|
The Balearic Islands are located in
the Mediterranean off the east coast of mainland Spain. The
three main islands are Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca. There
are also the two tiny and unspoilt islands of Formentera, to
the south of Ibiza, and Cabrera, off the southern coast of
Mallorca. The islands are a favorite holiday haunt of
royalty, the seriously rich and famous and package tourists
from all over the world. Each has a different landscape and
distinct character; between them, the Balearics offer
something for everyone.
Ibiza the Party Island
Ibiza is the nearest to the
mainland, 100 kilometers off the Costa Blanca coast. It's
just 45 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide at its
central point but this is the party capital of Europe. It
has some of the biggest and best nightclubs in the world,
attracting big name DJs, a celebrity clientele and hordes of
Britain's most hardened partygoers. The wild antics of
Ibiza's clubbers have attracted plenty of media attention -
notably in 1988 when the British vice-consul resigned in
disgust over the "degenerate" behavior of the lager lout
element from his homeland.
But travel a short distance from the two club land areas of
Ibiza town and San Antonio and you'll find the other,
lesser-known Ibiza - an island of traditional Spanish
villages amid the orange and lemon groves, stunning
mountains, cliffs and delightful hidden coves. There are
colorful street markets, local fiestas and Spanish tapas
bars where the locals gather but foreigners rarely tread.
The island is just over two hours flying time from London
and can also be reached by ferry from the Spanish ports of
Denia, Valencia, Alicante and Barcelona. If you take a trip
over to Formentera (an hour by ferry from Ibiza town) you'll
discover one of the Mediterranean's best-kept secrets - an
island paradise of dunes, cliffs and coves with some of the
cleanest unspoilt beaches and clearest waters in the
Mediterranean.
Island of Mallorca
To the north west of Ibiza lies
Mallorca, the largest of the Balearics and one of Europe's
top holiday destinations attracting some six million
visitors a year. The island is about 100 kilometers from
east to west and 75 kilometres from north to south. It's an
island of huge contrasts with frantically busy international
tourist centers in the south west and a beautiful, unspoilt
mountainous region in the north. The capital, Palma de
Mallorca, is fast gaining a reputation as one of the
Mediterranean's most exclusive holiday resorts whilst nearby
Magaluf is a magnet for package holidaymakers, particularly
"the lads" who snap up the "Shagaluf" T-shirts on sale at
the beachfront kiosks.
Claudia Schiffer, Michael Douglas and King Juan Carlos of
Spain are among the many celebrities and jet-set types who
own holiday homes on Mallorca.
Most tourists head for the south of the island but if you
take the time to explore the hinterland and northern coast
you'll find a rural heartland virtually untouched by tourism
and dramatic, rugged mountains concealing lovely unspoilt
beaches.
From the southeast tip of Mallorca, you can take a boat trip
out to the beautiful archipelago of Cabrera which has been
declared a National Maritime Territorial park. The crystal
clear waters here are a paradise for divers and snorkellers.
Earthy Island of
Menorca
Menorca is the easternmost of the
Balearic Islands - it's also the most lush, tranquil and
unspoilt of the three main islands. It's not a place for
party animals. But if you're looking for endless miles of
uncrowned beaches, delightful fishing villages and historic
towns, you've come to the right place. King Juan Carlos pops
over here on the royal yacht from Mallorca for fresh seafood
lunches.
Visitors to the Balearics should note that a fiercely
resisted "eco-tax" was introduced in May 2002 to combat the
increasing threat to the environment posed by mass tourism.
You pay per night at a rate dependent on the style of
holiday accommodation. Five star hotels attract the top rate
of two Euros per night and environmentally friendly rural
accommodation, classed as "agro tourism", has the lowest
rate of 25 cents. Children under 12 are exempt.
|
