Travel guide – Cala Dor

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Overview

Like most resorts in Mallorca, Cala d’Or (Golden Cove) evolved from a local fishing village after its charms and idyllic setting were ‘discovered’, in this instance, by a group of avant-garde artists who settled here in the 1930s. They built their white, flat-roofed houses around the picturesque fishing harbour, and soon the word spread. Cala d’Or became a desirable spot to have a holiday home, or for a relaxing seaside vacation. The original village and harbour was situated in one of the small rocky coves with sandy beaches, called ‘calas’, that abound on Mallorca’s east coast. The resort has now spread out to encompass several of these coves, all now beset with attractive hotels, apartment blocks and villas. It is a very chic resort, recommended for families because most establishments cater extremely well for children. There are numerous adjacent smaller resorts and quaint villages clustered around the calas all along the south-east coastline, connected by a good bus service, which means visitors can make excursions to explore the delights of places like Cala Egos, Puerto Petro, Cala Mondrago, Cala Figuera, Cala Santanyi and Cala Llombarts. The Cala d'Or marina is the heart of the east coast resort area, attracting the fashionable yachting set.  

Shopping

Cala d’Or is known as the best shopping district on Mallorca, its main shopping street, Avinguda Tagomago, filled with chic boutiques, leather shops and galleries. Designer clothes and shoes, in particular, are available at reasonable prices. For designer wear a good port of call is Irocco on Avinguda Tagomago, and for a classy pair of shoes to match the outfit visit the exclusive Farrutx store near Placa Ibiza. Trendy clothes are available at two Piscies outlets in the town centre. Souvenir shopping is fun with the wide variety of local crafts, traditional pottery and glass, and olive wood carvings available at several stores, and at the Sunday morning flea market in Felanitx. Visitors can also find bargains in designer sunglasses, jewellery and perfume. Those in self-catering apartments who need sustenance will find all they require at the resort’s biggest supermarket, Caprabo, near the resort entrance. The supermarket opens until 9pm every night (except Sundays, when it closes at 2pm).

Restaurants

Cala d’Or’s upmarket restaurants are situated around the marina, which is usually abuzz with a lively international crowd enjoying a variety of cuisines. The centre of town offers fast food outlets, tapas bars, pizza parlours, burger joints and several British pub 'n grub type establishments. At the marina try the Café Continental for snacks and sandwiches, or Blanco y Negro for pizzas and seafood. Port Petit is a high-class seafood restaurant renowned for quality and service. Aquarius and El Yate are two other good choices for top quality international cuisine at the marina. There is a trusty Wimpy outlet in the town centre near the main taxi rank at Placa Ibiza. Here you will also find the excellent Shangrila Chinese restaurant, and Don Leone’s specialising in pizza and pasta. Brits wanting a taste of home will enjoy the Red Lion bar, next to the Wimpy, which shows live football matches, or the Devonshire Dumpling in Cala Egos for some English favourites. For a gastronomical excursion visit the nearby traditional, quiet fishing village of Puerto Petro, which has some excellent seafood restaurants around its pretty port.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Cala d’Or is tasteful and stylish, rather than frenetic, centred around the many cocktail bars and discos. The latest music rocks the Linekers club in the centre of town, with a bar next door that has an outdoor terrace. One of the most popular nightclubs in town is Disco Alfa, and the wildest is Farrahs Planet Ibiza. Hollywoods is the local karaoke bar, while the Dirty Duck pub is known as the gay-friendly establishment.

Activities

Cala d’Or has seven beaches, of which the largest is Cala Gran, all with fine white sand and clear shallow water. The larger beaches have good facilities offering watersports including sailing, windsurfing and scuba-diving. Those wishing to venture further afield can take a ‘champagne cruise’ along the coastline, ride a mini-train to picturesque Cala Mondrago with its two lovely coves, or take excursions to the villages of Cala Figuera, Puerto Petro, Sa Colonia de Sant Jordi or the isle of Cabrera. Most hotels offer full entertainment programmes for children, and there are trampolines and mini go-karts at Mallorcalandia, as well as mini-golf in the town centre.

Climate

Mallorca has an ideal climate for holidaymakers with little rain and average temperatures kept below 86ºF (30ºC) even in mid-summer. Temperatures remain nice in the spring and autumn and even in winter rarely drop below 50ºF (10ºC), though rain is more likely at this time of year. Water temperatures range from 64ºF (18ºC) in May to 79ºF (26ºC) in August making Mallorca ideal for watersports.

Health

There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised.

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