You don’t need to go to Asia or the Caribbean to enjoy wonderful white sand and turquoise water beaches. Mallorca, the paradise of the Mediterranean, is home to some of the best beaches in the world. This is especially true along the island’s south coast, where you can get away from the hustle of the tourist resorts and find yourself hopping between long stretches of white sand beaches in their unspoiled, natural landscapes.
From the small town of Sa Rapita to the blissful natural park of Mondragó, this route will allow you to hop along the southern coastline, taking in a variety of unique beaches while soaking under the Mediterranean sun. It’s the perfect day trip for all sun, sand and sea lovers!
Cala Pi
The route begins in Cala Pi, a small and relatively secluded beach approximately 40 km south east of Palma, in the district of Llucmajor. It is located deep inside a natural harbor, between two impressive rocky cliffs which shelter it from the wind.
Take the 150 steps staircase down to the cove. You will then find a 50 metres wide sandy beach surrounded by the pine trees that give it its name. It has some nice traditional style boat houses running along one side that you can walk past to get to a ledge that you can jump into the water from. The more adventurous can find some spots to climb up the rocks on the sides and dive in. And if you are a true thrill seeker, it is possible to jump in from the cliff at the scenic lookout point. Although this is too high for me, and likely for all but the most extreme of my readers, the lookout point is still worth a few minutes of your time.
Cala Pi also conveniently features one of the best instagram spots on the island. For this, take the path to the left at the top of the stairs until you get to a small platform overlooking the bay. You will be sure to impress your friends with its magnificent views. Although it can get quite busy as it is a popular spot among both locals and tourists, it has a relaxed and authentic vibe that makes it a perfect first stop, and is certainly a beach you won’t want to miss.
Es Trenc
Head south crossing the towns of Campos and Ses Selines, following the signs to ‘platja’ until you get the car park. You can leave you car there all day for around 7 euros.
Grab your towel and snorkelling mask and make your way to the the beach of Es Trenc, your second stop on this journey. This long natural beach is often said to be the most beautiful beach in Mallorca. It belongs to the salt marsh of Es Salobrar, a protected 1,500 hectare area of pure nature, including dunes, thickets of pines, junipers and tamarinds, salt flats and farmland where up to 170 species of birds call home. Its isolated position away from the touristy resorts is part of its allure, and lends to its clean, peaceful atmosphere and unspoiled feel. It is a great spot to enjoy a summer day away from civilization.
You won’t find many services (or tourist traps!) here, just 2 kilometers of white sand and shallow, crystal clear waters surrounded by nature. The only constructions you will find in Es Trenc are some old bunkers built to protect the island against a possible attack during World War II. In 2014 they were turned into artworks by the artists collective Boa Mistura. These machine gun nests are now the canvas for the poetry of Miquel Costa Llobera. Beautiful verses like “treated with delicacy, attitude and concern, making a warlike construction become the canvas of the poetry” merge with the tranquil landscape.
This is one of my favourite spots on the island. When I was a kid, I used to spend all my summers here. We owned a summer house in the nearby town of Sa Ràpita and I remember cycling every morning to the beach to spend the day with my family. Although the beach hasn’t changed much since then, it has become a very popular spot. For that, we recommend you arrive early during high season, as the access road gets pretty busy. Also bear in mind that some parts of this little piece of heaven are popular among nudists, though it’s totally optional.
Es Carbó
Towards the afternoon we recommend you to take the car and drive towards Colonia de Sant Jordi. Here you can either enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the local restaurants or put together a picnic lunch and make your way to our third stop, Es Carbó.
Es Carbó, is another dreamy and remote beach with white sand and crystal clear blue waters. It can be found in the souther tip of the island, in front of the small island of Na Molina where it is common to see numerous boats and yachts anchored off. The only way to get here is by boat or by foot. Although the boat access is sublime, it’s probably not in the cards for your day of beach hopping. To get there by foot, you’ll want to park your car at the resort town of Colonia Sant Jordi and walk along the coastline path for 30 totally-worth-it minutes.
This beach is an unspoilt paradise perfect for nature lovers. And because it is over 1 kilometre long, there is more than enough room for you to find your own space to get away from it all whilst enjoying the quiet. There are no services at Es Carbó, so do not expect to find any restaurants, umbrellas or lounge chairs for hire, just wild nature. But you know what this means, no amenities, no crowds! The sand dunes, pines trees and seemingly decorative posidonia seaweed make it a real Mallorcan paradise that will take your breath away.
Caló des Moro
Caló des Moro, about six kilometres from the town of Santany, used to be one of Mallorca’s best kept secret beaches. Unfortunately the word has spread, and it can now be difficult to find a place to put your towel down in peak season. That said, it’s still worth it.
Getting here involves a small hike down to the beach, but it is neither long nor hard. However, we recommend to pack light and wear water shoes, like our favorite travel shoes, the Tropic Feel runners. Last time we were there it was possible to drive all the way to the beach, but the Town Hall has since opened a parking lot at the entrance to Cala Llombards to avoid traffic congestion. Off of the main road, a small steep dirt path will lead you down to the beach. First you will arrive to Cala S’Almunia, another lovely beach, but without sand. From there follow the path to the fishermen’s area where you will get to the access of Caló d’es Moro.
At only 40 metres, the beach is small. The sea stretches out between sheer cliffs covered by more pines and bushes, as is typical in this part of the island. The water is turquoise blue and the clearest you will ever see, so perfect for swimming or snorkelling. Though the water is normally calm, when we visited last time, the sun bathing area was completely covered by water, as the force of the sea currents swept over it. However, we could still enjoy our day exploring the surrounding area and enjoying some shadow in the small cave with an Antelope Canyon look.
Cala Llombards
If you enjoyed Caló des Moró, you won’t want to miss its neighbouring cove of Cala Llombards. Park your car by the water and make your way to its white sand and bright blue water to take in its surrounding steep rocky outcroppings and pine trees. Because it is in the mouth of the torrent of Son Amer it has a peculiar cone shape, where the sandy area stretches further inland and it gets wider by the beach’s shoreline.
Although it is a bit secluded, this beach is popular with families. On a recent visit I counted over 60 kids, fully equipped with toys and floaties. Funny enough that day there was also a jelly fish plague (although it is unusual) and all the tourists teamed up to get rid of them to be able to swim. They weren’t successful.
If you wish to go for a walk, you can take the small coastal paths on either side of the beach. The one on the left will lead you past two fisherman’s boathouse and features some good diving spots. If you choose to go to your right, you’ll find several ladders providing easy access to the sea, as well as a nice platform for medium intensity cliff jumping. At the end of this path you is an excellent panoramic view of es Pontàs, a huge rock that looks like a bridge emerging from the sea. It was made famous by Chris Sharma, a legend in the deep water soloing world who was the first to climbed its inner arch in YEAR.
S’Amarador
Our next and final stop is S’Amarador. It is found in the middle of Mondragó Natural Park and is one of our favourite destinations in the world. Casey almost falls out of his chair every time he gets to take another trip there. Although it hasn’t completely escaped from tourism, it remains true to its park heritage, and is a true gem.
This award-winning beach is a must visit. The beach itself is of medium size with 145 meters of fine white sand. The water here is clean, shallow and a beautiful green-blue, perfect for swimming and snorkelling. It is surrounded by the typical Mediterranean landscape of pine forests, rugged cliffs, scrubs and sand dunes. A unique environment that reflects the natural beauty of Mallorca, away from the big holiday resorts. From S’Amarador Beach, you can also pop over to the neighbour beach, Cala Mondragó. The two beaches are linked by a 400 metres long path along the coastline. The path is a nice place to do some “window shopping” with the numerous boats anchored in the bay.
It is isolated, but easy to access by car. You can leave your vehicle in a big parking area five minutes from the beach (parking costs about 5€).
Towns on this route: Cala Pi – Campos – Ses Salines – Colonia de Sant Jordi – Santanyí – Cala Llombards
Length of this route: 43 miles.
Where to eat: CASSAI Beach House in Colonia de Sant Jordi, Restaurante Laudat in Santanyí.
Where to sleep: Ca’n Magrana in Campos, S’Hotelet de Santanyi in Santanyí and Agroturismo Na Martina in Portopetro.
Mallorca is filled with beautiful beaches where you can enjoy the warm Majorcan sun and pristine Mediterranean waters. The perfect beach for you will depend on whether you prefer a quieter and remote beach or a more touristy atmosphere but fully catered. Which is your favourite beach in Mallorca? Please let us know in the comments below!
Tips to save money on your holidays in Mallorca
- The best hotels at the best prices in Mallorca.
- Enjoy a € 35 discount on Airbnb when you sign up.
- Travel safe and don’t forget your travel insurance! Here you have a 5% discount with the best travel insurance.
- Take advantage of the best car rental discounts in Mallorca.
- Book the best tours and day trips in Mallorca.
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