Portocolom

About Portocolom

The east coast village of Portocolom – in the district of Felanitx – is one of the most attractive on this coast of Mallorca lying 12km north of Cala d’Or.  Read our guide from www.abc-mallorca.com to find the very best the town has to offer.

As a traditional fishing village, Portocolom retains much of its original charm. The village nestles around one of the largest, most sheltered bays on the island, where the boathouses, lighthouse and boats add to the picturesque nature of the place.   There’s a long quay where pleasure craft mix with local fishing boats, and you can take boat trips from here too.

The main beach in Portocolom is the blue flag Cala Marcal which enjoys sandy shallow waters making it family-friendly and a good place to find all the waterfront facilities you would expect from a Mallorcan holiday.

Nearby, there ae also the beaches of S’Arenal Grand and S’Arenal Petit – not to be confused with the major resort of Arenal in the south of Mallorca.

Portocolom is one of the most established resorts in Mallorca and offers a wide range of hotels, bars and restaurants.  It is also a great location to travel to many historical and natural attractions in the eastern part of the island.

History and Culture of Portocolom

Portocolom was named after Christopher Columbus who was (allegedly) born here.  Until the rise of tourism at the turn of the 20^th century the town was a working fishing port.  Trade was busy, shipping wine to France until the late 19^th century when the Phylloxera blight wiped out many of the Mallorcan vineyards.

If you enjoy ancient archeology there is a pre-historic ‘naveta’ or burial ground dating back to around 2000 BC.

Portocolom is typically quieter in off season but there are still things to do in winter and it and enjoys a varied, international community.  The pretty pastel houses and magnificent views create a tranquil atmosphere even during the busiest times of the year.

Shopping in Portocolom

Portocolom doesn’t have many shops but there are one or two interesting ones – mainly along the long quayside. One street back from the quayside is a parallel street selling the daily necessities for locals.

For more serious shopping, there’s Felanitx (around 13 km from the port) or the more attractive town of Santanyí (some 18 km south). Felanitx has a lively market on Sunday mornings; Santanyí’s market is on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and its stalls offer an interesting mix of goods.

Major Attractions in Portocolom

For the most impressive views, head to the Santuari de Sant Salvador, near Felanitx. A snaking road takes you up to the top of the Puig Sant Salvador – the highest mountain in the area.  As well as a large stone cross and huge statue of Christ, you’ll find a peaceful place of pilgrimage. The sanctuary is no longer home to monks, now offering its accommodation – and views over Portocolom – to visitors.

There are also many fabulous places to visit in the surrounding areas including some of the island’s best sight-seeing.  This part of the Mallorca is famous for its various caves and you don’t have to be a spelunker to enjoy them.  The nearby cave attractions of ‘Ham’ and ‘Drac’ can be enjoyed by almost anyone on foot or boat and the coastal cave systems are also very popular for scuba diving.

Things to Do in Portocolom

In line with its seafaring economy, the town has a highly regarded sailing school, Escola Nàutica s’Algar, equipped with the most modern, technical means and resources to teach sailing and help students gain a licence.

It is definitely worth a wander over to Portocolom’s original heart on the opposite side of the harbour: the church is surrounded by attractive old pastel-painted cottages, some of which are now rather stylishly renovated.

Golfers can enjoy panoramic views of Portocolom and this stretch of coastline from the impressive Vall d’Or Golf, nearby on the road to S’Horta. The clubhouse is home to mAxime, a very good café/restaurant that’s also open to non-golfers.

If you are interested in wine thank your luck that the Mallorcan wine industry has been revived!  Close to Portocolom is the wine region of Pla y Llevant.  See our extensive wine guides for more information.

Restaurants in Portocolom

Even in the height of summer, there’s a tranquil air to Portocolom and parking isn’t usually a problem. Restaurants and cafés line the quayside – between them, offering everything from traditional Mallorcan to fine cuisine, at a range of prices. If you walk along the quayside, you’ll see plenty of evidence of the fishing trade – so you can expect to eat good seafood in the port.

Hotels in Portocolom

Portocolom enjoys a wide range of beach-front and rural hotels.  If you prefer to spend a night or two at a really special boutique hotel nearby why not see our extensive guides on the best hotels in Mallorca?

Events Portocolom

Portocolom hosts a number of sporting and cultural events including:  a popular triathlon in April, a gastronomic festival in late June and a Rock festival also in June featuring local bands.

Living in Portocolom

Portocolom like many resorts in east Mallorca is much quieter during the winter months, but unlike the large resort of Cala d’Or there is still plenty going on all year.  Many shops and restaurants remain open and there is a lively ex-pat community as well as Mallorcan locals.  Very popular with Germans both wintering and living all year round, Portocolom enjoys a good range of facilities and amenities.  It is a longish drive to get to the capital of Palma de Mallorca, but the major town of Felanitx is not too far.

Areas such as Portocolom and Campos enjoy an active community of artists and artisans as well as off-season hikers and bikers.

With few properties available in Portocolom for less than 150,000 euros, the town is more expensive than some of the neighbouring coastal resorts.  This is reflected in the wider variety of historic and architect-designed properties.  Villas cost from around 400,000 euros up to 12 million euros for something truly spectacular.

Nearby Portocolom

For a completely different experience why not try the well-known area of Campos.

Also close by are the coastal resorts of Cala d’Or and Cala Murada and the larger town of Felanitx.

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