Porto Cristo Visiting Guide

Today with our experts we are going to take you on an excursion to Porto Cristo, a beautiful place in the east of Mallorca. In this tour guide we have prepared a list with suggestions, places to see, beaches and tourist attractions in Porto Cristo, so you can discover what this beautiful place in Mallorca offers its visitors.

About Porto Cristo

Porto Cristo is located 13 kilometers from Manacor, and has about 1000 inhabitants. It is also known by the name of Port de Manacor or Cala Manacor. It is a small fishing and recreational port especially in Summer.  Formerly it was a Roman port, where remains of ships have been found.

Some facts:

• At the beginning it was a nucleus of fishermen, so that the fishing activity favored the establishment of the colony.
• 1925-35, tourist excursions to the caves are organized for European travelers.
• In 1940, the inhabitants of Manacor promote Porto Cristo as a summer resort.
• In 1960 the tourist impulse is produced.

What to see in Porto Cristo?

A walk through Port de Manacor

A walk through Porto Cristo begins near the beach, where we can see a curious statue of a mermaid, a 1988 work by sculptor Pere Pujol. It is on this walk where the weekly market is held every Sunday. It is not a large market, but we find enough stalls with vegetables, fruits, souvenirs, handicrafts etc.

From here we go to the promenade, where first we see the swallows that make maritime crossings in this area. Then we will find the area with the fleet of fishing boats and the different moorings with the typical llauts (Majorcan boats). Thus we arrive at the area known as the Riuet with the presence of bars and restaurants. If we cross to the other side, after the llauts we find a diving center. We also find the Yacht Club, founded in 1969 and which has 206 moorings. Here we can see sailboats, yachts and luxury boats.

We step back our steps, and if we want to take a walk through the interior area, the most prominent monument is the Church of La Mare de Deu del Carmen. It is a small basilica church with a single nave, which is only open during church hours.

From here we go to the beach, where there is a walk, which if we follow it takes us on a route to Coves Blanques. They are small caves that were inhabited until the middle of the 19th century. Apparently, and thanks to their ideal conditions they became housing, it seems that they welcomed the first inhabitants of Porto Cristo who lived there in the 1830s. Its name comes from its whitish color, which makes them quite peculiar.

The beach of Porto Cristo

The beach of Porto Cristo is the main beach in that area and it is located at the end of a beautiful zeta-shaped sea inlet, surrounded by high and beautiful cliffs. These characteristics make Porto Cristo considered one of the most beautiful and best protected natural ports of the open sea and the east part in Mallorca. The beach is not large, about 800 meters long, and is characterized by its fine golden sand with lovely turquoise waters , its beauty and its beautiful promenade, full of trees. The beach has lifeguard services, hammocks and water sports.

The beach of Porto Cristo is easily accessed by car from the main road coming in from Manacor. Parking in the town is free but can be quite crowded in summer months. There are also public buses from different villages that have a stop right by the beach. Porto Cristo beach is accessible for handicapped and wheelchair users thanks to the paved boardwalk that runs right behind the beach and there is also a ramp down to the sand.

For those who want to anchor in Porto Cristo, the conditions for anchoring boats are optimal. The best place is located parallel to the cliffs, just to starboard of the breakwater of the entrance to the port, away from the beach, whose depth to the bottom of sand ranges between four and five meters.

A defensive tower in Porto Cristo

About 15 minutes from downtown, on Joan Servera Camps Avenue we find the Serral del Falcons defensive tower. This tower was built in 1577, it is 14 meters high and has magnificent views and it is the emblem of the city of Porto Cristo. It was part of a chain of towers with the mission of monitoring the legacy of Algerian pirate ships, communicating through smoke signals. During the Civil War it was destroyed due to the bombing of Republican troops, and in 1960 rebuilt by the owners of the land. Next to the tower is the lighthouse.

The views from this point are spectacular, with the blue sea, the high cliffs and part of the east coast of Mallorca. We also found some picnic tables, and some posters with information.

The caves of Porto Cristo

Without doubt, one of the main tourist attractions in Porto Cristo are the caves, which are well worth a visit. We have two caves:

The Caves of Drach

If you are looking for more informations about those caves, check our article about 8 curiosities about Caves of Drach: here.

The Caves of Hams

Both caves are open all year. For those who come on vacation, and do not have a car, a good option is to go on a tourist excursion that visits Caves of Drach. In our offer you will find also the boat trip and the concert on the lake Martel included in price.

The benefits of visiting the caves on a guided excursion are that you should not worry about the parking. In addition you do not have to queue to get your tickets.

Majorica pearls

In Porto Cristo we also find one of the internationally known Pearl Majorica stores, whose origin is the nearby city of Manacor. Although they do not intend to make purchases, the visit to Perlas Majorica is highly recommended since you can learn how the whole process of making pearls is in a 360 video, and because of the multimedia area they have. And if you want to shop, they have many items made with pearls, and at outlet prices. You can buy some souvenirs for your family and friends!

How to get to Porto Cristo?

Getting to Porto Cristo from different parts of Mallorca is relatively easy, either by car or by public transport. If you come to Porto Cristo by car you should keep in mind that the area closest to the beach is blue zone, so from 10:00 to 18:00 you must pay to park. In the far streets there is no blue zone, although sometimes it is somewhat more complicated to find parking, and from there in a few minutes you are in the beach area.

To arrive by public transport to Porto Cristo you must do it by bus, since the train only reaches Manacor. Or you can go by train to Manacor, and from there by bus to Porto Cristo. From the tourist centers near Porto Cristo, like Cala Millor, Sa Coma, Calas de Mallorca … there are different timetables during the day to reach Porto Cristo. 

From the north of the island (Puerto Alcudia, Can Picafort, Puerto Pollensa) it is somewhat more complicated to get to Porto Cristo by public bus since there is only one per day, and you are limited to that schedule. If you are staying in Palma de Mallorca, the bus leaves from the intermodal station with different connections per day.

If you are visiting Mallorca during your cruise, you can also choose to visit the Caves of Drach with us.

Beaches near Porto Cristo

In this area you can also find few nice beaches to enjoy your time after visiting the town. There is no better way to chillout after sightseeing as sandy beach with incredible crystal clear waters. Have a look on our four favourites ones.

Cala Anguila

Cala Varques

Cala Murta

Cala Petita

If you are looking for ideas of beach day out, please check more information on our post:

Religious events

Verge del Carme

Event celebrated in July by fisherfolk around the coast. Lady of Mount Carmel – patroness of fisherfolk – is worship in processions. In Porto Cristo during the procession the statue of the Lady is carried to decorated boat.

Festa de Sant Antoni

Event celebrated very festive in January in whole Spain and also in Mallorca. On that day the traditional blessing of animals takes place. In Porto Cristo as in the other places all people are out enjoying bonfires and ¨dance of the devils¨ performances.

Hope our informations will be useful for you, to plan a visit to charming Porto Cristo. Have you been there already or want to go and have more questions? Leave us a comment!