Category: Life in Mallorca

There are many lovely beaches in Majorca to discover and worth visiting. Here below you will find a selection of some of our favourite beaches to visit.

Playa de Formentor is in the top 3 of the beaches of Europe and in the top 25 of the best sandbanks in the world. It is located in the north-eastern part of Majorca. With its about 1 kilometre long white sand beach and sparkling green-blue waters, framed by a wooded landscape and views of the Tramuntana, this is truly a paradise beach. The beach is very popular with tourists who also make their way north for the scenic views at the Cap de Formentor, the farthest point on the island that ends in a lighthouse, and from where you can see Menorca on clear days. The water is shallow and there are rarely waves here, which is nice for small children. Some areas of the beach can get rocky but otherwise it’s easily accessible. People of all ages enjoy this beach.

Cala Mondragó is a beach about 10 kilometres from Santanyí consisting of sand, stones and rock, located in the southeast of Majorca. It is framed in a wild landscape, surrounded by pine forest, with fine white sand and incredibly crystalline waters and turquoise colour. In addition, its waters are shallow which makes it an ideal place to go as a family. It was declared a natural park in 1992, protecting the area from development and mass tourism.

Playa de Muro is the largest sand beach in Majorca (covering nearly six kilometres) located on the northeast coast of the island. It has shallow clear blue water and white sand dunes. This is a popular beach for families because of its easy access, the long boardwalk with cafes, restaurants, hotels, onsite facilities, kids focused activities, shops, small parks and the exceptionally shallow waters which allow you to walk quite far before it gets deep.

This is one of the best know beaches on the island located in the south part of Majorca. The water is spectacular with its turquoise clear blue colour that is more typical of a Caribbean island. This is a beach for nature lovers who will enjoy the wild beauty and remoteness of the beach. The beach is backed up by sand dunes, some rocky outcroppings, shrubs and pine and a beautiful, 1500-hectare natural wetland with salt flats, birds and a small lake. The beach is popular for tourists and locals, and it is not uncommon to find naturists here, particularly further off from the main crowds.

Cala Varques is a 90-metres cove beach located in the southeast of the island not far away from Portocolom. With its white sand, deep blue water, surrounded by low, rocky cliffs and trees, it is popular with locals and tourists. It is a favourite beach among naturists as well but a less family-friendly beach since it does not have any restaurant facilities.

This is another small cove beach on the southwest coast of the island. It is a very calm and peaceful beach visited by both locals as well as tourists. Due to its small size, there are generally fewer crowds. There is a limited number of umbrellas and sun beds. There are toilets onsite and one large restaurant serving nice beach food.

Cala Mesquida is one of the most magical corners of Majorca, a beach of fine white sand embraced by rocks, dunes and pines creating a unique natural environment, it is one of the most beautiful beaches of the archipelago. An accessible beach, beautiful and surprising as well as comfortable, since it has good services and facilities such as sun beds, parasols and good restaurants. It is an ideal place to go as a family, although its level of occupation is usually high in high season. On the side of the beach, near the rocks, nudism is usually practiced.

To move to, or at least purchase a property in Spain, is a dream come true for many foreigners nowadays. One of the first things you would have to do is apply for a NIE number, which you will need by the time you sign the deeds before the notary. What is a NIE number then? The Spanish NIE number acts as a tax and identification number, and is used in all fiscal transactions that involve the Spanish tax office. A NIE number is mandatory for all foreigners with financial, professional or social affairs in Spain, regardless of whether they are a resident or non-resident in Spain.

How does one apply for the Spanish NIE number? There are three ways to apply for it:

1. Apply in person.

2. Apply in person via a Spanish Consulate abroad.

3. Apply through a representative in Spain.

1. Applying for a NIE number in person.

Firstly, you would have to prepare the necessary documentation:

• Two copies of the Ex-15 application form filled out and signed.
• An original document (plus a photo copy) that justifies the reason for applying for a NIE number, specifically, of the existence of economic, professional, or social interests in Spain (such as a purchase contract for property, mortgage approval etc.)
• For EU-nationals, your passport and photo copy of the main page and for Non-EU-nationals, your passport, a photo copy of your entire passport and proof of your legal entry in Spain

Secondly, you need to go in person to the appropriate place of submission, such as the immigration offices or a local police station, with all your documentation, print the form “Modelo 790 codigo 012”, pay a small tax at the nearest bank and then the application process should be completed.

Lastly, once you have applied you will be given an official receipt and told when and where to pick it up. The time it takes varies. The NIE certificate that you receive eventually is actually only valid for three months. However, the allocated NIE number is unique to you, and will be yours for life.

2. Applying for an NIE number in person via a Spanish Consulate abroad.

Preparation of the necessary documentation as described above under point 1., but the exception that the Ex-15 application form should be duly completed but NOT SIGNED as you will need to sign in the presence of a consular official.

You need to take all the documentation in person to your nearest Spanish Consulate which will forward it to the competent authority in Spain, who will then issue your NIE number. The consulate itself has no authority to issue any NIE numbers and only works as a middle hand. Therefore, once you have submitted your application with them you will have to await notification from the Spanish authorities. If all goes well you should receive your NIE number in PDF format by email within 2-3 weeks.

3. Apply through a representative in Spain

You can also authorize a third party, a legal representative, to obtain your NIE number on your behalf. There are several companies that offer this service such as “gestorías” and law firms. Once authorized they take care of the whole process for you. You will however need to provide them with the following:

• Grant them with a power of attorney (“poder”) or an authorisation form.
• Provide them with a notarised copy of your passport (“copia legalizada”) which is simple and cheap to do.

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When summer arrives, one of the best options is to approach the beach, enjoy the sun and the sea and, if possible, have a drink on the beach. Mallorca has a wide range of beach bars, the so called “chiringuitos” where you can have a snack, munch something or even enjoy haute cuisine. Here are some of our tips:

Il Chiringo

Il Chiringo, located in Palmanova and its cool chilled-out atmosphere offers very good food and an excellent service. This place gets crowded especially during weekend nights in summer when they have a DJ in place.

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Cala Sa Nau

Cala Sa Nau is the name of the beach bar located right on the soft sand of the small bay with the very same name, between Porto Colom and Cala d’Or.  On the menu, you have everything from meat dishes, fresh fish, snacks, natural juices or cocktails. At weekends, you can dance to live music or to music from the DJ.

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Roxy’s Beach Bar

Roxy’s Beach Bar, is the place to go to if want to enjoy a lovely glass of cava or a fresh “sangría”, whilst watching the beautiful marina in Puerto Portals. This is a very popular beach bar frequently visited by both locals and tourists.

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El Chiringuito

El Chiringuito is one of the most popular ‘chiringuitos’ among locals and offers amazing views over Sa Foradada and a chilled atmosphere. The sunset here is breath taking and something you must experience at least once in your life.

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Mirlinda Jonuzi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

Mallorcaresidencia has decided to ride the wave towards a plastic free world and have therefore joined the Cleanwave movement which aims to preserve the Mediterranean Sea and to eliminate the daily use of all plastic bottles.

Cleanwave is a dynamic movement of likeminded individuals who recognise the urgent need to provide sustainable alternatives to single use disposable plastic bottles on the Balearics and beyond. In the Balearic Islands, we consume 1.5 million plastic bottles a day.

Cleanwave believes that drinking water should be freely accessible and set out to minimize plastic waste through the sale of stainless steel bottles, sustainably sourced and produced with minimum environmental impact and easy to clean. Being one of Cleanwave’s refill stations, you can purchase the bottle with us. The Cleanwave bottle is not a once-off purchase – it is a way of life! Let us all ride the Cleanwave!

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Mirlinda Januzi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

Mallorca has become a paradise for any cyclist. Fundamental aspects of any cycling activity are the climate, the mountains and the good roads. The mild temperatures during the spring season attract both amateur and professional teams to prepare for the pre-season that will continue in their home country.

The areas of Playa de Palma and Alcudia have adapted the hotel offer so as to eradicate seasonality by welcoming hotels to cyclists during the winter season. Cycling competitions, triathlon, Ironman and others have caused a large influx of this type of tourism.

Cycling in Palma is a small company that offers a personal and specialized treatment for each client, it is possible to rent high-end road bicycles and make private tours from the center of the city to the outside discovering the greatness of the Sierra de Tramuntana, its picturesque villages and beautiful landscapes.

Cycling in Palma is located in the emblematic district of Santa Catalina. This privileged location also offers the possibility of choosing several routes out of the city towards the mountains. They select the most interesting bike routes for their landscape beauty, cultural interest and roads perfectly adapted to cycling.

Have a look here at a few examples of the guided bike tours Cycling in Palma offers. Their bike tours are prepared for different levels of difficulty and have distinct duration. All of them start in the city of Palma, they also deliver bikes to your place. However, they can also create a personalized tour completely adapted to your abilities, preferences. Click here for more information.

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Mirlinda Januzi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

What is a physiotherapist? A physiotherapist is working to assess, prevent, relieve and cure health problems. Public health, stress, sports medicine, manual medicine and orthopaedics are some important areas of expertise, but the professional role also includes assessing the patient’s injuries and abilities as part of the investigation of illness. Assessment of motor skills, strength, joint mobility and pain are some of the most common ones.

During my many years as a sportswoman, I had the luck, or perhaps the misfortune, to never go to a physiotherapist. When the body is young and strong, it feels like you can take on the whole world on your own, which you might also be able to, right then and there. However, one thinks very little about the future and that one can actually take care of their body for preventive purposes. This is something that is crystal clear to me today and therefore I give myself a “treat” at least once every two months or once a month, when I exercise harder. Now you are probably thinking, yes, but it is a time and money question also, and certainly, it is a fact. Still, is it not worth taking care of our amazing body here and now, while it is not too late and for it to never be too late? You cannot deny that it is great to have a body that is in harmony with everything you want to do, in your everyday life as well as in your exercising life? A guaranteed investment for the future!

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Fisiosan

The owner of the centre Fisiosan is the physiotherapist Vicens Marí Mayans. I first came in contact with Vicens during my years as a runner where he helped me out with some minor injuries as well as maintenance during this period of very intense training sessions. The treatments at the centre are personalized and they apply the best techniques and the most advanced technology available in the market. A fusion of technology and physiotherapy to recover and improve physical condition much faster and more effectively. Combination of personalized treatment plan with machines specifically designed for physiotherapy use, which allows more effective treatments and solutions to be implemented. Vicens used to be the head physiotherapist of the football team RCD Mallorca for more than 15 years and was also working together with Rafa Nadal Academy until recently.

Carrer de Jesús 36, Palma

fisioterapiapalma.es

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Physiotherapist Susana Casanovas – Cenfi

Susana is an excellent physiotherapist and director of the Cenfi centre but they are 5 physiotherapists in total working there. They work with manual therapy, dry puncture, therapeutic exercise, radiofrequency, hypopressive exercises, osteopathy (not Susana but her colleagues do). They also treat babies with colic, bronchiolitis, neurological physiotherapy, sports, traumatology, pelvic floor, pregnancy, postpartum etc. Susana and her colleagues master most things in the field of physiotherapy and we can warmly recommend her sports massages which are guaranteed to dissolve all possible muscle nodes and tensions.

C / Molí d’en Perot 6, Palma

susana.casanovas@gmail.com

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Physiotherapist / Osteopath Rocio

Rocio is a physiotherapist and osteopath who combines to work both in a hospital and a private practise at home. She works primarily with trauma injuries, sports injuries and in paediatrics with, for example, child colic and congenital torticollis (CMT). She is an active athlete herself and currently does cross fit, where I first met her, and works a lot with trail runners. Being an athlete herself, she can quickly relate to various sports injuries and help you with strain injuries and much more.

rociofisiopalma@gmail.com

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Mirlinda Jonuzi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

Santa Catalina is a trendy and popular area in central Palma with great atmosphere and a lively indoor market with fresh vegetables, meat and fish from Mallorca. The picturesque streets around the old fishing district lined with nice cafes and restaurants.

Palma has some great restaurants and Santa Catalina in particular offers some of the most modern and best restaurants. We have scaled it down to our top six restaurants in Santa Catalina. We hope you will love them as much as we do.

Kuroböta

Plaza Progreso 9

At the intriguing Kuroböta restaurant in Santa Catalina, they serve Asian fusion and unique cocktails. The restaurant opens only in the evenings from 19.30 and offers a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The menu includes dishes such as ginger marinated tuna, dumplings with scorpion fish and grilled spicy shrimp. We recommend Kurobota for its innovative food with a mix of flavors and cocktails that are great for both a night out with friends as well as for a romantic dinner for two.

Sumaq

C/ Cotoner 44

For those of you who has not already discovered the fantastic Peruvian food, we will now recommend the really good Peruvian restaurant Sumaq under the leadership of chef Irene. Typical dishes, which we are used to seeing in the Peruvian cuisine, such as ceviches, tiraThe ditos and causas are mixed with exquisite dishes such as Australian lamb steak and pisco flamed octopus. My personal recommendation is “lomo saltado” in the company of a pisco sour.

Naan Street Food

Calle Caro 16

Naan offers a complete range of street food from all over the world. The fish tacos are lovely, the Japanese ramen soup with pork, algae and miso is filling and tasty. They offer all dishes in two varieties depending on whether you want to share or not. An excellent choice if you want to try several dishes from different parts of the world in the middle of Palma, without having to travel far.

Duke

Calle Soler 36

We can’t help but to mention Duke. Not just for the fantastic food but also for the nice atmosphere and excellent service. Duke was founded 10 years ago by a surfer and a chef who both are truly passionate about the food they serve. Here they offer their favorite dishes from different parts of the world and many of the dishes are adapted for vegans and gluten and lactose intolerant. Don’t miss their lunch menu which varies daily but is always delicious! My recommendation on the menu is their Thai salad with duck, vegan tacos and their delicious burgers!

Vandal

Plaza Progreso 15

At the popular Vandal restaurant in Santa Catalina you are reminded already in the door of their provocative attitude in form of a graffiti-painted facade. On their menu different flavors and aromas meet in different consistencies. Here you experience fusion at its best, with dishes from Asia and South America mixed with the European cuisine. We recommend sharing the dishes to try as many as possible. Some of our favorites are the marinated mackerel which is served with mayonnaise of pine nuts and sorbet of ponzu, ceviche with coconut foam and charcoal grilled Black Angus.

Wasabi

Calle Sant Magin 55

At Wasabi, in my opinion, they serve the best sushi in Palma. The service is always excellent and the ingredients fresh. This is the original restaurant but there are now a number of more restaurants both in Palma and in the rest of the country. Daytime they serve an affordable lunch menu. On the normal menu we highly recommended the tempura rolls, especially the Tuna Poki Maki of tuna, absolutely wonderful. The seaweedsalad, Osaka and Spicy Tuna rolls and gyosas should also be tested. Wasabi is the Japanese restaurant that never fails.

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Latest properties for sale in Santa Catalina

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Apartments and Houses for sale in Santa Catalina

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Johanna Andersson

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

On the eastern coast of Mallorca lies the quiet village of Portocolom, a traditional fishing village that maintains its charm with small fishing boats, boathouses and lighthouses. Portocolom has been named after Christopher Columbus, who is said to have been born in the village. The village has historically been a fishing village, and until the late 1800s there was also a busy trade in the shipping of wine to France. Portocolom is located in a sheltered bay with a large number small beaches such as Cala Marçal which is located only one kilometer from Port de Portocolom.

You should not visit Portocolom without trying the local seafood. We recommend the nice restaurant Sa Llotja which is located in the harbour overlooking the bay. For those interested in golf, the beautiful golf course Vall D’or is located nearby, many consider it the best golf course in Mallorca. At Vall D’or you can enjoy playing 18 holes with a fantastic view of the sea and the mountains.

If you are looking for a property in the area, Mallorcaresidencia offers these newly built apartments (MF1558) at a reduced price on the remaining 12 apartments. The buildings consist of three floors and offer apartments with 2 and 3 bedrooms. The ground floor apartments (1558A) have large private gardens and the penthouses (MF1558C) have generous roof terraces. The first floor apartments (MF1558B) have the private terrace of 20 m2. The living space varies between 82 m2 and 104 m2 and the prices vary between 275 000 euros and 580 000 euros. These high quality apartments are close to the sea, have a fantastic pool area and beautifully landscaped gardens. 

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Johanna Andersson

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

Some years ago I decided to surprise a dear friend of mine with something different for her birthday. I wanted to give her an experience and something that we could both share. Her being a wine lover, I took her on a Mallorca Wine Tour tour. This is one of the nicest experiences that we have had together here in Majorca and one we can really recommend.

The idea of having a train take you through the wine region of Binissalem while enjoying the landscape is very special and that is one of the things what makes this tour so unique. This wine tasting tour takes you to some of the best wineries of the island and lets you know their history and taste their award winning wines, accompanied by gourmet snacks (typical Majorcan tapas).

The guides on the tour are very knowledgeable and passionate about wine and will teach you about different grapes that are only grown on the island and help you improve your wine tasting skills. Who could say no to that! They have different types of tours to choose amongst and if you are curious and want a life time experience see mallorcawinetours.com for further information.

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Mirlinda Jonuzi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

The training industry has always been an industry in constant development. The different training trends are replaced by new training methods, or old ones that have been freshened up, continuously. I myself have trained for my entire life and have had time to try out many different sports and forms of training and what I have noticed in recent years, is that the personal training has won a lot of terrain. We seem to want to determine exactly what and how we want to train and above all when it suits us to train. Flexibility and quality are particularly important in our usually stressed everyday life. I myself have tried different forms of personal training and think that if you at any time in life can indulge in training a few weeks with a personal trainer, you should really go for it. You get such an incredible kick and perform that little extra and push yourself to the limit, something that is really difficult to do when you train on your own. There is a lot to choose from in Mallorca, but here are some tips on different trainers that I have tried and that I liked very much.

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Aurelio Ruiz

Aurelio is a licensed personal trainer who originally comes from the football world but who is now engaged in personal training in general. His focus is on different types of outdoor training; running, yoga, stretching, core training, functional training and complementary training for golfers, cyclists, runners and tennis players. You can train individually with him, in couple or in groups. I myself go to his fast-paced and fun functional group training where we train to good music and look out over the fantastic Golf Son Muntaner’s green areas. For more information contact Aurelio (speaks English) via mobile 0034 646793009.

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Silvia García del Castillo

Silvia is a licensed physiotherapist and a pilates instructor. She is very disciplined and technically skilled at really all types of training she instructs in. Silvia performs her training sessions mainly at the Pure Fitness Club in Palma but is flexible and sometimes goes home to people who prefer training at home but could also do open air trainings. With Silvia you can do pilates, stretching, functional training, cardio training, preventative training and much more. If you want to push yourself a little extra, Silvia is an excellent choice. She is originally Mallorcan but speaks fluent English. For more information contact via email: silvia479151@gmail.com.

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Mateu Palmér

Mateu has been around for a long time in the sports world and especially in the racket sports tennis and padel. He was the champion of the Balearic Islands in tennis for 10 years, multiple champion in the Balearic Islands in padel and is the current champion of the Balearic Islands in the +50 class of padel. Mateu was a long-time gym manager at the legendary MegaSport Center but and is now the current owner of Pins Padel where he gives private lessons in padel. He works with all levels, beginners as well as those who want to fine-tune their tecnique or those who simply want to develop their game. Mateu adapts to his student’s level when he plans the training sessions and has very dynamic exercises. If you have never tried padel then I can warmly recommend you to try and why not try with Mateu! You are guaranteed to sweat and a good laugh at the bargain. For more information, please contact Mateu at 0034 687404841 (he speaks English).

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Mirlinda Jonuzi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia