Cala Deià; remote cove in the Sierra de Tramuntana
Services and Features
Low residential environment
High occupancy
Bus stop at 3 Km
Ideal for anchoring
Access by car
Paid parking
Psicobloc
Length: 70 m / Width: 6 m
Restaurants
Ideal for divingWeather in Cala Deià
Description
Cala Deià is a hidden cove located in the northwest of Mallorca, in the Sierra de Tramuntana, at the foot of the town of the same name. It is a small cove of pebbles, rocks and boulders about 70 m long and just 6 wide. It is not very comfortable to lie down for sunbathing, but its turquoise green waters are spectacularly clean and crystal clear, and the surroundings are of great beauty.
The cove forms a semicircle embedded between cliffs crowned with pine and low hills
Cala Deià is the mouth of the Torrent Major, which collects water from other small torrents. In the rainy season we can see the flow of the torrent pouring water to the cove, but it does not form waterfalls like Cala Banyalbufar or Cala Estellencs.
It is not a recommended beach to go with the family, since there is no lifeguard service, and being rocks and pebbles will not be liked by most children.
Like other coves in the Sierra de Tramuntana, since ancient times it was used as a refuge for fishermen
At one of its ends there is a small boathouse and booths where fishermen kept their gear and tools.
Although the access is not particularly comfortable, there is a small paid parking near the cove
But in general you will have to walk from the town of Deià. In the summer months it can be very busy.
Deià is a well-known town abroad, and is often dubbed “the town of painters” or “the town of artists”
For the large number of painters who have immortalized the peculiar light of the Mediterranean in this part of Mallorca. When Carlos de Gales visited Mallorca for the first time in 1986, he emphasized that nowhere in the world had he seen a light like that of Mallorca.
Before this visit, Deià was already very popular among the British for having established his residence there the famous poet and novelist Robert Graves
Author among others of the famous I, Claudius. Since then many have been the celebrities who have stayed in this picturesque town and bathed in the waters of Cala Deià. Carolina Corr, one of the members of the famous The Corrs quartet, celebrated her wedding at Deià’s church.
Although it is possible to anchor in the cove it is not recommended, since there are some rocks near the surface
And if wind blows from the north or from the northwest, the cove is whipped by them and is not safe.
On the cliffs that surround Cala Deià there are several caves accessible only from the sea that also make it a very attractive destination for diving.
How to get to Cala Deià
Deià is located 30 km from Palma. To get there we must take the Ma-1110 road to Valldemossa
And from there we will follow the Ma-10, which runs through the Sierra de Tramuntana, in direction to Deià. From Valldemossa to Deià there are about 10 km. If we are taking a tour of the Sierra, Deià is located just 12 km from Sóller, another important town in the Sierra de Tramuntana. In fact it is very common to visit these three picturesque villages, Valldemossa, Deià and Sóller, on the same day.
The access by car to Cala Deià from the town is 2.1 km away in the direction of Sóller
The detour to the left (to the right if we come from Sóller) is properly signposted. But as we have said, the parking near Cala Deià is very small (and for a fee) and if it does not arrive soon in the morning we will find it crowded. It is best to park in one of the two public car parks in the town itself and follow the signs to walk down to the cove. We can access it by the same road, or by the old cobbled roads Des Ribassos or De Sa Vinyeta. Access to the cove is not adapted for people with wheelchairs or reduced mobility.
To go to Deià by public transport
We have line 210, which connects Palma with the Port de Sóller, and which stops at Deià. From the stop to the cove there are almost 3 km, about 30 minutes walk.
Services
Due to its nature and small size, Cala Deià does not have rental services for sun loungers or parasols, or showers, nor does it offer lifeguard services. We can use the bathrooms of the restaurants located in the cove, which also have a small first aid kit for the most basic first aid.
One of the restaurants is located at one end of Cala Deià, built on a rock ledge
It offers typical Mallorcan dishes and simple, usual beach day food. The other, a few meters higher and more exclusive, is an excellent viewpoint over this beautiful part of the Mediterranean, and we can enjoy more refined dishes, especially fresh fish and seafood.
Activities
The clean and crystalline waters of Cala Deià are perfect for cooling off. To lie down to sunbathe we must find a comfortable place. At the ends of the cove it is easier to find flat areas with few pebbles, but for that we must arrive soon.
The same cleanliness of the waters make Cala Deià perfect for diving, both with bottles and apnea
There are several caves accessible only by swimming that offer a magnificent experience for fans of these sports.
If we practice free climbing
The cliffs that surround Cala Deià have very good points to practice psychobloc.
If what we are looking for are physical activities but quieter
The surroundings of Cala Deià offer us magnificent places to practice hiking, as well as being a crossing point for different hiking trails.
Deià is the starting point of one of the stages of the Pedra Route in Sec (GR-221), to Sóller. Following the coast there is a route that takes us to Cala Llucalcari. That same route can be extended to the Port de Sóller, parallel to the route GR-221.
- Ruta GR-221 Deià – Port de Sóller – Sóller
- Ruta Cala Deià – Llucalcari
- Ruta Cala Deià – Port de Sóller
Lodging
Despite being a small town (just over 600 inhabitants), Deià has a reasonable offer of accommodation of all categories: from one-star hostels to four and five-star hotels. If we want to enjoy even more tranquility and nature there are also rural farms where to stay.
