Driving by in a car, it is difficult to see the charm of Marivent, Cala Mayor, San Agustín and Ca’s Catalá. But walking slowly, you'll find small, hidden coves, rocky bathing platforms, old palaces and designer houses, fantastic viewing points etc. Let's go for a walk from Marivent to Illetas.

Close to Palma and the sea, the area was one of the first ones to benefit from tourism in Majorca. The painter Joan Miró, for example, came to stay and lived many years high up in Cala Mayor and his studio is nowadays one of the main attractions. Apart from expositions, the wonderful view over the bay is well worth a visit (bus nº 46). 

At the foot of the hill, alongside the sea, is located the Marivent Palace where the Spanish Royal Family traditionally spends their summer holidays. A bit further down the street, take a look at the beautifully decorated house right in the curve. Another 100 m and you reach one of the best viewing points, almost opposite of the luxurious Hotel Nixe Palace. Zigzaging, you have to climb a bit over 100 steps, but the view is magnificent. Esepcially at sunset when the bay is slowly being illuminated by 1,001 lights.   

Next to the hotel, there's another set of steps, these ones going down, leading to the beach that gave this suburb its name. Facing the sea, on the left-hand side you can find one of those marvellous old houses. And a bit further down the coast the Marivent Palace with its red rooftops. On the right-hand side, through the arc you can see San Agustin marina and Illetas. Next to the bar, a short passage takes you back to the main street, passing the 3 hotels Santa Ana, La Cala and Playa Cala Mayor which attract international clients. 

On a strip of about 1 km, you'll find shops, numerous bars, clubs, a small casino and restaurants from all over the world. If you prefer to prepare you own meals and like to taste something new, why not shop at the little Bulgarian supermarket opposite of the motorway access/entry? 

Following the street, shortly before arriving at the Eroski supermarket in San Agustín, there's a staircase leading to the sea and a stony bathing platform with stunning views (Mooncala). Right next to the supermarket you can climb the stairs to get to the little church, and if you want to, use the small walkways and stairs to go even higher up the hill, where the hotel Dali is located. A few metres along the street, you'll find the marina, housing as well a sailing and kayac school. And thereafter, another viewing point with benches.

Where San Agustín merges with Ca's Catalá, you can stay in the new Hostal Zhero, the 5* Hotel Maricel or Hotel Bon Sol. Right around the corner, a small walkway takes to down to the beach with a bar that's bathed by the sea. If you want to, you can keep on strolling. Passing the exclusive Meliá de Mar, you access Illetas. A bit down the street, next to the Hotel Barceló Albatros there's another viewing point and access to the sea. The sandy beaches, however, are still a few minutes walking distance. To get back to Palma, you can use bus nº 3. 

This whole area has enormous potential for tourism. And thanks to the residents, there's ambience year-round. What's missing is an integrated concept to promote tourism. For example, instead of renovating the now vacant buildings and shops, there are proposals to build new in the pine forest. The area's restaurants & bars are popular but not connected by the night bus. Parking space is missing, for residents as well as shop owners that cannot live from tourists alone. At last but not least, innovative ideas are necessary to embellish the area: green parks with playgrounds for dogs, a round-about at the motorway access/entry, or why not connect the bike trails from Palma and Calviá with a wooden walkway through the sea, to be used for Nordirc Walking and biking?