Santa Ponsa; urban beach with well-kept surroundings and waters
Services and features
Urban environment
Family friendly
Life guard
Sunbed and umbrella rental
Paddle-surf
WC
High occupancy
Access by car
Access for the handicapped
Kayak rental
Diving areas
Length 530 m / Width 100 m
Bus stop
Ideal for anchoring
Restaurants
Beach volleyballDescription
Santa Ponsa beach is a sandy area of about 530 m long and up to 100 m wide in its central part located in the center of the homonymous town, in the municipality of Calviá, west of Mallorca. The beach, with fine white sand, is at the bottom of a bay that goes 1 km inland, so its waters are usually very calm, except if winds blow from the south, southeast or east.
Although the environment is fully urbanized, in a large part of the beach there are pine trees that provide good shade and keep the sand area of the buildings separate
One part even conserves a small pine forest where there are picnic areas. There is also a channel in the middle of the beach that is the mouth of the Barranc des Cohans torrent.
Due to its ease of access, it is a beach highly appreciated by families. Its waters are clean and calm, and shallow, and the sandy area has a good surface. It also has access for people with reduced mobility. A wooden walkway runs along almost the entire beach.
The protection offered by the bay makes this beach a good point for anchoring boats, which has already been known for centuries. Not in vain this was where, in 1229, the army of Jaime I of Aragon landed to conquer Mallorca from the hands of the Arabs.
Already in the 20th century, in 1962, history was again made on the beach of Santa Ponsa. The film Bahía de Palma was filmed here, in which German actress Elke Sommer wore a bikini for the first time on a Spanish beach.
As Santa Ponsa is a first-class tourist center, it is normal that in the summer months the beach has a somewhat high occupancy, but even so, a notable effort is made, with good results, to keep the sand and water in perfect conditions. cleaning.
How to get to Santa Ponsa
Access to Santa Ponsa is perfectly signposted
From Palma we will take the Vía de Cintura Ma-20 towards Andratx and then take the Ma-1 motorway. We will take exit 17 following the directions for Santa Ponsa. Upon entering the urban center, we will continue along Avenida Jaime I until we reach Plaza Santa Ponsa, a roundabout that indicates the location of the public parking on the left. We will take the third exit, along Gran Via Puig de Massanella, and after about 170 m we will find the entrance to the car park. From here the access to the beach is less than 200 m.
Alternatively, at this last roundabout we can take the first exit, towards Gran Via Puig de Galatzó. We will continue to Calle del Sil, where we will turn right and almost immediately we will find the indications of another public car park, which is just over 200 m from the north end of the beach.
Santa Ponsa is very well served by public transport, with a stop near the beach access
- Line 102 between Palma and Puerto de Andratx, which has many frequencies, stops in Santa Ponsa.
- Line 104, which connects Palma with Magaluf and Paguera, is also very frequent.
- Another option is the 111, between Palma and Es Capdellá.
- Finally, if we are in Palmanova or Magaluf, on Wednesdays line 811 brings us to Andratx to visit its market, and also stops in Santa Ponsa.
Santa Ponsa is also a good destination to reach by bicycle
From Palma, leaving through Avenida Joan Miró or the Paseo Marítimo, we will go to Cala Major, and from there we can follow the Ma-1C, which runs through various urbanizations in the bay of Palma. From Palmanova there are several routes to get to Santa Ponsa.
The bay of Santa Ponsa is a good place to anchor, especially the side entering from the right
The beach area is marked with buoys to avoid mishaps. You have to watch some shallows (also marked with buoys) in the center of the bay. Otherwise, the sand and seaweed bottom is between two and four meters. If winds are blowing from the south, southeast or east, it is better to seek shelter in the port or in a nearby cove.
Services
As a first-rate tourist center that it is, on the beach of Santa Ponsa we can find all the necessary services to enjoy a safe and comfortable day on the beach
It has showers, changing rooms and bathrooms, as well as hammock and umbrella rental. There is also a lifeguard service and a first aid station. It even has two massage stalls.
It has facilities where you can rent equipment for different water sports, and on the beach itself there is a children’s playground and an area for beach volleyball. There are several facilities for the practice of various water sports.
Regarding restoration, the pine forest at the back of the beach is a magnificent picnic area. On the promenade that runs along the beach there are many bars and restaurants with a very varied gastronomic offer.
Activities
Santa Ponsa beach is a very popular destination among families for the tranquility of its waters, the gentle slope of the sand and the services it offers. But it is also highly appreciated by young tourists for the complementary offer it offers.
The main activity in Santa Ponsa will be to bathe in its waters and then either lie in the sun on its fine sand, or seek the shade of the pines that surround it
For the more daring, they can hire a banana boat tour or rent jet skis. The more relaxed can opt for pedal boats, canoes or paddle surfing.
Santa Ponsa is also a good place to practice snorkeling and diving, particularly if we want to start in the latter.
The cliffs that mark the limits of the bay offer a great underwater spectacle. About 2 km from the mouth of the bay are the Malgrats Islands, a natural reserve and magnificent diving point. To the west, just under 4 km away, the Cap Andritxol cliffs are also an excellent diving spot. In Santa Ponsa there are several schools that organize from diving baptisms to departures for deep dives, and where we can also rent the necessary equipment.
On land, Santa Ponsa also offers us a good number of activities
Lovers of hiking can reach the nearby urbanization of El Toro. We can also go through the hills that surround Santa Ponsa and reach the viewpoint over the Malgrats Islands.
A practically obligatory place to visit is the Puig de la Morisca Archaeological Park, which includes six archaeological sites from different periods (from the Talayotic to Roman times) and different more modern ethnological samples, starting from the Islamic period. The hill is also a magnificent viewpoint over the surroundings of Santa Ponsa.
For cycling lovers there are also good routes in the surroundings
We can get to El Toro and Cala Figuera, head inland to Es Capdellá going up the Des Cohans ravine, or we can get to the houses of Galatzó.
- Santa Ponsa – El Toro – Cala Figuera
- Santa Ponsa – Capdellá – Galilea – Calviá – Santa Ponsa
- Santa Ponsa – Es Capdellá – Galilea – Casas del Galatzó – Es Capdellá – Santa Ponsa
For families there is the nearby amusement park Jungle Park
Santa Ponsa is also a good shopping destination, with international brands, local craft shops and souvenirs. It has a very varied offer of restaurants and a vibrant nightlife that makes it very attractive for young travelers.
Lodging
Santa Ponsa has almost 7000 hotel beds, being the third tourist center in Calviá, offering a wide variety of establishments where to stay.
Most hotels are three and four stars, but there are also one and two star hostels available on the one hand, and luxurious five-star hotels on the other.
In addition to this there is also offer of tourist apartments, rural hotels, chalets and villas in the vicinity. Without a doubt in Santa Ponsa we can find the perfect option for our tastes and budgets.
Take a look at Santa Ponsa beach in 360º
