Things To Do in Santa Ponsa

Majorca’s most hair-raising waterslides are all at this Wild West-themed waterpark on the outskirts of Magaluf, 10 minutes’ drive away. You’ve got the Big Hole, the longest ride on the whole island, and the Beast, with its 30-metre vertical drop. Kids can splash around in the mini waterpark, and 3 times a day there’s a dive show that gets ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the crowds.

For fresh seafood, pick a table at any of the restaurants dotted around the marina – the fish is delivered straight from the skipper every morning. You can’t go wrong with local favourites like swordfish steaks, skewers of monkfish, or seafood paella. As for what to wash it down with, pick out a Majorcan wine – the Jaume de Puntiro is really popular.

The town attracts visitors from all over Europe, so you’ll find dozens of restaurants serving up international cooking. Most are near the beach or on one of the two main streets. But you won’t have to travel far to find traditional Spanish and Majorcan flavours, either. Look out for dishes like tumbet – a kind of ratatouille, and arros brat – saffron rice mixed with chicken and vegetables.

Santa Ponsa is less of a party animal than its neighbour Palma Nova, but it still lays on a big choice of bars. You’ll see lots of Celtic bars, complete with live music and a healthy regard for the craic. And if you want to make a night of it, you’ve got a handful of discos and clubs around the main strip on Carrer Ramon de Montcada.

You really get the full spread of watersports here. There’s everything from waterskiing and kite surfing to banana boats. You can book windsurfing lessons, pedalo hire and more at the ticket booth opposite the beach. There are boat trips from here, too – one favourite is the two-hour trip to Puerto Andratx.

Majorca’s biggest fiesta happens right here in Santa Ponsa. It’s a 2-week celebration that involves street parades, Medieval market stalls and a re-enactment of the battle that ended Moorish rule in 1229. There are beach parties, concerts and, on the last Sunday, a massive fireworks display. The local bars and clubs take part too, so there are themed nights, along with later opening hours.

Once the sun goes down, everyone makes a beeline for the Square, at the bottom of Carrer Ramon de Montcada. You can eenie meenie miney mo your way through loads of bars and restaurants, and tables spill out left, right and centre. At 8.30pm there’s a kids’ disco, and after that it’s the main event on the big stage. One night it’ll be a Westlife tribute band, the next a Carry On comedy show.

One way to explore the coastline is on a catamaran. Above deck you can take in views of the island’s south-west coast. Inside, there’s a bar and boutique, while down in the submarine vision deck, you can watch the marine life from panoramic windows. Later, you’ll stop for a swim, where snorkelling kit's provided. You can book it from the ticket booth opposite the beach.

Once a year, Santa Ponsa turns the clock back to 1229 – the year King Jaime sailed over to Majorca and defeated the Moors. There’s a light-hearted re-enactment of that famous battle on the beach – think knights in fancy dress waving wooden swords. And there’s a Medieval market in Plaza de la Pinada where you can tuck in to 12th-century food. On the final night of this 5-day fiesta there’s a huge fireworks show on the beach.

This stylish, modern restaurant serves up a healthy menu of international dishes. You can feast on pan-blackened Cajun chicken with Mediterranean vegetables and a sweet red pepper reduction, or enjoy pan-fried sea bream with onion mash and homemade salsa.

This bar is actually attached to a trendy restaurant. After sundown, it draws a well-heeled crowd of locals and tourists who sip Manhattans and Mojitos on the comfy red sofas. And with DJs playing ‘till 4am, you can head over to the crystal-filled dancefloor once you’ve had your fill of cocktails.

This long avenue, and the roads around it, are home to the town’s standout clothes shops and crafty boutiques. They’re stocked with stuff you won’t find anywhere else. The Majorcan straw baskets don’t just make great pressies, they’re also perfect for carting your towels and suncream to the beach in. And there’s plenty in the way of stylish leather bags and accessories, and cut-price perfumes, too.

This contemporary cocktail bar pays homage to Hollywood leading ladies of old, like Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich. That means a glam, black-and-white colour scheme, plush upholstery and even a full-sized Oscar statuette. The music harks back to a bygone age, while drinks-wise, you’ll find beers, cocktails and – of course – lots of Champagne.

For home cooking, Majorca-style, look no further than Xaloc. Typical Spanish dishes like paella and grilled calamari get a look in on the menu. But the real piece de resistance is the T-bone steak – it’s grilled in front of you on a wood-fired BBQ. Pick a table on the terrace facing the street if you want to people-watch, or if it’s tranquillity you’re after, head for the leafy garden.

This beach-in-a-cove, midway between Santa Ponsa Beach and the marina, is fairly low maintenance. You won’t find watersports or even sunloungers – just a chilled vibe that makes it popular with families. The water stays shallow quite a way out, so it’s safe for pint-sized swimmers. Plus, there’s a playground just over the road from the beach if they’ve got any energy left to burn off.