Mallorca’s south-east coast and around Menorca
Mallorca's south-east coast and around Menorca in 2 weeks (approx. 300 nautical miles)
There are only about 80 nautical miles to sail around the coast of the second largest Balearic island, Menorca, but beware of the strong mistral wind from the north, which repeatedly thwarts sailing plans. You should also pay particular attention to the nautical chart here, as there are shallows off almost every second cape, especially on the north coast. On the other hand, the beautiful anchor bays, especially in the south of the island, exude that Caribbean feeling.
Itinerary
Day 2
from PALMA to SA RÁPITA (approx. 25 nautical miles)
You travel by boat along the east coast. Behind the steep cliffs of the bay of Palma, Cabo Blanco, the beautiful bays and sandy beaches of Mallorca begin. Perhaps take a detour to one of the many anchorages to swim and snorkel.
In the harbor of Sa Rapita there are several guest berths inside the breakwater or scattered around the harbor basin. There are various bars and restaurants with beautiful terraces and views of the island of Cabrera, as well as small stores within walking distance. If you have forgotten something when buying groceries in Palma, you can pick it up at the local supermarket.
If you don’t want to enter the harbor, you can anchor right next to the beautiful natural sandy beach of Es Trenc, weather permitting. Es Trenc beach stretches for about a mile between the towns of Sa Rápita and Colónia de Sant Jordi. In stronger winds it can get a little uncomfortable, otherwise you can anchor in the turquoise blue water and enjoy the white sand, which is reminiscent of the Caribbean.
Day 3
from SA RÁPITA to PORTOCOLOM (approx. 20 nautical miles)
After a delicious breakfast on board or in one of the bars, it’s time to set sail or start the engine. Then it’s on to the fantastic calas, the bays of the cliff coast and on to Porto Pedro, Cala D’Dor and Portocolom. Take time for a short stop at one of the small calas, such as Cala Llombards. Picturesque landscapes and sparkling sea in many different shades of azure lie before you. The east of Mallorca has many enchanting bays known as Calas Fantasticas.
The harbor bay of Portocolom welcomes you with colorful boathouses in the southwest. The marina of Portocolom is small, but fortunately equipped with a large buoy field, which can also be reserved in advance. The village of Portocolom with its former trading port has retained its old charm around the old town center. Here you can still find and admire many old Mallorcan fishing boats, so-called Llauts. There are many culinary highlights, trendy bars and restaurants for every budget to discover along the bay and in the town.
Day 4
from PORTOCOLOM to CALA RATJADA (approx. 25 nautical miles)
We continue north-east along the beautiful coast to Cala Ratjada, Mallorca’s eastern tip. With around 200 berths, Cala Ratjada’s harbor is one of the most important harbors in this region of Mallorca. Numerous boats dock here, especially in the summer months. The lively town is popular with many vacationers. In the historic lobster houses to the east of the harbor basin, lobsters are kept alive in seawater tanks until they are sold.
Day 5
from CALA RATJADA to CALA MACARELLA (approx. 25 nautical miles)
The crossing to Menorca from Cala Ratjada is not long. However, it can get windy, as the narrow part of the sea between Mallorca and Menorca can have a chimney-like suction effect of the winds from the Gulf of Lions.
Cala Macarella is a wonderful natural beach in one of the most beautiful and most photographed bays in Menorca. The sand is light and fine. The water is very clear and, especially from a distance, the turquoise water and the light-colored cliffs are a great photo opportunity.
Here you can anchor well on a sandy bottom with little seaweed. Thanks to the poor mobile phone coverage, you also have peace and quiet from the outside world.
Day 6
from CALA MACARELLA to CIUTADELLA (approx. 10 nautical miles)
The route westwards to Ciutadella leads past the equally beautiful bays of Cala Turqueta, Cala Son Saura and Cala ‘n Bosch. The Cabo d’Artutx lighthouse is rounded to the north.
The destination of the day’s stage is the port town of Ciutadella in the west of Menorca, situated in a natural harbor. No other port town on the Balearic Islands offers this perfect combination of small marinas (reservation required) and an adjacent old town. The former capital of the island has a medieval network of streets around the historic town center, Es Born, with numerous palaces, churches and fortresses to visit. The lively center of Ciutadella consists of countless boutiques, galleries, offices, small traditional stores and bars that line the narrow streets and squares. Around the harbor there are a number of delightful restaurants with terraces and views of the boats. Gin lovers should definitely try the famous Menorcan gin Xoriquer.
Day 7
from CIUTADELLA to PORT DE FORNELLS (approx. 25 nautical miles)
If the mistral is strong, this part of the route may have to be urgently rescheduled. Today’s destination, Port de Fornells, is definitely worth a visit if the weather is good. In any case, the weather forecast and nautical chart must be observed due to the many shallows offshore.
Menorca’s north coast also differs vegetatively from the Caribbean feeling of the beaches in the south. This coastline is characterized by rugged, jagged rocks with bays that reach deep into the land. The yellow and red beaches here are coarser than the fine sandy beach in the south.
The shallow Bahia de Fornells is a large lagoon that extends into the hinterland of the archipelago and offers surfers and sailors an ideal spot. There are few moorings for guests in the small marina, but a large buoy field and several anchorages in the bay. The small, whitewashed houses of Fornells, together with the attractively designed harbor promenade, create an inviting ambience. The town is known for its good fish restaurants. The lobster specialty, Caldereta de Langosta, is appreciated by gourmets and locals alike.
Day 8
from FORNELLS to MAHÒN (approx. 25 nautical miles)
It’s worth getting an early start to the day on the way to Menorca’s island capital Mahón. This leaves enough time for a short break at one of the beautiful anchorages on the north-west coast, such as Calla Olla, Cala de s’Enclusa or, after passing the Cabo Favaritx lighthouse, in Cala Presili or Cala Mesquida.
Mahón not only marks the easternmost part of the Balearic Islands, but also of Spain. As one of the largest natural harbors in Europe, Mahón offers yacht crews plenty of shelter and ideal conditions. You can choose between two different marinas for mooring. Depending on the season, prior reservation is recommended. Locals and tourists alike take advantage of the diverse cultural, culinary and other offerings along the more than five-kilometer-long fjord. The harbor area is home to many trendy bars and restaurants. In the restaurants along the harbor, lovers of fish specialties get their money’s worth.
Day 9
from MAHÒN to PLAYA DE BINIGAUS (approx. 30 nautical miles)
We return to the dazzling azure south coast of Menorca. The beach section Playa de Binigaus interrupts Menorca’s southern cliffs in the middle. In calm weather conditions and with an offshore wind, you will find a good anchorage with good infrastructure ashore on the 3 nautical mile wide stretch.
Dance-loving clubbers are drawn to the deep bay of Cala Porté. The Cova dén Xoroi cave there can be visited during the day and is transformed into a unique disco at night.
Day 10
from PLAYA DE BINIGAUS to PORTO CRISTO (approx. 50 nautical miles)
It’s back to Mallorca’s coast. After the short crossing between the two Balearic Islands, today’s route to Porto Cristo again takes you past many picturesque bays with turquoise-blue water. Some of these are, for example, Cala Canyamel and Ensenada de la Moreyra.
Porto Cristo offers everything that sailors and motor boaters could wish for from a Mediterranean harbor town. Like a fjord, the harbor is surrounded by rock faces and thus very well protected. The range of moorings and facilities is extensive, the selection of good bars and restaurants is excellent and the long beach promenade invites you to take a stroll.
End the day with a walk ashore in this beautiful ambience.
Day 11
from PORTO CRISTO to CALA MONDRAGÒ (approx. 20 nautical miles)
On the way along the west coast of Mallorca towards Cabo Salinas, the southernmost tip, you pass the Calas Fantasticas again, which are worth a stopover. Cala Barcas is not to be missed. The turquoise waters of the bay, the white sandy beach, the cliffs and the rock arch, which has become a landmark of the village, offer a fantastic panorama and invite you to relax and swim.
Cala Mondragó is one of the best-known anchor bays on Mallorca’s east coast. The bay and the surrounding area were declared a nature park in the early 1990s and are therefore protected from intensive development and mass tourism. There are chiringuitos, as the small beach bars are called here, on both beaches.
Day 12
from CALA MONDRAGÒ to CABRERA (approx. 25 nautical miles)
Today’s destination, the natural harbor of Cabrera, should be reached between 5 and 6 p.m. at the latest. One of the 50 buoys must be reserved in advance on the Internet. If you do not have a reservation, the nature park staff will ask you to leave the harbor bay in the evening, even if there are still buoys available. Anchoring is not permitted anywhere in the national park. Buoy reservations can be made a maximum of 20 days before the desired mooring date and in the high season a maximum of 1 overnight stay per boat per week is possible.
The unspoiled and protected island itself can be reached from the buoy with your own dinghy. The excursion is worthwhile. Cabrera, which translates as the goat island, is a natural paradise. Above all, the landscape and the wealth of plants and animals enchant every visitor. Wild goats are no longer to be found. On the other hand, there is a wide variety of birds, insects and lizards. Cabrera has also played a role in history over the centuries as a refuge for pirates, a monastery, an internment camp and a military base. It is still a restricted military area, which means that some areas are not accessible and there may be restrictions. There is a small restaurant with drinks and simple snacks. If you visit the Blue Grotto, Cueva Azul, by dinghy from midday, you will experience a magnificent play of colors. The sun falls into the grotto and the sea is reflected on the walls.
As soon as the sun goes down, you can enjoy one of the most beautiful starry skies in and around Cabrera.
Day 13
from CABRERA to CALA PI (approx. 15 nautical miles)
Today’s distance is short and the buoy in Cabrera can be used until 18 h, so the morning can be used to relax in or explore the nature reserve.
The narrow fjord-like rocky gorge of Cala Pi on the south coast of Mallorca is a popular anchorage where you are well protected except in southerly winds. The fine sandy beach there is well maintained and the fantastic water conditions are perfect for swimming and snorkeling. On land, there is a settlement with various restaurants and a mini-market within walking distance.
If you prefer to enter a harbor, you can moor in the quiet marina of S’Estanyol, for example. The small, sleepy village has a few nice restaurants and the Punta Plana lighthouse is a nice destination for a hike from here.
Day 14
from CALA PI to PALMA (approx. 15 nautical miles)
The last day of your boat tour along Mallorca’s and Menorca’s coast has begun.
You will arrive with your charter yacht in Palma’s home port, Marina La Lonja, at around 5 pm. Please do not forget to empty the waste tanks and fill the fuel tanks at the filling station before you arrive. After our team has received you and the yacht at the jetty, the technical inspection follows and the divers come by to inspect the hull and keel. So that we can check the yacht quickly, it is essential that you tidy and clear up the cockpit, deck, saloon and cabins.
After the inspection, you can enjoy a final dinner in one of the many trendy restaurants in Palma’s old town. Relax with a beer or a glass of wine, look at the vacation pictures and videos of the past week and review your cruise.
You can spend the night on your charter yacht in our harbor until the next morning at 8.00 a.m., when you leave the yacht cleared and swept clean with washed dishes, emptied trash cans and all your belongings.
The entire Yates Mallorca team wishes you and your crew a wonderful vacation
