Es Ratxo, Puigpunyent
1 Opened in March, Es Ratxo's X-factor is its location, squirrelled away in the heart of a nature reserve called La Reserva del Puig del Galatzo. New buildings combine with a converted finca and outbuildings to create a luxury estate, with modern bedrooms and an elegant restaurant with tables set around a huge 16th-century oil press. The spa is a particular draw, with hydrotherapy pool, thermal-sequenced showers and a range of treatments. It's perfect for nature -lovers, and for those who want a feeling of escape while still only being 25 minutes' drive from Palma.
· 00 34 971 147132; esratxohotel.com; €195
Ca's Sant, Soller
2 Ca's Sant is your picture-book elegant Spanish finca: a rose-clad walkway leads to the stone manor house, the interior of which still feels like a private home, with antiques, pictures and regal furniture. Outside, a vine-clad terrace is dotted with wrought-iron tables and chairs; through the lush gardens lies a colonnaded pool. Some of the rooms are tiny cottages, surrounded by orange groves, with views of the dramatic Tramuntana mountains. If you develop a taste for the home-pressed juice and home-made jam, you can adopt your own orange tree on the estate. Blissful.
· 00 34 971 630298; cas-sant.com; €175
Son Cosmet, Sa Rapita
3 Some of Mallorca's fincas have been so 'restored' - all cream walls and cream sofas - that it's hard to feel any sense of history. Not so at 13th-century Son Cosmet, which has a real sense of the past. Not that it's faded: rooms are chic, with the usual 21st-century must-haves (TV, internet, air-con) but the elegant communal areas are filled with beautiful 18th-century furniture. The owner, Cosme, oversees everything with the beneficent air of an patriarch. If you're looking for authentic Spanish, this is it.
· 00 34 971 651643; soncosmet.com; €147
Son Amoixa Vell, Manacor
4 Son Amoixa stands grandly above 200,000 square metres of land covered in almond, fig and citrus trees. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, with tiled floors and traditional Spanish decor - though more regal than rustic. There is a small spa with a selection of therapies and the atmospheric restaurant, all high-backed chairs and whitewashed arches, offers traditional Mallorcan cooking. A tennis court and stunning pool area make this an ideal choice for a fly and flop.
· 00 34 971 846292; sonamoixa.com; €188
Migjorn, Campos
5 As with many Spanish fincas, Migjorn is a family affair - the only difference is that the Webb family hail from Liverpool. Their welcome is warmly professional, the 10 suites are sleek with small kitchens and individual terraces and the pool area is delightful. Twice-weekly dinners are served round one large table and days can be spent cycling (the hotel has bikes), sailing or golfing - or lazing on the glorious Es Trenc beach, a short drive away. Ideal for young families and those who want to discover the little-known south-east corner of the island.
· 00 34 971 650668; hotel-migjorn.com; €160
Can Giullo, Sa Pobla
6 Hidden away up a bumpy track, a short drive from Pollensa, Can Giullo proves that simple can still be charming, comfortable and utterly relaxing. The 400-year-old farmhouse is surrounded by a ramshackle terrace and gardens filled with roses and citrus trees and dotted with sunloungers. There is a small pool and plenty of private nooks where guests can retire with a book. You can book one of four double rooms, or rent the whole house on a self-catering basis; it sleeps up to eight.
· 00 34 971 531192; canguillo.com; €88
Puig Molto, Montuiri
7 The inland heart of Mallorca is often overlooked, but the plains are littered with stunning fincas and country estates. Puig Molto, on a small hill with glorious views, is one of the island's oldest estates, dating from the 13th century, when the island belonged to the Moors. The hotel opened in 2000, and rooms are spacious and furnished in Spanish country-house style. Landscaped gardens lead to a pool but the best feature is the large terrace, where breakfast and dinner can be taken. Ayurvedic massages and yoga classes are also on offer.
· 00 34 971 181758; espuigmolto.com; €150
Sa Rota D'en Palerm, Lloret De Vistalegre
8 The best of Mallorca's simpler rural properties are those where the family still live on the property. Sa Rota d'en Palerm is one of the finest: six suites and one house for four all have small kitchens, and most are in the former stable block. The breakfast room and winter lounge are in the 18th-century farmhouse, which is also home to the delightful Felisa and her family. The estate is charming, with a good-sized pool, a terrace dotted with flower-filled pots and walks from the front door. Dinners, babysitting, massages and wine-tastings can be organised through Felisa.
· 00 34 971 521100; sa-rota.com; €116
Son Corb, Son Servera
9 Son Corb is ideal if you want to be near the long sandy beach at Cala Millor or the marina at Cala Bona, but don't actually want to stay in a resort. Just two minutes' drive into the hills brings you to Son Corb, which dates from the 17th century, although the conversion has given it - from the outside at least - a very modern feel. Manicured lawns lead to a pool with a bar and each of the 23 rooms has its own terrace. Perfect for golfers, there are four courses within a short drive.
· 00 34 971 587092; soncorb.com; €140
Alqueria Blanca, Bunyola
10 The imposing rooms at Alqueria Blanca are far more modern than the outward appearance of the building would lead you to expect. The farmhouse dates from when Mallorca was under Arab rule, and the courtyard, unrenovated chapel and ramshackle terraces still have a medieval feel. The rooms are cool and comfortable, with their own terrace and a shared lounge. Just 15 minutes' drive from Palma, the finca is in open countryside, with plenty of walking routes from the front door.
· 00 34 971 148400; alqueria-blanca.com; €145
Son Siurana, Alcudia
11 Popular with families, Son Siurana offers an ideal mix of self-catering apartments - with proper kitchens - and the services of a small hotel. Accommodation is in either small cottages or the large, converted finca which looks out across the grounds where cattle and lambs used to roam. There is a delightful walled garden, where guests can pick vegetables to cook with, a large pool, and lots of child-friendly add-ons - DVDs, games, and plenty of space to run around. Five cottages sleep two, and there is one cottage and two apartments sleeping four.
· 00 34 971 549662; sonsiurana.com; €1,428 a week for a house sleeping four, self-catering
Posada D'es Moli, Es Pillari
12 Ideal for shoppers and golfers, this rural hotel is located close to some of the island's best golf courses and just a short drive from Palma. Still a working farm - breeding cattle as well as growing vegetables - the hotel has a fairly formal feel, but the terraced gardens, overflowing with vibrant hibiscus, bougainvillea and colourful pots, are delightful. The restaurant serves traditional Mallorcan dishes, many made with produce from the farm, and there is a tennis court, a pretty swimming pool and bikes to hire.
· 00 34 971 260593; posadadesmoli.com; €172
Son Penya, San Lorenzo
13 The perfect hideaway for couples, this small hotel has 12 rooms with lushly comfortable beds draped in crisp white linen, open-plan bathrooms with hydro-baths, private terraces and a great outdoor lounge with comfy rattan chairs and piles of glossy mags. The pool area looks out across almond and olive groves and the only interruptions to the blissful silence are birdsong and the bleating of lambs. The restaurant is cool and sleek, and dinner can be served if reserved in advance. Son Penya is more Ibizan chic than Mallorcan rustic, but it successfully combines a rural location with urban style.
· 00 34 971 826640; sonpenya.com; €204
Cases De Son Barbassa, Capdepera
14 Another for the Ibiza set, Barbassa is all about style: a row of white beds by the pool with flowing white drapes hanging off square frames; an alfresco 'chill-out area' with white floor cushions and scattered candles. Rooms maintain the minimalist feel but have kept some original touches - exposed brickwork and heavy beams. The renowned restaurant has panoramic views on three sides and the finca's location, on the north-eastern tip of the island, means guests can explore the stunning medieval towns of Capdepera and Arte.
· 00 34 971 565776; sonbarbassa.com; €150
Casal Santa Eulalia, Santa Margalida
15 Although more of a conventional hotel than some, Santa Eulalia has historical quirks that keep it interesting. First documented in 1242, the farm was a convent in the 18th century. What used to be the nuns' well is now the wine cellar, and the pit once used for grape-treading is now a hydrotherapy pool. Rooms are in different styles - some modern, some traditional, many with private terraces and splendid views. The restaurant specialises in local produce and offers heartier cuisine than some of its more pretentious counterparts.
· 00 34 971 852732; casal-santaeulalia.com; €174
Sos Ferres De Morey, Colonia De Sant Pere
16 Surrounded by almond, carob and fig trees, Sos Ferres is proof that you can combine cool, modern interiors with a traditional Mallorcan feel. The 19th-century farmhouse has five rooms that mix tiled floors and Mallorcan antiques with 21st-century touches such as hydrotherapy baths and satellite TV. Dinners are made with produce from the organic vegetable garden and can be eaten in the shady grounds, beneath 1,000-year-old oak trees. Tucked away down a farm track, Sos Ferres feels deliciously away from it all, but is only 10 minutes' drive to the nearest beach.
· 00 34 971 557575; sosferres.com; €100
C'an Faveta, Pollensa
17 If you've always fancied having your own slice of Mallorcan life, C'an Faveta provides a fantastic opportunity to play house. Rentable only as a whole, the main house has six rooms, with shared bathrooms, and there is a large traditional dining room and kitchen. The pool, located behind the house with gorgeous mountain views without a building in sight, is an absolute gem. There is a comfortable lounge for chilly nights, and the large terrace is perfect for barbecues. Ideal for families or a group of friends, C'an Faveta may not offer luxury, but it does offer a taste of authentic Spanish life.
· 00 34 971 530152; canfaveta.com; €2,170 a week for eight, self-catering
Es Torrent, Campos
18 Simple and authentic, Es Torrent is closer to the usual definition of an agroturismo - bedrooms are simple but comfortable and there is a picturesque terrace and pool area where breakfast and dinners (if ordered in the morning) can be served. Families are welcome - a separate house sleeping four is also available - and the surrounding area is ideal for walking, cycling and birdwatching. The bright lights of Palma are less than half an hour's drive away.
· 00 34 971 650957; estorrent.com; €100
Can Simoneta, Canyamel
19 With a location this stunning you can forgive a little pretentiousness - and Can Simoneta offers both. The gorgeous honey-stone finca opens out onto a cliff top garden with breathtaking views out to sea and down to Canyamel beach. It's another of the white-white-white brigade, but the staff are delightful, and lazing on the comfy rattan sofas outside, with a glass of chilled white and a good book, is blissful. The restaurant, however, tends towards the pretentious: breakfast consists of large plates with four artfully placed slices of chorizo, cheese or fruit on each one, more art installation than breakfast buffet.
· 00 34 971 816110; cansimoneta.com; €185
Son Foguero, Maria De La Salut
20 Dating back 300 years, Son Fogueró makes the perfect romantic bolthole: there are three elegant suites, a single room and an apartment - all filled with modern artworks, both painting and sculpture. Owned by renowned artist Pere Alemany, the estate has charming gardens filled with citrus trees, and a small pool. There is a delightful dining room where Mallorcan dinners can be served.
· 00 34 971 525343; sonfoguero.com; €190
· Prices, unless stated, are per double room, per night, including breakfast.
Getting there
Easyjet (0905 821 0905; easyjet.com) flies from nine UK airports to Palma; flights from London Stansted cost from pounds 44 return, including all taxes. The Balearic Agroturism Association (agroturismo-balear.com) has information, prices and contact and booking details for all agroturism properties.