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Known locally as "Little Venice", the picturesque resort of Cala Figuera is part of the municipal district of Santanyi, and is to be found on the quiet, secluded south eastern coastline of Mallorca, around 60 kilometres to the east of the capital Palma, and the Son Sant Joan International Airport.

Since Cala Figuera has been spared from most of the mass commercialisation that has swept across Mallorca in recent decades, the resort doesn't as yet feature in any of the major tour operators brochures, and since public transport just isn't really a practical option, anyone considering a holiday here must make provision to either collect a hire car from the airport, or make the transfer into the resort by one of the many taxis that will be waiting outside the arrivals hall.

For those visitors who do prefer to make the journey by car, in preference to a taxi transfer, the fast Ma-19 road will take you as far east as the town of Santanyi, at which point the much slower Ma-6102 Calle de la Cala Figuera will then take you the final few miles into the resort.

A more detailed version of this route, complete with links to maps where appropriate, is available from the Route Map link on the left hand frame of this page.

Cala Figuera was originally a small and picturesque fishing village and harbour and despite some inevitable tourism development, has retained its inherent charm and is arguably one of the most photographed little havens on the island.

Similarly to other smaller, less touristy resorts along the east coast, Cala Figuera still serves as the home to a thriving fishing community, spreading its tentacles from the high cliffs down to a rocky cove and sheltered harbour.

Quaint and traditional white washed cottages and boat houses with painted shutters sweep down to the water’s edge where fishermen sit mending their nets to the delight of visiting tourists. Despite diminishing fish reserves on the island, the patient local fishing community of some 600 souls, smiles benignly at the barrage of cameras each summer in an effort to support local tourism.

Although there is evidence of Cala Figuera’s existence as far back in records as 1306, construction of houses only began at the latter part of the 19th Century. Today, the area by the harbour’s pretty entrance which plays home to mansions and sumptuous villas is dryly referred to as millionaires’ row.

Cala Figuera has long been popular with families, visiting holidaymakers and yachties although compared to other resorts, it remains quiet and discreet. This is possibly because the resort has no beach and few hotels, the largest of which was demolished in 2006 to make way for a new, private development.

While the resort doesn’t have its own beach, there are several excellent ones for swimming nearby, including the nearest, 4 km south at Cala Santanyi or at Cala Llombard. These can be reached on foot or by the coastal bus "train". At the same time, in the vicinity, there is no shortage of rocky coves for swimming.

Lying inland from the coast is the residential town of Santanyi, 3km from Cala Figuera, which is the largest town in the municipality, and a very typical Mallorcan "pueblo". It has a colourful market every Wednesday, while its neighbour, Felanitx, holds its market on Sunday.

As with most resorts on the south east coast, water sports are widely available, as well as excursions by boat along the coast. Visits to other local attractions can also be arranged, such as the Cuevas de Drach at Porto Cristo to the north, or to the south, the Mandragó National Park, a nature reserve noted for its environmental, biological and botanical diversity.

Interestingly, local fishermen from Cala Figuera are given permits to fish responsibly in the coastal areas around the national park, possibly because their catches are so small.

At Mandragó National Park, guidance is given to visitors to help them identify the many species of birds and animals which inhabit the protected 2,000 acres of the reserve. A recent added attraction is "Artestruz", which is an ostrich farm at which small children can enjoy ostrich rides. This can be found some 15 minutes away by road between Colonia Sant Jordi and Santanyi.

For more information on the resort of Cala Figuera, or the island of Majorca in general, please try the Search Engine below:

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