Have you ever heard that Mallorca is like a small continent? Well, the east of Mallorca, the Llevant region (Llevant = east) is almost like a miniature of the whole island. In a small area you find all the geographical features that characterise the whole island. Mountains, valleys and wide plains, sandy beaches and rocky coves, towns and villages - the east of Mallorca offers everything you could dream of from a Mediterranean island.
Here, idyllic nature and package tourism lie right next to each other - densely populated tourist resorts such as Cala Rajada are clearly different from the nature park of the Península de Llevant with its wild mountains and lonely bays, and yet they complement each other here in a harmonious way.
The Serra de Llevant, the eastern coastal mountain range, is a distinctive feature of the natural landscape and the above-mentioned nature park. Although not as impressive in its size and formations as the Serra de Tramuntana in the north, it is nevertheless a delightful area for hiking, cycling tours and excursions into nature.
Important towns and villages in the east
- Artà
- Capdepera with Cala Rajada and Canyamel
- Son Servera with Cala Millor
- Sant Llorenç with Son Carriò
- Sa Coma and S'Illot
- Porto Cristo
- Manacor and Felanitx
- Cales de Mallorca
- Portocolom
- Cala d'Or, S'Horta and Portopetro
- Santanyi with Es Llombards and Cala Figuera
Central resorts for package tourism in the north-east are Cala Rajada and Cala Millor. These resorts are very busy, offer large beaches and a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafés. There are 4 golf courses in the immediate vicinity, and the other range of sports and leisure activities is also very high. Because of the well-equipped and shallow-sloping sandy beaches, the resorts are particularly popular with families.
Destinations for city visits are Manacor and Artà. Manacor, the second largest town in Mallorca, is known for its furniture and pearl industry. Many tourists come here to buy the man-made pearls. The town also offers a beautiful cathedral and a very interesting museum on the town's history. Artà, on the other hand, is much smaller and offers exactly what you would expect from a Mediterranean old town. The winding streets invite you to take picturesque walks and the local mountain Sant Salvador offers a fantastic view as well as a medieval castle complex and a pilgrimage church of the same name.
Portocolom is the largest natural harbour on Mallorca and therefore one of the most important fishing ports on the island. The historic centre of the town is located in the eastern part of the bay on a flat hilltop. There you will find the historic harbour Es Riuetó and the typical small houses of a fishing village with colourful doors and windows. Along the old pier are the traditional boathouses, the barraques, each with a boat ramp and equally colourfully painted lattice doors. The numerous small traditional boats, the llauts, are also moored at the old pier. This area is considered by many to be one of the best-preserved town centres in Mallorca. The village spreads out from the east along the bay to the west.
A large part of the bay, the Badia de Portocolom, is claimed by the new harbour, the Porto de Portocolom, for fishing and by the large marina for private boats. Along the shore road are numerous shops, restaurants and bars.
The 2 km route from the historic centre to the Far de Portocolom lighthouse, partly along a wide footpath and the road, is charming. On the way is the small beach s'Arenal.
Beaches on the East Coast
The diversity of the natural landscape described above also applies to the beaches. There are secluded, picturesque bays as well as long, family-friendly sandy beaches. However, the east coast is probably best known for the beaches that lie deep in the beautiful, rocky bays. In Spanish, the name of the beaches often includes the word cala, as in Cala Millor, Cala Murada or even Cala d'Or. Another famous cala can be found in the southwest - the natural beach of Cala Mondrago is located in a wonderful natural park.
Those who would like to get to know the bay landscape of the east coast from the other side can take one of the numerous coastal tours offered by boat. These take place almost everywhere every day and are offered, for example, from Cala Rajada or Porto Cristo.
Places of interest and excursions
Ermita de Betlem (in the northeast near Artà)
The Ermita de Betlem is a hermitage nestled in the Serra de Llevant mountain range, about 9 km northwest of the town of Artà. On the only asphalted path from Artà up to the Ermita, the visitor has a breathtaking view down to the bay of Alcudia. From Betlem, the monastery can be reached on foot or by mountain bike along a gravelled path. The existence of the monastery dates back to 1805. During the entire period, it served as a place of residence for a few monks. In 2010, the remaining monks left the monastery due to age and joined another monastery. However, the hermitage is still in operation and can be visited. A 150 m long cypress avenue leads to the entrance area of the chapel. The chapel itself was built in neoclassical style on a cruciform ground plan. Besides the frescoes in the dome and a statue of the Virgin Mary, the statue of Christ deserves special attention. It was a gift on the occasion of the consecration of the Ermita in 1806. The area around the monastery offers other places worth seeing and is the starting point for wonderful hikes.
Castell de Capdepera
The Castell de Capdepera is one of the best-preserved fortifications on Mallorca. It dates from the 14th century and is located on the 159-metre-high Puig de Capdepera in the north-east of the island - a strategically favourable location inland, yet close to the coast and the Menorca Canal. The complex is visible from afar on the aforementioned hill above the town. No wonder, then, that from the castle you have a spectacular view of the town of Capdepera, the surrounding area and the sea.
Until the 18th century, the castle served as protection against attackers for the local inhabitants. Since the second half of the century, Capdepera Castle was no longer used for military purposes and stood empty for around 200 years. Finally, in 1983, it was decided to restore the castle and make it accessible to visitors. In the meantime, the building has become one of the most important sights in the region. The castle also includes the governor's house and the church of San Juan, two well-preserved buildings that can be visited next to the castle interior.
Far de Capdepera
The Far de Capdepera is a lighthouse built in 1861 - it stands on the Punta de Capdepera, a hill rising about 55 metres above sea level and has a height of 21 metres. Its beacon stands 76 metres above sea level and has a range of 20 nautical miles. It is one of five lighthouses still in operation, out of a total of 15 in Mallorca. Just northwest of the lighthouse is the historic watchtower Torre Esbucada.
The Torre de Canyamel (sugar cane tower) is a former refuge and defence tower from the 13th century. It is located about four kilometres southwest of Capdepera. Until the middle of the 15th century, the Torre de Canyamel was called Torre d'en Montsó after the Montsó family who had it built. Today, the tower, surrounded by farm buildings, houses a small museum.
Peninsula de Llevant Nature Park
Get back to nature in the Parc Natural de la Península de Llevant. The nature park has only been protected since 2001 and is considered a natural area of special interest and a special bird protection zone. With a little patience, you can discover the diversity and beauty of the local flora and fauna on hiking tours alongside the wild goats that are used here to maintain the landscape.
Talayotic settlement of Ses Païsses
The Talayotic village of Ses Païsses is an important archaeological site of a settlement attributed to the Iron Age Talayotic culture, the remains of which are located southeast of the town of Artà. The exact age of the settlement is not known. It is assumed that it was inhabited from the beginning of the 1st millennium until around 100 BC. The site is one of the best preserved testimonies to the megalithic culture on the Balearic Islands.
Santuari de Sant Salvador
The Santuari de Sant Salvador, also known as the Eremita de San Salvador, is located on the Puig de Sant Salvador mountain at an altitude of 509 metres near the town of Felanitx in the south-east of the island. According to tradition, in the first half of the 14th century, the hermit Romeo de Burguera lived on the mountain in a cave, the Sa cova de s'Ermità. The origin of the sanctuary and the sanctuary dates back to 1348, when the plague devastated about one fifth of the population of Mallorca and about half of the inhabitants of Felanitx. For this reason, the municipality of Felanitx applied to the bishop and the bailiff of the Castell de Santueri to King Pere IV of Aragón, who owned the mountain, for permission to build a chapel. This was granted, and in gratitude for the rescue of the remaining inhabitants, a simple chapel was built in honour of Dios Nuestro Señor, complete with cistern. The king gave an endowment for the reading of the mass and the first friar is said to have been Pedro Bosch. The name Sant Salvador means "Holy Rescue / Redemption / Liberation".
Stalactite caves
Those who love natural spectacles will enjoy the numerous caves on the east coast. The largest and most famous are open to visitors with guided tours. The dragon caves Cuevas del Drach near Porto Cristo are home to the largest underground lake in Europe. Nearby you will find the fishhook cave Cuevas del Hams. The Artà caves near Canyamel are the largest caves in Mallorca.
Fishing ports
Fishing ports are a must in a coastal landscape with bays and coastal villages. Portocolom has retained the charm of a fishing village. Many good fish restaurants invite you to enjoy freshly caught fish directly on site. In Porto Cristo, there is a natural harbour that forms a bay protected by the sea. Mostly pleasure boats and yachts anchor here, and the harbour promenade is an inviting place to stroll.
The east of Mallorca polarises with its contrasts and at the same time offers the perfect destination for everyone. Nature lovers, active holidaymakers, bathing enthusiasts and night owls are drawn to the multifaceted region with probably the most beautiful bays on the island.