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Port de Pollenca
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Over at
PORT DE POLLENCA
things are a little more touristy, though still pleasantly low-key. With the mountains as a backcloth, the resort arches through the flatlands behind the Badia de Pollenca, a deeply indented bay whose sheltered waters are ideal for swimming. The
beach
is the focus of attention, a narrow, elongated sliver of sand that's easily long enough to accommodate the crowds, though as a general rule you'll have more space the further southeast (towards Alcudia) you walk. A rash of apartment buildings and hotels blights the edge of town, and the noisy main road to Alcudia runs close to most of the seashore, but all in all the place is very appealing, especially in the centre behind the marina, where old narrow streets hint at the resort's origins as a small port and fishing harbour.
For a change of scene,
water taxis
shuttle between the marina and the Platja de Formentor, one of Mallorca's most attractive beaches (April-Oct 5-7 daily; 30min; €5.40 one-way). Also,
boat trips
cruise the bay (June to mid-Oct Mon-Sat 1 daily; 2hr 30min; €12), or work their way along to Cap de Formentor (same times & price). There's also the option of making a delightful three-kilometre (each way)
hike
across the neck of the Peninsula de Formentor to
Cala Boquer
. On the seafront north of the marina, take a left up
Avinguda Bocchoris
. Proceed over the Formentor road and keep straight along a wide footpath fringed with pine trees and tamarisk. Beyond the end of the footpath is an untidy area, whose tarmac marks the lay-out of a proposed housing development. Ahead, at a sign saying "Predio Boquer Propriedad Privada Camin Particular", take the wide path north with the ridge of Serra del Cavall Bernat straight ahead and you'll soon reach an iron gate, beyond which is Boquer farmhouse. The trail leads on through the mountain-sheltered
Vall de Boquer
(Boquer Valley), a favourite of ornithologists, especially for its migrant birds, and of botanists for its wild flowers and shrubs. After about 45 minutes' walking you reach a small, shingly
beach
offering good swimming in clean water (though the shore is sometimes rubbish-strewn). Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Spain,
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