Mallorca & Ibiza, Spain
July 29 - August 9, 2022 (11D11N): When the office announced that we could work remotely during August, we decided to visit Mallorca as we had heard so much about this beautiful island. The setup was perfect as we enjoyed the beaches during the day and logged on between 3 pm and midnight to work the east coast hours. We visited Ibiza on the weekend, given it was a short flight away. Renting a car in Mallorca is a must so you can easily tour the island. While the island is best to be visited during the summer seasons, hikers will find many beautiful trails to enjoy without the crowds during the low season.
*Highly recommended food & hotel
^ A low T2K ratio is meant to represent a family-friendly beach with lots of kids
Day 1 (Palma de Mallorca):
Afternoon arrival at PMI from JFK (via MAD)
Taxi (~€20; 20 mins) or bus (€5pp; 30 mins) to Palma
Check-in @ Hotel Almudaina*
Welcome drinks @ SKYBAR at Hotel Almudaina
Royal Palace of La Almudaina (€7 T-S 10-7 pm)
7-8:15 pm: Palma old town with Iberian Ham/Cheese & Wine from the Island; free walking tour*
Edifici Casasayas (Two symmetrical buildings inspired by the Art Nouveau movement)
Sangria @ Café Maura
Cathedral of Palma (pic only)
Can Forteza Rey (Famous work of Gaudí, see photo below)
Dinner @ Lo DiVino*
Day 2 (Palma/Ibiza)
Breakfast @ Mercat de L’Olivar (7 am-2:30 pm, closed Sunday)
Casal Solleric (I visited when it was hosting an art exhibition; free, 10 am-8 pm)
Llotja de Palma monument (free)
Pic of the cathedral from Parque del Mar
1:20-2pm: Flight to Ibiza (Sala VIP Valldemossa Lounge*)
Rental car @ Hertz
Ibiza Town (Park @ Parking Es Pratet €0.04 per min during daytime)
Ibiza Walled City (Dalt Vila):
Drinks/snack @ S’escalinata*
The wall full of famous Handprints
Beautiful view @ Mirador de la Muralla Dalt Vila
Mercat vell (Small market right outside the walled city)
Check-in @ The Purple Hotel by Ibiza Feeling*
Watch the sunset @ Puesta de sol:
Sunset drinks @ Café del Mar (Skip!! Overpriced drinks)
Dinner @ Es Gerret*
Party @ Pikes Hotel*
Day 3 (Ibiza)
Cala Comete (Skip if you plan to visit Cala Escondida)
Cala Escondida (Right next to Cala Comete; cute little cove; good for snorkeling)
Cala Codolar (Skip if short on time)
Lunch @ El Carmen* (Amazing fish stew)
Drinks @ Ushuaia Beach Club
Platja d’En Bossa (Good for jumping waves; skip if short on time)
Cala Nova (Good for jumping waves)
Shop & enjoy music @ Mercado Hippy Las Dalias* (Opens all year-round starting @ 7 pm; a must!)
Watermelon Cocktail @ the bar
Dinner @ Bar Costa* (The best jamon sandwich; sit by the bar to skip the line)
Ibiza Global Festival @ Platja de S’Arenal
Day 4 (Ibiza/Southern coast of Mallorca)
7:30am-8:10am: Flight to PMI
Rental car @ Hertz
Cala Pi Beach (For a nice view of the beach, turn left at the top of the stairs and walk about thirty meters; great for snorkeling)
Patissiere Pomar (Known for the best Ensaimada on the island)
Lunch @ Cassai gran Café in Ses Salines
Check-in @ Hotel Monsuau* (Adults only! Get the half board that includes dinner buffet - delicious!)
Swim @ Hotel Monsuau
Dinner & live music @ Hotel Monsuau
Day 5 (Southern coast of Mallorca)
Breakfast @ Hotel Monsuau
Cala s’Almunia (Amazing snorkeling spot; get there early to find parking by the entrance)
Calo del Moro (So pretty! Take the dirt path right at the top of the stairs leading to s’Almunia - see photo below)
Platja Cala Llombards^ (Skip)
Mijotos @ Chiringuito Pure
Cala Figuera (Picturesque fishing village):
Cliff jumping @ Cala Figuera
Swim @ Hotel Monsuau
Dinner @ Hotel Monsuau
Drinks @ Hotel Monsuau Sky Bar
Day 6 (Cala D’Or/Santanyi)
Breakfast @ Hotel Monsuau
Cala Gran^ (Skip)
Cala Esmeralda^ (Skip)
Cala Santanyi (drive through S’Alqueria Blanca)
Es Pontas viewpoint (Beautiful and quiet)
Drinks @ Hostal Playa
Cala Santanyi Beach (Decent snorkeling on the left side of the beach)
Swim @ Hotel Monsuau
Dinner @ Hotel Monsuau
Day 7 (Cala Ratjada/Pollenca)
Breakfast @ Hotel Monsuau
Drach Caves (Buy tix online for €16)
Cala Ferrera^ (Skip)
Cala Agulla (Great for snorkeling)
Cala Molto (A must! You can reach here by walking from Cala Agulla, secluded and shallow water)
Santuari de Sant Salvador (8am-6pm; free)
Drinks @ Cappuccino & Tecun*
Dinner @ Dhaka Express*
Day 8 (Formentor/Alcudia):
Formentor:
Albercutx Watchtower (Park right below the hill and walk up; amazing views)
Mirador Es Colomer (Skip if you can make it to the Watchtower)
Alcudia beach^ (Skip - too crowded)
Sa Canova Beach (Park on the streets by Platja de Son Serra de Marina, then walk from there; nudist beach)
Pollenca:
Drinks @ Ca n’Olesa* (Great wine selections)
Shop for leather sandals @ Brechia
Check-in @ Es Picarol Sineu* (Amazing hotel & hospitality; highly recommended)
Alcudia Old Town (A charming walled city)
Dinner @ Can punyetes* (Amazing razor clams)
Ice cream @ Dolcevita
Drinks @ La Previa (Decent cocktails but very slow services)
Day 9 (Santa Ponsa/Palma)
Breakfast @ Es Picarol Sineu
10:30 am-5:30 pm: Boat rental from Embark (Our experience was just okay; you can also consider Seashore Boats Mallorca):
Playa del Mago (Park at the top of the hill; high T2K ratio):
Drinks @ Ventuno Bar Italiano
Dinner @ Bar Espana
10pm: Bath @ Hammam Al Andalus Banos Arabes
Day 10 (Serra de Tramuntana)
Breakfast @ Es Picarol Sineu
Placa de Sant Marc
Scenic drive along the northern coast - Serra de Tramuntana
Nus de Sa Corbata/Coll dels reis (Admire the famous 8 Road)
Fornalutx (Known as the prettiest village in Spain)
Sant Bartomeu de Sóller (€1 entrance fee)
Lunch @ Sa Granja
Cool off @ Platja d’en Repic for a view of Port of Sóller (Low T2K ratio)
Cala Deià (Great for snorkeling; high T2K ratio; bring water shoes; super windy roads down to the beach)
Deià (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
Iglesia de San Juan Bautista (Go for the view)
Dinner @ Restaurant sa Vinya
Check-in @ La Posada del Marques*
Day 11
Valldemossa (Get there by 10 am for parking - bring coins)
Breakfast @ Forn i Pastisseria Ca’n Molinas* (Try cabell d’àngel & sandwich)
Walk around town
Wine tour & lunch @ Bodega Ribas* (Platter Selection 1711 - €46pp)
Cala Banyalbufar* (Great for snorkeling; high T2K ratio; bring water shoes)
Palma:
Dinner @ La Botana*
Ice cream @ Claudio
Day 12
Morning flight to JFK via MAD (Sala VIP Formentor Lounge)
Other points of interest:
Palma de Mallorca:
Visit the inside of Catedral de Mallorca (€9 regular M-S 10 am-5:15 pm or €20 with the tower; M-F 10 am-4:30 pm; or free on Sunday at 11:50 am before the mass starts)
Sa Dragonera Natural Park (10 am-5 pm from April 1 to September 30 and from 10 am - 2:30 pm the rest of the year. Free Saturday, otherwise 1 euro; Ferry)
Southern Coast of Mallorca:
Mercat Setmanal Santanyí (Opens Wednesday & Saturday)
Formentor:
Hike @ Vall de Bóquer
Serra de Tramuntana:
Jardins d'Alfàbia
Wineries in Mallorca:
Ibiza:
Snorkeling @ Cala Xarraca
Other Food & Drinks:
Ibiza:
Breakfast @ The Skinny Kitchen
Palma
Burger @ Hamburgueseria Alaska
Alcudia
Lunch @ Basico Gastrobar
Tips:
Take advantage of Amex Centurion Loung and visit the speakeasy (1850) if flying out of JFK T4.
Avoid withdrawing euros from the Mallorca airport. The ATMs there are operated by Euronet, which charges a very unfavorable exchange rate and fees.
American rental car companies (i.e., Hertz) have a large fleet of vehicles at PMI.
The big stores do not close during siesta, but small shops do close for siesta, usually between 1 pm - 4 pm; but all stores are closed on Sunday.
Double-check for mask policy when boarding flights in Spain. Mask was required in August 2022.
Pack your snorkeling gear for the beaches in Mallorca.
