Life in Santa Ponsa: Activities, Attractions & Local Tips – Santa Ponsa is known for its long sandy beaches, backed by mountains and lush pine forests, creating a setting that feels both open and intimate. It’s a popular base for water sports and outdoor activities, drawing visitors who want to stay active and enjoy everything coastal life has to offer.
The town has a strong family-friendly atmosphere, with plenty of space for children to play and a relaxed pace that makes it easy to settle in. Throughout the year, Santa Ponsa celebrates a rich calendar of local and Spanish festivities, giving a real sense of culture and community. Weekly markets and small independent boutiques add an authentic feel to this quaint town.
In the southwest of Mallorca, Santa Ponsa has two sandy beaches: the main beach, Playa de Santa Ponsa, 560 meters long and known as “the big beach,” and a slightly smaller beach called Caló d’en Pallisser. These beaches are known to be accommodating for families with young ones, with children’s recreational areas along the shore. Both beaches offer numerous water sports including sailing, surfing, diving, and jet-skiing, which we’ll dive into later on in the article.
Summer Activities: Sports, Athletic Clubs, & Ports
A well-established landmark of Santa Ponsa is the Santa Ponsa Yacht Club – Club Náutico Santa Ponsa. This club was built on a cove that has been a natural port for over 2000 years. Beyond offering over 500 extensive moorings for vessels up to 20 meters, it provides comprehensive services including a fuel quay, dry dock, and on-site dining options. Renowned for its high standards, the club holds a ‘gold’ distinctive from Lloyd’s Register, ensuring top-tier safety and environmental quality. The club is an incredibly inclusive, family-friendly place to be. Find your quiet corner to relax and recharge, immersed within the beautiful sea and the port’s colorful array of boats. The club also offers guided kayak tours to the Malgrats Islands where guides point out caves and natural pools with swim stops. For solo trips, rent single or double kayaks, complete with comfortable backrests.
Many related businesses operate within the premises of Club Náutico Santa Ponsa. Many are related to yachting and boating services, including Total Marine, Marine Unlimited, Motorbootschule, Catany Balears Corporate Group, Contest Brokerage Mallorca. Watersports company Zoea Mallorca operates from the club, offering an array of water sports for members and non-members alike.
Watersports company Zoea Mallorca is most famous for scuba diving, but you can also try kayaking, paddle surfing, and snorkeling. If you are a prospective diver, you can enroll at Zoea in the PADI Open Water Dive class. For those who want to test it before committing to a long-term course, they offer diving in a single afternoon through their Discover Scuba Dive Program. Divers enjoy daily departures from over 20 different diving sites, including three marine reserves – the island of El Toro, the Malgrats Islands and the island of Dragonera. The closest site can be reached in 5 minutes by boat, and the farthest in 30 minutes by boat.
Santa Ponsa’s prime spot on the Southwest coast of Mallorca makes it an ideal hub for water sports enthusiasts and adventure lovers. The southwest coast is a well-renowned area for scuba diving due to its clear and calm waters, countless immersion points, abundance of diverse Mediterranean ecosystems, and underwater landscapes like cliffs, caves, islands, and wrecks. Visibility averages 30 meters, and temperatures are in the ideal range for comfortable diving: between 16ºC in April and 28ºC in August.
Another cool beacon of Santa Ponca is the Puig de Sa Morisca Archaeological Park – a 45-hectare site features relics dating back to 1800 BC. Climb to the top for spectacular views encompassing El Toro, Port Adriano, Son Bugadelles, and the Santa Ponsa beach; on a clear day, you can even spot Cabrera. You may even spot some goats on your venture! If a climb isn’t your thing, stick to the flatter paths alongside Golf Santa Ponsa’s manicured fairways.
Just under 3km from Santa Ponsa’s center, you’ll find Port Adriano – a sleek, designer marina purpose-built for superyachts. Unwind with a cool drink by the calm waters, or enjoy a meal at one of its elevated restaurants. Beyond dining, the port is also home to a handful of luxury fashion boutiques and unique concept stores, while a fully-stacked calendar of events brings in international musicians to perform year-round.
For golf enthusiasts, Santa Ponsa is home to three distinguished courses. Golf Santa Ponsa I, opened in 1977, is a championship 18-hole course renowned for its extensive length, including one of Europe’s longest Par 5s, and its long history of hosting national and international PGA tournaments. While Golf Santa Ponsa II and III are primarily for shareholder use, they offer unique experiences: Course II features challenging play amidst pine woods and lakes, including an 18th hole shaped like Mallorca, while Course III is a 9-hole gem perfect for beginners or refining your short game.
Enjoy a great game of tennis at the Santa Ponsa Tennis Club; it has eight courts and you can practice with top instructors and facilities. They hold several championships, summer courses and private training sessions for all ages starting from 4 years old. If you want a permanent membership, the club offers a feasible annual fee and affordable prices for members’ guests. Santa Ponsa is a hot spot for tennis enthusiasts, hosting the Mallorca Championships each June. This prestigious ATP Tour event serves as a warm-up for Wimbledon, attracting top players.
Restaurants and Bars
Saba Restaurant, in the Kimpton Aysla Hotel, beautifully executes shareable Asian fusion plates. The open kitchen allows guests to witness the chefs at work. While the entire menu doesn’t disappoint, a few favorites include vegetable dumplings, traditional Kimchi, and the Korean Aysla Bibimbap.
Donna Vegana, located in the core of Nova Santa Ponsa, opened in 2019 and offers a completely vegan menu. The creators of the restaurant wanted to create a completely ethical and sustainable, plant-based menu that vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike would fall in love with. Sandwiches, wraps, sushi, yummy desserts, and refreshing cocktails can be enjoyed at this bright, inviting spot.
Restaurante Mercader Del Mar is an elegant seaside restaurant specializing in Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant is best known for its delicious seafood paella and well-priced three-course lunch menu. Relax on a terrace with broad sea views while enjoying authentic Spanish delicacies. For your convenience and peace of mind, the property offers private parking and a pet-friendly atmosphere.
7Fuegos, an Argentinian-owned establishment located within Club Náutico Santa Ponsa, stands out as one of Santa Ponsa’s most popular restaurant options – appreciated for both its food and atmosphere. Guests experience incredible sea and marina views from both the outdoor terrace and the indoor rustic-style dining room. Renowned for its superb meats like the Cebon rib-eye, the restaurant also features a tempting à la carte menu with creative starters and fresh seafood.
For an authentic Italian dining experience, Ristorante Classico in Santa Ponsa offers traditional plates crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients sourced locally or imported directly from Italy, all enjoyed in a cozy atmosphere with marina views. You can indulge in authentic pasta made daily, traditional antipasta like bruschetta and imported Italian cured meats and cheeses, and classic italian seafood and fish dishes like mussels in a spiced tomato sauce.
For nightlife, Santa Ponsa is a bit of an underrated area, and is actually filled with Irish and English pubs, many of which play live music regularly, especially during the summer months.
There are many chiringuitos throughout Santa Ponsa and the surrounding neighborhood beaches and coves. A classic choice is Es Chiringuito by Kazan, located in Costa de la Calma, right beside Santa Ponsa, where you can enjoy refreshing cocktails and small tapas served beachside. Live music regularly plays throughout the summer, from Electronic DJ sets, to jazz and rock bands – the ambiance at this chiringuito never misses.
Key annual events in Santa Ponsa
-January:
- The Arrival of the Three Kings: On January 5th, children receive gifts in a joyful celebration across Mallorca.
- Fiesta of Sant Antoni: This festival on January 16th and 17th honors the town’s patron saint with bonfires, singing, dancing, and street parades.
-March:
- Day of the Balearic Islands: March 1st is a public holiday celebrating the region’s autonomy with artisan markets, food, folk dances, and parades.
- Port Adriano Street Food: Just a short distance from Santa Ponsa, this event at Port Adriano features international cuisine stalls, face painting, and live music.
-April:
- Easter (Semana Santa): A week of celebrations in April brings blessings, parades, fireworks, and various entertainment.
-May:
- Annual SUP Race, Port Adriano: Port Adriano hosts a 12.5km Stand Up Paddle Board race around the Toro Islands.
-June:
- Sant Joan Fiesta: On June 23rd and 24th, this festival celebrates John the Baptist with beach picnics and bonfires.
-September:
- Festes del Rei en Jaume: This lively festival celebrates King Jaume I’s arrival with parades, traditional dances, markets, sports, and concerts. A highlight is the re-enactment of battles on Santa Ponsa beach.
-October:
- Oktoberfest: Held near Santa Ponsa Beach, this free event offers German beers, bratwurst, and oompah bands.
-December:
- Christmas Markets: Enjoy festive markets, including the German Weihnachtsmarkt in Calvia and Santa Ponsa’s own market with pony rides and Santa visits.
Shopping
When it comes to shopping, Santa Ponsa favors a more local Spanish feel over big-brand commercial options. You’ll find many boutiques selling beachwear, unique garments, and charming jewelry. Every Saturday morning, from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Avinguda de Horts hosts a bustling traditional market, lined with stalls of fresh local bread, cakes, herbs, fruits, and vegetables, alongside unique clothing and artisan crafts, all in a cool, local atmosphere.
If you enjoy hunting for a bargain at a flea market, head north about 6km to Son Bugadelles on a Saturday morning. This lively market is known for handmade crafts and vintage finds. In contrast, this same industrial area is also home to high-end interior design and furniture stores, like DURAN and Knox Design, if you’re in the market for luxury home furnishings.
For a larger retail experience, the lively square of Momentum Plaza nearby in Magaluf offers a convenient cluster of modern brands. But if you’re truly dedicated to shopping, Palma, the island’s capital, is the place to go. Just a half-hour drive or a 45-minute bus ride (route 102) away, Palma has it all – from major high-street stores and exclusive designer boutiques along its famous Passeig del Born to cool thrift shops and small businesses.
Settle in to Santa Ponsa
With its long white sand beaches, waters ideal for every kind of marine adventure backed by excellent facilities and courses, plus world-class golf and tennis, Santa Ponsa is perfectly set for a relaxing, yet rich and active lifestyle. If you’re considering a move, perhaps it’s the lively summer events, the charming local markets, or that serene spot where mountains meet the beach that catches your eye, Santa Ponsa really offers a special way of life. And with its diverse dining options and unique shops, this Mallorcan neighborhood is truly a place where you can genuinely settle in and make a wonderful home.
