© Emily Benet
© Emily Benet
Es Raco de S'Arena Beach, South Mallorca
A great little unspoilt beach, perfect for snorkelling
Es Racó de S'Arena offers a complete escape from the bustle of tourists and is great for exploring or walking. If you're lucky, you could find yourself completely alone here. Even when there are other people, there is enough space to carve out an area which feels private.
The beach has a rugged feel, with areas of dried algae, rock pools as well as fine golden sand. I recommend you take water shoes, to explore the rock pools where you'll spot crabs and little fishes. Unfortunately you're bound to come across some traces of plastic too - an issue that seems increasingly common across beaches around the world. I spent a satisfying half an hour picking up any residue I could find and disposing of it in the one bin available on the beach.
I don't want to give the wrong impression as this beach has both golden sand and crystal clear waters. Continue round the beach and you'll come across machine gun emplacements of the civil war and fishermen's docks.
Es Racó de S'Arena is for travellers who want to get off the beaten track and there are no amenities. Tranquil and unspoilt, it's a place that only the residents seem to know about.
Hotels
If you fall in love with the place, you can stay in the rustic finca of Estalella/Casetes de Pescadors, in one of the fisherman's huts that overlooks the sea. There is a hotel in S’Estanyol and Fincahotels located 10 minutes drive away around Sa Rapita, plus other accommodation in Agrotourisme hotels or Fincas are dotted across the countryside towards Campos or Llucmajor.
Restaurants
There are no chiringuitos/snack bars on the beach and the nearest restaurant is at the highly recommended Club Nautic sa Rapita, where you can park your car. Try the paella or grilled squid and enjoy terrace seating with views directly onto the beach. The next closest restaurants are on the seafront in Sa Rapita to the east.
Setting & Location
It is located in the south central coast of Mallorca, and is accessible from the sleepy, sea town of S'Estanyol de Migjorn, 40km east of Palma.
Water Safety & Clarity
The water at Es Racó de S'Arena is crystal clear and a great place for snorkelling. The floor of the sea is rocky so be careful when entering. If you continue around the beach, there is a concrete slope which offers the smoothest entrance into the sea. No lifeguard station here.
Beach Quality
Fine golden sand and easy sea access, with adjacent rock pools and more challenging rocky access.
Watersports Nearby
If you like exploring rock pools and snorkelling along the coast then this is a good beach for you. Apart from that...enjoy the calm serenity of this rugged beach. The nearest watersports rental service is in Colonia Sant Jordi, which is 18km away to the southeast.
Directions
Arriving by car is the easiest option, alternatively you can take the 515 bus to S'Estanyol from Estacio Intermodal in Palma, which takes an hour. The beach begins just beyond the Club Nautic sa Rapita, where you can park and walk the short distance to the sea.
