Around 20% of Spaniards surveyed have rented a boat at least once (according to a study by the YouGov Institute) and it is true that sailing is a booming sporting activity in our country. Keep reading because in this guide we bring you interesting topics such as:
- Coves where to anchor,
- Ports in which to shelter and spend the night.
- Restaurants we like the most.
Mallorca: some general information
To say Majorca is to say summer. But beyond the sun and the beach, the island hides a very valuable historical and cultural heritage, unspoilt nature, underground caves, Mediterranean and typical Balearic gastronomy and charming villages that not everyone knows about.
Mallorca in numbers
- Size. Mallorca has a surface area of 3,640 km², making it the largest island in the archipelago and the seventh largest island in the Mediterranean.
- Kilometres of coastline. The island has around 550 kilometres of coastline, including dramatic cliffs, fine white sandy beaches and dreamy coves.
- Inhabitants in winter. Mallorca has a census population of 952,159 inhabitants (2023 data), of which just under half live in the capital, Palma de Mallorca.
- Inhabitants in summer. Last summer (2023) Mallorca was positioned as the most visited tourist destination in Spain with more than 500,000 national tourists. It was also evident that the Balearic Islands are also a favourite among Europeans (most of them from Germany and Great Britain), with an outbound market that continues to grow.
Mallorca by boat, a different kind of summer
If you’re here, it’s because you like sailing and you’re preparing a holiday in Mallorca, so we’re going to tell you all about the island, dividing it into areas of interest.
Let’s get started!
Northern part of Mallorca: more rugged and with less tourism
The north coast of the island is the most rugged part. That is why many visitors usually move to more accessible areas, leaving extraordinary places such as Sa Calobra or Cala Tuent unvisited. Let’s take a look at the most interesting areas for anchoring:
- Refaubetx cove. Ideal for anchoring during the day.
Quiet, with a sandy bottom, on the edge of a cliff, and with many seagulls fluttering about.There is a rocky area with natural pools. - Port of Santa Ponsa. Recommended for anchoring both during the day and at night.
A small port, far from the hustle and bustle of tourism. It has all the services of a marina. The Club’s restaurant is quite good. - Caló des Monjo. Ideal for anchoring during the day.
An unspoilt cove where you can spend a quiet, private day, as access is by sea only. - Port of Andratx. Ideal for anchoring both during the day and at night.
Fishing port and marina. Favourite destination of the German jet-set. Yacht Club (Sailing Club, entering on the port side), and other mooring possibilities at the Port Authority quay (on the starboard side).
This is a large and sheltered anchorage area. In the village there are good restaurants such as Miramar, Rocamar, La Dorada, and Mar Blau. It is well worth a visit. - Basset cove. Ideal for anchoring during the day.
Incredible cove with rocks and a beautiful seabed.
A great place to spend a few hours of the day. However, we recommend you be careful with the rocks at the entrance. - La Foradada, marvellous!
You can anchor there both day and night.
For us, it is one of the best coves in the Balearic Islands. We especially recommend a sunset here, contemplating the Tramontana mountain range. - Deià cove. Recommended for anchoring during the day.
A pebble beach where a torrent flows into it, which makes it special. It has two beach bars and you can also visit Deia, the nearby village which is one of the prettiest on the island. - Port of Sóller. Ideal for anchoring both day and night.
It is the only port on the entire Tramontana coast. It has few moorings, but it has a magnificent anchoring area.
In the town centre, the restaurant Es Canyis stands out, although there are several others. There are also bars and hotels around the port, but they are old-fashioned looking. - Cala Tuent. Another marvellous spot!
Under the shadow of Puig Major, (the highest of the Balearic peaks), we have Cala Tuent. It is an unforgettable cove: boulders, few people, mountains, pine trees, clean water…
It is quite exposed to the north and northeast winds, so we do not recommend it for an overnight stay if you are an inexperienced sailor because, depending on the weather, it could be dangerous. - Sa Calobra. Ideal for anchoring both day and night. Spectacular for its imposing cliffs. In summer, classical music concerts are organised here.
- Castell cove. Ideal for anchoring during the day.
Difficult to access, this cove is unique for its privacy. It is also one of the places with the most marine fauna for snorkelling lovers.
The Bay of Pollença, the most touristy part of the island
It is one of the most important tourist spots on the island of Mallorca, together with the other large bay: the bay of Palma.
- Cala Figuera, marvellous!
Another of the most attractive places on the island where you cannot miss anchoring. - Formentor. Another marvellous place to anchor both day and night.
There are anchoring buoys to preserve the posidonia oceanica and the seabed. Its beach and centuries-old pine trees give it its unique appearance. - Port De Pollença. Ideal for anchoring.
It offers moorings both in the Yacht Club and in the Port Authority, as well as a wide range of anchoring possibilities.
In the town there are some very good restaurants: Stay, Corb Marí, Bou de Mar, Hotel Illa D’Or… - Coll Baix, another marvellous place!
Located between cliff walls and with a large stone beach, it is a cove worthy of a photograph. - Port d’Alcúdia. Ideal for anchoring during the day.
Plenty of moorings and good nautical services. In this tourist area we recommend the fish at C’an Tofel Restaurant.
There are also several bars in the port itself. - Es Caló. Ideal for anchoring.
Further away from the tourism in this area, we find this little corner of great beauty.
Also known as the cave of the old sailors, it is a quieter and more private area.
East of Majorca
Moltó cove. Recommended for anchoring, bathing or spending the night * A little hidden, it is ideal for starting the crossing to Menorca from here.
- Cala Rajada. Ideal for anchoring both day and night.
It has a fishing port and a promenade with bars and restaurants. - Porto Cristo. Ideal for anchoring both day and night.
Port with moorings to port, in the Yacht Club and in the Port Authority to starboard.
From here you can visit the famous Drach caves. - Varques Cove. Recommended for anchoring for a few hours during the day.
A small cove with no buildings, surrounded by pine trees and with two fine sandy beaches.
There are usually cows grazing near the beach, which makes it different. - Porto Colom. Ideal for anchoring both during the day and at night.
A natural harbour of undoubted attraction.
It has few moorings, but a large anchoring area.
Sa Sinia, one of the best restaurants on the island, stands out.
South of Majorca
- Sa Nau cove. Ideal for anchoring both during the day and at night.
Deep and surprising, it also has a beach bar on the beach. - Porto Petro. Ideal for anchoring.
A quiet harbour with little tourism.
The Yacht Club offers some moorings and has two anchoring areas. - Caló Des Moro. Ideal for anchoring both during the day and at night (with a second anchor).
Hidden and pretty cove, it is a truly unique place for its beauty. - Port De Santanyí. Recommended for anchoring both day and night.
A small port with few moorings, which offers a typical Mallorcan image, with many llaüts moored in a narrow and deep cove. - Des Carbó beach. Ideal for anchoring both day and night.
It is a very protected and totally unspoilt spot as it is part of a private estate. - Cabrera Island, pure wonder! Anchoring both day and night
Natural Park with a very sheltered area for anchoring at night. A permit is required for access. - Port of Sa Ràpita. Recommended for anchoring both day and night.
Several moorings available at the Yacht Club.
We would highlight the C’an Pep restaurant, just a few minutes’ walk from the port. - Pi cove. Ideal for anchoring.
Narrow and deep waters, this cove is very pretty. It also has a small sandy beach at the back.
The C’an Miquel restaurant is a must if you are a lover of gastronomy. It can be reached by a long flight of stairs from the beach.
Bay of Palma area
The wide Bay of Palma encompasses three important municipalities of the island: Palma, Calvià and Llucmajor, and constitutes the most populated area of the island.
- Illetas Cove. Ideal for anchoring both during the day and at night.
We recommend you get as close as possible to the line of buoys, so that you can drop anchor there and swim safely to the beach. - Port Portals. Recommended for anchoring both day and night.
It is the coolest marina in the Balearic Islands.It has many quality restaurants and a good nightlife.
As it is very busy, if there is no mooring you can ask for a berth at the waiting dock or anchor in the shelter of the harbour breakwater. - Portals Vells cove. Recommended for anchoring both during the day and at night.
It is a cove that is much visited by hikers during the day and quiet at night. It has a beach bar that is open at night. - Figuera cove. Recommended for anchoring during the day.
Anchoring is recommended for small boats. We recommend that you take care with the nets at the entrance. - Blava cove. Recommended for anchoring during the day.
A cove with beautiful views of the bay of Palma.
And this is the end of our nautical guide to the island of Mallorca. We hope you find this information practical and that it has made you want to visit all these incredibly attractive coves. You can’t miss this article related to the protection of posidonia, as this is something you should bear in mind on your boat rental holidays in Mallorca.