Autumn Family Holidays in Port d'Andratx
When schools across much of Europe break up for the autumn holidays, Port d'Andratx has already turned the volume down. The harbour breathes again, the coves are half empty and the sun warms without burning. It's a season that calls for a different kind of family trip: fewer beach towels and more trainers, less beach schedule and more long mornings outdoors. If you're planning an autumn half-term with children in Mallorca, the south-west of the island has plenty of plans that barely fit into summer.
Why Autumn Works So Well with Children
In summer, days with children revolve around the heat. In autumn, it's the other way round: the middle of the day is the best time to be outside. You can walk mid-morning, eat outdoors and still have the energy for one last stroll around the harbour. The days are shorter, so it's worth saving excursions for the first half of the day. In return, everything is close by and almost nothing needs booking weeks in advance. And if the weather plays along, the sea still offers the odd swim. We tell you more in what to do in Port d'Andratx in October.
An Island with a Dragon off Sant Elm
For a child, few phrases sound as good as "we're going to dragon island". From Sant Elm, Sa Dragonera looks like a stony back lying across the sea. The boat takes around fifteen minutes to cross. Once ashore, the stars of the show are the sargantanes, lizards found only on the Balearic islets, which come over to inspect visitors with great curiosity. Watching them is fine; feeding them is not, as this is a natural park. Before you go, check in Sant Elm which days the boat is running, as the timetable shrinks outside the high season and depends on sea conditions. And if you enjoy birdwatching, these weeks coincide with the autumn migration on Sa Dragonera.
The Pirate Tower: a Walk Made for Little Legs
From Sant Elm itself starts one of the most rewarding family walks in the area: the climb to the Torre de Cala en Basset, a watchtower built in 1583 to spot pirate ships. The semi-circular route suggested by Turisme Petit, a Mallorcan website specialising in days out with children, covers around 5.5 kilometres and takes about an hour and a half. It isn't suitable for pushchairs, and on some stretches it's best to hold hands. The reward is well worth it: Sa Dragonera straight ahead, the sea below and a story of lookouts, smoke and bonfires that tells itself. At the top the ground is uneven, so keep a close eye on the little ones. If you'd like to learn more about the area's heritage, the Serra de Tramuntana Consortium describes a cultural route from Castell de Sant Elm to this very tower.
Bunyols, Rosaris and Sweets with a Story
Autumn in Mallorca is also something you can taste. Around 21 October, the day of les Verges, bakeries and street stalls fill up with bunyols: ring-shaped potato doughnuts eaten while still warm. In the old days, on the eve of the feast, young men sang serenades beneath balconies and were welcomed in with bunyols and sweet wine. Today, as mallorcadiario notes, the celebration lives on mainly in schools. Ten days later comes Tots Sants (All Saints' Day), and with it the rosaris: necklaces of sweets, chocolates and marzipan that grandparents and godparents give to the children of the family. Buying one is a lovely way to show children that every place has its own festivities. So you don't miss a thing, check the Visit Andratx events calendar, which usually includes children's activities during these weeks.
When the Days Draw In
Some autumn days dawn grey. No matter: showers tend to be brief and the island has plenty of indoor plans. You'll find ideas in things to do in Mallorca when it rains. The afternoons also end earlier. It's the perfect time for a slow stroll around the harbour, a bunyol or two for tea and back home with tired, happy little ones.
Your Base in the South-West
Just 700 metres from the harbour and a few minutes from Sant Elm, our aparthotel makes an ideal starting point for these autumn days. Our rooms have space for the whole family, and the team will help you fit in every outing through our services. If you'd like to plan your autumn half-term in Port d'Andratx, get in touch with us.
