S'illot (Mallorca)
S'illot is a small town on the south east coast of Mallorca, Spain, within the council area of Manacor. It is reached from Palma and the airport by using the Autovia MA-15. Tourism is its primary economic activity, although there is still a very small working boatyard, with working fishing boats. It is near the larger town of Porto Cristo, and other tourist resorts such as Sa Coma which seamlessly joins it to the north and Cala Millor. The resort works well for young, old, singles, couples and families.
The town which has many Mallorcan people living there as well as many hotels is mostly flat and easy to walk around. There are a number of bus services which run through the town and mostly go to local places along the coast but also go as far afield as Inca. Cars, motorcycles, electric scooters, cycles and other forms of transportation can be hired. There is ample free parking. There is also a Dive shop where diving gear can be hired.
The town has a small crazy golf course and a tennis court. Also a bowls area (bring your own balls). It has a beach which is of fair size and there is another beach in Sa Coma about ten minutes walk away. There is also a headland of craggy rock sticking out into the sea. Some people fish from various places in the sea and river and at times like when it rains, a school of slim fish about a foot long can be seen.
It has a wide selection of small shops, with tourist souvenirs, clothes, nick-knacks and such as well as many mini-marts, most of which are Spar stores, many of which are open on Sundays. There is a small Eroski store called "aprop" which is cheaper as well as a large Eroski hypermarket at the other end of Sa Coma, about 15 minutes walk away. There is a pharmacy and a number of doctor's clinics near the beach. There is also a tourist office (open 9-3, Mon to Sat) at Carrer dels Sipions and Carrer Del Tamarell, close by "aprop". Not many places to change money though so best to change it at the airport. There are ATM's.
It also has one of the most important archaeological sites that reflect the culture of the Balearic islands between 1300 BC and the rise of Islam in the 7th century. The remains of a settlement built of many, many stones from tiny to large can still be seen. It is well documented with a series of viewing platforms and diagrams and is unfortunately largely overlooked, not being sign posted.
There are many eating places and some bars. The liveliest nightspot in the town is Pub Sauba, the Crazy Monkey which opens till 6am and the karaoke bar Olympic nearby. It is a very quite place where most of the entertainment takes place in the hotels or small bars and restaurants. Some hotels have wifi.
The one downside to the town is that there seems to be a fair amount of litter in the streets, though there are ample litter bins, and some bits of dog poop on the pavements which is left there to decompose.
The main season is beginning of May till end of October. Things are very quiet outside of that.
Tip: Visit the Manacor market on Monday morning. It is an easy 15 minute drive away and it is a huge market (as big as the Inca market) in the centre of town, radiating from the church, whose spire you can see when approaching town, down to the Mercadona store. Manacor also has a Lidl.
References
1.www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3sV5kgOxEc video of crazy monkey
External links
Coordinates: 39°34′37″N 3°22′19″E / 39.577°N 3.372°E