Cala Comtesa; lovely little semi virgin beach in urban area
Services and features
Length 45 m / Width 25 m
Access by car
Bus stop
Family friendly
WC
Residential environment
Paid parking
Ideal for snorkelling
Showers
High occupancy
Access for the handicapped
Sunbed / umbrella rental
Beach barThe weather in Cala Comtesa
Description
Cala Comtesa is a small beach in the bay of Palma located next to the Illetas urbanization, in the municipality of Calviá. It is made up of a small sandy area 45 m long and 25 m wide, followed by a 30 m solarium area on the rocks. It is surrounded by small rocky cliffs covered with pine trees that quite conceal the nearby buildings, giving it a certain character of a virgin beach. The stone stairs and terraces are perfectly integrated into the environment.
The waters are calm and shallow, making it perfect for families with children
It has access enabled for people with reduced mobility, so elderly people or people with mobility problems can also enjoy it. In addition, the atmosphere is calmer than in the nearby Illetas beach.
It is also suitable for anchoring boats, although with certain precautions, as we will see.
How to get to Cala Comtesa
Illetas, the residential and tourist area where Cala Comtesa is located, is well served by various means. Given the parking problems that can occur in high season, a good option may be to approach it by public transport or bicycle.
How to get to Cala Comtesa by car
The path to Cala Comtesa is well signposted.
- From Palma we will follow Via de Cintura, Ma-20 motorway, towards Andratx. We will join the Ma-1 motorway until exit 9, Bendinat / Illetes. At the first roundabout, we will be able to follow the indications to Illetas.
- On the Paseo de Illetas we will continue towards the sea until we reach a fork. On the left we would follow the same Paseo de Illetas, and on the right we will find the street of Cala Comtesa, where we will have to continue.
The streets closest to Cala Comtesa have free parking, but if we approach Illetas beach we must bear in mind that it is a blue zone
The closest car park is at the other end of the Paseo de Illetas.
How to get to Cala Comtesa by bike
The beaches of Calviá are a common destination for cyclists and it is common to see them traveling the coast
If we are in Palma, we can take the Ma-1C road from the Paseo Marítimo to reach Cala Major and then continue towards Sant Agustí, Cas Català and Illetas, at the end of which is Cala Comtesa.
If we are in Palmanova, Magaluf or even in Santa Ponsa, there are signposted routes to cycle along this part of the coastline until we reach Illetas and Cala Comtesa.
How to get to Cala Comtesa by public transport
Although Cala Comtesa belongs to the municipality of Calviá, it can be reached from Palma by urban line 4. In fact, the end of the line is on Cala Comtesa street.
How to get to Cala Comtesa by boat
The waters of Cala Comtesa are quite sheltered, but given its small size there is little room to anchor as the bathing area is marked
Outside it, the bottom is made of sand and algae and is between two and three meters deep.
Avoid the strait between the islets of Sa Caleta and s’Estenedor (two of the islets that give the name of Illetas to this area), due to the presence of shoals. Really s’Estenedor is no longer an islet, since a road was built to connect it to land through an isthmus.
Services
Despite its aspect of a virgin beach, Cala Comtesa has services for the greater comfort of bathers
There is a rental service for sunbeds and umbrellas, and it also has a shower and toilets. However, there is no lifeguard service on this beach.
It also does not have facilities to rent equipment for nautical sports, but there is a beach bar on its right bank that serves food and drinks. However, it must be noted that it is expensive and does not stand out for its quality or its service.
Activities
Cala Comtesa is a perfect beach to take a refreshing dip in clean and calm turquoise waters. Then we can spread our towel on its golden sand or on the solarium areas of the rocky areas to sunbathe with great views of the sea.
For lovers of snorkeling, its funds where sand and rocks alternate do not disappoint
We can get to the islets in front of the beach where shoals of fish, different mollusks and cephalopods will surprise us among their rocks.
If we are diving practitioners it is also a comfortable place from which to make our dives
Near Cala Comtesa and the nearby Illetas beach there are good diving points up to 18 m deep, with shallow depths but with very beautiful bottoms, where we can see small reefs among the remains of sunken objects in these waters. If we do not have the equipment in Illetas there are several diving schools where you can rent it, or hire classes or trips to the sea.
It is also a good place to practice both paddle surfing and canoeing, given how calm its waters are
We can take a short walk to Illetas, to the east, or we can head west by turning Punta del Bufador and reaching s’Oratori beach, in Portals. Those in better shape have several routes that pose a greater challenge:
- Route 1: to Palmanova, 10 km
- Route 2: a little further, to Magaluf, 16 km
- Route 3: to the Dique del Oeste, with a stop at Caló des Macs, 11.5 km
- Route 4: also to the Dique del Oeste, but crossing the entire bay of Cala Major
By kayak we can venture further afield:
- Route 1: to the Marineland dolphinarium, bordering all of Puerto Portals
Near Cala Comtesa, to the south of the old islet (now a small peninsula) of s’Estenedor is the Illa de sa Torre, where an old defense tower known as the Torre d’Illetes stands.
The original tower was built at the end of the 16th century, but it underwent a major remodeling in the late 18th century that greatly changed its appearance. It was restored in 2019 to recover part of its original appearance. The island where it rises belongs to the Ministry of Defense but access is free.
If we want to have a snack, a soft drink or a good lunch or dinner, in Illetas there is a wide range of restaurants for all tastes and budgets
It also has an entertaining nightlife in its entertainment venues.
Lodging
In Cala Comtesa there is no hotel establishment, the closest are on Illetas beach, all of them four stars
There may be a vacation rental in the residential area, somewhat more secluded from the beachfront. To find a greater and more varied offer of accommodation, we can go to Palmanova, 10 km by road, or to Palma, just 12 km away.
