Playa De Muro

Playa de Muro is one of Majorca's newest resort destinations, and in a few years this once tiny village has become home to some of most chic hotels on the island. Like nearby Alcudia, the hotels and services in Playa de Muro tend to be more family-oriented than the resorts of the south. Compared to Alcudia, there is a higher concentration of four- and five-star hotels, and Playa de Muro likes to present an upmarket, laid-back atmosphere.

Holidays here centre on the magnificent beach, which links Playa de Muro with Alcudia in the west, and the resort of Can Picafort in the east. The warm, shallow waters of Alcudia Bay and the wide beach of fine clean sand - perfect for making sandcastles - make this a great choice for families with young children. The beach has excellent views of the mountains around the bay, and many beach-front restaurants and bars. All kinds of water activities are on offer, including water skiing, jet-skiing and paragliding. Windsurfing is especially popular, thanks to Playa de Muro's position in the centre of Alcudia Bay, and tour boats sail from the town's wooden pier.

Visitors who want a change from the beach can spend a day exploring the nearby S'Albufera wildlife reserve - the largest wetlands area on the Balearic Islands and one of the most renowned bird-watching areas in southern Europe. This was once a lagoon separated from the sea, but most of the area is now marshes and dunes.

S'Albufera is an important nesting site for large flocks of ducks, heron and starlings who make the journey from mainland Europe each winter, and sightings of more than 270 species of birds have been recorded at the park. The reserve covers almost 2000 hectares, and walkers or cyclists can explore it on a well-marked 12-kilometre trail. Hides for bird-watching are stationed along the trail.

A different kind of walking experience is on offer at "El Labertino", a adventure theme park among pine trees near the beach, which features a large wooden walk-in maze populated with magical characters. Adventure-seekers can also go trekking or climbing in the nearby Serra de Tramuntana hills. Several golf courses are nearby, and Playa de Muro is just a short drive from the lively resort area at Alcudia, and Alcudia's Old Town, where visitors can see traces of the Spanish, Moorish, Roman and Phoenician history of the region.

Playa de Muro has a small local market on Saturday, where shoppers can buy fresh vegetables and fruit as well as local craft items. A network of public buses links Playa de Muro with the larger and busier resort area at Alcudia, but often these are full with local commuters. Tourists may find it easier to take taxis, but negotiate the fare before accepting the journey. Many people will enjoy the three kilometre walk to Alcudia along the beach itself, or hire a bicycle for the ride along the dedicated cycle-lane of the highway.