A natural harbor, a historical town as well as excellent restaurants make Porto Colom the perfect home base for a few-days-harbour-stay. It serves also as a departure port for yacht charters in Mallorca or around the Balearics.
General Info
Though not as popular as Palma, C’an Pastilla or El Arenal, Porto Colom is the main harbor town on Mallorca’s east coast. It’s located in the district of Felanitx and it’s approximately 65 km east the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca.
The overall region is made up of mountainous relief which slopes down to the coast to form numerous bays, and one of the biggest and safest natural harbors in Mallorca. Today, the bay of Portocolom is mainly used for fisher boats and private yachting which means that the traffic is very relaxed.
Travel & Arrival
The San Juan International airport is just 65 km on the southern side of the island which makes transfers very easy, however, the roads and the traffic make the journey somewhat longer than it should be. arrivals will find that there aren’t many possibilities of arriving here by land, just busses, taxis and the occasional car rental service.
Avant & Apres Sail
Just like most resorts in Mallorca, Portocolom has very good beaches, the main being Cala Marcal, just 500 m from the town center. The most important thing in town and indeed the reason for its economic boom in the 19th century is the harbor, when it was used to ship wine from neighboring Felanitx to France but a vine disease put a stop to that, meaning that the locals had to return to fishing to make a living.
One can still see the fishing boats come and go, with the fishermen living in quaint and colorful cottages at the north end of the quay, setting a discerning note from the few hotels and the holiday homes. Here, you’ll also find the sandstone church of Sant Jaume I at the lovely square place in the heart of the old village (Pueblo).
For shopping, you also need to head out to the harbor, where you’ll find various shops and two large supermarkets, perfect for provisioning of your charter party.
A testament to the fishing heritage of the region, you’ll be happy to eat out in Portocolom. The few establishments around the harbor and in the hotels serve nice fish dishes as well as Italian and international cuisine.
There are some local pubs along the harbor front like the 'Fidel' Cuban Bar that are opened in high season until late night. In the district around the Cala Marcal you will find further bars with music that attract mostly the local youth from the sourrounding villages at the weekend.
Events & Actions
The local beaches Arenal, Cala Marcal and S'Algar are save and excellent for swimming and snorkelling. Along the cliffline of the 'Punta' you can walk all the way from the lighthouse in southern direction for miles until the Cala Murada. Other attractions for charter customers are the golf course 'Val d'Or' that has a stunning view from the clubs restaurant terrace and the summit of San Salvador which is worth to hike up or access by car via the curvey mountain road. The exploration of the beautiful coast north and south of Portocolom by sea kayaking, SUP (Stand-Up-Paddling) diving or climbing is another great adventure. Local diving and excursion companies will provide you with the right equipment and expertise.