Cales de Mallorca Resort Guide

Located on the east coast of the island, Cales de Mallorca is a purpose-built resort that boasts three beaches as well as all the bars and entertainment you could wish for.

As the place was built from scratch, you will find everything concentrated in the centre of the resort.

It lies within the administrative area of Manacor and has evolved as a tourist town since the early 1960s.

As we have indicated above, Cales de Mallorca is very contained with hotels and apartments situated mainly on the outside of the town, and if you don’t want to drive for a week or two then you don’t have to as everything is within walking distance.

Of course, there is car hire if you want, and a very good bus service calls regularly for exploring nearby towns such as Porto Cristo (where the Caves of Drac can be visited), and the ‘county town’ of Manacor.

If you are self-catering, shopping is easy as there is a choice of shops and supermarkets again within easy walking distance.

The largest of these is ‘Supermarket 2000’ which has a really large choice including many brands you will be familiar with.

All the food shops sell fresh bread and morning goods as well as beers, wine and spirits.

Things to Do

Many excursions can be booked in the centre including water parks, market visits and boat trips.

Most of the outlets for these activities can be found mainly on Carrer de Formentor (opposite the Samoa Hotel).

There is a jetty near the largest beach of Cala Domingos where the various boats load and offload.

You can even do a market trip to Cala Rajada further up the coast by boat.

Beaches

The clear waters of the Mediterranean make all of the three beaches ideal for snorkelling and there is a dive centre (Aqua Life Dive Centre) should you wish to pursue this, near to the boat jetty.

Cala Domingos

The largest of the three local beaches with clean white sand and a gentle slope into the water.

There are sunbeds and shades for hire and a beach bar serving drinks and snacks.

Also on the beach, you will find pedaloes to rent for an hours’ fun on the bay – some have a built-in waterslide.

Near to the Dive Centre is the pickup point for the boat trips.

A safe family beach.

Calo Antena

A short walk (10 to 15 mins) to the north of the resort will bring you to a footpath leading to Calo Antena beach.

This is a small inlet surrounded by rocky outcrops but still boasting crystal clear waters and a sandy foreshore.

This is an ideal place for snorkelling and there are interesting rock formations underwater to explore.

Sunshades and sunbeds can be hired, and a beach bar operates also.

We would say this is a more ‘adult’ beach.

Cala Domingos Petite

A short walk over the cliffs (quite a safe route but keep hold of small children) and you come to the smaller beach of Cala Domingos Petite.

There is a hotel at the top of the foreshore but don’t be put off as this is definitely a public beach!

Good swimmers sometimes swim between these two bays around the small headland but don’t attempt this if you are not sure of your ability.

The usual sunbeds and shades are available and there is a beach bar offering drinks and snacks.

This is a good family beach but, as with the larger Cala Domingos, can get busy during peak season.

Mini Golf

On dry land, there are two mini-golf courses one of which has a backdrop of small animals and birds around the eighteen holes (don’t worry they are well looked after) and a waterfall feature).

The other is right in the centre of the bars and shops where the winner gets a commemorative medal.

Children’s Rides and Amusements

Walk down the side of Supermarket 2000 and the children’s amusement park, Peoues Park, can be found.

This opens mainly during the evening and includes:

• Go Carts (electric)
• Motor bikes (electric)
• ‘Coin in the slot’ rides
• Trampolines
• Bungy trampolines

There is a kiosk where tickets need to be purchased for the larger rides

Boat Trips

As mentioned previously, there is a good choice of trips by boat.

Tickets can be obtained from outlets in the town where the trips are clearly advertised.

Most crafts are glass-bottomed catamarans so you can observe the marine life without getting wet.

Some longer trips include a stop for snorkelling usually in one of the bays only accessible by sea.

Golf

The nearest golf course to Cales de Mallorca is Val d’or Golf which is 15 – 20 minutes by car from the resort and is close to Portocolom.

Opened in 1986 as a nine-hole course it expanded to eighteen holes in the spring of 1993.

Equipment can be hired and there is also a driving range and padel tennis courts.

Markets Near By

There are several markets to visit in the area of Cales de Mallorca, one of the biggest being the Monday market in Manacor which occupies the whole length of one of the main streets( Carrer Antoni Galmes) and also the town square.

It will take about forty minutes by car, but one of the new fleet of public busses will take you there also.

The bus drivers speak a little English and will assist you in alighting at the correct stop.

Sunday is the best day to attend the market at Felanitx where from 10 am to 2 pm a variety of produce, clothing and typical Mallorcan snacks and food can be found.

About a 20-minute drive from the resort.

Sunday is also when there is a market at Porto Cristo.

It is somewhat smaller than the other two but nonetheless worth a visit.

It is located between the promenade and the beach right in the centre of town.

Porto Cristo is about twenty minutes drive from Cales or one of the red and yellow busses will get you there – the bus stop is just a few yards from the market!

If travelling by car, look out for the free car park as you drive in, for the on-street parking is a pay and display arrangement.

Parking in the free car park will entail a 5 – 7 minute walk into the centre but you will not have to worry about how much time you have on your ticket if ‘street parked’.

The short walk is quite interesting leading one over the bridge which spans the ‘Torrent de Liebrona’ at the start of the marina.

Just before the bridge is an interesting little bar (Es Rivet) that packs up into a large shed but is a good stop for a drink and a spicy Mallocian spicy sausage.

History/Museums & etc. in the Area

There is a museum just outside Manacor that exhibits the changing times of the island.

From prehistory, Roman times, Late antiquity and the Islamic Medieval period.

A large car park lies outside the museum building and again the public busses pass.

Just before the above museum is the Rafael Nadal Academy (Rafa is from Manacor) which includes the ‘Rafa Nadal Museum Experience’ which includes displays of his former glories and interactive exhibits.

Lots of information and tickets online.

Sanctuary de San Salvador

This old monastery at San Salvador stands on top of one of the highest points in Mallorca, on a clear day the whole of the island can be seen from here.

You can see the monastery from all around the area with its stone cross and figure of Jesus Christ.

These artefacts, especially the statue, are quite awe-inspiring close up (the statue is 7 metres high and stands on a 37 metre high pedestal).

There are some bus trips to the top (check with one of the ‘trip booking’ shops in Cales) but the normal public busses do not go there.

You can drive yourself to the top but take things very slowly as the road has multiple ‘hairpin’ bends and is popular with cyclists who are given to hurtle down on their descent.

It is not unknown to see a group coming at you on the wrong side of the road!!

S’Hospitalet Vell

This site is located on the main road into Cales de Mallorca and is a prehistoric site first excavated in 1970 and had been studied by the island’s Department of Prehistory but work to consolidate the site only began as recently as 2002 under the Museum of Manacor.

It is free to walk into and there is a notice board outlining what can be found on the site.

There is a Talayot (watchtower) dating from the Iron Age which has the remains of two adjoining rooms, a rectangular enclosure also from the Iron Age and the remains of two ‘Naviforms’ from the Bronze Age – boat-shaped houses used for living in and other activities.

Hotels

There are thirteen hotels in Cales de Mallorca including:

Globales America (all inclusive available)

Globales Samoa (all Inclusive available)

HYB Eurocales (all-inclusive) near Calo Antena beach

Hotel Club Cala Romani (Aparthotel)

HSM Hotel Canarios Park – a little more out of town, about 15 minutes walking distance from shops bars etc, near to Calo Antena beach

Alua Sun Cala Antena – Set on a clifftop overlooking the Mediterranean

Bars and Restaurants

There is a good choice of places to eat and drink in Cales de Mallorca, a couple of which have entertainment in the evenings (for example D’affil Bar and Traveller’s Bar).

You can also find Chinese and Indian cuisine as well as traditional Spanish dishes such as paella and fresh fish plates.

The Italian taste is catered for by Pizzeria Italia on Carrer de Cala Romeguera.

Of course, if you want more British type meals – no problem ( the various chefs are no strangers to a ‘full English’ or steak and chips!).

There is also a couple of British run places – The Union Jack Cafe and Bar Black Bull, (Carrer de Cala Romeguera).

As the centre of town is so compact, it is easy to wander from place to place to find your ideal venue whilst at the same time passing the various clothes, perfumeries, and gift shops.

If you have a family to feed and water a couple of good options would be Restaurante Mallorca or Restaurante Sancho Panza (Placa Mallorca and Carrer de Formentor respectively) where we have always good quality and value.

If it is only a drink you want, look out for Bar Mojitos which is a Cuban style cocktail bar and Barlioche Bar where you can watch people on the mini-golf course whilst perhaps having a large beer out of ice-cold glasses that are supplied here.

Other Useful Information

A pharmacy can be found just off Carrer de Formentor just opposite the Grand Central Pub.

A medical centre is situated on Passeig de Manacor and there is a second one more in the centre located at no. 24 Carrer de Formentor.