Horse Riding

Due to recent complaints from numerous people I have taken my comments about my past experience of the horse riding ranch off this site. I have had complaints that the horses appear to me mistreated, that there are poor safety measures in place for people riding them, in particular children, and that some of the equipment used on the horses is not suitable.

I am unable to substantiate these claims at present, but am going by the numerous compaints I have received this year (2007). If you do decide to visit the ranch and ride a horse please ensure that the animal you choose, or are given is in a fit state to be taken out, that the equipment used (saddle etc.) is secure and fits the horse, and that adequate safety measures are taken (helmet, supervision of young children) etc.

If you do have concerns of evidence of mistreatment of the horses, please send this to me using the email link on this site and I will see that they get to the relevant authorities. Thank you!

Auto Safari

At the entrance to Sa Coma - you'll pass on your left hand side the Auto Safari. You can either take your hire car through or park and get on the Safari tractor which takes you around the park. There is also a Safari bus which goes around Sa Coma, Calla Millor and Calla Bona, picking up and dropping off people who visit the park.

The park itself is a bit of a mixed bag - they say that there are 2000 animals inside, but I doubt this very much. The drive through part is very sparce, and has little in the way of scenery. There are monkies, zebra's, antelopes etc. After a 20 minute drive through you come to the part where you jump off the bus and walk around the zoo section. Inside can be found horses, penguins, zebras, crocodiles etc. and there is also a tiger show. The tiger show is currently listed on the Born Free Foundation website - they are trying to rescue the tigers from the zoo to prevent them being tourist attractions.

The zoo itself is clean, though there is little shade or shelter, both for visitors and for the animals. If you do visit, wear a cap, take sun cream and take drinks. There is a small restaurant in the zoo section but this is expensive. Personally not one of the best attractions in Sa Coma - the kids may like it but adults may find some of the conditions distressing. I particularly found blackbirds and pigeons in a cage in full sunlight distressing - they are not exactly the sorts of birds you would expect to see in a zoo.

Watersports on the beach

Pedalo's

No holiday beach would be complete without pedalo's for hire and Sa Coma is no exception. Pedalo hire costs 10 Euros for an hour and can be found in the centre of the beach. You can go anwhere on the sea, there is no particular coned area for the pedalo's. The pedalo's will seat 4 people, with a bathing platform at the rear, and the potential for 2 children to sit at the front.

Paragliding

We fancied doing this, but were put off by the cost - its 40 Euros each, or if two of you go up at the same time its 65 Euro's. You obtain your yellow life jackets on the beach then swim out to the boat. A group of 3-4 people will go out at a time, where one of you will be strapped to the parachute and hoisted into the air by a winch as the boat skims the water. You get a good length of time up in the air, and the boat goes along the coast towards Portocristo, and also towards Calla Millor. It looked a lot of fun, but maybe if it had been a bit cheaper we would have done it.

Banana Boat

Found on nearly all beaches, the good old banana boat! Up to 6 people can sit on and hold on to the water bucking bronco while the speed boat driver tries to throw you off. You get a good ride on the boat, out for about 20 minutes. It costs around 10 Euros per person.

Glass Bottom Boats

There a two glass bottom boats which leave from the S'illot area of the beach (just outside the Aps. Sa Coma Playa) - the Sea Oddessy and the Aqua Cat - both are modern boats with a bar and toilets onboard. Depending on what time you get there, different trips are available. Get there early in the morning for the best choice, as the boats sail to different locations along the coast.

For example, if you go there early Saturday morning you can go to Cala Rajarda Market which costs 20 Euros return. We took the 16 Euros trip which went from Sa Coma to Portocristo - stopped there for 30 mins where you could get off, then back to Sa Coma, then on to Calla Millor, then on to Cala Bona and back. Total of two and a half hours.

Its a nice relaxing trip, and along the way we spotted sea turtles swimming past the boat. The glass bottom isnt that great as its located in the hull of the Cat, and as the fins lift out of the water when at speed, you tend to only see the top of the water level. But then when its nice and sunny outside, who wants to be stuck inside the hull!

The boat also has slides on the rear - early trips stop back in Sa Coma just away from the beach where people can dive off the ramp at the back of the boat, and slide down the slides into the sea. It stops for about 30 minutes.

Recommended.

Featured on our video!

Park Paradis

This excellent kiddies park is located opposite the mini-golf course, next to the Protur Safari hotel - and to the rear of Caprabo supermarket.

It has a large wooden castle, climbing frames, coin operated go-karts, paddling area with mushroom shower and slides, and also trampolines and bouncy castles.

The park is only for the use of guests staying in any of the Protur hotels.

Featured on our video!

Paradis Mini-Golf

Next to the kiddies play area, this has to be one of the most beautiful mini-golf parks I have seen. It has three 18 hole courses each varying in style. Its open in the late evening when its much cooler to play. Inside the park there are rivers, waterfalls and even coin operated boats for the kids.

Check out the fountain near the entrance and look closely into the water. It is full of frogs! Some can usually be seen at the base of the fountain, while others like to just stick their eyes out of the water near the edge of the pool.

There is also a pretty windmill and eating area for the restaurant near the entrance.

Its lots of fun, and can be time consuming depending on how many of you play, so be aware of the hot sun if you intend to play during the daytime. We played after eating one evening (~around 8pm) which was nice and cool while still light.

Featured on our video!

Horse and Kart rides

Horse and Karts leave from the ranch as mentioned above, but some also can found in the neighbouring resort of Calla Millor, which do a round trip into Sa Coma and back.

We had a tour of the resort for 20 Euro's and a trip up to the Bouganvilla cost 10 Euros. They operate in the evenings up until 10.30 and only in the summer months.

Car and Bike Hire

One thing you will see a lot of in Sa Coma are pushbikes. There are loads of bike hire shops in the resort, and you can hire a vast array of bikes. There is the usual 2 wheeler, then theres the 4 wheeler 6 seater bike where everyone gets to pedal and the kids sit in the front wtih fake steering wheels - some of these bikes have roof's to keep the sun off. You can also hire 4 wheeler pedal go karts with roll-bar cages around them, and also electric scooters for the kids, some of which have seats!

Costs obviously vary with the type of bike you have and for how long. Jemma's parents have a bike which I borrowed and enjoyed cycling every day. Its only a few minutes into Calla Millor and Calla Bona, and there are wide promanades along which you cycle.

With regards cars, the picture to the left is the funky car we hired from Tui Cars, near the Ap. Parasio and Marfil Playa. There are many car hire shops in the resort. We paid £135 for 2 days hire with full insurance, but then it depends on what car you have. Most companies offer the usual small cars for around £30-£35 a day. Tui cars had the widest selection of cars, rnaging from small basic cars to Mercedes CLK Convertables! Obviously it depends how much you want to spend.

With regards driving in Mallorca, take your PhotoID Driving licence with you and you'll have no problems. Make sure you review the insurance cover

Just outside Sa Coma... Caves of Arta

A 20 minute drive out of Sa Coma brings you to the amazing Caves of Arta. Having been to both the caves of Drach and the caves of Arta, we have to say these ones are the better. It costs around 8 Euros to get in, and you then have a 1 hour tour around the caves. Its 17 degrees inside constantly, nice and cool on a hot day! Wear sensible shoes though as some of the surfaces are damp, thus being slippery.

Inside is amazing, the rock formations and caves you enter are just as awe inspiring as the exit to the caves, which is the first thing you notice when you pull up by car. Definately well recommended. A tip : as you approach the caves you will see a big sign saying Car Park. You then walk for 10 minutes down the windy road to the entrance, however, continue to drive down the road and you will find a small car park immediately outside the caves.

There is a small snack bar and toilets on site.

Night Time

Britannia Pub

Located towards the beach end of the resort, the Britannia Pub has late night sometimes live entertainment, karaoke and a disco until 3am. Try their cocktails. Says it has the largest large screen TV in Sa Coma.

Cristies Bar

Located opposite Caprabo supermarket, why not try your general knowledge with the nightly quiz and super quiz and you may win a bottle of bubbly. If there is sport on, Cristies has a large screen tv and tv's in every part of the bar. Does not stay open as late as Brittania or Kings Head.

The Kings Head

Located 10 minutes up from the Britannia Pub the Kings Head offers a similar experience to that of Britannia and is open late.

Hotels

Some hotels have night time entertainment and you dont need to stay in the hotel to see the shows. We regularly went to the Sa Coma Playa (5 mins from Kings Head) and saw some of their live shows including magic, bands and cabaret. The shows usually start around 9pm and last for an hour.