Best beaches in the Riviera Maya
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Culture
Beaches and coves offer very different experiences in Mallorca. While the former usually feature wide sandy areas with easy access, the coves of Mallorca are characterised by their smaller size, transparent waters and surroundings often framed by pine forests or cliffs.
In many cases, access requires a short walk, a circumstance that has helped preserve much of their natural appeal. More intimate and secluded than the island's large beaches, these small inlets stand out for the beauty of their landscapes and the variety of settings they offer.
This selection gathers some of the best coves in Mallorca, along with practical information on how to access them and the features that make them unique. From some of the best-known corners of the Mallorcan coastline to authentic hidden coves in Mallorca, the island is home to very different options, adapted to different types of trips and preferences.
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|
Name |
Area |
How to get there |
Highlights |
|
Sa Calobra |
Northwest |
By car (winding road) or by boat |
Cliff surroundings and the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis |
|
Cala Agulla |
Northeast |
By car, with nearby parking |
Wide beach within a protected natural environment |
|
Cala Varques |
East (Manacor) |
On foot from the car park (15-20 min) |
Cliffs, turquoise waters and natural setting |
|
Cala Mondragó |
Southeast |
By car, inside a natural park |
Pine forest next to the beach and protected environment |
|
Es Caló des Moro |
Southeast |
On foot from the car park (10 min) |
One of the most photographed coves in Mallorca |
|
Cala Llombards |
Southeast |
By car, direct access |
Quiet cove with crystal-clear waters |
|
Cala Pi |
South |
By car, with access staircase |
Natural inlet between cliffs and pine forests |
|
Cala Portals Vells |
Southwest |
By car or on foot from the car park |
Crystal-clear waters and proximity to Palma |
Among the most impressive coves in the Serra de Tramuntana, Sa Calobra stands out both for its spectacular natural environment and for the unique road that allows access to it. This mountain route, full of curves and carved into the mountain range itself, has become one of the best-known scenic routes in Mallorca. Alternatively, it is also possible to arrive by boat from Port de Sóller.
Next to the cove is the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis, one of the most iconic landscapes on the island. A short walk allows you to enter the impressive Sa Fosca gorge, where the high rock walls create one of the most breathtaking corners of the entire Tramuntana.
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Located at the northeast end of Mallorca, Cala Agulla stands out for combining the dimensions of a large beach with the landscape appeal characteristic of the island's coves. Its shallow waters and sandy bottom make it one of the most suitable options for enjoying the sea in a comfortable and safe environment.
The cove is part of a protected natural space that has allowed its landscape of dunes and pine forests to be preserved, creating an environment of great environmental value. The pine forest that extends behind the beach also offers a pleasant contrast with the intense blue of the sea.
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Hidden among pine forests and cliffs on the east coast of Mallorca, Cala Varques retains an almost virgin appearance that sets it apart from many other coves on the island.
The absence of buildings by the sea and the need to access it on foot have helped to preserve the natural character of this corner of the Mallorcan coastline. Its light sand, intense turquoise waters and the rocky environment that surrounds it create one of the most attractive landscapes on the coast of Manacor.
In addition, the cove is well known among fans of deep-water soloing, a form of climbing on cliffs by the sea that has found one of its most iconic settings in Mallorca in this area.
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Within the natural park of the same name, Cala Mondragó combines pine forests, dunes and generally calm waters thanks to the natural protection of the bay. It is one of the most prominent references among the coves in the southeast of Mallorca, especially due to the balance between landscape beauty and ease of access.
As it is part of a protected space, there are no large urban developments next to the beach, which helps to preserve a natural environment that contrasts with other tourist areas of the island.
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Among the most recognisable images of Mallorca, Es Caló des Moro holds a prominent place. Considered one of the most famous and Instagrammable coves on the island, it surprises with its intense turquoise waters and the spectacular rocky environment that surrounds it, creating a scene that has become one of the great icons of the Mallorcan coastline.
Its enormous popularity also has a downside: during the summer months, it usually sees a large influx of visitors. Due to its small size, it is common for queues to form at the access points and for the cove's capacity to be reached quickly during the central hours of the day.
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A few kilometres from Es Caló des Moro, Cala Llombards stands out for combining simple access with a very pleasant environment. Its beach is wider than that of other nearby coves, which allows for a greater sense of space even during the busiest days.
The landscape is dominated by crystal-clear waters, small low-rise buildings and a relaxed atmosphere that retains much of the traditional character of this area of the Mallorcan coast.
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Located in the municipality of Llucmajor, Cala Pi is one of the most unique coves in the south of Mallorca. Its narrow entrance to the sea, wedged between high cliffs covered in pine trees, creates a very characteristic landscape that leads to a small beach of fine sand and calm waters. The defence tower that crowns one of the ends of the cove adds significant historical value to the whole and reinforces a scene that has become one of the most recognisable in this part of the island.
The environment remains relatively sheltered from the wind and waves, which favours especially pleasant swimming conditions.
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Less than half an hour from the capital, Cala Portals Vells is one of the most interesting coves in the area around Palma. Its crystal-clear waters, the rocky landscape that surrounds it and the presence of the historic Coves de Portals Vells, also known as "Cova de Sant Jordi", give it a distinct personality within the Mallorcan coastline.
Its proximity to Palma makes it a very popular cove during the summer months, although the existence of several adjacent beaches helps to better distribute the influx of visitors.
Answering which coves to visit in Mallorca is not simple, as each one stands out for different reasons. Among the most spectacular is Es Caló des Moro, which has become one of the most recognisable images of the island thanks to the transparency of its waters and the spectacular environment that surrounds it.
The final choice depends to a large extent on what is valued most on each visit to the island. Cala Mondragó and Cala Llombards combine easy access, calm waters and very pleasant environments, while Cala Varques or Sa Calobra stand out for retaining a wilder character and a closer connection with nature. Together they reflect the enormous diversity that has made the coves of Mallorca one of the great attractions of the island.
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