Santa Ponsa

About Santa Ponsa

At first glance Santa Ponsa, or Santa Ponça, appears to be little more than a resort for a traditional family beach holiday – yet it hides a wealth of natural and historical features and plays host to some of the most luxurious properties in Mallorca. The town centre enjoys a stunning backdrop of mountains and woods and its sprawling outskirts include world-class golf resorts and homes for the superyacht owners of the famed Port Adriano.

Situated in Mallorca’s southwest, Santa Ponsa has two sandy beaches: the 560-metre stretch known as ‘the big beach’, and the smaller cove Caló d’en Pallisser known locally as playa pequeña or ‘the small beach’. All the facilities you need for a typical sea, sand and sun family summer holiday are here and great deal more.

Our guide explores the best that Santa Ponsa has to offer and interesting things to do in the surrounding areas.

History and Culture of Santa Ponsa

Santa Ponsa is famous in Mallorcan history: Sa Caleta, the inlet now housing Santa Ponsa Marina is where King Jaume I landed on September 10th 1229 beginning the re-conquest of the island from the Moors. This site is now marked with a large stone cross and this event is commemorated every year with the exciting fiesta Rei En Jaume. There are also several archeological sites to visit dating back to the Moorish and Roman occupations.

The town has an interesting mix of international residents and much of the architecture is purpose-built for tourism. Within the town itself you are most likely to see families enjoying typical package holidays, but Santa Ponsa also provides a hub of amenities for the more up-market outlying areas which feature some of the most luxurious properties on the island.

Nova Santa Ponsa is most famous for golf and surrounding the town are many protected, green areas plus views of the magnificent peak of the supposed magical mountain the Galatzó.

For shopping, there is a wide range of boutiques and gift shops plus the Saturday market and quirky street vendors. The nearby Polígono Son Bugadelles is a large industrial estate with a good gym and a wide range of retail businesses attracting customers from across the island including many furniture stores, building and yacht suppliers and interior designers such as Knox Design.

Major attractions in Santa Ponsa

The main attraction of Santa Ponsa itself is the ‘big beach’ around which most of the town is centred. It is included in our guide to the best beaches in Mallorca.

Protected by lifeguards and dotted with popular watersports, this beach is ideal for families as it is shallow, sandy and sweeps across the entire width of the bay. Sailing, surfing, scuba and jet skiing are all within easy reach and there are also a purpose-built play areas for children.

For yachters, the Club Náutico de Santa Ponsa is located in a deep natural inlet and has just over 500 berths. One of the most picturesque yacht clubs in Mallorca, it is nearly always full and is a pretty place to stop and have a bite to eat.

In less than 10 minutes by car you can also reach Port Adriano which is one of Mallorca’s few ports for super-yachts and has a good range of designer shops and restaurants for those in search of a more luxury lifestyle. The renowned architect Philppe Starck was commissioned for its recent major upgrade.

Nova Santa Ponsa is home to three golf courses (Santa Ponsa I, II and III), making this an ideal area for golfers to holiday and own property. There is also the popular Jungle Parc outdoor adventure park.

Things to do in Santa Ponsa

The most popular activity in Santa Ponsa is lazing on the beach or eating out at one of the many bars and restaurants. Because of its access to the motorway and the nearby Tramuntana mountain range, Santa Ponsa makes an ideal base for hikers and bikers. Nature lovers can feed the wild flock of parakeets located in the small wood by the big beach or watch the ducks wandering the town. If you are interested in archaeology the Sa Morisca nature park is well worth a visit.

There are three world class golf resorts in Nova Santa Ponsa which feature purpose-built homes with views over the green and surrounding mountains. You can find out more about Santa Ponsa Golf with our in-depth guide. Only golf course I, is public and the area hosts many high-profile tournaments.

Also see our guide for other spas you can visit for a day.

Santa Ponsa is also an ideal base for excursions around the island including a boat trip to the nature resort of Dragonera Island.

Restaurants in Santa Ponsa

Santa Ponsa has a very international atmosphere with a mix of British, German, Spanish, Italian and Asian bars and restaurants. It is easy to grab a snack at one of the beach bars or chiringuitos. For a more haute-cuisine experience its worth a visit to Las Adelfas Restaurant in Nova Santa Ponsa or 7Fuegos, overlooking the Club Náutico.

Hotels in Santa Ponsa

There are many hotels in Santa Ponsa, but if you are interested a more rural location nearby take a look at our guide to best hotels on Mallorca.

Events in Santa Ponsa

The annual Rei En Jaume fiesta is the most famous and usually features around 60 events. The highlights are two parades, a mock battle on the beach, a medieval market and live entertainment in September.

The big beach is the usual location as the many pedestrianised pathways and woods make it an ideal spot for markets, live music and pop-up bars. Part of this is also the midsummer Nit de Foc on the Eve of San Joan, a celebration of traditional music and dancing which usually stretches into the wee hours. The Lions charity also hosts a regular event in Autumn.

The town also hosts the WTA Mallorca Open tennis competition, Spain’s first ever grass court tournament. Started in 2016, women tennis players at the height of their game converge for this seven-day event in June.

Living in Santa Ponsa

Santa Ponsa has a distinctly international atmosphere with a very mixed community. It has extensive ex-pat residential areas and useful local amenities such as banks, schools and supermarkets.

Santa Ponsa tends to attract retired ex-pats, families and golf and boat enthusiasts. The area can be very quiet during low season but is still attractive for year-round living because of its amenities and easy access to Palma and Calvia village. The variety of residents that it attracts also means the facilities meet the needs of almost any budget.

It is important to be careful which area you buy in if you are looking for property in Santa Ponsa. Some of the outlying areas such as Nova Santa Ponsa are very exclusive as they serve the boat and golf community and those looking for secure holiday accommodation.

Other areas of the town can be rowdy and a little intimidating during peak season – great if you like clubbing in lively Irish and Scottish venues aimed at the package holiday tourists, but not everyone’s cup of tea. Because of these stark contrasts property prices in the area vary greatly.

You can pick up a studio apartment in the main town for less than €200,000 but avoid the north side of the bay around Ramon de Montcada if you want a quiet night. Neighbouring Costa de la Calma is a more affordable residential area with the popular ‘Square’ which features live entertainment in summer.

Seafront properties stretching from the big beach to Port Adriano fetch a premium with detached houses typically costing around €5m.

For a luxury apartment in one of the gated or golf complexes (around Calle Gran Via Penyes Rotges or Calle de Chopin) you should expect to pay from €350,000 – €700,000. Very few detached villas in good order are available for less than €1m and can cost as much as €11m for a prime location. These prices are reflected in the high standard of build with well-planned gardens and luxurious pools and tight security.

If you are looking for advice in order to buy, sell or rent a property in this or any other area of Mallorca, please do not hesitate to have a look at our selection of reliable and professional real estate agents on the island.

Surrounding areas close to Santa Ponsa

With easy motorway access everything from the liveliness of Palma Nova and Magaluf to the quiet of Andratx is within easy reach.

The adjacent towns of Costa de la Calma and Son Ferrer are largely residential and the nearby Port Adriano is a Mecca for designer shopping and super-yachts.

Palma Nova with three beaches on a wide bay, located in the Southwest, Palma Nova offers typical resort amenities and a cut-above-the-average mini golf course.

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