Beaches & sea
Wild coves you can only walk to
Mallorca's lesser-known coves have one thing in common: the road doesn't reach them, or stops far away, so you walk anything from a few minutes to almost an hour along a path. In return, few people, clear water and no sunloungers. None have facilities: bring water, food, shade and good shoes, and take your rubbish back with you. In summer set off early, to avoid walking in the heat and because the few parking spots fill up quickly. Before you go, check the wind and the sea: with a swell, some are dangerous for swimming.
What people underestimate most is the way back: going down is easy, but climbing up at midday in the heat, with no shade and a cool box, is much harder. Take twice the water you think you need. For Es Caragol, leave the car near the ses Salines lighthouse and walk the flat coastal path, 20 to 40 minutes; in July and August the roadside fills before 9 am and no public transport goes there.
Cala Varques has no car park: the access track has been closed to cars with a barrier since 2018, and next to it there's a yellow line on the Porto Cristo–Portocolom road. You have to park wherever it's legal and walk, carefully if you're on the roadside. With a north wind, the southern coves such as Cala Pi or Es Caragol are better; with an easterly, the northern ones. And if a cove is packed, the next one, ten minutes on, is often much quieter.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Es Caragol beach?
Drive to the Cap de ses Salines lighthouse and then walk along the coast, a flat path of about 20 to 40 minutes. There's no proper car park: you leave the car on the roadside, which in July and August fills before 9 am. There's no public transport.
Where do you park for Cala Varques?
Cala Varques has no car park. The access track has been closed to cars since 2018, and there's a yellow line on the Porto Cristo–Portocolom road next to it. Park wherever it's allowed and walk, taking care on the roadside.
What should I bring to a cove with no facilities in Mallorca?
Plenty of water, food, some shade, sun cream and closed shoes for the path, which is often loose stone. There are no bins, beach bars or lifeguards: take your rubbish home and avoid walking in or out during the hottest hours.
Updated in October 2026