Sa Canova Beach, North Mallorca
Two kilometres of unspoilt beach, popular with walkers, surfers and nudists
Stretching along the coastline between Son Serra de Marina and SโEstanyol, is one of Mallorcaโs most beautiful and natural beaches. Due to its slight inaccessibility and the fact that it is relatively unknown by tourists this gem of a beach is quiet even in the peak of summer.
In 1991 Sa Canova beach was named a protected ‘Natural area of Special Interest’ due to its ecological importance and abundance of indigenous plant life, and it has so far managed to remain unblemished by tourism and consumer culture. This virgin state is not a given however, as business owners and developers often petition to build along the coast and open bars on the beach in the summer months. The locals are consistently fighting these enterprises in an attempt to keep this stretch of beach unsullied however they surely will not be able to hold off development forever, so if you want to visit this serene patch of natural beauty visit soon whilst it’s still there.
Hotels Nearby
There are a couple of villa style properties located northwest of the beach itself and two small hotels in S’Estanyol in the other direction along the coast. For a wider range of branded hotels, head to Can Picafort - 11km away.
Restaurants Nearby
Pack a picnic and plenty of water and get away from it all for a day if you wish. There are three small cafes in Son Serra de Marina and for another three coastal beach bar/restaurants, head in the other direction to Colonia de sant Pere. For a wider range of cuisine, Can Picafort is the closest option - 11km away.
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Setting & Location
Located in the bay of Alcudia in the north, Sa Canova looks out onto the hazy mountains of Cap des Pinar on the left, the Llevant Natural Park and Cap Ferrutx to the right and is backed by kilometres of sand dunes and pine forest. This beach is fully enclosed by nature and feels very far from civilisation, a fact that makes it a favourite spot for nudists who head to the secluded spots amidst the dunes. The fact that nearby town S’Estanyol is home to the Balearics' only exclusively naturist hotel the 4 Star naturist hotel might also have something to do with it.
The sand dunes and forest mean that direct access to this beach is difficult; you can hike in from the tiny town of S’Estanyol at the south end, but the easiest way is to come from Son Serra de Marina at the north end. If you walk south along Son Serra de Marina beach it in time turns into Sa Canova.
Water Safety & Clarity
In places the beach is prone to the sea grass that is prevalent in Mallorca, it clogs the sea in certain spots and washes up on the beach in great mounds that turn dry and brittle grey in the sun, but if you walk along until you have passed the second of the wooden walkways you will find the best stretch of weed free beach with perfectly clear water of palest blue. Here also the sea has several staggered sand banks which mean that your walk out into the sea remains shallow a long way out, making it a great spot for children to play in the shallows.
Despite Sa Canova’s isolation it does have one lifeguard station and it is located just where these two beaches merge.
Beach Quality
2 km long with deep, soft, golden sand and shallow turquoise water, this beach is very beautiful.There are no amenities on this beach, but that is the price you pay for getting back to nature. The sand dunes are protected by ropes preventing people from walking on them but periodically along the beach you’ll find wooden steps and walkways over the dunes to the marked trails behind, perfect for a wander if you tire of sunbathing. A great spot for walkers overall and this beach is on one of Mallorca’s coastal hiking routes.
Watersports Nearby
A day on Sa Canova beach is a day away from sun loungers and pedal boats and the nearest rental location is Can Picafort, which is 11km away to the northwest. The sea on Sa Canova can become rough when the wind picks up as this area is not sheltered like the beaches further up the coast. This fact makes it a very popular spot with the watersports crowd and when the wind and the waves pick up, this beach is a great spot to catch a wave or watch surfers and kite surfers doing their thing.
Directions
Sa Canova Beach is a secluded beach located in the northeast of Mallorca, Arta and Can Picafort are the closest towns to this beach. You can park in Son Serra de Marina and can reach the beach by foot.
Villas nearby
Villas in Mallorca
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Casa Lluna Villa, Campanet
This is a luxurious villa that has been restored from old ruins with great care to incorporate the original architecture with a modern design.ย
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Pi Tort Villa
Villa Pitort has magnificent views of the nearby hillside, yet is still close to the center and beaches of Cala San Vicente. Cala San Vicente is a laid-back holiday destination with several good restaurants and 2 superb sandy coves, all within a short walk of the villa. This 4 bedroom house has a private swimming pool and a great alfresco dining area. WiFi and air conditioning/heating in the bedrooms are included.
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Son Balagueret Villa
Historic four-bedroom villa with a unique bedroom set in a turret, private heated pool, and stunning coastline views.
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La Vinyeta Villa
This stylish villa is quite rustic in appearance and is set in lovely gardens with its own fenced pool.
Price: โฌ3,626
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Villa Esquina
Located in the highly sought-after area of La Font, at the foot of the stunning UNESCO Tramuntana mountains in Pollensa, Villa Esquina is just a 15-minute walk from the beautiful historic town of Pollenca and a 10-minute drive from the Port of Pollenca and surrounding beaches, making it ideal for large families or two families with children. This stunning family holiday home has 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3 balconies with amazing views of the surrounding area and a large heated saltwater pool (15 metres long).
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La Plana Villa
Plana Den Rull is a spacious and welcoming villa with private pool, 4 bedrooms and extensive gardens, beautifully located close to the old town Pollensa and just a short drive away from the amazing sandy beaches of Puerto Pollensa and Casa San Vicente. Providing welcoming, air-conditioned interiors, excellent privacy, well kept gardens and beautiful views over the Tramuntana mountains, this stone-built villa is the perfect holiday home for a large family or a group of friends wanting to live the true Mallorcan atmosphere.
Price: โฌ1,330
Hotels nearby
Hotels in Mallorca
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Son Julia Country House Hotel
If you're looking for a perfect hideaway from your usual routine, then this lovely 15th century Mallorcan manor is the place to escape to.
Price: โฌ3,054
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Finca Son Jorbo Hotel, Porreres
Run by a German couple and set in a rural location in central Mallorca with views over the local countryside and mountains, Finca Son Jorbo offers style and comfort in a restored 17th century country house.ย With the convenience of bed and breakfast and the added benefit of fully equipped self-catered apartments, Finca Son Jorbo is the perfect combination.
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Ca's Xorc Luxury Retreat
Ca's Xorc Luxury Retreat is the place to stay if you're looking for somewhere that's rich in history but with all the modern amneties. Breathtaking views, gourmet cuisine and a relaxing environment, the ideal place for a peaceful stay in a beautiful location.
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Santa Clara Urban Spa & Hotel
This charming hotel is located in the historical old town, in the very heart of Palma de Mallorca. It is within easy walking distance of attractions such as the 10th century Arab baths and Palma's breathtaking gothic Cathedral.
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Son Bunyola Hotel
Son Bunyola Hotel offers an intimate stay, providing the perfect base to explore Mallorcaโs vineyards, olive groves, and charming countryside.
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Sa Carrotja Finca Hotel, Ses Salines
In the south of the island, between fields of almond and fig trees,ย near the village of Ses Salines and 6 km from the sea, stands the ancient stone house of Sa Carrotja, one of the oldest in the village.
Things to do nearby
Things To Do in Mallorca
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Adventure Trekking
A day of Adventure Trekking is full of stunning landscapes and action-packed activities.ย
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Hidropark Waterpark
The only water park on the north of Mallorca Hidropark sits just behind the beach in Port d'Alcudia. Perfect for families and smaller children.
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Boat adventure & speedboat coast challenge
Choose between two thrilling ways to explore Mallorcaโs stunning coastline. Enjoy a guided boat adventure swimming in hidden lagoons and sea caves, or test your teamโs skills and adrenaline in a competitive speedboat coast challenge packed with exciting activities.
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Marineland
Entertainment here is provided by the performing dolphins, sealions and parrots. There is also a penguin pool, a reptile house and a large collection of sharks and tropical fish, plus flamingoes, monkeys and an impressive aviary.
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Miramar & Soller Valley Tour
This is a different way to enjoy a quality guided tour with your own car, and discover little-known hidden places hand in hand with a local guide using portable radios whilst you drive.
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Sailing Boat Trip (Hanse 418)
Full-day or half-day boat trip on Seacret, a sailing yacht designed to maximise space and light.
Restaurants nearby
Restaurants in Mallorca
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La Pappa Restaurant
Enjoy the taste of Italy at La Pappa. They serve delicious homemade pasta and Neapolitan pizzas, crafted with care and tradition. Their Italian desserts and ice creams are also made in-house, offering a true taste of Italy.
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Barretes Restaurant at Ca's Xorc
Ca's Xorc Luxury Retreat is home to an abundance of delicious fresh and local food such as a selection of fruit and vegetables, fish, red shrimp, lamb and Iberico pork. The chef at Ca's Xorc interprets this local, Mediterranean cuisine in a modern and creative manner.
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La Bodega Restaurant
This traditional Spanish restaurant is situated within the heart of Cala d'Or and has a phenomenal reputation for providing fantastic food, service and a welcoming, friendly atmosphere.
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Noir Mallorca Cafรฉ
Welcome to Noir, your go to food bar in the heart of Cala D'or, Mallorca. Open from 09:00 to 23:00, they offer all-day breakfast, brunch, and a great selection of coffee, tea and wine.
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Sa Magrana Restaurant
This award-winning restaurant offers creative, fresh-from-the-market cuisine.
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Diferent Restaurant
Restaurant Diferent truly stands out. Beyond its eccentric and fun decor, it offers a vast international menu, a wide selection of wines, cocktails and fantastic, friendly service.
Nightlife nearby
Bars & Clubs in Mallorca
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Lola Bar
Welcome to Lola, your ultimate summer hotspot in the heart of Cala d'Or, Mallorca! They're all about creating incredible experiences under the sun during the day and stars in the evening.ย
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Purobeach Illetas Beach Club
This cosmopolitan beach club is located in a beautiful spot in Illetas. Their large terrace overlooking the sea features comfortable sun loungers and day beds.
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Hostal Cuba Bar and Restaurant
Fittingly housed in a beautiful colonial building in the Santa Catalina district of Palma, this is a cafe, bar and club, open all day, every day.
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Port Adriano Bar
This bar is perfect spot to enjoy a drink in a casual atmosphere with fantastic sea views overlooking Port Adriano.ย
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La Cafeterรญa by La Goleta Bar and Restaurant
Open throughout the day, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks.
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La Cabana Poolbar & Lounge
This stylish modern poolside bar is situated within the Portals Hills Boutique Hotel.
Sights nearby
Sights in Mallorca
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Son Real Archaeological Site, Santa Margalida
Situated within the Son Real public estate, the necropolis is still an active archaeological site. Acquired by the Balearic Islands Government in 2002 with the aim of preserving its natural and ethnological wealth and, in particular, the archaeological sites.
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Ermita de Betlem, Arta
The Ermita de Betlem was founded in 1805 by the monks of Saint Honoratus, Randa and the Holy Trinity of Valldemossa. The church has a solar clock and a rose window, and lies at the end of a cypress tree-lined driveway.
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Llevant Peninsula Nature Reserve
Theย Llevant Peninsula is found on the north east of Mallorca. This hilly terrain could almost pass for the Scottish highlands (on a good day!), with its covering of heathers and shrubs at the higher altitudes.
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Santuari de Sant Salvador, Arta
Much of this 4000 square metres complex has been restored so that you can now see the remnants of the medieval fortress that it once was.
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Esglesia de la Transfiguracio del Senyor, Arta
Located on the hillside of Sant Salvador above Arta this building dominates the skyline over the town of Arta.
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Ses Paisses, Arta
This Bronze-Age talaiotic settlement near Arta is a significant site and a link with Mallorcans of 3,000 years ago.
Golf-clubs nearby
Golf Courses in Mallorca
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Par 72 Jamie Knight Golf Coaching, Mallorca Island
Par72 offers luxury golf experiences in Mallorca hosted by British PGA Professional Jamie Knight.
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Pollenca Golf Course
Nine holes of golf, perfectly integrated into the beautiful local environment. Golf Pollenca offers panoramic views over the Tramuntana mountains, olive groves, the bays of Pollenรงa and Alcudia and s'Albufereta reserve. By the end of the first round, the visitor will surely agree that challenge, variety, and harmony with nature are focal points around which the club's success is built.
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Real Bendinat Golf Course, Bendinat
The Bendinat Royal Golf Course is magnificently situated 7 kilometres west of Palma, in an extensive wooded valley and in the heart of the Bendinat Housing Estate.
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Son Servera Golf Course, Son Servera
This golf club is located next to the sea in beautiful natural surroundings. The course was designed by John Harris and opened originally as a 9-hole course in 1967.
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La Reserva Rotana Golf Course
This is a private 9-hole golf course just a few meters from the Rotana Hotel. The course is reserved for hotel and restaurant guests.
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Son Gual Golf Course
This is a private, family-run, members' golf club, set in 156 hectares of beautiful Mediterranean landscape.
Towns nearby
Towns & Villages in Mallorca
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Colรฒnia de Sant Pere
Set within the municipality of Arta, Colรฒnia de Sant Pere is a small, unpretentious fishing village located on the northeast. It's one of few villages on Mallorcaโs coastline to resist succumbing to tourism, which means that, even in the peak summertime, the most common language you will hear on its beach is Spanish.
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Artร
Artร is a picturesque town just a few kilometres inland from the north-east coast of Mallorca. Tucked in a valley, it is surrounded by the mountains of the Llevant Natural Park along with some of the island's most beautiful rural plains.
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Puerto Alcudia (Port d'Alcudia)
On the north coast of Mallorca lies the Bay of Alcudia, a gorgeous coastline comprising of turquoise shallow waters and long, soft golden sandy beaches. It is therefore not much of a surprise to find Majorca's biggest beach resort here. From Port d'Alcudia, in the west, to Can Picafort 10km down the coast, you will find a strip of apartment blocks and resort style hotels that offer everything from budget self-catering to luxurious five-star accommodation.
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Muro
This small town between Inca and the S'Albufera marshes is a sleepy little place, a typical rural Mallorcan town.
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Petra
The small rural town of Petra lies in the middle of Mallorca, surrounded by agricultural land.
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Alcรบdia
The medieval town of Alcรบdia is the main hub for visitors in the north of the island. Set on a peninsula between the bays of Pollenรงa and Alcรบdia, it offers a lovely mix of historic charm and genuine local character. Its beautifully preserved old town and welcoming atmosphere make it a popular spot throughout the year.