Can Picafort
Can Picafort, also known as ‘Ca’n Picafort’, is a locality belonging to the municipality of Santa Margalida, in the northern part of Mallorca. Located on the north coast of Mallorca, Can Picafort is known for its sandy beach and its peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by natural areas such as the Albufera. The town has a population of approximately 13,000 inhabitants, of which 25% are foreign residents.
In environmental terms, it stands out for its strategic location between two natural parks, the Son Real Public Estate and the Natural Park of s’Albufera de Mallorca, a Wetland área of International Importance, included in the Ramsar Convention and in the Natura 2000 Network.
Toponymy
According to tradition, its name comes from Jeroni Fuster ‘Picafort’, one of the first inhabitants who built his summer house (a fishing hut) right here at the end of the 19th century, giving rise to the development of the village. In Catalan, ‘can’ means ‘house of’ or ‘place of’ and is used to indicate someone’s property or residence. ‘Picafort’ is the surname of Jeroni Fuster, who is popularly considered to be the founder of the village as such.
Economy of Can Picafort
The local economy is mainly based on tourism, with an important offer of services for tourists. Although to a lesser extent, agriculture is also part of the local economy, with the participation of Mallorcan farmers in the weekly market and the production of local foodstuffs such as sausages, olives and olive oil.
Location of Can Picafort
Can Picafort is located on the northeast coast of Mallorca, in the Bay of Alcudia. It borders the Natural Park of S’Albufera to the west and the Natural Park of Llevant to the east. It is approximately 10 kilometres from Port d’Alcudia and 10 kilometres from Santa Margalida. The beach of Muro, a stretch of sand several kilometres long, starts in the centre of Can Picafort and stretches westwards…
How to get to Can Picafort?
Can Picafort, located in the northeast of Mallorca, is accessible in the public transport by road. By car, it can be reached from Palma by the Ma-13 motorway and then by the Ma-3431 road. There are also buses from Palma and the airport.
The price of a taxi from Palma to Can Picafort can vary, but generally ranges from €90 to €120 during the day and €100 to €130 at night or weekends, depending on the rates of some providers. The journey takes approximately 45-50 minutes.
Getting to Can Picafort by car: Can Picafort is easily accessible by road from Palma and other towns. From Palma, take the Ma-13 towards Alcúdia. Follow the signs to Can Picafort until the exit onto the Ma-3240 in the direction of Llubí and then follow the signs to Can Picafort on the Ma-3440. The distance by road from Palma is approximately 56 km. If you are on the coastal road, follow the signs to Alcudia and then to Can Picafort.
Getting to Can Picafort by public transport: From Palma, you can take bus line 302 from Plaza de España. This line operates between both points with intermediate stops. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes and the fare is between 7 and 10 euros.
From the airport, line A32 goes to Can Picafort, which is approximately one hour from Palma Son Sant Joan airport.
From Inca, line 395 also takes you to Can Picafort. Tickets can be purchased on board or online at the TIB website.
Historical summary of Can Picafort
Can Picafort, originally a small fishing village, became an important tourist destination in Mallorca. Its history begins at the end of the 19th century, when several families from Santa Margalida built fishermen’s huts and some summer houses near the wetlands, in the area of the quay where the marina is now located.
In the middle of the 20th century, especially from the 70’s onwards, Can Picafort experienced a rapid growth as a tourist destination, from a small fishing village with barely 200 inhabitants to a tourist resort with a wide range of hotels and restaurants.
In recent years, Can Picafort has definitely become the population centre with the highest number of inhabitants and visitors within the municipality of Santa Margalida. In spite of this growth, Can Picafort has managed to maintain a certain village essence.
Tourism in Can Picafort
Can Picafort is a coastal tourist town located in the Bay of Alcudia, in the north of Mallorca. It belongs to the municipality of Santa Margalida and is one of the main tourist destinations on the island, with a wide range of hotels and restaurants. The area is known for its beaches, its hotels and tourist activities, as well as for its rich history and heritage.
Culture of Can Picafort
Can Picafort offers a rich mix of history, culture and nature. From its pre-Roman archaeological sites to its maritime traditions and contemporary cultural events, there is much to explore.
Among its archaeological and ethnographic heritage we can enjoy the Necropolis of Son Real. Also known as the Cemetery of the Phoenicians, it is an important archaeological site with tombs from the 7th to 2nd centuries BC. Son Real is a protected natural space with remains of constructions from different periods, including a dolmen and two hypogeum.
The Son Bauló archaeological sites are testimonies of life in the area from the Proto-Talayotic to the Talayotic and post-Talayotic periods, with emphasis on funerary rites. In the district of Son Bauló there is a small protected natural area where you can see a great deal of wildlife, and there are important archaeological excavations.
The Talaiots from Son Serra de Marina are prehistoric archaeological sites with well-preserved stone constructions. The Quarries of Son Real are quarries from which stones were traditionally extracted until the mid-20th century. The jetties are also ancient shelters for boats dating back to the Middle Ages, some of which are cut into the rock itself.
Traditions, festivals and markets
The Festes de la Mare de Déu is held in August, several days of festivities with music, dancing and the traditional ‘Sopar a la fresca’. The Flight of the rubber ducks is a traditional event that takes place during the Festes de la Mare de Déu d’Agost, usually on the 15th of August. It consists of throwing rubber ducks from boats into the sea and the participants swim out to catch them. Afterwards, a raffle is held with the numbers of the ducks, offering prizes to the winners.
The Saladina Art Fest is a cultural project that seeks to give a new image to the village through artistic events where international artists create murals in public spaces; while the Can Picafort Market is held on Friday mornings and offers local products and handicrafts.
Gastronomy in Can Picafort
Can Picafort’s gastronomy is based on fresh, seasonal ingredients, including fish, seafood and produce from the Mallorcan market garden. It offers a wide variety of restaurants with local typical dishes, as well as events such as the annual Jornadas Gastronómicas del Calamar (Squid Gastronomic Days), which are held in the Plaza Cervantes.
In Can Picafort you can find restaurants offering a wide variety of gastronomic options, from international cuisine to typical Mallorcan dishes. Can Picafort is a good place to enjoy traditional Mallorcan gastronomy, with dishes such as the typical pa amb oli, the ensaïmades, Mallorcan sopes, frit de porc and the delicious sobrassada.
What to do in Can Picafort: Hiking
In Can Picafort, the Blue Trail refers to the ‘Camí de sa Marina de Son Real’, an itinerary that connects Can Picafort with Son Serra de Marina, passing through the Necropolis of Son Real. This trail, which has been awarded the Blue Trail distinction, stands out for its natural, heritage and cultural value, as well as connecting Blue Flag beaches and promoting the sustainable use of the coastline.
What to do in Can Picafort: Sports activities
In Can Picafort, you can enjoy a wide variety of sporting activities, both water and land-based. There are options for all tastes, from water sports such as sailing, windsurfing and scuba diving, to land activities such as cycling, tennis, golf and paddle tennis.
What to do in Can Picafort: Water Activities
Can Picafort is ideal for sports such as sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, water skiing, jet skiing and scuba diving. You can rent sailing boats, motor boats, kayaks, and other equipment to explore the coast and enjoy the sea. The town offers excursions by catamaran, sailboat or glass-bottom boat to explore the north coast of Mallorca and visit places like Formentor or the Llevant Natural Park. You can also sign up for fishing tours and charters.
What to do in Can Picafort: Other activities
In addition to these excursions, you can enjoy horse riding to enjoy the landscape, while motor and speed lovers will be able to explore the surroundings by going on karting rides….
All in all, Can Picafort is known for its lively atmosphere, especially during the summer season, with many activities for tourists. It attracts mainly European visitors, especially Germans. The locality has experienced a significant growth in tourism, transforming from a small fishing village into a tourist resort with an impressive infrastructure. The local population cohabits with the foreign population, resulting in a multicultural environment.
By the way, are you coming to Mallorca on a tourism trip? If you find it helpful, you can also consult our travel guide to Mallorca and more tourist information about the island.
