The Balearic Islands offer to the visitor a wide range of facilities, even in winter.Thanks to their landscape, whether sea and coast or inland, and to their magnificent climate all year long, they are a perfectsetting even for the most demanding traveller expectations. These natural conditions are topped with a long tradition in the tourist industry, with numerous accomodation establishments.

If you enjoy sailing, in Balearc Islands, you will have the luck to be able to try out just about all forms of water pastimes. Are you searching for a tranquil time? This is still possible, in the peaceful coves with their crystal-clear waters.

However, there is no need to renounce either comfort or entertainment. The nautical clubs and marinas in the Balearic Islands are very well equipped and some offer a very special atmosphere. The bars and restaurants are easily reached onfoot from the jetties.

These islands located as they are at less than 100 miles from the Spanish coast, represent the real entrance to the old Mare Nostrum and as far as the climate is concerned, they offer as much sun as one can take. Rainy days are no more than ninety in a year, mostly between February and April, and consist of rather strong squall immediately followed by sun breaks. It is therefore logical that many yachtsmen have elected these island, whit their mild sub-tropical climate, as the place were to spent the winter.

The biggest and the most important island is Majorca, whose capitol Palma is the real yachting center. Chartering is usually organized on the Palma-Ibiza route including Formentera the south most major island.

Majorca, dubbed as the calm island, shaped as an open shell, presents a constantly changing landscape: to the north a mountain range, the Sierra Tramuntana or Northern Mountains shields it from the cold northerly winds the shady valleys where orange and olive trees grow in abundance.

The coast line, over 400 kilometers long, is wild with impressive cliffs to the west intermingled with small coves with crystal pure waters; elsewhere the landscape gradually reaches the waters through a slightly accidented coastline.

Minorca's characteristic trait, and this indeed apply to the entire Balearic archipelago, is the natural disposition to the nautical tourism coupled to inland tours where explorations can satisfy a wide range of interests: from archeology while visiting the "Taule" ( megalithic monuments 3000 years old ), to naturalism with all the bays and cliffs, to culinary of which fish and shell fish ( mayonnaise was not born here by accident ) wines and cheeses represent the most interesting part.