Cala d´Or is one of the most picturesque tourist resorts on Mallorca (Majorca); it is located in the south east of the island within the municipality of Santanyí – a coastal region with many coves with white sand and transparent water, some of which are completely undeveloped. The town was initially developed by the Ibizan Josep Costa Ferrer – Picarol – in 1933, many years before the arrival of mass tourism and extensive hotel construction, which occurred in the 1960s. The style of construction here takes its inspiration from traditional Ibizan architecture, with whitewashed houses with terrace roofs; even the church here is heavily influenced by Ibizan churches, and some street names also have Ibizan roots. Houses with gardens are the predominant form of building here, and many of these luxury villas and holiday homes are available for rent.
Cala d´Or is an ideal holiday resort for families with children and people of all ages who are looking for relaxing holidays in Mallorca (Majorca), and there is a wide range of accommodation available, including holiday apartments, hotels, holiday homes and villas, which stand around the various coves within the town. The Club Nàutic de Cala d´Or, which is located at Cala Llonga and which is known as the Marina de Cala d´Or, has some of the best facilities on Mallorca; many luxury yachts moor here and it is where boats which run trips along the coast depart from.
At the centre of town there is an extensive area for pedestrians, with a wide range of restaurants and bars with terraces, allowing visitors to enjoy an evening in the open air with a pleasant Mediterranean atmosphere. This is where the town´s nightlife is concentrated, with late-night bars and nightclubs which get really busy in the months of summer. In this same zone there are many shops, mostly selling fashion-wear. Also, around the Marina de Cala d´Or there is a selection of restaurants and bar terraces in unique surroundings.
The original name given to the town by its founder was Cala d´Hort – recalling one of Ibiza´s most beautiful beaches – but the locals started to pronounce it as Cala d´Or, and the original name was eventually dropped.