Puerto Andratx – getting to know the area

Within easy reach of the capital Palma and its airport, Puerto Andratx is in the municipality of Andratx, part of the south west corner of Mallorca. A far cry from the hustle and bustle of some of the other popular resorts of Mallorca, the resort has managed to maintain relative anonymity from the main tour operators with only four small hotels in Puerto Andratx itself.

It’s no wonder then that Puerto Andratx has become a very desirable area to live. The most impressive villas in the resort are set high above the port on the rugged headland, with fabulous views to the sea and mountains. A veritable paradise – and one which celebrities such as Claudia Schiffer, Tom Cruise and Michael Schumacher come to enjoy. King Juan Carlos himself has even been known to visit…

Discovering the town itself

Originally a small fishing harbour, Puerto Andratx has been sympathetically developed and still retains an authentic Mallorcan feel. The local fisherman set off at 5am and returning at 5pm, and the day’s catch is either ferried in refrigerated vans to other parts of the island or served up in some of the wonderful restaurants in the port itself.

Andratx has many excellent restaurants, bars and boutiques, which are centred around the port and in the quaint cobbled back streets. The recently refurbished yacht club borders the extensive new marina, which has over 300 moorings.

So much to see and do

The town of Andratx holds a local street market every Wednesday, worth visiting for the best local produce and crafts that the area has to offer. Andratx also boasts a new cultural centre – one of Europe’s largest private buildings for contemporary art for both established and emerging artists.

Or chose a short trip across the sea to Dragonera Island, so called due to its similarity to a dragon’s back emerging from the sea. Designated a natural conservation area in 1987, the Mallorcan Council ensures it is free from commercial development. You can take a ferry from the marina to Dragonera where there is a small museum and remains of a Roman settlement at the Cova de sa Font.

If you’re a beach lover, take a short drive down the coast to Camp de Mar. And golfers will be pleased to know that this corner of Mallorca has six championship courses, Golf de Andratx being the most impressive.