Services and Features
Virgin environment
High occupancy
Length 20 m / Width 25 m
400 m on foot to get thereDescription
Cala Brafi (also called Cala Brafia) is a small cove with a sandy and rocky beach located in the municipality of Felanitx, next to Portocolom, in the east of Mallorca. The sand area has a somewhat irregular shape. The beach line is just over 20 m long, and the sand extends up to 25 m inland. Both on the surface and on the seabed, rocks emerge from the sand.
Access is done on foot from the Cala Marçal urbanization along rustic paths and partly cross country, so it is not highly recommended to go with young children, and logically it is not recommended for people with mobility problems.
These access difficulties mean that Cala Brafi has a low influx of bathers, it is perfect for couples seeking privacy, and the practice of nudism is also common. The surroundings of the cove are practically virgin. The cliffs that flank it are covered with pine trees, junipers and different bushes, and the only buildings are a small boathouse and an abandoned fishermen’s refuge.
Unlike most coves on this part of the Mallorca coast, Cala Brafi is not very good for anchoring boats due to the presence of rocks on which it is easy to run aground.
How to get to Cala Brafi
To get to Portocolom from Palma we will follow the Ma-19 motorway towards Campos. From there we can continue through Felanitx or Santanyí. If we are in the north of the island, the most practical thing is to go first to Manacor and from there go to Felanitx. From one place as well as from the other, all you have to do is follow the signs to Portocolom.
If we go through Felanitx we will enter Portocolom through a roundabout next to the yacht club. We will leave through the second exit to take the Ronda Nadal Batle. At the next roundabout we will take the third exit, onto Vapor Santueri street, and then take Cavall Marí street, on the right. At the end of this street we will turn right to go to Cala Marçal. We will then continue along Calle Gravina until we reach Calle Fotja. Here we will turn right and continue for 250 m. Mascarell street will be on our left, where we can park the car. The distance to travel to reach Cala Brafi will be about 400 m.
If we choose to go through Santanyí, we will arrive in Portocolom a little closer to our destination, right where the streets of Cala Marçal and Gravina meet. We will turn right, until we reach Fotja street, and we can now follow the instructions given above.
We will continue on foot along Fotja street for about 200 m, to a point where it turns slightly to the right. Going straight ahead, a forest track begins, closed with a barrier. To the right, between stone walls, runs the path that we have to take. The road covers about 400 m and we will be in Cala Brafi.
If we want to opt for public transport we will have to walk a little more, but not much. Next to Cala Marçal beach, about 800 m from the start of the road to Cala Brafi, there is a stop on line 491, which is the express that runs from Palma to Portocolom. About 2 km away, on Gravina street, for line 490, which also connects Portocolom with Palma, but passing through several other towns.
Getting to Cala Brafi by boat is possible, but with caution. The presence of rocks makes it advisable only for shallow draft boats. The sandy and rocky bottom rapidly oscillates between seven and three meters. As the sea sleeve that forms the cove is barely 200 m long, you have to stay in an area that is too exposed to the winds that can rise.
Services
We have already commented that Cala Brafi is practically a virgin cove. The only buildings are a dry dock and the remains of a fishermen’s refuge, both in disuse. So we will not have any services available, not even lifeguards.
Activities
The main activity that we can do in Cala Brafi is to immerse ourselves in its crystal clear waters. Then sunbathing is a bit more complicated, since many stones emerge among the sand, but we will find somewhere.
If we have brought our snorkeling equipment we can enjoy its varied depths and the forms that the cliff takes when submerging under the sea. It is also a good place to practice diving, if we are not too lazy to carry the equipment for more than 400 m.
From here there are several very interesting excursions. Of course, it is essential to carry a lot of water and avoid the hours of strong sun since there are very few shadows all the way. A route takes us to Cala Estreta and Cala Sa Nau. A bit longer is the route to Cala Mitjana, also along the coast. These routes coincide with the so-called Camí de sa Ronda: the route followed by the police and civil guards when they made their rounds controlling contraband in this part of the Felanitx coast:
If we are fans of mountain biking, we can also do these routes by bicycle, with the logical precaution in the sections closest to the coast. Inland we have an interesting route that will take us to the Santueri castle, one of the three rock castles in Mallorca.
In addition to this medieval castle, there are numerous prehistoric remains in Felanitx. One of these deposits is very close to Portocolom, just 500 m from the bus stop. This is the Es Closos de can Gaià site, a set of navetas dating from the pre-Talayotic period (1800 BC) and which was inhabited for more than a thousand years, until the beginning of the Talayotic period (750 BC). The site has been excavated and restored and is museumized, which makes it a more than interesting visit.
From more modern times (mid-19th century) is the Portocolom lighthouse. It is considered one of the most beautiful lighthouses in Mallorca, and the point on which it is built is an incomparable viewpoint over the eastern coast of Majorca.
When we have finished our activities in Cala Brafi and its surroundings, if we have not wanted to carry food we can recharge our batteries in one of the restaurants in Portocolom. How can it be otherwise in a traditional fishing village the main specialties are fresh fish and seafood.
Lodging
In the Cala Marçal urbanization, where the road to Cala Brafi begins, we will have several three-star hotels, as well as apartment complexes and tourist rentals of various types (especially villas and tourist apartments).
In Portocolom it has a very varied offer, for all needs and budgets: one-star family hotels and hostels, four- and five-star hotels, apartment complexes and tourist apartments, and a good number of holiday villas.
If we prefer something more inland, in s’Horta, a few kilometers from Cala Brafi, there are several rural hotels and country estates, ideal for relaxing a little away from the more touristy areas.
