Cala Formentor Beach, North Mallorca
An idyllic bay featuring a picture-perfect beach in the northwest of Mallorca
Cala Formentor, an early luxury destination in Mallorca, was favored by prominent figures such as Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill. Its crescent-shaped, golden sandy beach bordered by tranquil turquoise waters, lush pine forest, and mountain views make it a stunning spot to visit.
Being one of Mallorca’s finest natural beaches surrounded by woods and the Tramuntana mountains, tourists naturally flock to Cala Formentor’s beautiful fine white/golden sands, often making the beach somewhat busy by midday (especially in the summer months). Lined with loungers and umbrellas to rent, it's a great place to settle down for the day and relax. The facilities are excellent here, with toilets, showers, and seasonal lifeguards, disabled access with wooden walkways, water refill stations and tourist information points.
Given its beautiful surroundings and excellent conditions for anchoring, the bay hosts several private yachts and chartered boats all year around.
Restaurants
With a handful of nearby restaurants and waterfront beach bars, there's a good choice of food and drinks. One restaurant is located in the middle, directly on the beach next to a local tourist shop. The other sits further east, suiting those after a quieter and more exclusive touch. You’ll also find a friendly ice cream kiosk near to the beach’s entrance. The neighbouring resort of Port de Pollença offers a wide selection of eateries.
Hotels
One of Mallorca's most distinguished hotels is found here. In a past life, it entertained a host of film stars, and being refurbished over the years it continues to welcome today's rich and famous. The nearest resort to Cala Formentor is Port de Pollença where there is a great selection of hotels.
Setting & Location
Located on the Formentor peninsula of Mallorca’s north-eastern headland, most people come here simply to take a dip in the turquoise blue and crystal-clear water, or bathe on its silky shores composed of very fine golden sand. The pine trees overhang the beach, offering plenty of natural shade throughout the hot summer months. Despite it only having one hotel nearby, it sits approximately 6km north-west of nearby holiday resort - Port de Pollença. Stop on route to check out the spectacular views from the designated vista points showcasing the entire north-eastern cape.
Water Safety & Clarity
The water in this bay boasts calm, shallow, and clear waters, perfect for snorkelling and other under-water activities.
Beach Quality
The beach space here is quite narrow at only eight metres deep, making it sometimes tricky for those sports or ball games in need of a bit more space. Thankfully the beach stretches over 1km, so you should be able to secure your spot if you arrive a little earlier to beat the crowds. With daily beach cleaning, the ‘Blue Flag Beach’ thankfully remains well maintained despite its popularity and offers a lovely grassy area just back from the beach, perfect for shady picnics.
Watersports Nearby
As well as superb swimming and snorkelling, traditional ‘Pedalos’ are available to rent, as well as jet skis at the far end of the beach. Cala Formentor is also a popular beach for windsurfing, stand up paddle boarding and kayaking, along with catamarans and dinghies available for hire. A glass-bottomed boat departs often from a pier located in the centre of the beach.
Directions
Great signage on the Cap Formentor road makes this wonderful beach difficult to miss. A large shady car park can be found just off the main road, but fees apply. To get travel between Cap Formentor and Port de Pollenca, you can either take the public bus service (line 353), indulge in a water taxi or charter a yacht for a more luxurious mode of transportation.
