Discovering the Southwest
The southwest of Mallorca encompasses the municipalities of Calvià and Andratx — together one of the wealthiest regions in Spain. Calvià, with around 50,000 inhabitants, has the highest per capita income of all municipalities in the Balearics. You can tell: well-maintained streets, lushly landscaped resorts, marinas full of sailboats, and an infrastructure geared towards affluent vacationers.
The coast stretches over about 50 kilometers from Palmanova in the east to Sant Elm in the west. In between are some of Mallorca's most famous holiday resorts: Magaluf (party mile, currently reinventing itself), Santa Ponça (family mainstream), Peguera (German-influenced, family-friendly), Camp de Mar (quiet, upscale), and Port d'Andratx (the island's most elegant harbor).
In the hinterland, authentic villages surprise: Calvià Pueblo with its medieval church, Andratx with its weekly market (Wednesdays), Capdellà with its almond trees. Here, you can still feel the old Mallorca — just 15 minutes by car from the resorts.
The western end of the coast becomes wilder and more dramatic. From Camp de Mar, the coastal road climbs into the mountains, heralding the Serra de Tramuntana. Sant Elm is the last town before the wilderness — and the starting point for boat trips to the uninhabited island of Sa Dragonera, a nature park full of lizards and seabirds.
Plan 2–4 days for the southwest depending on your interests. Those seeking luxury and beach clubs stay in Illetes or Port d'Andratx. Families are well catered for in Peguera or Santa Ponça. Those preferring nature and hiking use Sant Elm as a base.
💡 Tipp
The southwest is the ideal region if you don't want a rental car. The bus connections are excellent: line 104 (Palma–Peguera–Camp de Mar–Port d'Andratx, every 20–30 min.), line 107 (Palma–Palmanova–Santa Ponça, every 15 min.). Only for Sant Elm and Sa Dragonera do you need a car or the less frequent bus 102.