The serene beauty of Cala d'Or

Cala d'Or, located on the southeastern coast of Mallorca, is the paradise of any person who enjoys quiet waters and breathtaking scenery. A coastal area with beautiful white-sand beaches and turquoise bays offers the best conditions one may want to have during a day at sea. Opting for a boat rental in Mallorca allows you to fully immerse yourself in everything this serene haven has to offer.

The marina in Cala d'Or is very well equipped; it provides all kinds of services for a boat and a sailor: restaurants, shops, and service stations with fuel supplies. From there, you will easily get into many neighboring coves, such as Gran Cove, Esmeralda Cove, and Ferrera Cove. Each of these coves has its own peculiarities that make them special: crystal-clear waters and breathtaking views from the cliffs. 

The vibrant coastline of Bay of Palma

More enormous, Bay of Palma is the largest bay in Mallorca and is at the southwest end. The vibrant Palma is the capital city of the island, steeped with rich cultural heritage and beautiful architecture, and it offers a lively marina where it is always bustling with activity. When boating on the Bay of Palma, one gets to experience both the hustle of the city and the peace of the surrounding coastline.

For those wishing to venture out of the city, a short sail to the islands of Cabrera and Dragonera is a must. Cabrera is a national park, and it is under the sea where nature lovers' dreams come true. Dragonera features its rugged landscapes and preserves a historic lighthouse. Spending the day exploring this island is a good choice.

Discover hidden hems along the North Coast

The northern coast of Mallorca is off the tourist beaten track, offering one a chance to get off the crowd and enjoy a more secluded sailing experience. The dramatic coastline abounds with secretive bays, towering cliffs, and small villages, giving the best views from the water level. Popular points of departure to discover the sea in this area include Port de Pollença and Alcúdia.

From calm waters in Cala d'Or to lively scenes in Bay of Palma and the small secrets hidden on the North Coast, Mallorca's coastline offers unlimited opportunities for all boat lovers—a boat in Mallorca will let you get a feel of this island's beauty from a totally different perspective. All these places have their own adventures and experiences, making this location perfect for boat holidays.

This article was written in collaboration with Click and Boat.

5 charming Andalusian villages by the sea

Ayamonte

We start the selection of fishing villages in Andalusia with Ayamonte, in Huelva. Located in the spectacular natural setting at the mouth of the Guadiana River, Ayamonte owes its unique appearance to its position as the river border between Spain and Portugal. It is a great beach and bird watching destination.

Nerja

Among the fishing villages of Andalusia, Nerja in Málaga stands out undoubtedly. This attractive summer resort, with a mild climate and extensive sandy areas, has in its famous cave one of the most important prehistoric sites in southern Europe.  Known as the Balcony of Europe, Nerja has an exceptional climate all year round.

Almuñécar

The capital of Costa Tropical is surrounded by beautiful and unique landscapes scattered with Roman and Nasrid remains. In its castle was carved the safest prison for the great characters of Granada. Almuñécar is a classic summer destination because of its climate and atmosphere.

Chiclana de la Frontera

In this spectacular place in the Bay of Cádiz the Greeks wrote that Hercules carried out two of his works. Chiclana, one of Andalusia's most important fishing villages, has been for thousands of years the secluded port of a monumental village with extensive sand dunes. This ancient town is very popular for having two of the best beaches in Cádiz; very close to the legendary castle of Sancti Petri and its port.

Sanlúcar de Barrameda

The last one in this list of Andalusian fishing villages is Sanlúcar de Barrameda, in Cádiz. Strategically located at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, Sanlúcar was a rich port and aristocratic resort. Today it is known for the peculiar manzanilla wine, its famous prawns and the horse races at the beach.

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The competition draws thousands of people each year who come to enjoy the spectacle put on by the traditional boats known as traineras. This is a unique event for sports lovers and for the entire general public, as good vibes and celebration fill the streets of the city during the two days of the race.

The qualifiers take place on August 30th. All the teams that have been invited by the organization compete in a time trial and the seven top teams qualify for the race. The eighth boat is always the host, that is, a team from San Sebastián. When there is more than one team from San Sebastián with a trainera, the spot is decided by a qualifying time trial that takes place during the Aste Nagusia celebration in San Sebastián.

We encourage you to go to the Bandera de la Concha, a spectacle that combines adrenaline and tradition. The atmosphere is exceptional and the setting is unparalleled.

Practical Information

If you want to know what to do in San Sebastián, we’ll tell you about it here.

If you want to know where to eat and where to stay in San Sebastián, take a look at our pages of recommendations.

It is held in the town of Getxo, Bizkaia, where a total of 40 ships and 240 crew members will meet. The twelfth edition of the Spain Cup J80 is projected to be a success, as well as serving as a training for the World Cup J80 from the 7th to the 14th of July, to be held in Sables de D'olonne (France). For this, the club will provide its facilities to berth the boats that want to go to the World Cup.

For the Real Maritime Club of the Abra-Real Sporting Club, the celebration of the Spain Cup J80 becomes a practice run for the World J80 in 2019. It will be the third time in history that it falls in the waters of the Peninsula, after having previously been held at the Real Maritime Club of Santander (2009) and the Nautical Club of Bevelle, in Cádiz (2016). The Getxotarra entity, with 120 years of history, is one of the most active in Spain in terms of race organizations, loyalty of partners, and top-level events. In fact, it already hosted the J80 Spain Cup in 2012.

What to do in Getxo?

If you attend the event, a visit to Getxo is also highly recommended. The town stands out as one of the places with the highest quality of life in Spain and it is an extraordinary summer place. At this link we can help you find the most touristy places in the area. If you want to know where to eat click here, and if you are looking for accommodations, here are our recommendations.

Playa de la Marquesa

At the northern end of the Ebro Delta Natural Park at the Punta del Fangar, there is a beautiful and emblematic lighthouse marking the beginning of the Marquesa beach. This beach in particular is one of the most extensive in Catalonia, extending to about five kilometers of a sandy coastline. Another great attraction of this peninsula is the great quantity and variety of birds that call it their home. The best place to bird watch is the area of Amposta, between April 1 and August 15.

Playa del Serrallo

Playa de Migjorn

For those who are not interested in stripping down all the way, a little north of the Serrallo beach you will find the beach of Migjorn. Located on the edge of the island of Buda, the beach has almost three kilometers of sand. There are hotel accommodations, however no public lifeguard services. Like the previous area, it is also an excellent area for bird watching.

Playa de El Prat de Llobregat

Playa de la Gola del Ter o La Fonollera

One of the best known and most picturesque beaches of the Costa Brava is the Gola del Ter beach, also known as Playa de la Fonollera. Located inside the Natural Park are the Medas Islands, the Montgrí, and the Baix (River) Ter. It is a large sandbank of about five kilometers long, close to the wetlands at the mouth of the Baix Ter. From there you can see spectacular views of the Medas Islands. Most of the beach goers come from the historic town of Torroella del Montgrí.

Playa de la Cala de Ferriol

The Ferriol cove is one of the deepest and most spectacular of the Costa Brava. Located in the Montgrí section of the aforementioned park, the area includes the Bajo Ter of the beach of La Gola. To get to the cove you most travel by small boat. At the end of the cove is a tiny secluded beach of only fifty meters long. Since most of the beach is small stones, it is advisable to have adequate footwear and even have a mat to place under the beach towel. The nearest town is Torroella de Montgrí.

Playa de Cala Montjoiv