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Local Trips

Aquapark - Magalluf: A waterpark with the usual array of slides, wave pools, children's playground, bar and restaurants. Only 10 minutes from Santa Ponsa by bus, which stops right outside Aquapark. Warning keep your eye on your belongings and money, thefts are commonplace in the height of the season.

Golf Fantasia - Palma Nova: A magnificently laid out Crazy Golf course. There are three different courses, all of which provide challenging and interesting holes in a beautifully landscaped setting. It is also open in the evening when the floodlighting makes it even more spectacular. Only 15 minutes away by bus. Alight the bus in Palma Nova, it is just over the road from McDonald's. If you take the kids there first you may get a free child admission ticket to Golf Fantasia with a Happy Meal.

Marineland - Portals Nous: This is one of the world's top Dolphinariums. But in addition to the fantastic Dolphin show, there are Sea Lion and Parrott shows. Performances are held continuously throughout the day and in between the shows there is a chance to visit the Tropical fish aquarium, sharks, penguins, flamingoes, monkeys, aviary and reptile house. There are also bars and restaurants and a souvenir shop. And for the kids there is a miniature railway, pirate boat, ball park and pool. Marineland is about 25 minutes from Santa Ponsa by bus which stops right outside.

Talbert Bowls - Sa Porrasa, Magalluf: For the lawn bowls (although it is played on an artificial surface) enthusiasts, Talberts is the only such club in the Calvia area. It is only five minutes away by car and about 15 on the bus. Visitors are made more than welcome by the proprietor Mike Talley and they can join in the club roll-ups on Wednesday and Sunday. Visitors can also join in the Winter League as guests.

Car Trips From Santa Ponsa

From Santa Ponsa take the road to Andraitx. At Andraitx follow the signs to Estellenchs. You are then on the coast road that takes you up to Valldemosa and then Deya. You should park up in both towns and walk around them; they are beautiful, particularly Deya which has tiny back streets which you can walk around. Keep your eye out for the rich and famous because it is a popular stopping off point for celebrities from the world of show business. Michael Douglas owns a house not too far away and Richard Branson owns a hotel in Deya. But do not think of staying over for the night - it will cost you a few bob!

To return to Santa Ponsa, go back to Valldemosa and then follow the Palma signs until you see the sign for the Via Cintura (the Palma Ring Road) and follow the signs to Andraitx, it will eventually bring you back to Santa Ponsa.

On another day, take a return trip to Valldemosa, via Palma, and then take the coast road to the town of Soller. Again the views are something special. Leave your car in Soller and get the San Francisco tram down to the Port of Soller. That in itself is quite an experience.

To return to Santa Ponsa take either the road over the mountains to Palma or alternately there is the shorter trip via the new toll tunnel which opened in 1997. The mountain road is an exhilarating journey to say the least! The road has more than 50 hairpin bends in it as you come over the mountain. They are safe provided you keep your speed and distance. The trip is something you are never likely to experience 'back home.'

Golf is very popular amongst visitors to Santa Ponsa, and Mallorca as a whole. If tennis is your sport, the Santa Ponsa tennis club is at the rear of the sports centre and the experienced player will be made more than welcome.

Also close to the sports centre you can play boules or petanque, but you will need your own set of balls, hire facilities are not available. And for those of you who enjoy a game of lawn bowls then a short bus ride or taxi journey will take you to Talbert Bowls just outside Magalluf.

There is also a tenpin bowling alley in Santa Ponsa which re-opened in 1998 after being closed for several years. It is located directly opposite the Royal Jardin de Mar Hotel at Costa de la Calma.

There is a scuba diving centre at the Santa Ponsa Marina. Jet Ski facilities are available in the summer months and details can be obtained from the jetty where the glass bottom boats depart from.

If you like fishing you can book an organised trip via Jon and Pauline at Gone Fishing. Or you can go it alone and buy or hire tackle from the Nauti Pesk Fishing Shopon Avenida Jaime 1. Most bars in town show live sporting, there is an abundance of English Premier Division, Nationwide League, FA Cup, Worthington Cup, Scottish League and Cup action, International matches and European action throughout the entire year - apart from the two week close season. And a bonus for followers of the Carling League is a live. Game every Saturday afternoon via Spanish TV, but invariably with an English commentary via Radio Five.

Many of the Irish bars in town, of which there are just a few, show live Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Hurling and Football action throughout the summer months, culminating in the All-Ireland finals in September.

For horse racing fans, Burlington Berties Bar on the Ramon de Moncada (close to the Holiday Centre apartments) have an in-house bookie and show all live races via the SIS system which can be found in bookmakers throughout the UK. Friends Bar at the Madrugada Apartments also have a live in-house bookie.

If you go into Palma, notably around the Cathedral area, or the backstreets by MacDonalds, you will encounter gypsy flower sellers, normally in pairs. They come up to you and offer a Carnation for sale for just one or five pesetas. These people are professional pick pockets. Walk away from them. Do not enter into conversation with them. Many holidays have been ruined because holdaymakers thought they were getting a bargain, but these people are so slick they can take a wad of notes out of a purse from under your nose without you realising it. Sadly they have infilitrated Santa Ponsa in the last couple of seasons. So be on your guard.

However, the Asian flower sellers who come into bars selling roses are OK to purchase from, they are just trying to earn a living. The beach vendors offering fruit whilst baking in the sun is very tempting. By all means buy from them but two things to remember (a) they have no health certificates for their products and (b) You can buy two or three melons for what they charge you for a slice!

The Senegalese lads who go into bars selling watches and other products are OK to buy from. Some of them are quite entertaining, and there is nothing to beat a good bartering session - they love it. Most of the products they sell are good value. Be careful when walking at night, bag snatchers are common not only here in Santa Ponsa, but everywhere these days. So, throughout your holiday be on your guard just as you would be back home.