The Balearic Islands, Spain

The Balearic Islands consist of four main islands, Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, and several smaller islets. Located some 65 miles from the Spanish mainland, the islands stand at a crossroads to the Mediterranean, where they were plundered and colonized by numerous groups until Catalan settlers landed there in the 13th century. Their close proximity to the Spanish mainland makes the Balearics a summer playground for much of Europe. While the islands are very small, they have big personalities, each with a distinct character and unique appeal. From culture and tradition, to chic shopping and entertainment, to beautiful beaches and quiet coves, these islands have a perfect balance of peaceful island life and modern civilization.

We arrived in the Balearics at Espomador over a month ago (see previous entry August 02, 2010), and have been cruising around the islands for more than a month, from Espomador to Mallorca to Ibiza to Formentera to Espomador to Ibiza to Mallorca to Menorca. The islands are close enough that it takes just a few hours to cross between them. And the sailing conditions vary as much as the islands do, from motoring in glassy water, to nice beam reaches, to pounding into high winds and large waves. We have cruised with old friends and made new ones, enjoying each island, on land, and from the sea.

Since we went to each island multiple times, this blog entry details our observations and highlights by island, rather than in date order.