Cala Figuera; small virgin cove on the Formentor peninsula
Services and features
Natural environment
Low occupancy
Free parking
Length 30 m / Width 50 m
450 m walk to reachThe weather in Cala Formentor
Description
On the north side of the Formentor peninsula, in Pollensa, in the north of Mallorca, lies the small and beautiful Cala Figuera. It is a spectacular sea inlet protected on one side by a vertical stone cliff and on the other by one with a softer sandstone slope. Behind it stands Es Fumat, a 334-meter-high mountain.
The cove itself is the mouth of a torrent, forming an irregular beach about 45 m long by between 10 and 40 wide, made up mainly of boulders. At the ends of the beach there are some stone esplanades where it is more comfortable to lie down to sunbathe and enjoy the views.
The bottom in its first meters is made of boulders and sharp rocks and then gives way to a sandy bottom
Further towards the sea we find plains of posidonia. Depending on the time of day, its clean waters oscillate between great transparency and an intense navy blue.
The environment of Cala Figuera remains virgin thanks to the difficulty of access
The predominant vegetation is bush and scrubland, and only a few pine trees stand up to face the winds that frequently blow this part of the island.
Between the somewhat difficult access and the presence of rocks, it is not a recommended beach to visit with children
Nor for people with reduced mobility. However, these drawbacks, together with the lack of services, make Cala Figuera enjoy great tranquility even in the high season months.
How to get to Cala Figuera
To get to the Formentor peninsula, we must go to Puerto de Pollensa, which has good road connections.
How to get to Cala Figuera by car
To get to Cala Figuera we will first go to Puerto de Pollensa
- From Palma: we will take the central freeway Ma-13, exit 40 will take us to Pollensa. We will continue to Puerto de Pollensa, and at the traffic circle with the structure of a seaplane we will continue towards Formentor.
- From the north (Alcudia, Can Picafort, Artá): take the Ma-12 road, which connects Artá with Puerto de Pollensa, passing through Can Picafort, Playa de Muro, and Puerto de Alcudia. At the traffic circle at the entrance, take the second exit, following the signs to Formentor.
The Formentor road is quite winding and somewhat narrow at some points. The presence of bicycles and coaches will force us to drive with extreme caution. During some months of the year access by car to the Formentor lighthouse is restricted, having to take a bus from Puerto de Pollensa.
At the top of the climb is the viewpoint called Es Colomer, where we can enjoy magnificent views of the Formentor peninsula and the bay of Pollensa
We will begin the descent and after about 3 km we will arrive at the Formentor detour. We will turn left to continue on the same Ma-2210 for another 4 km, when we will arrive at the Cala Figuera junction (on our left, signposted) where there is a small free car park.
From this esplanade a rough path of about 450 m (also signposted) that ends in some stone stairs that finally leaves us in Cala Figuera.
How to get to Cala Figuera by boat
Access by sea to Cala Figuera is somewhat dangerous, especially if the north or northeast wind blows
It is recommended to enter the cove leaving two small islets at the entrance to the port side. After this, about 200 m from the beach, the depth above the sandy bottom is about 5 m. The closest marina is Puerto de Pollensa, 10.2 miles away.
Services
As we have already said, the environment of Cala Figuera remains virgin and there is no type of service (showers, toilets, lifeguards)
There is no access for people with reduced mobility. There is also no nearby beach bar, restaurant, or sports facility. The only construction, apart from the stairs to go down to the cove, is a small dry dock and a tiny boat shelter.
Activities
The main incentive that Cala Figuera offers us is to enjoy the tranquility in a wild and unspoilt natural setting
Its clean and clear waters are great for cooling off. They are also a good place for snorkelling, delighting in the varied marine life that lives on the cliffs that close the cove or under its sandy bottoms: many species of fish, anemones, stars and sea urchins…
On the other hand, the waters of Cala Figuera are not particularly good for diving
Since the wind and currents often stir the sandy bottom, clouding the water a few meters deep. To this must be added the difficulty of carrying all the necessary equipment to the cove along a not particularly easy path. A good option is to arrive by boat and start the dive from it.
A good diving point is the so-called Cap de Catalunya. It is located at the northernmost end of the cliff that flanks Cala Figuera on its north side. It is a dive only suitable for experienced divers, since it descends to about 50 m where we will find a cave that goes about 200 m into the interior of the mountain.
The incomparable setting of Cala Figuera also provides us with a magnificent hiking experience
From here we can start the trip to Cala Murta and the viewpoint of El Castellet. If we are not afraid of a cross country route, from Cala Figuera we can go around the entire north of the Formentor peninsula. The route between Cala Figuera and Cala Murta is simpler and suitable for the whole family. If what we like is climbing, in El Fumat there are several of different difficulties.
- Excursion Cala Figuera – Cala Murta – Mirador de El Castellet
- Excursion circular por la península de Formentor
- Excursion Cala Figuera – Cala Murta
Finally, the road to the Formentor lighthouse is part of very popular cycling routes
However, the steep slopes in some of its sections makes it not recommended for all cycling fans. To this must be added the danger from the traffic of cars and coaches. In July and August the access of cars is restricted, but the strong heat adds even more difficulty to this route.
Lodging
The closest accommodation to Cala Figuera is the Hotel Formentor, a luxury establishment of great international prestige. In the nearby Puerto de Pollensa we have a wide variety of accommodation: hostels, three and four star hotels, aparthotels, apartments and tourist flats, chalets and rural estates.
See hotels in Puerto de Pollensa
