Santanyí is a municipality in the south-east of the Spanish island Mallorca. There are a number of towns in the district, the two best known being the resorts Cala d’Or and Cala Figuera. Besides being home to many beautiful beaches, the area also has a large number of archaeological sites, 172 to be exact, which show evidence of farming traditions and agriculture from as far back as the Iron Age.
Cala D’Or was one of the first major tourist resorts on Mallorca, nevertheless it is one of the less developed areas on the island, still retaining its original Mediterranean feel, with small and picturesque white-washed houses, apartments and hotels. Cala D’Or and its neighbour Cala Egos are particularly popular with families and couples. The quaint little fishing port Porto Petro is also close by and accessible by mini-train from Cala D’Or. Cala Figuera was first mentioned in records in 1306 but houses only started to be built in the area in the late 19th century. For most of the year, the town is home to a small fishing community, however in the summer the town becomes populated with tourists and holiday-home owners. As the town has no access to the beach or other swimming areas, but has a beautiful houses, steep cliffs and many millionaires’ mansions overlooking the fjord-like harbour. The climate in Santanyí is typically Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters.
Things to See and Do
1) If you are interested in nature, take a visit to the Mondragó Natural Parc, a protected wildlife reserve with fine white sand beaches, stunning cliffs lapped by crystal clear waters, and wetlands that home to migratory birds.
2) Visit the Torre Nova de la Roca Fesa in Cala Santanyí which is a lookout tower that was built in 1663 to protect the island from attacks by North African pirates.
3) If you are in Mallorca in May, make sure to check out the Spring fairs that will be happening in all the villages around the island. Markets, family entertainment and livestock shows are all part of the action.
4) Santanyí has a number of outstanding, beautiful beaches, including Es Caragol, Es Maquer, Es Marmols and S’Almunia. Each beach has its own unique beauty, some such as Es Maquer are totally unspoilt. The latter beach is surrounded by pine trees, so while it is idyllic, it may not be suitable for sunbathing.
Santanyí´s Food Delights
The Balearic Island have recently started to introduce their local cuisine back into restaurants in tourist areas. Rather than just filling up on fare you can get anywhere, visitors can now enjoy traditional Mallorcan food which is heavily based on pork, fish and vegetables with generous helpings of olive oil and garlic. Try frit mallorqui, which is a fried offal with potatoes, onions and tomatoes, or sopes mallorquines, a thick, brothy soup of sliced bread and vegetables. A traditional accompaniment to a coffee is an ensaimada, a spiral-shaped sugary bun only found on this island. For dessert, try some gato de almendras, which is almond cake served with toasted almond ice-cream...yum!
Getting To and Around Santanyí
As the municipality is the far south of the island and is not as commercially developed as some of the other regions of Mallorca, the best way to get to and around the area is by car. You can arrange a car rental before your trip, which may be the cheaper and wiser option than booking on arrival at the airport, especially during the summer. Once in the area there is a public bus service you can use to visit the various towns and sights.
Accommodation and Apartments in Santanyí
There are many hotels in the area, catering for all budgets. Package holiday accommodation is very popular but if you have travelled to Mallorca on your own steam and want to stay somewhere more authentic and private, then check out the offers we have on Wimdu. We have a wide variety of rentals owned by locals on Mallorca. Not only will you get a warm Mediterranean welcome into their homes, you may also gain some insider tips on which are the best beaches to visit, or what restaurants serve the best Mallorcan food.