Cala d’Or, Cala de Oro or Costa Dorada, is a tourist destination located on the east coast of Mallorca. It is located in the municipality of Santanyí, in the south-eastern part of the island, to the south of Portocolom and very close to the coastal village of Portopetro.
In the 1930s, the German Schürmann family acquired several properties in the Cala d’Or area and built a villa there for their personal use. Subsequently, they invited friends and family to visit, creating much excitement among them and word quickly spread of the paradise they had visited.
It is a relatively modern tourist destination that began a little before the “tourist boom” that took place in the Balearic Islands in the 50’s and that in our post on the history of Mallorca we tell you about it, among other curiosities.
Despite its major tourism development, it is strictly regulated nowadays Cala d’Or still retains its traditional charm and special: its picturesque fishing port, the cubic architecture of its whitewashed houses with their blue-tinted façades reminiscent of Ibiza; and the typical Mediterranean blue colours of its coves and beaches.
Today, Cala d’Or boasts an impressive network of hotels, aparthotels, restaurants and bars; it is known for its beautiful beaches and lively nightlife in the summer, but during the winter months, it is a sleepy part of Mallorca, like Playa de Muro, Cala Millor, Palmanova and El Arenal.
Weather in Cala d’Or today: weekly forecast
Cala d’OrHow to get to Cala d’Or
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How to get to Cala d’Or by car
There are several ways to get to Cala d’Or, although if you want to make the most of your time, the best way is to do it with your own vehicle or car hire in Mallorca. Although it is in an area that has a good transport network and is well connected in summer, it is also far from major cities, and can take longer than expected to reach your destination.
Cala d’Or is 13.2 kms from Santanyí, which is the town to which it belongs and the reference point if you are coming from any part of the south. If you are coming from Palma you will have to take the Ma-19 motorway, pass Campos and reach Santanyí, then take the Ma-4012 to Calonge and from there to your destination.
If you come to spend a day at the beach, you will be able to parking on the many streets that there are for any area of Cala d’Or, but if you have found a hotel and are staying in this area of Mallorca, depending on the hotel you choose, you will have the opportunity to leave your car in a car park.
Coming from any other part of the east, you only have to take the road that almost runs along the east coast of Mallorca, a beautiful drive.
Getting to Cala d’Or by public transport
If you want to arrive calmly, without haste, and enjoy the wonderful scenery that Mallorca has to offer, public transport can be a very good option.
You can find the most complete information on how to get around Mallorca using the island’s public transport network in the following 2 articles:
🚌 Public transport in Mallorca: bus, metro and train in Mallorca: lines, timetables and fares.
🚕 Taxi service in Mallorca: taxi ranks, companies’ phone numbers and fares.
Depending on where you are staying in Mallorca the bus routes will change:
To get to Cala d’Or by bus, for example from Palma, take bus number 501 from the Parque de las Estaciones in Plaza España in Palma de Mallorca. In Campos, change to line 515, which will take you to Cala Egos.
If you were coming from Pollença or Alcudia you would have to go through Palma first, on line 302, and then follow the directions we have just explained. A trip to the beach will take about 2h 30′.
Coming from the northwest, from Cala Rajada, for example, it can be an odyssey as it can take about 2 hours to reach your destination, making 3 transfers with lines 411, 501 and 414, respectively.
If you have flown to Mallorca, you have just landed at the airport, you don’t have a car and you want to get there faster than you would by bus, you have the option of taking a taxi to Cala d’Or. Watch out for prices before the taxi starts rolling! Check prices with the driver or at the main taxi rank to avoid unwanted surprises.
What to do in Cala d’Or
Whatever type of tourism you come to Mallorca for, Cala d’Or has it all.
By this we mean that Cala d’Or is an ideal tourist destination for families, couples and friends and lovers of the sea and sailing, as it has areas with bars, restaurants, shops for shopping and a very lively nightlife to end the day.
Here are some of the things to do in Cala d’Or.
Enjoy the beaches of Cala d’Or
First of all, and bearing in mind that you have probably been attracted to travel to Mallorca by its coves and beaches, you should know that Cala d’Or is one of the best options. In our humble opinion, here you will find the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca.
Make a note of some beaches and coves such as Cala Gran, Cala Esmeralda, Cala Ferrara and Cala Serena, Cala Galera and Cala d’es Forti.
All are beaches with crystal clear waters and sandy bottoms, with rocky outcrops on both sides of the meander leading to the open sea; on land you will find areas of fine-grained white sand. The beaches in this area are ideal for swimming, sunbathing and relaxing.
Stroll around the marina or Marina of Cala d’Or
The Marina of Cala d’Or is a very attractive and lively place. Shops, bars, supermarkets, banks and restaurants are available along the quayside.
Cala d’Or has one of the most luxurious marinas on the island with 600 moorings for yachts and boats, as well as the port of Palma, the port of Port Adriano and the port of Andratx.
Stroll around the harbour during the day or at night and enjoy the beautiful surroundings in which it is situated.
Rent a boat in Cala d’Or with or without skipper
Sailing in Cala d’Or is a very good option and one of the main motivations for visitors to the area, as you can enjoy its marvellous coves in privacy.
If you don’t have your own boat, you can rent a boat in Cala d’Or with or without a skipper, or even rent a boat without a licence if you want to try the experience, and visit spectacular coves in the area or the surrounding area such as Cala Mondragó and Cala Figuera.
Visit the historic centre of Cala d’Or
The historic centre of Cala d’Or is a network of streets and white houses with coloured details. Here you will find many bars, restaurants and shops selling local produce and handicrafts. And don’t forget to visit the night-time craft market that only operates between May and October: every Thursday, in Cala Egos; and another one in Toni Acosta square, every Sunday. Both between 18h and 23.30h.
Get to know the history through Es Fortí
Es Fortí is an 18th century military fortress that was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest on 5th May 1949 with the category of Monument and is located at the end of the mouth of Cala Llonga.
This fortification served as accommodation for the troops that safeguarded the military zone in the southeast of Mallorca.
Eventually the army auctioned it off and it passed into private hands, but as it was a BIC it was not allowed to be exploited, so it was abandoned until it almost became a total ruin. The Illes Balears Function did not want to allow such a loss of Balearic history and, together with local organisations, promoted a recovery project.
Today it hosts exhibitions, an open-air summer concert and other social and cultural activities. Your visit on foot can be the end of a pleasant walk where you can watch the sunrise at dawn.
Enjoy the International Jazz Festival of Cala d’Or
The International Jazz Festival has been held since 1994 and fills the streets, bars and hotels of Cala d’Or during the last week of May.
Visit the town of Santanyí
Santanyí is 13.2 km from Cala d’Or. The houses in this village are typical Mallorcan houses, made of stone and with green shutters that are closed up tight during the hot summer months.
Wednesday is the day of its market, which is held in the Plaza Mayor and extends through the streets of the town. Santanyí is also known for its various art galleries and boutiques.
Water sports
In all the beaches of this area you can practice water sports such as snorkelling, kayaking and paddle surfing thanks to its transparent and calm waters, due to the fact that its coves are protected from the strong winds that sometimes blow in Mallorca.
Check prices and activities at the water sports schools in each cove.
If you are looking for a bit of adrenaline during your trip to Mallorca, there are jet ski tours. You will be able to unload all your energy and more. Don’t hesitate and book your jet ski tour around Cala d’Or!
Cycling in Cala d’Or
The Sierra de Levante is a very interesting setting for you if you think of Mallorca cycling and you are in the eastern part of the island.
The interior of Cala d’Or has complicated roads, narrow streets and many bends. That’s why cyclists – who have a number of different establishments for renting bikes, both mountain bikes and racing bikes – opt to go out of the residential area in search of mountain scenery.
You will have at your disposal very interesting cycling routes, some of them with a high finish, such as the one that goes up to the Monastery of Sant Salvador at 509 metres above sea level and 21 km away from Cala d’Or.
There you will be able to see one of the most impressive sunsets on the island, which would be the perfect end to a day full of emotions. If it gets dark on the road or you plan to stay outside Cala d’Or after a tough road trip, we recommend that you take a look at the cycling hotel in Mallorca, the famous hotels cycling friendly which will make you and your bike a more pleasant rest .
Visit the Mondragó Natural Park
The Mondragó Natural Park is a nature reserve covering around 785 hectares and was declared a Natural Park in 1992.
In this Park you will find very varied landscapes with combinations of white sandy beaches such as: Cala Mondrago, Playa S’Amarador and Caló des Borgit; rocky cliffs, pine groves, dunes and wetlands.
It is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, many of which are protected, including birds such as the grey heron, little egret and osprey. The Park is also home to various species of reptiles, amphibians and mammals such as the genet and the hedgehog.
You can follow the 5 hiking trails in the Mondragó Natural Park along the paths provided for this purpose and discover the beauty of this natural spot.
Have fun at your local festivals
In Mallorca it is rare that there is not a celebration going on at any time of the year. As in the rest of Spain, our celebrations are closely linked to gastronomy, a gastronomy that is enviable and envied by the rest of the world.
Most of the local festivals of the villages are usually held in summer, with Cala d’Or celebrating its local festivals during the first two weeks of August. Sporting events, open-air concerts and craft markets are held.
The 15th of August is the feast of the Virgin of August, and is a day on which the Virgin Mary is commemorated. On this day there are craft fairs, xeremiers, activities for the youngest members of the family, traditional Mallorcan dances and live music. A spectacle not to be missed!
Restaurants in Cala d’Or
The menus of the restaurants in Cala d’Or are quite similar, so we recommend that you take a close look at what you want to eat.
If you are looking for more exclusive restaurants, we recommend restaurants such as Rúcula del Puerto, where you will enjoy Mediterranean food, and the Port Petit Restaurant, with tasting menus and creative and international dishes accompanied by wonderful views on its beautiful and captivating terrace under the live music of a piano.
We also recommend Yaya’s, which specialises in fusion cuisine, combining Asian and Mediterranean flavours.
Mallorcan wine tasting in Cala d’Or
At Vinya Son Alegre, just 5 km from Cala d’Or, you can taste, during a pre-arranged wine tasting, organic wines produced using biodynamic principles in a young vineyard in the Santanyí area.
These wine tastings are accompanied by cheese and olive tastings, making this a completely different, unexpected and perhaps repeatable day. Let us know what you think of the Calonge 1715 wine!
Hotels in Cala d’Or
As you may already know, Cala d’Or is one of our favourite places to sleep when we recommend accommodation in Mallorca. In this town you will find hotels of different categories, of all types and for all budgets.
In case you want to know which are our favourite hotels, we recommend some that we consider worthwhile in order for you to get the best possible rest:
Map of hotels in Cala d’Or in Mallorca
Do you want to consider different options? On the map below you can see all the hotels available in Cala d’Or.
If you already know when you are going to travel to Mallorca, enter your dates and choose between all-inclusive hotels, aparthotels, luxury hotels, hotels with Spa in Mallorca such as the Inturotel Cala Esmeralda Beach Hotel & Spa; private villas and the rest of the available accommodation:
Booking.comIn Cala d’Or you can relax and have as much fun as you need. Would you like to spend your summer holidays in Cala d’Or? Let us know if you finally decide to visit!
