Dolphin Watching Speedboat Cruise from Santa Ponsa Mallorca

Santa Ponsa and its sheltered bay

Santa Ponsa is a seaside town in the municipality of Calvià, about 20 kilometres west of Palma. Its wide sandy beach lies at the head of a deep, sheltered inlet framed by pine-covered headlands, which keeps the water calm and clear for most of the year. A promenade, a marina and a small park with shady pines run behind the beach.

The bay also has a place in the island's history: in September 1229 the Catalan-Aragonese fleet landed here to begin the conquest of Mallorca, and a stone cross on the headland still marks the event. Your Santa Ponsa boat trip starts from the jetty on the beach itself, so the first views as you leave are of the town, the cross and the green hills of Calvià behind.

The south-west coast of Calvià

Leaving the bay, the speedboat follows the rugged south-west coast of Mallorca, where limestone cliffs drop straight into the sea between small coves and pine woods. Just to the east lie the Malgrats islets, a protected marine reserve where seabirds nest and the seabed is covered in seagrass meadows that keep the water exceptionally clear.

This stretch of coast is one of the most scenic in Calvià, and the speed of the boat lets you cover a good distance in a short time. The captain points out landmarks along the way before turning south into the open sea, where the water deepens quickly, the colour turns a darker blue and the search for dolphins begins.

Dolphin watching in the open sea

The deep water off the south-west of Mallorca is a feeding ground for several dolphin species. Bottlenose dolphins are the most frequent, often swimming in small groups close to the coast, while Risso's dolphins, grey with pale scars and a blunt head, prefer deeper water further out. Other species, such as striped dolphins, are seen from time to time.

Your captain knows the areas where the dolphins are most active and steers the boat there, then slows down so you can watch them swim alongside, leap out of the water and play in the waves. This mix of speed and patience is what makes dolphin watching in Mallorca from Santa Ponsa so popular with families, and every sighting is different.

The swimming stop in a picturesque cove

On the way back the speedboat stops in a sheltered cove of the south-west coast, where the water is clear enough to see the sandy bottom and the rocks from the deck. It is the perfect moment to cool off after the time at sea, swim around the boat or simply relax and enjoy the scenery.

Snorkel gear is available against a refundable deposit, and the meadows of seagrass and the rocks near the shore attract fish such as bream and wrasse. The captain chooses the cove according to the wind and the sea on the day, so the stop is always in the calmest water. Afterwards the boat returns to the jetty at Santa Ponsa, about two and a half hours after departure.