Santa Ponsa or Port d’Andratx? Choosing in the Southwest

Two places, two municipalities

Both sit in the western half of the Southwest, along the Ma-1 motorway from Palma, but they belong to different town halls. Santa Ponsa is in Calvià. Port d’Andratx is the harbour of the municipality of Andratx, whose town centre sits about five minutes inland. That difference shapes planning rules, local taxes and the services you use every week.

Santa Ponsa: a town that works all year

Santa Ponsa grew around a sheltered bay with a wide, shallow beach, which is why families like it. It has a marina, three golf courses on its inland side, supermarkets, banks, pharmacies and a public health centre, and its main avenue stays open through the winter. A long-established British and Irish community means it is an easy place to arrive without knowing anyone.

History is close at hand. King Jaume I landed on the headland at the mouth of the bay in September 1229 to begin the conquest of Mallorca, and a stone cross marks the spot. Every year, in late August and early September, the Festes del Rei en Jaume recreate the landing on the beach, with a medieval market and parades.

Next door, Nova Santa Ponsa and Costa de la Calma add quieter streets of detached villas with more space.

Port d’Andratx: a harbour first

Port d’Andratx began as a fishing harbour on a deep natural inlet, and fishing boats still tie up near the yachts. Life centres on the waterfront and the yacht club, and the hills either side, such as La Mola, Cala Llamp and Mont Port, are covered in villas looking down the bay. Sunsets over the mouth of the harbour are part of the appeal.

It is noticeably quieter out of season. Many owners use their homes for part of the year, and some restaurants close in winter. For the weekly shop, the health centre, the secondary school and the Wednesday market, people go up to Andratx town. The port has its own state primary school. In July, the feast of the Mare de Déu del Carme brings a procession of boats round the harbour.

Property and planning

In Santa Ponsa the streets near the beach are mainly apartments and townhouses, many from the 1970s to the 1990s and now being renovated, with detached villas on the hillsides and around the golf courses. The choice is wide, from first homes to large sea-view houses.

Port d’Andratx is mostly detached villas on steep plots, with a smaller number of flats and townhouses near the harbour. Building land is scarce and planning is strict, so few new homes come up.

Getting around

Both are car country for most people, but TIB buses link each of them with Palma all year, and buses also run along the coast between Port d’Andratx, Andratx, Peguera and Santa Ponsa. From Santa Ponsa, Puerto Portals and the international schools of Calvià and western Palma are within about 15 minutes. From Port d’Andratx, add another quarter of an hour to most journeys. The beaches at Camp de Mar and Sant Elm are each about ten minutes from the port.

Who each one suits

• Santa Ponsa: families who want a beach they can walk to, children at nearby schools, retirees who like a busy street in January, and buyers who want a wide choice of property close to Palma.
• Port d’Andratx: buyers who put the view and the harbour first, sailors, and second-home owners who are happy with a quieter winter and a short drive for everyday errands.

If you are torn, spend a weekday in each in November or February. The difference in winter life is the clearest test. Our guide to moving to Mallorca covers the practical side of settling in.

Areas in this post

Santa Ponsa · Port d’Andratx · Southwest