A quieter alternative to Port d’Alcúdia, 3 km to the east. Low villas sit among pines beside a pebbly, sandy shore without rows of sunbeds. Just offshore is Illa d’Alcanada, with its 19th-century lighthouse.
Alcanada
Alcanada in 30 seconds
The essentials at a glance
- Worth visiting for
- A short visit
- Best for
- You’re staying in Port d’Alcúdia and fancy a peaceful afternoon.
- Best months
- March–October
- Time to allow
- Half a day
- With children
- Only partly suitable, because of the stony entry
- Without a car
- Hire car recommended
- Parking
- Roadside parking only, with no designated parking areas.
- Getting into the water
- Shallow but stony; water shoes are useful
- Keep in mind
- Don’t expect a broad sandy beach; the shore is pebbly and rocky.
- Access
- Pushchairs: Suitable along the waterfront road, but not down to the water. · Wheelchairs: Not accessible.
Get a feel for Mallorca. Find your kind of place.
A wooded shoreline with houses among the trees, rather than a broad sandy beach. The pines reach almost to the water.
Platja d’Alcanada has short stretches of pebbles and coarse sand, with this view across the water.
The houses stay low and blend into the trees, quite unlike the shoreline 3 km to the west.
Getting to know Alcanada
Does Alcanada suit your plans?
What to expect and what to know before you visit.
Who it suits
- You’re staying in Port d’Alcúdia and fancy a peaceful afternoon.
- You enjoy snorkelling along clear, shallow rocky shores.
- You’d like some shade — the pines reach almost to the water.
- You play golf; Club de Golf Alcanada is just behind the shore.
Things to bear in mind
- Don’t expect a broad sandy beach; the shore is pebbly and rocky.
- Bring what you need rather than relying on sunbeds, bars and beach facilities.
- Families wanting shallow water over sand are better served by Port d’Alcúdia.
- Getting here is less convenient without a car or bicycle.
Drive from the airport
60 minutes
58 km
Bus connections
Seasonal TIB route 323 runs via Port d’Alcúdia and Alcúdia
Region
Raiguer
Nearest beach
Port d'Alcúdia
2 km
Elevation
8 m
above sea level
Season guide for Alcanada
November Worth considering
Very quiet Mostly closed
Worth visiting in March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October. Mostly closed in January, February, March, November and December.
Location
Location of Alcanada
- Region
- Raiguer
- Municipality
- Alcúdia
- Elevation
- 8 m above sea level
- Airport
- 58 km , around 60 minutes
- Hire car
- recommended
- Worth visiting for
- a brief stop
- Coordinates
- 39.8371,3.1547
Where to find it
Alcanada lies around 3 km east of Port d’Alcúdia, on the coast road towards the Victòria peninsula. It’s a residential area rather than a resort: low villas among pines, narrow paths to the water, and no souvenir stalls or promenade.
The shoreline is broken into short stretches of pebbles, coarse sand and rock, rather than forming a continuous beach. The water is shallow at the edge but stony underfoot, so water shoes are useful.
The pines offer something relatively unusual around Alcúdia bay: shade close to the water.
The lighthouse island
Just offshore is Illa d’Alcanada, a small uninhabited island with a 19th-century lighthouse. It can be seen from almost anywhere along this stretch and gives both the area and the golf club behind the shore their name.
The golf course
Club de Golf Alcanada is an 18-hole coastal course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 2003. It is regarded as one of Spain’s leading courses, and the lighthouse island is visible from most holes.
What to bring
There are no sunbeds, parasols, waterfront bar, lifeguards, supermarket or designated car parks. Park beside the road and bring everything you need for your visit.
For families with small children, the shallow sandy beach at Port d’Alcúdia is the more practical choice. Alcanada is somewhere to come afterwards for a quieter afternoon.
When to come
May and October are particularly pleasant. But this stretch has another advantage: even in July and August, it stays relatively quiet compared with the packed beach 3 km to the west.
Photographs
Alcanada in Mallorca
How much time do you have?
Things to do in Alcanada
Three hours
Park beside the road, choose a section of shore and take your mask into the water. Bring food and drinks.
Half a day
Visit Alcúdia’s walls and Pollentia in the morning, then come here to cool off in the afternoon. They’re about ten minutes apart by car.
A full day
Continue to the hermitage on the Victòria peninsula, then return and wait for the sunset across the bay.
On a rainy day
Head into Alcúdia old town instead; there’s little to do here in the rain.
The beach at a glance
- Underfoot
- Pebbles and coarse sand, with rock under the water
- Getting into the water
- Shallow but stony; water shoes are useful
- Length
- Several short sections rather than one continuous beach
- Shade
- Pines provide shade close to the water
- Wind
- Usually sheltered within the bay
- With children
- Only partly suitable, because of the stony entry
- Facilities
- No sunbeds or parasols · A few seasonal places to eat nearby · No lifeguards
Practical details
- Parking
- Roadside parking only, with no designated parking areas.
- Time to allow
- Half a day
- Good to know
- There are no beach facilities here. Bring water, food and water shoes for the stony entry into the sea.
- Bus
- Seasonal TIB route 323 runs via Port d’Alcúdia and Alcúdia; check the timetable for your travel date.
- Shops and services
- Supermarkets: None; the nearest is in Port d’Alcúdia · Pharmacy: In Port d’Alcúdia · Medical care: In Alcúdia · Cash machines: In Port d’Alcúdia · Fuel: In Port d’Alcúdia
- Access
- A tarmac road, with access to the water over rock and pebbles. · Pushchairs: Suitable along the waterfront road, but not down to the water. · Wheelchairs: Not accessible. · Dogs: Generally straightforward outside the main season.
- What you will not find
- A broad sandy beach · Sunbeds and parasols · Supermarket · Lifeguards · Designated car parks
- Coordinates
- 39.8371,3.1547 Google Maps Apple Maps
Within reach
Places to visit
Nearby
The remains of an important Roman town just outside Alcúdia. An urban centre developed here after the conquest of …
A pilgrimage church on the Victòria peninsula, seven kilometres north-east of Alcúdia. The road ends at a …
Via Alcúdia, then along a narrow mountain road
A Talayotic burial ground right beside the sea between Can Picafort and Son Serra de Marina. Around 110 tombs …
A few steps onto a wooden platform reveal the coast of Son Real. A dolmen lies beside the viewpoint, with the …
Old farm buildings, gnarled olive trees and a museum about earlier life on Mallorca. Son Real lies between Can …
Mallorca’s best-known viewpoint stands 232 metres above the sea on the Formentor peninsula. A terrace occupies a …
Mallorca's north-eastern tip, reached along a rocky peninsula with a lighthouse at its end since 1863. The …
A church among the pines, beside the old Son Serra estate with its towers and farm buildings. A glimpse of the …
Distances without a driving time are measured in a straight line. The road journey can be much longer; known driving times are shown alongside.
Other beaches to consider
Beaches and swimming nearby
Five kilometres of pale sand shelving gently into the sea, backed by hotels, bars and shops. A classic beach …
A long sandy stretch of the Bay of Alcúdia, with protected dunes and pines at Es Comú rather than a continuous …
A small fishing settlement first recorded in 1860 has become a busy holiday resort. Come for the beach, the …
A quieter, more expensive neighbour to Alcúdia bay, with the waterfront Pine Walk, a royal yacht club and reliable …
Explore from here
Your questions answered
Your questions about Alcanada
What is Illa d’Alcanada?
A small uninhabited island just offshore to the east of Port d’Alcúdia, with a 19th-century lighthouse. You can see it from almost anywhere along this stretch of coast. The surrounding area and the golf club take their name from it.
Can you swim in Alcanada?
Yes, but the shore is different from Port d’Alcúdia. Instead of one broad sandy beach, there are short sections of pebbles, coarse sand and rock. The entry is shallow but stony, so water shoes help. Pines grow close to the sea and provide shade.
Are there beach bars or sunbeds in Alcanada?
No. There are no sunbeds, parasols or lifeguards, and the nearest supermarket is in Port d’Alcúdia. Bring water and food if you’re spending the afternoon here.
How do you get to Alcanada?
Follow the coast road east from Port d’Alcúdia for around 3 km, by car or bicycle. Seasonal TIB route 323 also runs via Port d’Alcúdia and Alcúdia. Check the operating dates and your return journey with TIB. Parking is on the roadside, with no designated parking areas.
What is Club de Golf Alcanada?
An 18-hole coastal course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 2003. It is regarded as one of Spain’s leading courses. Most holes have views of the lighthouse island that gives the club its name.
Is Alcanada good for children?
It has its limitations. The stony entry, lack of lifeguards and limited facilities make it less convenient with small children. Port d’Alcúdia’s shallow sandy beach is a better family choice. Alcanada suits a quiet afternoon as a couple or a snorkelling trip.
Practical questions
When is the best time to visit Alcanada?
Recommended months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Access and opening are limited in January, February, March, November, December. See the visiting advice on this page. A particularly good time for a coastal walk with views of the island.
Is Alcanada worth visiting in July and August?
July: worth a visit. Usually lively. Still considerably quieter than Port d’Alcúdia, 3 km away. August: worth a visit. Usually lively.
How far is Alcanada from Palma airport?
About 58 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 60 minutes by car. Follow the coast road east from Port d’Alcúdia for around 3 km. Parking is on the roadside; there are no designated parking areas.
Do I need a hire car for Alcanada?
A car is useful Seasonal TIB route 323 runs via Port d’Alcúdia and Alcúdia; check the timetable for your travel date.
Where can I park in Alcanada?
Roadside parking only, with no designated parking areas.
Can you swim at Alcanada?
Yes. Pebbles and coarse sand, with rock under the water Shallow but stony; water shoes are useful Several short sections rather than one continuous beach Pines provide shade close to the water Only partly suitable, because of the stony entry
Can I visit Alcanada with a pushchair or wheelchair?
A tarmac road, with access to the water over rock and pebbles. Pushchairs: Suitable along the waterfront road, but not down to the water. Wheelchairs: Not accessible.
Are dogs allowed at Alcanada?
Generally straightforward outside the main season.
Words and photographs: Friedhelm Fischer. Exploring Mallorca since 2013 — by bike, on foot and with a camera.