9-day in Spanish Coast & Balearics: Barcelona – Barcelona
Baleares or Balearics have fairly become one of the Mediterranean’s most popular destinations and favorite yachting playground, due to the constant sunshine, azure waters and rugged landscapes. The Balearic Islands, off Spain are steeped in a raw combination of old and new. The history is prevalent in gothic castles, museums and ancient cobbled streets, whilst the famous Spanish nightlife, lives on in tapas bars, nightclubs and port side cafes. Approach the golden beaches, the intended coastline with rocky peaks and lively harbors, in Mallorca, Ibiza and the Balearic Islands, on board RM Elegant. Explore the extreme landscapes of the islands enjoy sophisticated sunsets and later the impeccable night life ashore. During the day and along the towering coastlines, enjoy great rides on tenders in endless coves and beaches. Find yourselves meander through the narrow cobbled streets, enjoy a stunning nightlife, swim in the finest waters in sounds of local or international music. Take leisurely strolls on the secluded or cosmopolitan beaches and spend memorable time in the well-known clubs.
Barcelona
RM Elegant will be waiting for you in Barcelona port. The crew will be delighted to welcome you on board, your new home for the next nine days. Make your selves feel at home, explore all decks and get spoiled with all exquisite amenities on board. When you feel like touring the city, you will step in luxurious mini vans for an overview of the beautiful architecture and panoramic views that make Barcelona so special with very little walking to view all these impressive buildings. A tour will make you enjoy the charms of bustling streets and delve into its great architectural heritage. Highlights include a photograph stop outside the Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaudi in 1882 and never completed, undoubtedly one of Barcelona’s most characteristic buildings. Through the Triumph Arch and Plaça Urquinaona, you will reach the oldest part of Barcelona: The Cathedral and Roman remains. If you extend your tour you will reach further the elegant Passeig de Gracia to view some Gaudi’s well known buildings, such as Casa Batlló and Casa Milá. If you continue through Diagonal Avenue you will visit the Sants main railway station and Plaça de l’Escorxador, where famous Joan Miro’s sculpture ‘woman and bird’ is located. Then you will reach the Montjuic Mountain for a panoramic view of the Olympic ring and the Olympic Stadium – former residence of the athletes and now a new district in town, before returning to the yacht. If you feel to extend your walk venture out of Barcelona to the Penedes wine region to visit the Codorniu winery whose cellars are the largest in world. Tour the Mount Montserrat monastery, highlighted by a performance of the Escalonia, the oldest boys choir in Europe. Shelter onboard after an exhausting yet amazing day touring Barcelona! Heavenly made meals served all day. If you wish to view a spectacular sunset over the city, we may arrange to visit La Caseta, which is located at Mirador del Migdia on top of Montjuic. La Caseta offers exceptional views out over the sea, port and mountain itself, a well worth adventure… Still, it is important to know that due to the orientation of the town (east), sunset cannot be seen with the sun into the sea… Save energy for the night to enjoy the strong nightlife of Barcelona, by visiting the most upmarket bars to Port Olympic... Here a string of lounge bars, such as Opium, Shoko, Carpe Diem, Catwalk and Sotavento which attract a well-heeled cosmopolitan crowd to sip cocktails on their beach terraces before everyone moves indoors to get down on the dance-floors!.. For a memorable way to kick off any night at the Port Olympic you may start by dropping by the Ice Bar, for a dip in their sub-zero chamber. Everything is frozen and even the glasses are made of ice!
North East Mallorca
We cruise along the coastline of Mallorca whilst you enjoy an extravagant breakfast on board. At the tip of the peninsula the Cap Formentor, an area with breathtaking views… If you love excursions ashore the highlight of the region is the city of Pollenca, a favourite place for artists, with the interesting treasure gallery and austere convent where spectacular music festivals take place every summer. It is still an old fishing port with a beautiful long and narrow bay. The countryside between Port de Pollenca and Formentor is unforgettable, as is the most scenic spot on Mallorca. Another old town to visit in “Bahia de Alcudia” is the homonym Alcudia, founded by the Phoenicians and once the capital of Majorca.
West Mallorca
Bay of Illetas, the new beach bar of La Solana is a must and you can have a massage under the palm trees whilst the waiters serve you cold champagne and exotic fruit, it really is decadent! Great rides by tender to Puerto Nous (Puerto Portals), the “Beverley Hills” marina of Mallorca for nice strolls in the port. The beach at Puerto Portals, to the east of the harbour, is a small one for the glitziest marina on Mallorca, in soft golden colour with clear shallow waters and a famous beach-bar at the end of promontory. Roxy's beach bar is one of those places that you stop in for quick refreshment, to end up staying until the sun goes down. What is better than a divine lunch on board after a long leisure day? By evening it is ideal to head to Palma di Mallorca. You will enjoy a colourful city and visit the impressive sites, which rise above the ancient walls of Palma. Start with a coffee in Cappuchino Café before your long walk. Steeped in history and stunning architecture, with music bars and pubs Palma has a bohemian charm. Walk to the Old Town, an area of narrow city streets crisscrossed by winding lanes that is close to the most important monuments. If you are a Museum fun you will certainly be enchanted by the Miro Museum and the Es Baluart dedicated in modern art. Explore the maze of cobbled streets, plazas, enchanting in hidden courtyards, the Gothic Quarter and the Cathedral de la Seu and Alumdaina Royal Palace. For those who prefer in the midday and before sunset some land tours, you may visit deep the land countryside... You may then view houses and church of Fornalutx village, pass by coasts not visited yet like the one near Port Andratx, discover Valldemossa where Chopin lived and the Las Cuevas del Drac caves, which echo with the symphonies of live musicians, admire Cabo de Sa Mola with cliffs sharply falling into the sea. By road you will visit as well Sóller, sharing its valley with the village of Fornalutx and the hamlet of Biniaraix. The valley is famous for its orange groves and terraces of ancient olive trees. The valley and its surrounding mountain range, the 'Serra de Tramuntana', is a favourite destination for people from all over the world, especially those who enjoy walking, nature and ecotourism. Indeed inland you will find unexpected beauty with olive groves and fruit orchards, Moorish terraced cultivation and dramatic mountain views. Return on board to save energy and enjoy some majestic sunset… If you wish to stroll into the La Llonja district of Palma, you will certainly explore some of the enchanting tapas bars! For the most active ones Palma boasts sparkling nightclubs and casinos. From Salsa bars, to Jazz clubs, to old traditional Spanish fincas housing Opera and Classical music to the more famous nightclubs of Titos, Paseo Maritimo and Pashas.
Formentera
Enjoy breakfast anchored off Isla de Espalmador north of Formentera. A series of great beaches are close by offering more options. The transparent waters of Mitjorn. the sandy Es Pujols or alternatively west at Cala Saona, which is actually the most developed, all worth seeing place in Formentera. Here you can visit the pirate caves and swim in the unbelievably crystal clear waters of the bay. Spend a beautiful day in shallow crystal clear waters, with very good underwater visibility. Perfect waters for snorkeling and scuba diving sessions! Ashore the picturesque beach bars are selling drinks and tapas in sounds of lounge or more vivid music. This tiny island of Formentera is dotted with fig trees, vineyards and traditional whitewashed villages, each more charming than the last. Around the coast, idyllic beaches shaded by pines and palms are a popular draw. Enjoy endless magnificent meals on board and spend your last quiet evening before your next destination, Ibiza! Or not that quiet?
Ibiza
A lazy wake up anchored off the Talamanca or Figueretas beach right in the center of this beautiful and exciting town of Ibiza. When you are ready we may head to the famous Las Salinas, named after the salt lakes in island and the most popular beach for celebrities. This is the 'in' beach not only for the wealthy and the beautiful people, but also for the party scene. The bikini fashions tend to reveal more than they cover up, and the sun-worshippers here are more than a match for the Baywatch beauties. The rather exclusive bars play summer music throughout the day, and will serve cocktails right to your sun bed! The very long, wide crescent of pale sandy beach is bordered by pine woods. The water is crystal clear with super breakers that appear on windy days, perfect for body surfing. Ideal for adventure walks as the surrounding terrain is Ibiza's Wildlife Conservation Area. Beyond the fun part, the beach is a long expanse of soft golden sand surrounded by a nature reserve including sand dunes, pine forests and spectacular salt flats. The sea is particularly salty here, which makes it incredibly easy to stay afloat when in the water, and fabulous for long swims. If you enjoy spending a second night in Ibiza, we head back at the late evening. Ibiza is always a busy seaside place by day with the liveliest nightlife available by night as you quite know about it already! Is it the day for some brand shopping? Great boutiques, stalls and bargain bins are here. Once more enjoy the busy Port area, with the buzzing life of cafes and go ahead to the historic Old Town today, whose magnificent 16th century walls guard a maze of spectacular restaurants and views; your promenade will take you to Dalt Villa... No matter what your age, nationality, interest or sex, the fairytale architecture of Dalt Vila will captivate you! The dramatic main entrance is up a slope, crossing a drawbridge through the Portal de Ses Taules, flanked by mighty statues in roman stone, entering into an ancient cobbled stone courtyard, giving immediately on to the Plaza de Vila. Some other resort as an alternative could be the San Antonio Bay. The Bay has a relaxed friendly atmosphere, perfect for great promenades. By day, you are never far from a beach and at night there's plenty to do and see. On the spacious terraces of the cafes & bars, many have live shows & music until midnight when everyone continues the party inside in air-conditioned comfort - or move on to the famous big clubs. This is the place where famous Café Del Mar is set. Café del Mar, built in 1980 and designed by the well-known Catalan architect Lluis Géell, admire the stunning sunsets to a backdrop of ambient and eclectic music provided by the DJ in the bar. The simplicity of the event and the pleasure one takes in the perfect combination of scenery, beautiful weather and the wonderfully chilled music, make every sunset a special one. Even now, after 10 years on the island, we are still awed by the silence which descends on the bar as the sun reluctantly gives up its last rays, before vanishing below the horizon. One of the reasons for the amazing success of this bar are the excellent chillout albums which have been released annually since 1994, pioneering the chillout genre at the time of the first release. There have since been many imitators, but only one true Café del Mar...
Cabrera – Es Trenc (Mallorca)
An interesting wake up in the ecosystem of Cabrera island, south of Mallorca, after a license granted. This island landscape has been kept in its natural state, with a highly valuable ecosystem and one of the best-preserved sea beds in the entire Mediterranean. The two largest islands are Illa des Conills (also known as Conillera) and Illa de Cabrera, which has a 14-km coastline which is full of coves and inlets, as well as hilly relief, with the highest peak - Puig de na Picamosques. The park covers an area of 10,021 hectares, of which 8,703 constitute the marine space and 1,318 represent the terrestrial area of the park. The climate is semi-arid; this conditions the vegetation, with being an abundance of bushes and some trees, of which pine is the most common. The most characteristic animal on Cabrera is the sargantana lizard. The abundance of fish means that there is a great diversity of marine birds, making Cabrera an excellent spot for the observation and study of birds and their migratory patterns. The sea bed is made up of vast extensions of posidonia seaweed and rock, where a vast variety of fish and plant life exists, as well as various species of dolphin and turtle. Cabrera is a worldwide natural reserve of the biosphere, and anchorage can be permitted only by a special permit granted for daily cruise around the park. Later we head to South Mallorca, to Colonia Sant Jordi or Es Trenc, a still unspoiled and well preserved white sanded beach with fine-grained sand, crystal clear, clean and shallow water with a gentle slope.
Cala n Porter or Mahon
Fairly Menorca was given by the UNESCO in 1993 the distinction of "Reserve of Biosphere" as is a wonderful island, with emeralds 50 beaches, and an always blue sky with more than 300 days of sunshine per year. The island, with its stunning rocky cliffs, picturesque resorts and attractive anchorages, will make you instantly feel euphoria. Enjoy your breakfast in views of the amazing Mediterranean nature and transparent waters, whilst we surpass Cap de Cavalleria, with the beacon on a cliff about 90m above the sea, at the most northern cap, the Illes Bledes and more of remarkable resorts. Alternatively, at the east side of the island we may select the sheltered inlet at Addaya or in one of the many coves within the Bah’a de Fornells. Our suggestion will be for the west side of the island, anchoring off Cala Santandria bay. Here is a blue flag beach to enjoy great rides on tenders and a long series of water toys. The sand is fine and golden, and the waters are generally calm in this area. Here is set the popular nightspot Pedro's, which ranges from flamenco and foam parties to karaoke and laser shows. If Menorca's getting too quiet for your liking, pop along there for a great entertainment. If you feel like exploring the land we can head to the resort of Ciutadella, situated a little in from the coast, with the old capital well worth to visit. Located on the north-west coast of Menorca, next to Cala`n Blanes, lies the beautiful medieval port, with its charming narrow, cobbled streets leading away from the picturesque harbor. Once the capital of Menorca, it is now a vibrant city filled with historical architecture, having retained its Spanish traditions. The lovely sandy beach of Cala`n Blanes is just 2 miles south, while just to the north you will find Binimel-la, which boasts some of the best beaches on Menorca. With much of Menorca's historical buildings here Ciutadella is beautiful. One of the best places to view the harbour and enjoy an aperitif is from the main square, Plaza de's Born. The centre of the square is dominated by an obelisk which commemorates the defence of the city in 1558 when it was attacked by the Moors. There are a lot of sights including two museums, the Castle of the Three Dragons, the Horse Harness Racing and more to discover. On one side of the square is the Town hall across from this is Palace Torre Saura. Open to the public and to the side of this is an alley, which leads up into the old city. Most of the streets are narrow and typically Mediterranean. The arches of Ses Voltes provide welcome shade from the sun while shopping along the main street. The Cathedral in the Plaza de Pio XII, completed in 1362, took over 50 years to build. Forget the time and your map and just wander through narrow streets soaking up the atmosphere. Most recommendable area for sea sunset is the southern or southwest part like Cala Mararella or Macarelleta, Arenal de Son Bou or Arenal de Son saura. At the western part of the island, Ciudadela bay in front of Cala Santandria is also a nice and comfortable area. Actually one of the perks about staying in western Menorca is that you're pretty much guaranteed an excellent sunset.Cala Macareletta is a paradise on earth with mythical waters… If you wish to mix with the crowd we shall steam to Cala ‘n Porter. This is the place where, undoubtedly the most dramatic day and nightspot on the island, Cova d'en Xoroi is based in. This has to rate as one of the world's most unusual clubs! You will find out why! Set high in the rocks, it's a cave bar with fantastic sea views by day. At night it's transformed into an ultra-modern disco with sophisticated light and sound systems and views of the sea and sunset via a hole in the rock. Visiting the capital could be another alternative. We head to south east to visit Mahon. The dockside cafés and restaurants, together with the casino, set on the natural harbour on Mahon buzz with activity. Stroll in the old town to admire the Santa Maria gothic church, the bridge of San Roque, the museum of Hernandez Mora. Watch the sun go down from a bougainvilleaclad terrace overlooking the sea while you sip your sangria. Try some of the traditional Menorcan fare - local cheeses, roast baby goat, crème Catalan and some of the finest fresh fish you've ever tasted. Enjoy your dinner on board before a jazz night in There's a famous club in San Clement, near Mahon, where you can hear local or professional jazz musicians holidaying on the island giving the club an extra boost.
Playa de Fornels
As an alternative in Menorca we may present as well Playa de Fornels… For the golf lovers Son Parc is a championship quality course, ideal for beginners and experienced golfers alike. The course is both challenging and picturesque. It is located just a few hundred meters from the award winning Son Parc beach on the north coast of Menorca. And we still have that very special feature of Golf Son Parc Menorca - a flock of peacocks who live just behind the third green. They are always happy to share their home with golf and we hope they add an extra touch of color to your round. The original 9-hole course was extended to 14 in 2003 and work on the last four holes to complete the 18 began in 2005. Major construction work was completed in Spring 2006 and, following a final period of growing and bringing the turf up to the required standard, the full 18 hole course was officially opened on 12th August 2006. All the extensions have been designed by Dave Thomas Golf Ltd. Dave is the ex-Ryder Cup player and designer of many top courses worldwide, including The Belfry courses & San Roque on the Costa del Sol. DTGolf has also designed a program of improvements for the original 9 holes which is currently being carried out and which will bring all 18 holes to the same level of design. A series of land activities can be organised from here, whilst for the water leisure funs Arenal del Castel C-shaped bay will be fun…
Palamos
The town of Palamos is home to one of the most beautiful beaches along the Costa Brava coastline in Catalonia, Spain in Europe.This quaint village of Palamos, Catalonia in Spain is a fishing town with a very active marina and a beautiful sandy beach that stretches along the Costa Brava coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. Restaurants, hotels, bars, nightclubs, cafes and stores line the streets of Palamos and in the summer months the beach is loaded with tourists from around the world.Palamos was recognized as a town on December 3, 1279 when Peter III of Aragon wanted to create a new port along the coastline and to date it has become a major port where it is also famous for the outstanding prawns caught by the local fisherman. There is never a dull moment when vacationing in captivating town of Palamos…