Beaches
Cala'n Porter, 11km (7 miles) west of Mahón, is one of the most spectacular beaches on the island. It's a sandy beach at a narrow estuary inlet protected by high promontories. Thinly scattered houses perch upon a cliff. You can drop by a bar here during the day. La Cova d'en Xoroi, ancient troglodyte habitations overlooking the sea from the upper part of the cliffs, can also be visited.
Going around the cliff face, you'll discover more caves at Cala Caves. People still live in some of these caves and there are boat trips to see them from Cala'n Porter.
North of Mahón on the road to Fornells you'll encounter many beachside settlements. Close to Mahón and already being exploited is Cala Mesquida, one of the best beaches. To reach it, turn off the road to Cala Llonga and follow the signs to PLAYA.
The next fork in the road takes you to Es Grau, another fine beach. Along the way you see the salt marshes of S'Albufera, abundant in migrant birds. Reached by bus from Mahón, Es Grau, 8km (5 miles) north of Mahón, opens onto a sandy bay and gets very crowded in July and August. From Es Grau you can take a boat to Illa d'en Colom, an island in the bay with some good beaches. There are several bars at Es Grau for refueling.
South of Mahón is the little town of Sant Lluís and the large sandy beach to the east, Punta Prima. Patronized heavily by occupants of the local urbanizaciones, this beach is serviced by buses from Mahón, with six departures daily. The same buses will take you to an attractive necklace of beaches, the Platges de Son Bou, on the southern shore. Many tourist facilities are found here.
Golf
The only course is Golf Son Parc (tel. 97-118-88-75; www.golfsonparc.com), a traditional 9-hole course that added another 9 holes in 2006.
Windsurfing & Sailing
The best spots are at Fornells Bay, which is 1.6km (1 mile) wide and several miles long. Windsurfing Fornells, Nov 33, Es Mercadal (tel. 97-118-81-50; www.windfornells.com), can supply you with gear.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
