Location
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Mallorca is the biggest island of the autonomous region of the Balearic Islands. It is located in front of the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula, 120 nautical miles away, between Menorca and Ibiza. Mallorca has a maximum width of 96 km and is 78 km long. It has a total area of 3640 km², 554 of which shape the Mallorcan coastline.
Mallorca is the most populated island of the archipelago (862.397 inhabitants in 2009), ranking second in Spain. Its capital is Palma, with just over half a million inhabitants. The two municipalities that follow the capital are Calvià and Manacor. The isle of Cabrera and all its islets belong administratively to the capital. Sa Dragonera is a protected islet near Port d’Andratx, on the west end of the island.
The island is geographically divided into four regions, each one with its own characteristics. The Northwest is famous for the mountain range of Serra de Tramuntana, which has been awarded World Heritage Status by UNESCO. The Serra de Tramuntana has the highest peak in Mallorca, Puig Major (1.445 m). In this range not only can you hike, but you can also practice mountaineering, Nordic walking, climbing, canyoning and any other adventure sport.
The northern and northeast region of the island is also very beautiful. It has city and tourist centres, as well as extraordinary beaches. Between Port de Pollença and Cala Ratjada on the east end, there are plenty of sand beaches, charming coves and dreamscapes where you can relax. In this area, the spots that are particularly emblematic are: Port de Pollença, Formentor, Cap Pinar, Platja d’Alcúdia, Platges de Muro, Platges de Can Picafort, and the coves and beaches of Artà and Capdepera (Cala Ratjada).
The southeast, south and southwest region of the island is a place not to be missed. From Cala Millor, Platges de Son Servera, Cales de Mallorca, Portocolom, Cala d’Or, Platges de Campos, Es Trenc and Ses Covetes, Platja de Palma, Platges de Palmanova Magaluf, Santa Ponça, Peguera… to many other places that culminate in Port d’Andratx and Cala de Sant Elm, a few hundred meters away from Sa Dragonera.
On the other hand, the fertile plain known as Es Pla dominates a large part of the interior of the island. The flora and fauna are famous for their richness. Trees such as the pine, the Holm oak and the carob are very typical on the island and are so widespread that in some coastal areas of Tramuntana, such as Estellencs, Banyalbufar, Port d’Es Canonge, Cala Deià, Llucalcari or Cala Tuent, pine forests almost reach the sea.
The location of Mallorca in the western Mediterranean has been decisive for its historic, economic and cultural development.
The two main economic driving forces of the Balearic Islands and mainly of Mallorca are the tourist and the building sectors, pushing the industrial and agricultural sectors into the background. Some big Mallorcan hotel companies are among the most important ones in the world.
The localities that concentrate a higher number of tourists are located between the municipalities of Palma and Calvià, on the south of the island, and between the Bay of Pollença and Cala Ratjada, on the north, although almost all the coastal strip of the island has important facilities dedicated to the tourist and hotel industry.
The main means of transport to get to Mallorca is the plane. Palma de Mallorca Airport is the third with more passenger traffic in Spain. It connects daily with the main Spanish and European cities.
Link of interest – Tourist Information Centres