Sports are very important on the Balearic islands and besides offering sports like football, volleyball, basketball, swimming and athletics, the islands are also a perfect environment for outdoor and adventurous sports like horse riding, rock climbing and water sports. Most hotels on the islands offer a variety of possibilities besides the regular swimming pool, like tennis courts, volleyball fields, diving or sailing classes and sometimes even a private recreational harbor or golf course. Many hotels and tourism offers can also supply you with information about sportive walks in the surroundings.
Cycling
Especially in winter Majorca is a popular destination for cyclists among which there are many professionals who come to the island to train under more agreeable weather conditions. The roads that are not busy at all during winter time and the ideal geography that offers difficult climbs, but also long plain tracks, make this island a perfect destination for training or leisure.
Water Sports
Windsurf, scuba diving, sailing, water ski… The Balearics are the paradise for water sports. Also if you want to find small, quiet beaches, surrounded by cliffs, the only option is to take a boat. From the exclusive sports harbor of Portals to the small harbor of La Savina in Formentera, the Balearics offer a great variety of secure and well equiped recreational harbors.
Sailing
In most harbors it’s possible to rent a boat. Note that for sailboats longer than 6 meters you need to have a captain’s license. If not it’s possible to hire a captain for about €120,- a day. The Balearic Sailing Federation on Majorca offers sailing courses for beginners as well as advanced. The Balearics are also the place to be for sailing competitions. La Copa del Rey de Vela takes place every year during the first year of August and begins in the bay of Palma de Majorca. The Spanish royal family traditionally participates in this regatta every year.
Scuba diving
Especially the coast of Ibiza hides beautiful reefs and species of submarine life. Scuba diving and snorkeling are very popular in Ibiza. Facilities like equipment rental and diving schools are also of great quality there. If you have a license for scuba diving you could take a boat to the tiny island of Cabrera and enjoy the wonderful marine life there. Submarine fishing is not allowed.
Golf
The Balearics are aiming to transform the current mass tourism on the islands into quality tourism for more distinct groups of visitors. This is one of the reasons why lately several golf courses have been constructed on Majorca (Capdepera y Canyamel, Santa Ponça I and II, Bendinat, Son Servera, Son Vida, and more), Ibiza (Santa Eulària des Riu) and Menorca (Son Parc). At the moment there are sixteen 18-hole courses and four 9-hole courses in the entire archipelago. Every year the Open International where the world’s best players come together, takes place at the course of Santa Ponça in March.
