South West Yacht Services – GUIDE TO COVES AND MARINAS IN MALLORCA
The Balearic Islands boast many highly attractive coves and anchorages for sailing yachts. Nonetheless, the increasing number of tourist and holiday developments means that we can never let up in the search for new sites offering a haven of calm and tranquillity. We have hand-picked the following list of ports, taking care to restrict our choice to those offering suitable characteristics in terms of depth and size. We hope they will contribute to making your sailing holiday truly unforgettable.
Coves in Mallorca
Portals Vells . In the Bay of Palma, just a few miles from our departure port, lies a well-sheltered cove offering good anchorage for an over-night stop. Although the site has undergone a fair degree of tourist development and receives many day-time visitors, it is one we still recommend since the crowds depart at night fall, leaving you to enjoy both peace and the prospect of a tasty plate of fish with rice, served at the open-till-late beach restaurant.
Cala Figuera . A peaceful anchorage, where you will be free of people and buildings and able to enjoy clean seawater, but with the drawback of experiencing occasional swell from pleasure cruisers passing at speed along the coastline.
Racó de sa Fragata (Playa de El Toro) . A secluded spot, free of anchored boats, where you will enjoy a bay with a sandy sea-bed, lying at the base of a cliff, with seagulls circling overhead. Access is from the south and southwest.
Na Foradada . One of the most enchanting anchorages in the Balearics, especially at sunset. You will be treated to a view of the magnificent Sierra de Tramontana mountains, at their most wild and unspoiled. The beach restaurant is only open intermittently so you are advised to check with your binoculars whether it is open before disembarking.
Cala Deià . While one’s peace may be somewhat disturbed by a few regular bathers, this is a pretty, sheltered anchorage boasting two good open-air beach restaurants.
Sa Calobra . Despite the very large numbers of tourists and sea-going vessels, this is a genuinely spectacular site with its awesomely beautiful cliffs.
Cala Castell . A wonderful and unique place, on account of its tranquillity, its pure water and the beauty of its natural environment.
Formentor . An excellent anchorage from which to enjoy the best views of the extraordinary Bay of Pollensa. Be prepared, however, to encounter large numbers of vessels, including anchored boats, water-ski launches and wetbikes.
Cap des Pinar . Taking its name from its inland pine-forests, the surrounding area has protected status on account of being an extensive military training zone and there is a small army camp on the beach.
Coll Baix . This spot offers a perfect photographic opportunity for promoting the extraordinary natural beauty of the island. Fortunately, because it is very difficult to reach by land, you will almost have the beach to yourself.
Cova es Vellsmarins . At one point of the Bay of Alcudia, well away from the area’s tourist centres, lies this little piece of typical Mediterranean coastline, with pine-trees coming down to the beach, crystal-clear water and the whole scene bathed in warm, golden sunlight.
Costa dels Pins . One of the most peaceful and secluded sites on the island and one which offers the additional benefit on an excellent hotel-balcony restaurant from which you can calmly survey your anchored yacht.
Cala Virgili . A typical and totally undeveloped little cove on Mallorca’s eastern coastline, set against a pine-tree backdrop and offering two beaches of fine sand.
Cala Arsenau . A very deep and narrow cove, culminating in a little beach. The beauty of the spot will genuinely take your breath away.
Cala Mondragó . A place of true natural beauty. While it claims to be secluded, however, the cove tends to attract tourists by the hundred.
Caló des Moro . A small cove which, though difficult to locate, rewards the effort of finding it because of its unique natural beauty.
Es Caragol . A very practical and attractive anchorage, but one requiring special care because the seabed does not offer good holding. The outcrops of rock on either side make this a secluded spot from which one can enjoy one of the best beaches in Mallorca.
Cala Pi . In spite of the large number of boats often found here, this is one of the most spectacular coves on the island. Cala Pi is narrow and deep. At night, it provides a peaceful, safe anchorage and is home to the C’an Miquel restaurant, offering a fine range of fish dishes.
Cala Blava . Offering delightful views onto the Bay of Palma, this is a fine spot for eating a lovely paella in the Panorámica restaurant.
Marinas in Mallorca
Puerto Portals. This is undoubtedly the most fashionable marina in the Balearic Islands. Although it offers many fine restaurants, such as Tristan and Flanigan, and a thriving nightlife, you will find it practically impossible to get a mooring there, except by securing your vessel to the fuel-supply boat (until it opens at 9.00 a.m.).
Santa Ponça. Fairly far removed from the hustle and bustle of the tourist area bearing the same name, this small and quiet marina offers all the amenities you would expect to find.
Port d’Andratx. A fishing port as well as a marina, Port d’Andratx offers limited moorings, both in the Yacht Club (port-side entrance) and in the Port Authority (starboard-side entrance). It has an extensive and well-sheltered anchorage area. In the town, you will find good restaurants such as the Miramar, Rocamar and La Dorada. It also offers some nightlife entertainment and all the facilities needed for supplying your vessel.
Port de Sóller. The only marina along the entire Tramontana coastline, it offers limited moorings but a magnificent anchorage area. The town offers several restaurants, the best of which is probably the one located above the fish-market Although there are a large number of bars and hotels around the marina, they all give the impression of having seen better days.
Port de Pollença. Situated in a bay of great natural beauty, the marina offers moorings both in the Yacht Club and in the Port Authority. It also provides very extensive anchorage. The town boasts many fine restaurants, such as Stay, Corb Marí and La Lonja.
Port El Cocodrilo (Bonaire). A small and quiet marina, with a pleasant bar-restaurant and friendly personal service.
Port d’ Alcúdia. While the marina offers extensive moorings and yachting support services, it has the disadvantage of being close to a fairly noise recreational centre, with the area in general attracting a great deal of tourism. The C’an Tofel restaurant provides a welcome retreat with its high quality of cuisine.
Cala Ratjada. A small fishing port, offering so few moorings that you will need to secure your vessel to others moored to the harbour wall. The site is neither pleasant nor peaceful, owing to the ravages of tourism in the area. Two restaurants recommended are Ses Rotges and C’an Maya.
Porto Cristo. A medium-sized marina, with moorings in the Yacht Club (to port) and in the Port Authority (to starboard). The site has maintained its attractiveness despite the large number of tourists passing through en route to the Drach caves. The anchorage area is both limited in size and not well sheltered.
Porto Colom. A delightful natural harbour, offering very limited moorings in the Yacht Club but an extensive sheltered anchorage area. The sunset there is a truly unique spectacle. The seawater is unsuitable for bathing. On the other hand, it is very quiet at night. A very good restaurant here is Sa Sinia.
Cala D’ Or. What was once one of the prettiest coves in the Balearics has now become a large marina, with a preponderance of pleasure cruisers, and an intensive tourist centre.
Porto Petro. A calm and attractive natural harbour. The Yacht Club offers very limited numbers of moorings but its two anchorage areas are extensive and well sheltered. There are several restaurants but very little tourist and commercial activity.
Cala Santanyi. A small fishing port, with a few moorings and a narrow anchorage area. Outside the high summer season it becomes a very attractive site.
Sa Rapita. It has a serviceable Yacht Club, offering several moorings for visitors, and it is a very short distance from the wonderful beaches of Es Trench. A genuinely fine restaurant, C’an Pep, is within easy reach of the marina.
We offer the following recommended itineraries for overnight stops spanning a week of holiday cruising. At the same time, we would remind you that meteorological conditions ultimately have to be the decisive factor in determining your navigation plans.
The most peaceful itinerary: Portalls Vells – Andraitx — Cabrera – Es Caragol – Sa Rapita — Cala Pi
The South-East of Mallorca: Andraitx — Cala Pi – Es Caragol – Porto Petro – Porto Colom – Cabrera
Circumnavigating Mallorca: Andraitx – Sóller – Pollença – Cala Agulla – Porto Colom – Cabrera
Circumnavigating Ibiza: Portalls Vells – Benirrás – San Antonio – Port Roig – Ibiza – S. de Tagomago
Ibiza and Formentera: Portalls Vells – Santa Eulalia – Formentera – Port Roig – Ibiza – Cala Mastella
