Cala Torta

Cala Torta is the big beach on Artà's north coast: around 150 metres of pale, fine sand at the back of an open bay inside the Llevant Natural Park, with not a single building in sight, just dunes, scrub, bare hills grazed by goats and a pine wood behind. You can no longer drive down to the sand: the car stays at the top, at the end of the winding road from Artà, and from there it's 20 to 30 minutes on foot along a rutted track of loose stone, all downhill on the way in and uphill in full sun on the way back. Down below there's a lifeguard in summer and that's it: no bar (the beach shack closed years ago), no toilets, no showers, no bins, and the only shade comes from the rocks on the right-hand side. The appeal is having a whole beach to yourself, turquoise water on calm days and the coastal path to Cala Mitjana, five minutes away, or on to Cala Mesquida (a good hour over rock). The downsides, which reviews keep repeating: because it faces north, any wind brings waves and currents and red flags are common; after storms the shoreline fills with seaweed; and in September 2026 several visitors reported break-ins at the car park. It has a naturist tradition, though these days most people wear swimwear. One for walkers after wild nature, not for pushchairs or anyone who wants facilities.

Reviewed in November 2026