S’Illot
The small resort of S’Illot is located next to Sa Coma on the east coast of Mallorca. It is approximately a 61 minute drive from Palma airport, at 69km/43miles away.
The location of S’Illot is ideal as it is positioned between Sa Coma to the north and Cala Morlanda to the south. One clear advantage is that it’s just a walk of a couple of minutes to access the advantages of both of these resorts.
Apart from the extra restaurants and bars that these two resorts offer, both have good beaches with differing characteristics.
The actual beach in front of S’Illot resort is relatively small and has fine stones and a rocky sea shore. Although the beach is fine and retains a certain charm most tourists will walk just a few meters south to the next beach along that joins S’Illot to Cala Morlanda. There are even some fishing boats still here which after their fishing trips are pulled ashore among the rocks by the end of the beach.
A small part of this beach still lies in front of S’Illot but the resort is separated by a motionless river which has created a fresh water lagoon. There is a bridge that crosses this lagoon and promenade walkers can continue. The beach runs uninterrupted in front of the lagoon and this creates an attractive bay with a crescent shaped beach backed by a turquoise lagoon and footbridge.
Promenade
The promenade at S’Illot runs north to Sa Coma and south to Cala Morlanda. There are good views on the section around the rocky projection dividing S’Illot resort and Sa Coma beach. The promenade at Cala Morlanda zigzags and finishes at the beach but a track begins where tourists can walk or wheel around the cliff’s edge for another km.
If you endeavor to walk north to neighboring Sa Coma and even onto Cala Millor it will be approximately 3.5km/2.2miles in total. There is however a tourist train that unite S’Illot to Sa Coma and Cala Millor.
S’Illot is largely for families and apart from hotel entertainment there isn’t too much night life. Yet just five minutes away in Cala Millor there is a lot more night life.
Things to do in S’Illot
Market
The market in S’Illot operates during the summer season June through September every Saturday evening from 5pm onwards.
There is also an all year round market in nearby Son Servera every Friday morning between 8am and 1:30pm approximately. This is only about 12 minutes via taxi from S’Illot.
Horse Riding
There is a horse riding center north of S’Illot in neighboring Sa Coma, just to the north of the beach, ‘Rancho Sa Coma’. The ranch is between the headland and the Burger King restaurant. Riding trips head out over Punt de n’Amer, which is the headland between Sa Coma and Cala Millor and is an official nature reserve. Depending on the season it may be possible to ride on the beach. This riding center is very convenient with its proximity to the nature reserve, yet it has mixed reviews on the internet.
There is another riding center quite close by, (10mins) Rancho Willy in neighboring Cala Bona. It is about 300m from Cala Bona’s harbor, heading out on the road towards Son Servera, it is easy to find.
Safari Zoo
This Safari park stroke zoo is by the edge of neighboring Sa Coma and is set in Mallorcan countryside where the scenery is evocative to the savannahs of Africa. It’s possible to take the Safari train or to drive your own vehicle for the 3km/2miles long Safari course.
There are various playgrounds for children and there is also a restaurant. You can see various animals such as, rhinoceroses, gazelles, zebras, gnus, giraffe, cheeky monkeys and other exotic creatures.
Mini Golf Paradise
The courses are in the joining resort of Sa Coma on the Safari hotel complex. All visitors are welcome and the courses are open from May to October. Of course they are free for guests staying at the hotel.
You can access the course at the rear of the hotel complex on Carrer del Savinar. So if you follow the path by the side of the Eroski supermarket it is about 200meters from there.
There are two mini golf courses to enjoy with the family, 18 holes each. Both of these courses are beside each other and set amid trees, waterfalls, streams and little bridges. There are also some coin fed electric boats, for children, on a mini lake.
Fantasy Park
Fantasy Park is a small play park found in nearby Cala Millor and is designed for family fun and is hence, mainly a children’s play area. It has go-karts, bungee trampolines and a bouncy castle amongst other attractions. It is set back from the middle of the beach in Cala Millor and located opposite the Sportsman bar. Many rides cost a euro a time but some are a little more.
Albatros Diving
Albatros Diving is an official diving center and air tank filling station also with visual equipment inspection status. It is a Gold Palm PADI 5 Star, some of the highest quality certificates.
The dive center is located in Cala Bona, which is ideal because it’s just a few meters south of the harbor. It is in front of one of Cala Bona’s sheltered bays, ‘the Laguna’ beach. For guests not staying Cala Bona, the dive center offers a free transfer service.
There is an office for S’Illot in Sa Coma in the Hotel Club Blau Mediterraneo. For Porto Cristo Nova or Cala Mandia there is an office in the Blau Punta Reina Resort.
Boat Trips S’Illot
There are boat tours from the north of S’Illot beach on the pier, the little headland between Sa Coma beach and S’Illot. These trips go daily in the summer season, including a glass bottom boat.
There are also cruises north to Cala Ratjada and south to Porto Cristo, this is good because of the markets. Hence in Cala Ratjada there is a Saturday morning market and in Porto Cristo there is a Sunday market.
Karting
There is a karting track in nearby Cala Millor called Karting Cala Millor. This has various go karts and is therefore suitable for all levels and ages. This kart track isn’t to be mistaken with the go karts at Fantasy Park which are not as specialized as the go karts at Karting Cala Millor. The track lies in-line with the middle of the beach at Cala Millor and around 400m inland. Hence it is just past the Fantasy Park play park.
Six Golf courses
There are four golf courses within twenty minutes of S’Illot. There are another two courses a little further; at 24km/15miles away Vall d’or Golf and a 9 hole La Reserva Rotana Golf at 17km/10.5miles away.
Thus the four courses closest to S’Illot are:
Son Servera Golf is Mallorca’s second oldest club and an 18 hole members club. However their website offers green fees for 9 or 18 holes.
Par 73 Canyamel Golf 18 hole course lies in beautiful country side and proves a golfing challenge. The club has a full range of golf equipment and services on offer and so has green fees for 9 or 18 holes.
Pula Golf is one if the Mallorca’s more select courses. The club offers green fees for 9 or 18 holes, as well as a driving range and golf equipment to hire.
Capdepera Golf is set in verdant Mallorcan countryside and offers reasonable green fees when discounts are taken advantage of. The 15th hole on the course has been repeatedly voted by Mallorca Magazine as the most beautiful golf hole on Mallorca. This may be because Dan Maples a famous US Architect designed the course.
Places of Interest
Punt de n’Amer
If you like walking this is therefore something to do starting from S’Illot by walking along the promenade to the north end of Sa Coma. Here the headland starts which separates Sa Coma from Cala Millor, this area is an official nature reserve. Many well established tracks lead to and from Cala Millor, around the headland and to a central watchtower where it’s possible to climb up and get refreshments. Therefore this is ideal for gentle and relatively small treks into the Mallorcan countryside and has great views.
Caves
S’Illot sits around 22 minutes away from the caves via a taxi. Both cave sites, the Caves of Drach and the Caves of Hams are close to Porto Cristo.
A lot more well-known and a bit bigger the caves of Drach draw the most tourists but either set of caves are well worth viewing and will leave visitors with lasting memories! They both have a subterranean lake which fitting light shows and music. Additionally there are even boats to ride on. However the caves of Drach also have a little boat tour.