Boat Charter of Famous Writers’ Locations – Top 5 Spots on this Mallorca Heritage Boat Trip

Deià – In the Footsteps of Robert Graves

Tucked between the sea and the Tramuntana mountains, Deià is arguably the heart of Mallorca’s literary spirit. Known as the home of British poet and novelist Robert Graves, this small village holds a special place in the story of 20th-century literature. After mooring near Cala Deià, a short path would lead you up to Ca n’Alluny, the hillside house where Graves lived, wrote, and welcomed fellow creatives like Laura Riding, who co-edited ‘Epilogue,’ a literary journal and Claribel Alegría, writer of many poetry collections.

Now a museum, the home offers a personal glimpse into Graves’ daily life, complete with typewriter, photographs, and first editions. The village itself remains much as he described it—stone cottages, citrus trees, and sweeping views of the sea. Deià’s atmosphere is meditative, timeless, and evocative—everything a writer could wish for.

This stop on your Mallorca heritage boat trip is a true pilgrimage site for anyone passionate about poetry, myth, and memoir.

Portals Vells – A Cave of Myths and Stories

As your yacht glides past the cliffs of Portals Vells, you’ll find yourself immersed in the very scenery that inspired some of Mallorca’s most evocative poetry. Miquel Costa i Llobera, one of the island’s most revered literary figures, captured the spirit of this rugged shoreline in his iconic poem The Pine of Formentor. While the poem itself is named after a different cape, its celebration of windswept pines, soaring cliffs, and the eternal rhythm of the sea applies just as vividly to the dramatic landscapes surrounding Portals Vells and nearby Cala Llamp.

This stop on your Mallorca heritage boat trip offers a moment to reflect on how the island’s natural beauty shaped the words of Costa i Llobera and countless other famous writers in Mallorca. With pine trees clinging to limestone ridges and the sound of waves below, it’s easy to see why this coastline continues to stir the creative soul.

Palma – George Sand’s Winter and Power of Prose

Palma, the island’s vibrant capital, has served as both gateway and setting for countless stories. One of the most enduring voices associated with the city is George Sand, who spent the winter of 1838–39 on the island with Frédéric Chopin, a well-renowned pianist and composer. Though her memoir A Winter in Majorca focuses more on Valldemossa, it begins and ends in Palma—where she paints a vivid, often critical portrait of Mallorcan society.

Walking the same streets where Sand observed daily life, you’ll see the city through her eyes—colourful markets, crumbling fortresses, and the majestic spires of La Seu Cathedral rising above the harbour. From the deck of your yacht, the cathedral is especially arresting at golden hour, when its Gothic silhouette burns orange in the Mediterranean sun.

Aboard your Portals Nous boat charter, Palma becomes not just a capital, but a character in its own right.

Banyalbufar – A Poetic Pause in the Hills

A coastal village carved into the side of a mountain, Banyalbufar has long remained under the radar—but for writers, that’s precisely its appeal. With its Moorish terraces, vineyard-covered cliffs, and cascading sea views, it’s a place that encourages reflection and slow, deliberate thought.

Though not attached to any single canonical writer, Banyalbufar is the kind of setting where verse seems to write itself. Many contemporary poets have cited it as a favourite retreat—whether journaling on a quiet balcony or sketching metaphors from the crumbling stone paths that lead toward the sea. Such people include Robert Graves, Robert Creeley and others.

On your Mallorca heritage boat trip, this is your moment of stillness—an opportunity to absorb the atmosphere, reflect on the journey, and perhaps jot a few lines of your own.

Legends, Folklore and the Spirit of the Island

Mallorca’s literary landscape isn’t limited to published works and famous names. The island’s soul is steeped in storytelling—passed down through local legends, bedtime fables, and songs sung by generations of Mallorcans. 

This folklore shapes the same cultural identity that captivated famous writers in Mallorca and inspired them to create lasting works. It’s a vital thread in the broader fabric of your Mallorca heritage boat trip, blending spoken myth with written word in one seamless experience.