Santa Ponsa is on the south west coast of Majorca. Originally a small fishing village, it has developed over the years into a lively holiday destination much loved by families. This very popular resort is only twelve miles west of Palma making transfers from the airport fairly short.
Santa Ponsa is a busy resort yet has a very relaxed atmosphere. Facilities are good both in and out of the water appealing to a wide range of interests.
Santa Ponsa is a very relaxed place and appeals to a wide variety of holiday makers. It is particularly popular with Irish and Scottish travellers and the abundance of themed pubs and bars reflects this. Families will find that Santa Ponsa more than caters for their needs.
The holiday season in Santa Ponsa begins at the end of April and lasts until late October. The temperature ranges from twenty to thirty degrees.
Santa Ponsa, to the west of Palma, is busy resort very popular with the British and the Irish. Its sandy beach has been artificially extended to cater for the increasing number of visitors to this area. In spite of this, the beach does become crowded at the height of the season. There is however a smaller beach in a sheltered cove just a few minutes walk away. Both beaches have good sand and are safe for bathing, being shallow and having no strong currents. A palm-lined promenade runs along the main beach. There are wide ranging facilities for water sports including a scuba diving school. The woods at the rear of the beach are home to squawking families of brightly coloured parakeets. Santa Ponsa has many bars, cafes and restaurants to accommodate most tastes. There are three golf courses in the area Santa Ponsa I, II and III though only the first one is open to the public. The other two are reserved for members who are usually time-share holders. Nearby attractions include Golf Fantasia, a large mini-golf complex with three separate courses set in wonderful tropical gardens with waterfalls and caves. Another popular attraction near to Santa Ponsa is the huge water park, Aqualand, said to be the largest in Europe. This is geared to all age ranges with its variety of flumes and slides, some of which are not for the faint of heart. Near Aqualand, there is also a go-karting track which has great appeal for teenagers and other ‘boy racers’. There are local buses which take you to the nearby capital, Palma, once a walled Moorish city. Once there, you can take the city sightseeing bus and explore the city’s wonderful architecture including its magnificent gothic cathedral.
Nightlife in Santa Ponsa is lively with numerous bars and restaurants providing live music and karaoke. There are also many live acts and tribute bands (some better than others). The number of British and the Irish tourists in the area has brought about the growth of themed pubs where those who wish can enjoy a ‘home from home’ experience.
Santa Ponsa has the usual array of tourist shops where holiday makers can buy their souvenirs and mementos, commonly known as tat. Maybe it’s the monopoly money mentality, but it seems that tourists bring home from holiday what they would never dream of buying at home. Having said that, leather goods, ceramics, embroidered tablecloths and blown glass articles are usually a good buy. If you visit Palma you will find many designer boutiques and specialist shops. There is also a craft market there opening daily from ten until two which is a lively place that attracts street entertainers and buskers. On Saturday mornings the Rastro flea market, also in Palma, is the place to search for bargains.
You need never go hungry or thirsty in Santa Ponsa. It has lots of bars offering a variety of food from Irish to Spanish and from Italian to Chinese. It seems you can choose a menu from all four corners of the world. The food is very reasonably priced and restaurants are child friendly. Local wine is both pleasing to the palate and the wallet.
