Cala d’Or Beach; past, present and future…
Services and Features
Average residential environment
High occupancy
Restaurants
Length 30 m / Width 40 m
Sunbed and umbrella rental
Ideal for anchoring
Access by car
Easy parking
Bus stop at 700 mDescription
Cala d’Or beach, also known as Cala Petita or Caló de ses Dones, is one of the coves that is part of the Cala d’Or complex, in the municipality of Santanyí, in the south of Mallorca. It is a small beach about 30 m long and 40 m wide with fine white sand, with a very gentle slope. At the rear there are artificial terraces covered with sand to increase the solarium surface.
The only hotel next to the beach is the Hotel Cala d’Or, built in 1935, and the third oldest still in operation in Mallorca. The rest of the adjoining buildings are low chalets built on the cliffs that flank the cove. They are quite hidden by the pine trees, so the views from the cove itself are still quite natural.
The waters of Cala d’Or beach are very calm, largely thanks to Punta Citerea. This small cape protects the beaches of Cala d’Or, Cala Gran and Cala Llonga from the waves, but in return it prevents you from having views of the open sea from this cove. This protection also makes the Cala d’Or beach a place where boats can anchor.
See a 360º image of Cala d’Or beach
How to get to Cala d’Or beach
Getting to Cala d’Or is very easy. It is less than an hour’s drive from Palma and its airport. We must follow the Ma-19 highway following the indications to Campos / Santanyi / Felanitx. After about 35 km we will reach Campos, and from there we can continue towards Cala d’Or via Felanitx or Santanyí, they are practically the same distance.
If we go through Felanitx, at the entrance roundabout we will take the third exit, towards the Ma-5120. At the next roundabout we will continue straight on the same Ma-5120, and after about 700 m, at the last roundabout, we will take the third exit, towards the Ma-5120. A little more than 10 km we will reach Felanitx. 300 m later we will turn right and begin to follow the indications to Cala d’Or. At the end of this street we will turn left and immediately right to continue on the Ma-14. At 4 km we will find a fork where we will take the detour to the left, following the direction of Cala d’Or, on the Ma-4016. At 5 km we will find another roundabout where we will take the second exit, towards Calonge, and we will follow the Ma-4013 that already leaves us in Cala d’Or.
If we choose to go through Santanyí, when we get to Campos we will follow the Ma-19 crossing the entire town. At the roundabout at the entrance to Santanyí we will take the third exit, following the Ma-19. At the next roundabout we will continue straight, and at the last we will take the second exit, towards Cala d’Or. We will border Portopetro and cross l’Alqueria Blanca, but the directions are very clear.
From the north or east of Mallorca it is best to go to Manacor and from there take the Ma-14 towards Felanitx. From there we will follow the indications to Cala d’Or.
In Cala d’Or there are several public car parks so we should not have many problems to park our car. Near the beach of Cala d’Or it is possible to find parking in the streets of the urbanization. Access to the beach is through an easily accessible path, but not enabled for people with mobility problems.
Cala d’Or has good connections with the rest of Mallorca by public transport. The closest stop to the Cala d’Or beach is just 200 m away. Line A51 connects the airport directly with Cala d’Or, passing through s’Arenal. Line 501 connects Cala d’Or with Palma, passing through, among other towns, Santanyí, Campos and Llucmajor. From the eastern area, line 425 connects Cala d’Or with Manacor, and line 441, with Cala Ratjada.
In the summer months from the north of Mallorca we have line 449, which goes to Puerto de Alcudia and Puerto de Pollensa, among other destinations. Line 453, also in summer, connects Cala d’Or with the Sierra de Tramuntana, to the towns of Valldemossa, Deià, Sóller, etc. Also during the summer months, several lines allow us to get from Cala d’Or to some of the most popular markets in Mallorca: on Mondays, line 841B brings us closer to Manacor; and on Thursdays we can visit the Inca market taking the 831C.
As we said, we can also get to the Cala d’Or beach by boat to anchor in its waters. The bottom, made of sand and algae, is between 2 and 3 m deep. Proceed with caution if the wind blows from the east. If we have a somewhat large boat, or if the weather conditions are not favorable, in neighboring Cala Llonga is the marina of Marina de Cala d’Or, one of the most important and luxurious in Mallorca.
Services
Cala d’Or beach has some services to make our beach day comfortable. We can rent hammocks and umbrellas, and there is a bar and restaurant next to the beach. However it does not have showers. There is also no lifeguard service.
Activities
Cala d’Or beach is an ideal cala to enjoy the beach with the family. The easy access, the tranquility and cleanliness of its waters and the gentle slope make it a perfect place to go with children. The main problem is that in summer it gets very crowded and the atmosphere can be a bit boisterous.
Its waters are quite good for snorkeling. Not so much for diving, since they are shallow, although from here you can make trips to more interesting points. There are several diving schools near the beach of Cala d’Or where you can also rent equipment.
Cala d’Or is also a good place to organize cycling tours. If we are fans of road cycling, we have both quiet routes that border the coast and inland routes that will require more effort, such as the ascent to the San Salvador sanctuary, a few kilometers from here. There are also many rural roads ideal for mountain biking.
Hiking lovers will find several routes to discover the surroundings of Cala d’Or beach. We can take a tour to get to know the other coves of Cala d’Or, approach the neighboring Cala Ferrera and from there continue to Portocolom, or take a walk to Cala Mondragó to visit its Natural Park:
Near Cala d’Or beach there are several places of cultural and historical interest. In these coves the Arabs landed during the Muslim invasion of Mallorca, and centuries later the troops of Felipe V to end the War of Succession. Precisely during his reign, Es Fortí was built, the fortress that we can see in front of the Cala d’Or beach and now converted into a cultural center.
A few kilometers away, and easily accessible by bicycle, we have the Santueri Castle, a 14th century fortress that has also been restored in recent years. Just 13 km from here we have an important site from the Talayotic and pre-Talayotic periods: the Talaies de Can Jordi. But throughout Santanyí there are dozens of sites and historical places.
In addition to the bar and restaurant next to the Cala d’Or beach, in Cala d’Or there is a vast gastronomic offer for all tastes and budgets. We can find simple family menu restaurants to fine dining restaurants.
Lodging
The Cala d’Or hotel, next to Cala d’Or beach itself, is one of the oldest in Mallorca. Although adequately renovated, it retains a certain stale air that takes us back to the time when tourism was still a matter of intellectual elites who sought solace on a still virgin Mallorcan coast.
From that hotel, the Cala d’Or that we know now expanded: one of the main tourist centers on the island. And as such, there is a great offer for all tastes and prices. Hotels from 2 to 5 stars, simple family hostels, tourist apartments, aparthotels, chalets and villas … any option is possible in Cala d’Or.
Do not miss the aerial view of the Cala d’Or beach in 360º
See 360º aerial view of the Cala d’Or beach
