Located in the western Mediterranean Sea, the Balearic Islands are an archipelago off the coast of Spain’s Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago is home to a variety of islands but the largest and most popular for tourists are: Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza.
The tourist boom of the 1960’s brought much needed dollars to the area and the islands responded quickly to meet increased demand for accommodations, restaurants and other tourism related services. Today these islands are famous for their sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, family friendly holiday packages and a diversity of sights and activities that is difficult to find elsewhere.
Majorca is the largest of the islands in the archipelago and remains to this day one of the most popular vacation destinations of all the Mediterranean. Majorca is known for its blue flag rated beaches, spectacular scuba diving sites, surfing and windsurfing, variety of golf courses, waterparks, and great nightlife. But Majorca is also a great destination for eco-tourism. Hiking and biking are very popular especially on the western coast near Deia and Valldemossa where one can scale the heights of the Tramuntana Mountains. There is also a great sense of history on Majorca; Christopher Columbus grew up on this island and this fact is celebrated through culture and museums. Majorca is a popular destination for families and many resorts offer all inclusive packages that cater specifically to families.
Menorca is another of the most popular Balearic Islands. This island is less popular than Majorca so expect to find it less crowded, especially during peak vacation seasons. Menorca is also quieter as it offers fewer nightlife options and the resorts cater to families and retirees. Despite this, Menorca is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the Mediterranean and the coastal areas have remained largely unspoiled by mass tourism. Menorca has retained its rural atmosphere and outside of the resort areas one can see how life is truly lived on these islands. Rich in history, the people of Menorca celebrate their heritage and culture through the preservation of monuments, ruins and museums.
Ibiza is an island like no other. When the tourist boom of the 60’s hit the area, the hippie generation adopted this island as their getaway of choice. Vestiges of this colorful period of time can still be seen on Ibiza. From the clubs where dance culture is celebrated and kept very much alive, on the beaches of which many are still nudist only, to the northern parts of the island that remain rural with their almond trees and fig and olive groves that make for perfect walking, it can feel like the 1960’s all over again. Despite the hippie influence, Ibiza is a wonderful holiday destination. With more than 50 beaches of fine sand and gentle waters, world class resorts and restaurants and even a preserved medieval part of Ibiza Town complete with castle and gothic cathedral for the history buff, this island has something for everybody.
No matter which island you choose to visit, know that you’re going to have a wonderful vacation that is filled with things to see and do or to simply do nothing at all. Consider a multi-island vacation and take in the sights of more than one island or stay put in your posh resort sipping fruity drinks and watch the sun go down.
