local buses to Palma, 4 per day; Manacor, 9 per day; Drach caves, 5 per day; Cala Millor 10. Many are scheduled to closer resorts.

Local-excursions:
Caves of Drach, Hams; African Safari at Cala Millor; interesting old town of Arta; pearl stores of Manacor. Alcudia, Pollensa and Formentor a day trip.