Mallorca – the largest of the Balearic Islands – is one of the most popular summer holiday destinations. It's a haven for sun-seekers, botanists, hikers, foodies (there are 12 Michelin-starred restaurants on the island), and hedonistic party-goers, as well as being an exclusive hideaway for the upper echelons of society since the 1950s (Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Princess Diana are amongst those who have made the island their retreat of choice).
Surrounded by beautiful mountains, white sandy beaches, and picturesque villages, Mallorca has become quite the destination for a spot of R&R. If a massage with a sea view or tip-toeing from sand to sauna sounds like your bag, here are the best luxury spas to visit in Mallorca and the treatments to try that guarantee you'll return home feeling like your mind, body, and soul have had a reset.
The Natural Sanctuary at Hotel Valldemossa
Newly opened in February under the IT Mallorca hotel group is Hotel Valldemossa – a haven in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Serra da Tramuntana, once a part of the Royal Charterhouse Palace. It's unpretentious and rustic, with 360-degree panoramic views, making it the perfect spot for anyone looking to immerse themselves in nature.
The Natural Sanctuary is the hotel's impressive spa, which Amor Garzón, a pioneer in the Piroche method, leads. He's created a treatment menu that combines the efficacy of drainage, manual massage, and essential oils with the influence of traditional Chinese medicine to rejuvenate, refresh, and renew you completely. The spa offers rituals lasting from one to five days (there's a great one for stress relief, body detox, and anti-ageing) and Piroche method massages to help with detox and drainage.
Treatment to try: the Kobido massage. Like other massage techniques that hail from the East, the Kobido massage focuses on unblocking and improving energy flow to help restore balance: the samurais used it to boost their energy levels and physical and mental well-being. Working on 16 facial and neck muscles through 47 vigorous movements, your skin looks lifted, tighter and brighter.
Can Cera
Formerly a palace built in the 17th century, Can Cera feels part luxury hotel and part members club. Hidden in the Old Town of Palma, it's a tranquil retreat filled with beautiful antiques, natural stones, cobbles, and marble, creating the cosiest atmosphere. It's the perfect choice if you're looking for peace and quiet or travelling solo. The spa is small, but you'll still be able to get one of the best massages in Mallorca here, and you can also book the whole spa for private use if you want to do your own spa circuit through the Finnish sauna, hammam, and jacuzzi before your treatment.
Treatment to try: the Summer Ritual – a 90-minute treatment of revitalising bliss that will make you feel brighter, refreshed, and more energised. A detoxing massage uses a combination of zesty citrus fruit oils and bio-oils to help with lymphatic drainage, tighten, tone, and invigorate the body, and boost energy levels.
Cap Rocat
Perhaps one of the most popular luxury hotels in Mallorca, Cap Rocat is a haven set in a former 19th-century military fortress on the secluded headland on the Bay of Palma de Mallorca. The spa is just as magnificent, otherworldly, and dreamy as the hotel – it's the most sheltered place in the fortress, carved out of the depths of the limestone rocks 12 metres below ground. However, Mallorcan sunlight still floods the space, so it feels light and airy (at night, you'll see a skyscape of stars peeking through the glass ceiling).
In the spa, you'll find a 25m saltwater swimming pool, a beautiful relaxation room filled with Mallorcan beds draped with curtains, and five treatment rooms that make you release all of your inner weight as soon as you walk in and take a breath. There's an extensive treatment menu, but for the most part, it's split between two types of wellness rituals: Hammam and Ayurveda, both age-old and time-tested for a better mind, body and skin.
Treatment to try: the Abhyanga & Shirodhara Massage. This traditional Ayurvedic treatment starts with Shirodhara – a warm oil is poured in a rhythmic flow on the third eye chakra (middle of the forehead). It has an incredibly soothing effect and is said to improve sleep and melt away feelings of stress. Then, two therapists work in perfect synchronisation for the Abhyanga massage, working warm oil into your skin from the scalp to the soles of your feet, leaving you in a profound state of relaxation. Disclaimer: it'll be almost impossible not to fall asleep.
Sa Calma at Can Ferrereta
Surrounded by cypresses and olive trees, this 17th-century Mediterranean mansion in the quaint town of Santanyí, known as 'the golden stone village', has become a charming boutique hotel. It's filled with natural light and textures, its gardens flourish with local flora and fauna, and it feels like a home away from home.
The spa, Sa Calma, is decorated in soothing neutral stone and has a 10-metre heated pool, hammam, sauna and relaxation room. You'll also find a swanky workout space with Technogym equipment and a dedicated yoga room if you're into slow-movement workouts. What we love about the treatments at Sa Calma, though, is how they harness the natural wonders of Mallorca – salts from Es Trenc beach, sea-harvested algae and mud, local olive oil, and rosemary, lavender and citrus fruit oils from Sóller.
The treatment to try: Es Trenc. Inspired by the local white sandy beach and turquoise waters, this treatment begins with a dry body brush and body scrub using local Es Trenc sea salt to boost lymphatic drainage and slough away dead skin cells. Then, your body is wrapped in local seaweed and algae that nourishes the skin while drawing out impurities. Your treatment is topped off with a purifying facial that uses local ingredients to detox the skin, leaving you with a brighter and glowing complexion and a tailored body massage with heated botanical oils extracted from local plants and fruits.
La Residencia Spa
La Residencia is nestled in the green Tramuntana mountains in Deià, Mallorca's peaceful northwest coast. The Belmond Hotel is one of the most tranquil and intimate venues in Mallorca, thanks to its secluded location and surroundings of olive and citrus groves, as well as calming interiors of rustic walls, beamed ceilings, and terracotta tiled floors. It's the go-to place for creatives seeking spiritual connection and inspiration or for those wanting to admire beautiful art pieces (after all, Deià is hailed as the artists' village).
The award-winning spa has a sauna, steam bath, indoor pool, outdoor jacuzzi, and an al fresco terrace to soak up the Mediterranean sun. There's an extensive treatment menu, with products from some of the best spa brands like Natura Bissè, 111Skin, and manicures by Margaret Dabbs London. Still, we love that all of their signature treatments use indigenous ingredients – for example, Olive Activator is a full body massage using olive oil harvested from their estate.
Treatment to try: the Island Delight facial. The sensorial journey uses scent and massage to awaken and relax the senses simultaneously. Warm blends of sweet almond and lavender oils are massaged into the face, neck and scalp to soften and soothe, and then an organic mask of sweet jasmine, packed with vitamins and nutrients, nourishes the skin. You're left with a healthy glow and plenty of skin hydration.
Arabella Spa at The St Regis Mardavall
The St Regis hotels, known for complimentary butler service and the nightly ritual of sabering a bottle of Champagne, are a beacon of timeless luxury in hospitality. Wherever you are in the world, you can rest assured that they will deliver on every level. The Mardavall resort holds one of the top spots for the best of the franchise in Europe, thanks to the Arabella Spa. It's one of the largest spas on the island and has everything you could want: a heated indoor pool, whirlpool tub, Egyptian brine bath, Finnish sauna, ice cave, Turkish bath, heated saltwater pool, and a 24/7 fitness centre.
It's also home to some of the most healing hands available in the Mediterranean – two globally renowned experts in Traditional Chinese Medicine and a host of massage therapists who can melt away stress, aches, and pains within the hour.
Treatment to try: the Symphony Ritual – perfect for anyone looking to connect with themselves and find inner harmony. It begins with a tuning fork session, where gentle vibrations are used on carefully selected points to relax your body and calm your mind; you're immediately disconnected from the outside world. The body massage is utter bliss – slow, gliding rhythmic movements are used before they move onto a scalp massage, which relieves all tension and feelings of stress.
Wellness Sanctuary at Son Brull
18th-century monastery turned contemporary hotel Son Brull is an idyllic and modern hideaway in the elevated hillsides of Pollença. Sitting in the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana, the hotel is surrounded by 32 hectares of vineyards, orchards and olive trees, and its interiors are a complementary mix of neutral tones, natural materials and both contemporary and traditional furniture; it feels authentic and understated, but still modern.
The Wellness Sanctuary pulls on the energy of its natural surroundings; the outdoorsy spa, surrounded by flora, is an ideal spot for meditation – particularly as there's plenty of history from the spiritualists who built the monastery. Enjoy a complete spa circuit with its sensation pool, steam bath, sauna and outdoor pool, and dedicated yoga room and gym. The treatment menu reflects the hotel's love for its natural surroundings – each harnesses the power of prickly pear, which is abundant in the area. The plant is handpicked, and extracts from the flower, leaves, fruit, and seeds are used in every treatment.
Treatment to try: the Regeneration Facial – especially if the sun has wreaked havoc on your skin. Whilst it's one of the signature seasonal rituals for autumn, it's a great year-round facial if you need to heal and rebalance your complexion. It starts with a purifying cleanse to draw out impurities, excess sebum, and leftover sun cream, preparing your skin for the facial massage with hot stones and pure prickly pear oil packed with healing antioxidants and vitamins. Finally, a nutritious mask made with the seeds of prickly pear is applied, leaving you with a soothed, soft and radiant complexion.
Imagine breezing into one of the world’s most exclusive spas for a complimentary treatment. Or sitting down for a consultation with industry-leading practitioners and experts. You’ll feel your best inside and out with a Quintessentially membership – find out more here.
