Cala Dor in Mallorca

Cala Dor is one of the main tourist destinations in the east of Mallorca. It is located near the town of Santanyi, on the east coast of Mallorca. One of its main attractions is its coves with beautiful beaches. The entire coast has numerous coves surrounded by pine trees, and with hotels in the surroundings. In the area we find resorts like Cala Ferrera, Cala Gran, Cala Esmeralda, Cala Serena and Cala Dor. There is a good range of hotels that attract tourists of different nationalities who come to spend their holidays in Mallorca. Thanks to this, it offers a wide variety of activities, places to visit and things to do.

Before its foundation in the first half of the 20th century, the area that Cala d’Or occupies today was called Ses Puntetes (or Las Puntitas), and included three coves called Cala Llonga, Cala Petita and Cala Gran. In Cala Llonga there was a small port that was used by the residents from Calonge village for fishing. The origin of the actual Cala Dor resort dates back to the 1930s, when it was decided to urbanize the area. Before it was just a small fishing port, with the presence of Es Forti, a defensive fortress. Now it is an important tourist center, with almost 4,500 places.

Our experts in excursions in Mallorca from Click-mallorca have created this travel guide to Cala Dor so that you can learn a little more about this place to make the most of your holiday in Mallorca. We will give you recommendations of things to do, information about the beaches of Cala Dor, advice on restaurants and hotels and more.

Beaches in Cala Dor

The coastline of the Cala Dor area is very different from other areas of Mallorca. We do not find large sandy beaches as it happens in Playa de Muro or Alcudia, for example, but small beaches that form pretty coves. All of these small beaches and coves are sandy beaches, with very clean waters and beautiful colours. You will find all the necessary services to enjoy a day at sea, with a lifeguard, sunbeds, umbrellas and facilities.

Next, we present the different beaches of Cala Dor, and at the end a map with the location of each of them.

Cala Gran

It is one of the most popular beaches in Cala Dor, where you will find everything. It is a very narrow cove with high cliffs, very pretty, although perhaps due to overcrowding it loses some of its charm. Cala Gran is the largest of the five coves of Cala Dor. This sandy beach is about 40 metres wide by 100 metres long and is surrounded by vegetation, which makes it particularly attractive. The cove is narrow and is protected from the wind between medium-height cliffs, which means that its waters are calm.

The water is crystal clear, it is very clean, there is shade without the need for a parasol, there are showers and there are restaurants and bars to have a drink right on the beach. You can park in the surroundings.

Cala Esmeralda

Cala Esmeralda is a quiet beach, where families with children usually go. Its name is very possibly from the colour of its waters (emerald). Unlike other beaches in Cala Dor, it does not have as many buildings on the beachfront, but rather they are further away. In this way, there is part of the original vegetation, pine trees and more beach area where you can relax.

Cala Ferrera

The beach at Cala Ferrera is 80 metres wide and 140 metres long, and it is one of the most crowded beaches in Cala Dor. This is due to the high concentration of hotels in the surrounding area. Cala Ferrera is a wonderful cove where it is sometimes difficult to find a space to set your towels and things. It has crystal clear waters and fine sand. It also has several beach kiosks that allow you to buy drinks and some of them work as a bar as well.

The beach is ideal for children since there are no waves, there are no stones at the entrance to the water and for the first 10-15 metres it is very shallow. For snorkelling it is perfect, and although there is not much seabed, you will see fish, sea urchins, starfish and many plants.

Cala Serena

Cala Serena is one of the least urbanized and quietest coves in the Cala Dor area, perhaps hence its name (serene). As in all the beaches of Cala Dor, the water is spectacular, crystal clear and with many shades of beautiful colours. The beach is small and very quiet, it also has a beach bar. It is easy to park there and you only have to go down a couple of stairs to get to the cove. You can also walk to Cala Serena from Cala Ferrera in just 5 minutes. You can swim next to the rocks enjoying its crystal clear waters and a bottom full of fish. One piece of advice: go early in summer, it fills up quickly.

Calo des Pou – Es Forti

It is a very small beach, barely 25 meters by 90 meters, and in the back it is always very quiet. The palm trees that surround the cove give it a very nice touch, and the surrounding buildings are not like other beaches in Cala Dor, with large buildings and hotels. It has showers, toilets, umbrellas, sun loungers, restaurant, bar and parking.

Cala Dor -Cala Petita – Calo de Ses Dones

It is a very beautiful cove, although it is small, so it is difficult to find a place if it is not early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Due to its shape, it is very sheltered from the wind, which makes it ideal. It has a bar, which belongs to the Cala Dor hotel, and which is at the edge of the sea.

To park you will not have problems in the surrounding streets.

Things to do in Cala Dor

Here is a list of some of the best activities you can do in Cala Dor during your holidays:

Enjoy the Cala Dor Marina

The Cala Dor marina is one of the most visited places in the area, and it is a very charming place with a large number of bars and restaurants. Throughout the marina there are more than 500 moorings with yachts and boats of all kinds. For this reason, it is pleasant to take a walk, see the boats and then sit on one of the terraces to have a drink. Especially in the afternoon, with the sunset, is when we most recommend this activity.

Es Forti

Old military fortress, located at the mouth of Cala Llonga, Santanyi, currently converted into a viewpoint in the area. Es Fortí is a military fortification that served as accommodation for the troops that guarded the maritime zone of the southeast of Mallorca.

It was built in 1730 by the engineer D. José Muñoz, it was a garrison with 4 cannons, a guard corps for a sergeant and 19 men and 3 sentry boxes. Rebuilt later in 1793 after having suffered serious damage as a result of a tsunami that entered the Santanyí area half a league; this reveals its strategic importance.

It was in 1878 when it was auctioned off by the army and became private property. At that time it no longer had any use as a military fortress and when the urbanization of Cala Dor was planned, due to its BIC classification, no type of exploitation was allowed and it was abandoned until it became an almost total ruin. The Fundació Illes Balears acquired it promoted by the entities of the area. After a thorough study of its history, a recovery project was drawn up that culminated in 1995.

Once recovered, it was opened to the public and made available to entities in the area. Exhibitions, summer concerts and many other social and cultural activities are held. It is open to the public free of charge throughout the year.

Puig de San Salvador

The Puig de Sant Salvador is located in the municipality of Felanitx, it is a 509 meter high hill (“puig”). 1.5 km from the Felanitx exit towards Portocolom we find the access road to Puig de Sant Salvador. At the top of the hill is the 14th-century Sanctuary of Sant Salvador, which houses a church, a chapel and a monument to Christ the King.

There is a parking lot at the foot of the mountain and from here to the top it is 4.2 km. It is not necessary to walk up the paved road as there is a well-signposted path to the Sanctuary of Sant Salvador. Along the way we find a “Via Crucis” with different stages that date back to the 19th century and represent moments that Christ experienced on the day of his crucifixion.

Boat Trips

From Cala Dor during the summer season you can enjoy one of the boat trips that are offered. One of the most original is dolphin watching excursion, which allows you to see dolphins in the sea. Another option is to go by boat to the Mondrago Natural Park, and swim in its waters. And the final recommended boat trip in Cala Dor is the one that takes you to the beautiful harbour of Cala Figuera.

Visit the best places in Mallorca

From Cala Dor you can book excursions that take you to visit the most interesting and beautiful places on the island. In the north of Mallorca you can visit Formentor and Alcudia. In the east area we have the famous Cuevas del Drach. In the south we have Palma, the capital of the island. And finally, in the Sierra de Tramuntana there are places of incredible beauty such as Sa Calobra, Lluc, Valldemossa and Soller. You can get to all of them on an organized excursion, which picks you up at your hotel or a nearby meeting point. These tours allow you to visit the island in comfort without having to worry about directions and parking and with the services of a professional guide that will give you interesting information to enhance your visit.

Visit the Son Alegre winery

This is a hidden gem in Calonge. A family winery where they make Mallorcan wines with great care, trying to convey all their passion and the character of the island. This property was previously a dairy, and the current owner (Miguel Manresa) bought it in 2002 from some Germans who wanted to make an urbanization. In 2004 he decided to plant vines, and the vineyard produced its first wines in 2008. They currently have 3 hectares of vineyards, and they make white, rosé and red wines. One that we recommend you try is the white wine of the Giró Ros variety, which is a variety that is only found in Mallorca.

Parque natural de Mondrago

The Mondragó Natural Park is a Spanish protected natural area located in the southeast of the island of Mallorca, in the municipality of Santanyi. It was declared a natural park in 1992. With a formation of cliffs and vegetation of pine, scrub and traditional cultivation, it is one of the most visited parks on the island.

Nightlife and partying

It must be said that Cala Dor is not popular for its nightlife, as it happens with places in Mallorca such as Magaluf or Playa de Palma. In Cala Dor the nightlife is more relaxed, and geared towards residents and tourists staying in the area. It is mainly concentrated in the Cala Dor marina and in the pedestrian avenues. The main nightlife streets in Cala Dor are Belgica Avenue, Santany Street and Toni Costa Street, with a large number of bars. The best known nightclub is Farahs. You will find a good mix of nightspots, pubs and cocktail bars. Keep in mind that being a tourist centre, many bars are geared towards tourists.

Among the recommended places we have the Cala Dor Marina area with its range of bars. Here we find Quarterdeck with an excellent atmosphere until late at night. It offers a wide variety of cocktails, mixed drinks, beers and wine. The Bliss Bar Roof top is another ideal place to enjoy their cocktails, made with fresh products. Just below we have the Sky Bar with a lively terrace and DJ playing music. These are just a few examples, but throughout the Cala Dor marina, you will find a large number of establishments, with very lively terraces.

A very popular place is Sky Cocktail Bar. They have a cocktail bar of 10, with cool views, incredible cocktails, as well as a great and unbeatable variety of drinks and very good service and friendliness. If you are looking for Irish pubs, check out the Dugans which has live music every night. Next to it, you’ll find Lolas and Restaurante Different, which are two other good places to enjoy the nightlife in Cala Dor.

Hotels in Cala Dor

Cala Dor has an important range of hotels. Most of them are large hotels with 4 or 5 stars. In fact, in recent years, the vast majority of them have undergone renovations to offer high-quality facilities.

Most of the hotels are located near the different coves and beaches. As Cala Dor is not a very large site, everything is within walking distance. If you are looking for a hotel in Cala Dor, we recommend the hotel website Booking.com, as they have a wide range of hotels, free cancellation and the best prices. On this map you can see different hotels, their location, prices and you can see real customer comments:

Booking.com

Some of the most recommended hotels are:

• Melia Cala Dor Boutique
• Tui Blue Rocador, which has a magnificent value for money
• Intertur Cala Esmeralda Beach which has a spa, 3 swimming pools and direct access to the beach

Restaurants in Cala Dor

Now that you know what to see and do in Cala Dor, you know its beaches and you know where you can stay, we can only tell you where you can find good and interesting restaurants in Cala Dor. This is the selection we have put together, with our suggestions:

The vast majority of good restaurants are located in the Cala Dor marina. One of the most recommended restaurants is Port Petit, which offers a mixture of international and Mediterranean cuisine, and is even recommended in the Michelin restaurant guide. Also in the marina, we find the Yacht Club or the 17 Bar and restaurant with a menu based on fresh products and good value for money. These are just a few examples in the Cala Dor marina, but you will find many more options, and all the restaurants have a menu on display outside, so you can see what they offer.

Another interesting restaurant is Yayas which offers dishes that are fantastic combinations of different types of cuisine. To give some examples of their menu, we find Poke, steak tartar or duck bao. In addition, between the streets of Puntetes and Fernando Tarragó, you will find several affordable restaurants and various nightlife venues.

If we move away from Cala Dor, and look for restaurants in its surroundings, in Porto Petro there are good restaurants specializing in fresh fish and paellas. Another option is the Maxime restaurant at Golf Cala Dor, which has a highly recommended menu.

Our last suggestion for restaurants in Cala Dor is tucked away in the streets behind Cala Gran. Ca’n Trompé is an unpretentious traditional restaurant offering authentic Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine at an affordable price.

Cala Dor Map

The Cala Dor tourist office has created a map of Cala Dor, where you can find the main hotels, attractions, beaches… By clicking on the image you can download the map.

---

We hope you liked our guide to Cala Dor, and that it can help you plan your holidays. Remember that at click-mallorca we are experts in excursions, and on our website click mallorca you will find many excursions and activities in Cala Dor.

---