The best beaches in Mallorca by camper van

How to choose a beach when you travel by van

Three things matter more than the photos: parking, the access road and the wind.

• Parking: long sandy beaches usually have large (often paid) car parks; small calas may only have a few dozen spaces, full by 10 am in summer.
• Access: some coves end in narrow lanes between stone walls. Our van is compact, but reversing out of a full dead end is no fun, so check the last kilometre on the map.
• Wind: when the north wind (tramuntana) blows, the south and east coasts are calmer; with southerly winds, head to the northern bays of Pollença and Alcúdia.

South: long white-sand beaches

• Es Trenc (Campos / Ses Salines): the longest natural beach on the island, with white sand, shallow turquoise water and dunes. Paid car parks at its main access points make it one of the easiest beaches for a van.
• Platja des Caragol (Ses Salines): a wild beach reached on foot along the coast from the Cap de ses Salines lighthouse area (allow about 30 minutes each way). No facilities: bring water and shade.
• Cala Llombards (Santanyí): a small, sheltered cove with a beach bar. Narrow residential streets and limited parking, so arrive early.

South-east and east: coves and natural parks

• Cala Mondragó (Santanyí): two coves inside the Mondragó Natural Park, with car parks near the beaches. A good balance between beauty and easy access.
• Caló des Moro (Santanyí): one of the most photographed coves in Mallorca, and a very small one. Parking is limited and the beach is packed in July and August: come at sunrise or out of season, or choose neighbouring Cala s'Almunia.
• Cala Varques (Manacor): a wild cove reached by a walk of about 20 minutes from roadside parking. No facilities, very clear water and sea caves nearby.

North-east: dunes and pine forest

• Cala Agulla (Capdepera): a wide sandy beach near Cala Ratjada, backed by pine forest, with large car parks.
• Cala Mesquida (Capdepera): fine sand and a protected dune system. It can be windy, which also makes it a good walk on stormy days.

North: the bays of Alcúdia and Pollença

• Playa de Muro (Alcúdia bay): kilometres of shallow, sandy water, the easiest beach on the island for young children, with plenty of parking along the road.
• Platja de Formentor (Pollença): pine trees down to the water and views of the cape. In high season the Formentor road is closed to private vehicles during the day: check the current dates and take the shuttle bus from Port de Pollença.

North-west: Tramuntana coves

• Cala Tuent (Escorca): a quiet pebble cove on a side road on the way to Sa Calobra, with a small car park.
• Sa Calobra and the Torrent de Pareis (Escorca): a spectacular gorge mouth at the end of a steep road full of hairpins. Drive it early in the morning, before the tour buses, or late in the afternoon.
• Cala Deià (Deià): a rocky cove known for its fish restaurants. Parking is tiny and the lane is narrow: with a van, park in the village and walk down.

At a glance

Beach-day rules for camper vans

• No overnight stays in beach car parks: wild camping is forbidden in the Balearic Islands and coastal car parks are patrolled. See our guide to legal overnight spots.
• Do not set up chairs, tables or awnings next to the van in a car park: that counts as camping.
• Never empty grey water on the ground; use the dump points at campsites and official aires.
• Rinse off with the van's outdoor shower, but keep an eye on the 80-litre fresh water tank.
• Take your rubbish with you and stay off the dunes: many beaches are protected natural areas.

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