Cala Ratjada - human settlement in Spain

Cala Ratjada is a city on the island of Mallorca. It is a very well-known tourist place, especially for Germans, which is known for its extravagant celebrations in summer. In winter, pensioners, who sometimes spend the whole winter here, take over the city. In the off-season, Cala Rajada is popular with families with small children.

Understand

The resort of Cala Ratjada is the principal port and coastal development of the municipal district of Capdepera, and is built on a small rocky peninsula on the extreme north east corner of the island, around 65 km from the capital Palma.

Cala Ratjada is spans two bays. In the north is the Cala Agulla, in the south the Font de Sa Cala. Both bays are surrounded by hotels and are quite crowded.

Get in

By plane

Palma's city airport (IATA: PMI) is the major airport in Mallorca, and has daily flights from many European cities on national and budget carriers. The airport is managed by Aeropuetos Españoles y Navegación Aérea. PMI is 9 km from the centre of Palma. The city's route 1 bus service runs between the city centre and the airport every 15 minutes between 06:00 and 01:00, and the fare is €1.80.

The journey to Cala Ratjada by vehicle takes about 60 minutes from the airport. Expect to pay €90 for a taxi.

Some hotels pick up their guests at the airport with a shuttle bus.

By train

TIB runs train services between Mallorcan towns.

By car

Travellers can only drive to Cala Ratjada from other cities in Mallorca; there are no bridges or any road links to other islands or to the mainland. Most cities and towns in Mallorca have road links directly to Palma.

By bus

TIB runs bus services between Mallorcan towns.

By boat

Any number of cruise ships berth at Palma, and there are also a number of ferry services to other Balearic Islands and to the Iberian peninsula:

• Baleària (+34 966 42 87 00 ) runs ferries from Denia, Valencia, and Ibiza.
• Trasmediterranea (+34 902 45 46 45 ) runs ferries from Barcelona, Valencia, Ibiza and Mahon.
• Iscomar Ferries (dead link: December 2020) (+34 902 11 91 28 or +34 971 43 75 00 for international callers) runs ferries from Barcelona, Valencia, Ibiza and Denia.

Get around

Buses are the only form of shared public transport in Cala Ratjada.

See

• Historic Centre
• The Casa March, a.k.a. Se Torre Cega, is an imposing mansion on a hill above Cala Ratjada. It is surrounded by a wonderful park and sculpture garden. Address: c/ Juan March, 2. Guided tours are available; sign up at the Cala Ratjada Tourism Office, Avenida l´Agulla, 50, +34 971819467 .
• Lighthouse at Punta de Capdepera, the easternmost point of the island. From here you can see Menorca.

Do

• Two small busy beaches in the town: Son Moll and Cala Gat. Larger beaches up the coast to the north: Cala Guya, Cala Agulla and Cala Mesquida.

Beaches

All beaches in Cala Rajada are safe as long as you watch the coloured flags. The beaches of Son Moll and Cala Agulla are also supervised throughout the day. Nevertheless, it was not necessary to stay close to the shore, as there can be strong currents around the island.

• Son minoris beach in the middle of Cala Rajada, surrounded by hotels. Quite crowded in the main season.
• Calla Agullais in the east of Cala Rajada and is a lot bigger than the other beaches. The beach is beautifully situated between the sea and a pine forest.
• Cala Gat is the smallest of the beaches in Cala Rajada but is definitely worth a visit.

Buy

At the port at the beginning of the pier there is a fish shop (weekdays only from 18:00-19:00), where the fishermen offer some of their freshly caught goods for sale (in the supermarket fish counters you can often only get fish from aquaculture).

Every Saturday morning there is a market in the Pine Square ("Placa del Pins"). There are local fruits and vegetables, as well as various souvenirs from artisans. But clothes, shoes and bath towels are also offered. There is also a bigger and nicer market in Artà every Tuesday.

Eat

There are numerous good restaurants in Cala Ratjada. The quality and choice is one of the best of the vacation spots in Mallorca. Most of the restaurants and bars are along the long promenade that stretches from Son Moll Bay to Cala Gatt (also around the port).

• Del Mar( is probably one of the best bars on the promenade. At lunchtime and in the evening you will be spoiled with honest "Helvetian-Mediterranean" cuisine.

Drink

There is a lot on offer here, especially around the harbor, but also at some distance from the Son Moll bay. In addition to "normal cafes" there are also some very good cocktail bars (e.g. Bora-Bora), numerous discos, etc. However, more and more Ballermann-like locations are emerging, so that the place for families, couples and other non-young people always becomes less attractive.

Sleep

The Mallorca high season is between July and September. Book especially early during any holiday weeks or weekends in the United Kingdom or Germany, as Mallorca and Palma in particular are popular holiday spots for people from these countries.

Budget

Mid-range

• Protur Turó Pins Aparthotel, Ses Savines Esq. Cala Lliteras 07590, +34 971 565701, turopins@proturhotels.com. All inclusive aparthotel situated a short distance from the beach. Hotel indicated for families with children €60

Splurge

• Hotel Bella Playa, 125 Avenida Cala Agulla, +34 971 563050, bellaplaya@bellaplaya.com. Reviews describe this hotel as delightful: it is located a few metres from the beach at Calla Agulla. The rooms have Air Conditioning, Central Heating, Mini Bar, Digital Satellite Radio, and Satellite TV. Double rooms from €30 per night.

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