Santa Ponsa

Santa Ponsa (or Santa Ponca) today bears little resemblance to the fishing village it once was. Just under half an hour away from Palma and about three miles (5km) south of Magaluf on the southwest coast, Santa Ponsa is famous not only as a popular Mallorcan holiday resort, but also as the landing point of King Jaime I in 1229 when he came to reclaim the island from the Moors. A stone cross at the resort's marina marks the event. As with most Mallorcan holiday resorts, Santa Ponsa is highly developed and tends to be lively and busy, with an active nightlife and excellent beach culture. The eponymous Santa Ponsa is the principal beach, which is supplemented with imported sand, while the more sheltered Calo d'en Pellicer is slightly smaller and closer to the marine club. The third, more exclusive beach is Castellot. The water at all three beaches is warm and clear, and offers safe swimming. Areas have been set aside for swimming so that there is no danger from the many boats. A pedestrian promenade, with shade provided by pine trees, runs in front of the Santa Ponsa beach, and there are the usual beachfront restaurants, bars, shops and cafés. Over the years, Santa Ponsa has developed a Celtic flavour, with a number of Scottish and Irish themed pubs and bars, but it remains popular with a range of visitors of different ages.