I love Majorca. I also love Mallorca. (Same name, same great place. The former is the Anglicised version, the latter the Catalan version.) So when I had the chance to escape for a few days of solo R&R, I decided on a Cala Ratjada holiday.
I find Mallorca so easy to get to and around. So many pretty places to visit. Such great weather for so much of the time. But I had never been to the eastern part of the island. Cala RatjadaWith its fishing port, harbour, attractive beaches and pretty coves, this resort on the far north eastern point of the island was the perfect, friendly, welcoming spot, for my Majorcan mini-break. Here, I’ll tell you why.
- Sailing in the Aegean – relaxation in the extreme
- Travels with mum to Vietnam & Cambodia
- ‘This trip is the reminder we’re never alone with our challenges’
- The joy of the midlife gap year and why you should take one
I hired a car at the airport, so I could be independently mobile for the 4 days I was on the island. But I spent the best part of my first day having the loveliest long walk along the sea front promenade passing the harbour and along the costal path to pretty little Cala Gat beach with its excellent café/bar.
How I spent my days on my Cala Ratjada holiday
From there, I went on up through the woods to the lighthouse at Punta de Capdepera. While you can’t go into the lighthouse, the views from the rocky escarpment stretched over the beautiful coast and across to neighbouring Menorca, often thought of as Mallorca’s little sister.
Visit the beach
Of course it would be rude (not to mention completely daft) to stay on the coast on this island and not visit at least one beach. The town’s main beach – Son Moll – gets very busy during the summer months, but there are excellent alternatives nearby at Cala Mesquida and Cala Agulla, which is reached via a lovely drive through the pine forest.
Explore the Saturday market
The weekly Saturday market in the town’s main square – Placa del Pins – is a lovely place to while away a couple of enjoyable hours, as I did. What started as a small fruit and veg market has now expanded to include vendors selling clothes, bags, handicrafts, leather goods, wooden toys, jewellery and more. You can also pick up local delicacies including Balearic cheeses, pickled olives, sobrasada (a soft spreadable Mallorcan sausage made with paprika), Iberian ham, honey, flowers, soaps, plants and basketry.
I whiled away a couple of enjoyable hours strolling round the weekly Saturday market in the town’s main square – – with its typical mix of stands selling clothes, jewellery, bags, shoes and food.
My hotel
The Sea Club is a delightful family-run B&B. It’s a collection of colonial-style buildings clustered round a main courtyard with a swimming pool, right on the promenade about 150m from Son Moll beach. The 17 charming, simply furnished, airy rooms are comfortable with excellent bathrooms. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, with lots of comfy spots to sit and chill, and you are encouraged to help yourself to the honesty bar drinks and ice creams. They serve lunch and dinner in high season.
The owners and staff are absolutely lovely and will even go the extra more-than-mile – for example, when you, ahem, accidentally lock the keys of your hire care inside the boot….
Where I ate
I also enjoyed the delicious breakfasts at the hotel, which you can eat at the communal tables or anywhere else that takes your fancy. Like on that lovely terrace.
For lunch the sea-front Son Moll restaurant just along from the hotel, I enjoyed a fabulously hearty tuna nicoise salad. The Ses Ancores near the marina is highly recommended for fish and seafood but it was fully booked – when you go be sure to book in advance to take advantage. (Two other hotel guests ate there and said it was excellent.)
I’ve never had a trip to Majorca/Mallorca that hasn’t returned me home feeling happily replete with sunshine, memorable experiences, good food, and the warmth of the locals. And this trip to Cala Ratjada was no exception.
– Diane Kenwood
