Your essential guide to watersports in Mallorca

Dreaming of an action-packed Spanish beach holiday? Mallorca rocks. Discover fun ways to get your feet wet with our pick of the best watersports in Mallorca.

ap1

The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca boasts an impressive choice of beach-side activities and attractions for water babies of all ages and abilities. With its glorious golden sands, azure waters and gentle island breezes, watersports in Mallorca are guaranteed to up the wow factor of your Spanish summer getaway.

Whether you want to learn the ropes or hone your skills in a watersport such as surfing or sailing, or if you’re a thrill-seeker ready for your next exhilarating experience, or merely looking to explore the island on a boat or yacht, Mallorca offers a wealth of opportunities for messing about in the water.

Ready to dive in? Check out our guide to the island’s watersports action -  and snap up the best deals for Mallorca water sports holidays for Summer 2018… 

Family watersports

The opportunities for family watersports in Mallorca are legion, but the most popular destinations tend to be family resorts, such as Alcudia Beach, Magaluf Beach and Playa de Muro. In these bustling hubs, you can get your adrenaline rush, thrills and spills on a jet-ski, banana boat or on a flying inflatable. Jet ski tours are also available in Alcudia and Port Calanova, where you can whiz around the coastline and stop off during the excursion to explore some stunning caves.

Charter boats

Fancy chartering a boat and sailing around the beautiful island of Mallorca? With several companies offering boat hires in a range of different shapes and sizes, you can be sure of finding the best option for the right price for you and your group of salty seadogs.

FOTO-2

The type of boats available range from yachts, sailboats, catamarans, speedboats and many more, depending on your requirements and the number of people wanting to get on board. The boats can be chartered from a range of different resorts, yet the most popular marinas and ports to drop anchor tend to be Palma, Puerto Portals, Port Adriano, Port d’Andratx, Port de Sóller, Port de Pollença, Port d’Alcúdia and Cala d’Or.

If you’re looking for a more glamorous experience of watersports in Mallorca, opt for a motor yacht charter, where holidaymakers can relax in a more spacious and luxurious environment whilst exploring the island. Alternatively, those who are interested in the sport of sailing may prefer a sailboat charter, where they can truly indulge in the sailing experience. Some of the best sailing schools in the island are located in Palma, Port Calanova, Port de Pollença, Port d’Andratx, Port d'Alcúdia and Santa Ponça.

Kite surfing & Wind surfing

If you’re looking for the perfect place for a spot of kite surfing or wind surfing, then Son Serra de Marina Beach in the Bay of Alcudia, situated in the north of Mallorca, is the place to be. This small seaside resort is an ideal surfing destination due to its prevailing and constant winds. Where this part of the coastline is not protected by the bay, the winds are much stronger, making it an optimal resort for these types of surfing. The beach is 450-metres long and backs on to sand dunes and the beautiful hills of Llevant Natural Park.

FOTO-3

Other beaches where wind surfing and kite surfing are available include Cala Millor, Cala d'Or, Ca'n Picafort, Cala Formentor, Magaluf, Palma Nova, Peguera, Playa de Palma, Port d'Alcúdia, Port de Pollença, Puerto Portals and Santa Ponça.

Surfing

Where the waves in the southwest aren’t particularly long, it can be difficult to find the right surfing conditions. However, the beaches of Paguera tend to be the most popular amongst surfers. Paguera consists of three beautiful beaches; Playa Palmira, Playa La Romana and Play Tora. Additionally, Cala Major, Sa Rapita, Ca'n Picafort and Sa Marina also attract the surfing fraternity when conditions are ripe for adventure.

Alternatively, Wave House Mallorca, located on the beach front in Magaluf, is an excellent spot to learn, practice or perfect your surfing skills. The leisure venue consists of two artificial wave machines that are safely and conveniently designed, making it suitable for users of all abilities - a must-do experience whether you’re simply wanting an introduction to the sport, or you’re a skilled surfer looking for some fresh wave action.

Scuba diving

With its crystal-clear waters and stunning array of reefs and caves, Mallorca is the ideal destination to dive down and explore the underwater world. Most of the diving sites are situated in the bays of Alcudia and Port de Pollença, where you can dive alongside barracudas, octopi, sting rays and many more fascinating sea creatures.

Port de Soller, on the west coast of Mallorca, and Sant Elm on the south-west coast are also popular diving destinations, along with Santa Ponça and Cala Bona, which both lie on the east coast of the island.

If you are more of a beginner, introductory courses are also available in more shallow and calm waters, where an instructor will teach you everything you need to know. There are several diving centres in Mallorca, and you will more than likely be able to locate a diving centre near to wherever you are staying.

FOTO-4

Wakeboarding & Waterskiing

Equipment for waterskiing and wakeboarding can be found at major beaches, including Cala Millor, Ca'n Picafort, Cala Formentor, Magaluf, Palma Nova, Peguera, Playa de Palma, and Port de Pollença.

A major hotspot for wakeboarders is the Wakepark on the Estany Petit Lake in Alcudia, located in the north of Mallorca. The park boasts a wide range of obstacles for more professional boarders, and introductory lessons are also available to beginners. Being the first and only cableski in Mallorca for wakeboarding, this park is undoubtedly an exhilarating experience.

Snorkeling

The opportunities to snorkel in Mallorca are substantial, however, the best places for underwater exploration tend to be on the south and the east coast. Cala Varques, Cala Blava, Cala Llombards, Cala Morlanda, Cala Deia and Cala Sant Vicenç are particularly favorable with regards to their snorkeling conditions.

If you would prefer not to snorkel in open water, then Palma Aquarium is a fantastic alternative. Here, you can swim in a pool amongst rays with a snorkel and mask, or if you’re looking for a more adventurous option, then you can use a scuba tank and regulator.

Flyboarding

Flyboarding, also known as hoverboarding or jetpacking, has become a 21st-century watersports phenomenon. This impressive piece of equipment allows you to soar above the water as it launches you into the sky. The opportunity for flyboarding is more limited than most other watersports due to its novelty, however, the most popular destinations are Port Calanova, located just five minutes away from the city of Palma de Mallorca, along with Port de Pollença and Port d'Alcúdia.

FOTO-1

Kayaking & Canoeing

It is possible to rent a canoe or kayak at the majority of the watersport centres across the island, whether it’s just for the hour, or even for the day. The north and east coasts tend to be the most popular destinations for kayaking and canoeing due to their idyllic beaches and crystalline waters.

Paddle boarding

If you’re looking for a more relaxing way to enjoy watersports in Mallorca, paddle boarding is the perfect option as the island is blessed with tranquil waters. Paddle boards are available to hire on various beaches, including Santa Ponsa, Alcudia and Calanova. Paddle boarding trips to the bays of Alcudia and Pollença are also available, where you can enjoy paddling in the coves of the bay. 

Looking for a top watersports hotel in Mallorca? The five-star Royal Hideaway Formentor is a luxurious haven overlooking the idyllic beach of Formentor - with a sumptuous choice of sports and leisure activities and fine dining on tap.