Sa Calobra; must-see in the Sierra de Tramuntana
Services and features
Low residential environment
Access by car
Restaurants
Psychobloc
High occupancy
Paid parking
Ideal for diving
WC
Length 60 m / Width 10 m
Beach bar
ShowersDescription
Sa Calobra is a small cove located in the heart of the Sierra de Tramuntana, in the municipality of Escorca. It forms a small beach with coarse sand and pebbles of about 60 m in length and up to 10 in width. It takes its name from the old village that stood in this area and which it shares with the current urbanization, from just a handful of houses and shops and restaurants.
Traditionally it was a very isolated place
On the one hand, the sea, frequently rough, made it difficult for boats to access. And on the other, the mountains that surround it, some of more than a thousand meters, made access by land difficult. This changed in 1932, when the current road was built, and it overcomes the 900 m of unevenness with a spectacular 14 km route.
Sa Calobra is exposed to north winds, so if they blow from that component this will not be the best cove to bathe in.
In that case, we can go to the neighboring cala of Torrent de Pareis formed by the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis and which is accessed by a promenade and a pedestrian tunnel.
Sa Calobra is not very suitable for anchoring boats due to its exposure to north winds
There is a small mooring and a boathouse, and if you want to anchor, the nearby Cala Tuent is more suitable.
How to get to Sa Calobra
The route to Sa Calobra is well signposted, although the road has its risks
If one is not very skilled when driving on a mountain road, it is preferable to leave the car and hire one of the coach excursions that visit this cove.
To get to Sa Calobra from Palma we will take the Ma-11 towards Sóller. Once there we will take the Ma-10 following the indications to Sa Calobra. At about 15 km, we will find the detour to the left, duly signposted, where the road that descends to Sa Calobra begins.
From here we must exercise extreme caution, although the companions can enjoy spectacular views
14 km downhill, with 12 180º curves, plus the famous Nu de sa Corbata (Tie knot), 270º where the road passes under itself. Tradition says that engineer Antonio Parietti came up with this way of overcoming the unevenness by occupying the minimum space precisely while knotting his tie.
We will leave the detour to Cala Tuent on our left and we will simply go straight on to Sa Calobra, where we will find a toll parking. From there there is a walk followed by a pedestrian tunnel (duly lit) that connects Sa Calobra with the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis.
From the center or the east of the island we will drive to Inca and then we will follow the indications to Lluc. At the access junction to the monastery we must follow the signs to Sa Calobra. From Palma we can also use this route, thus avoiding crossing Sóller and Fornalutx.
From Alcudia or Puerto de Pollensa the fastest route is through Pollensa, following the Ma-10 towards Lluc, and then follow the indications to Sa Calobra.
Currently there is no regular bus line to Sa Calobra, but there are quite a few coach companies that organize excursions
There are also boat trips from the Port of Sóller that disembark at the Sa Calobra pier.
The Sa Calobra road is also popular with cyclists with a certain level of preparation
Since the steep ramps and slopes (900 m of unevenness in 14 km) require good physical shape. The Torrent de Pareis and its surroundings are also the arrival point for many hiking routes. The Sa Costera route, a popular walking tour from Sóller, also concludes in neighboring Cala Tuent.
Services
In Sa Calobra there are all kinds of services for visitors. It has bathrooms and showers (for a fee). There are also several bars and restaurants and small shops. What we will not have is the rental of sunbeds and umbrellas and the rental of pedal boats.
Activities
If we like rocky coves we will enjoy taking a good dip in the clear and fresh waters of Sa Calobra
And if we are lucky, there will be a piece of sand on which to lay the towel to sunbathe comfortably. We must be careful due to the possible currents that may form, and if north winds blow, we cannot directly get into the water.
If the sea is calm, and we are in good shape, it is possible to swim to the mouth of Torrent de Pareis
You can also leave from here by kayak to explore nearby coves, such as Cala Tuent. On the access road to that cove there are facilities where you can rent equipment, and they also organize guided outings.
You can also reach the Torrent de Pareis by paddle surfing, and it is also a perfect place for snorkeling and diving.
The most attractive points are the areas near the cliffs, but we must take into account the state of the sea and the presence of boats.
For the more adventurous, the cliff that separates Sa Calobra from the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis has walls with open paths for practicing psychobloc.
In the surroundings there are several climbing areas with open routes, but it is advisable to find out if they are in good condition or if they have been removed
Some did not have authorization from the managers of the Sierra de Tramuntana Natural Park or from the owners of the farms. In others the routes were too close to nests or protected vegetation. There are informational signs indicating whether an area is permanently restricted, or only temporarily depending on whether it is in the nesting period of protected species.
We have already commented that this area is a very popular spot among hikers.
On the one hand there is the descent of the Torrent de Pareis, but there are several more excursions that can be made from that area. We can ascend to Morro de sa Vaca, one of the cliffs that flanks the cove and with spectacular views. For the most expert mountaineers it is possible to climb from here to Puig Roig, a difficult route with just over 1000 m of unevenness. By curling the curl, we can climb from sea level to the highest point in Mallorca, the Puig Major, reaching the platform where it was planned to install a funicular installation more than 90 years ago.
- Descent of the Torrent de Pareis
- Ascent to Morro de sa Vaca
- Circular route: Sa Calobra – Puig Roig – Sa Calobra
- Sa Calobra – Puig Major
In Sa Calobra there are several restaurants both à la carte and self-service
Most specialized in Mallorcan food. There are also bars and cafes.
Lodging
In Sa Calobra there is no kind of accommodation
On the Cala Tuent road there are some farms available for vacation rental, as well as a small rural hotel. Apart from these accommodations, the closest establishment is the Lluc Monastery, where we can stay in simple rooms or even in the traditional monks’ cells.
The closest tourist centers are Sóller and Puerto de Sóller. There we will find a sufficiently wide and varied offer: from hostels to luxurious five-star hotels, although the most common are three and four. Apart from these establishments, there is a wide range of holiday rentals: apartments, chalets, country estates, etc.
Take a look at Sa Calobra in 360º
