Things to do in Ses Salines

Ses Salines is the municipality at the very south of Mallorca, a plain of fields, salt pans and pine woods that meets the sea with some of the island's palest sand beaches. The village of Ses Salines is quiet, with wide streets and low houses; on the coast is Colònia de Sant Jordi, a former fishing village with its harbour, promenade and beaches on either side.

Boats leave Colònia's harbour for the Cabrera National Park, the protected archipelago you can see from the shore, and the park's visitor centre is in the village. Further south, the Ses Salines lighthouse marks the island's southernmost point; from there, a walk along the coast leads to Es Caragol, a sandy beach with no facilities or buildings. Between the village and Santanyí, Botanicactus is a large botanical garden with cacti and Mediterranean plants.

Getting there

From Palma it takes about 50 minutes by car, on the Llucmajor motorway and through Campos. TIB buses leave from Palma's Estació Intermodal for Colònia de Sant Jordi. For the lighthouse and Es Caragol you need a car: the car park by the lighthouse is small and fills up early in summer.

When to go

May, June, September and October are ideal: warm water and beaches without the crush. In July and August the beaches fill up from mid-morning. Boats to Cabrera run mainly in season, and in winter Colònia is very quiet, with some of its restaurants closed.