Cala de Sant Vicenç
Four small coves beneath the dramatic cliffs of Cavall Bernat, rising around 300 metres above the coast. Houses and hotels cluster around the water, in a landscape that has drawn painters for more than a century.
Cala de Sant Vicenç
Cala de Sant Vicenç in 30 seconds
The essentials at a glance
- Worth visiting for
- A longer stay
- Best for
- Snorkelling around rocky shores in calm, clear water
- Best months
- March–June, September–October
- Time to allow
- Half a day for a visit, or a week as a quiet holiday base
- With children
- Cala Barques and Cala Molins suit families in calm conditions; supervise children closely around the rocks
- Without a car
- Hire car recommended
- Parking
- Free street spaces are limited. In high season you may have to park further uphill and walk down, especially later in the morning.
- Getting into the water
- Sandy access at Cala Barques and Cala Molins; rockier ground at Cala Clara and Cala Carbó
- Keep in mind
- Needing a wide choice of shops and restaurants
- Access
- Pushchairs: Possible towards Cala Barques and Cala Molins; difficult at the rocky coves · Wheelchairs: Limited, with steps on several approaches
Get a feel for Mallorca. Find your kind of place.
The buildings climb the hillside above the small bays.
Cavall Bernat's dramatic cliffs have drawn painters to this coast for generations.
Steps lead towards the water at the rocky coves. Take care with your footing and check the sea conditions.
Getting to know Cala de Sant Vicenç
Does Cala de Sant Vicenç suit your plans?
What to expect and what to know before you visit.
Who it suits
- Snorkelling around rocky shores in calm, clear water
- A quieter northern base with a few places to eat
- Walking on the routes beneath Cavall Bernat
- Choosing small coves over a long sandy beach
Things to bear in mind
- Needing a wide choice of shops and restaurants
- Expecting plenty of space on the sand in July and August
- Nightlife
- Long walks along an uninterrupted beach
Drive from the airport
65 minutes
63 km
Bus connections
Check TIB connections from Pollença and Port de Pollença
Region
Serra de Tramuntana
Nearest beach
Port de Pollença
3 km
Elevation
12 m
above sea level
Season guide for Cala de Sant Vicenç
November Worth considering
Very quiet Mostly closed
Worth visiting in March, April, May, June, September and October. Less suitable in August. Mostly closed in January, February, November and December.
Location
Location of Cala de Sant Vicenç
- Region
- Serra de Tramuntana
- Municipality
- Pollença
- Elevation
- 12 m above sea level
- Airport
- 63 km , around 65 minutes
- Hire car
- recommended
- Worth visiting for
- a longer stay
- Coordinates
- 39.9214,3.0567
Four different coves
Cala de Sant Vicenç is built around Cala Barques, Cala Clara, Cala Molins and Cala Carbó. They are close together, but their shores range from gently shelving sand to rock.
On your first visit, walk past all four before laying out your towel. The difference between them matters more than the short distance.
Cavall Bernat
The jagged ridge of Cavall Bernat, with cliffs rising around 300 metres, dominates the view. The surrounding mountains limit the resort’s space and give the coves their striking setting.
Artists have been painting this coast since the early 20th century. A bronze statue above the water recalls that connection, and Cavall Bernat remains a familiar subject in paintings of the Pollença area.
Swimming and snorkelling
In calm conditions, the water around the rocky shores can be beautifully clear. Try the edges of Cala Carbó and Cala Clara with a mask and snorkel. Water shoes help on the stony approaches.
Northerly winds can bring waves into the bays. The coves offer differing amounts of shelter, but none should be treated as automatically safe when the others are rough. Check the beach flags and conditions before entering.
The caves above the resort
The prehistoric burial caves of s’Alzinaret are easy to overlook on a beach visit. These chambers were cut into the rock above the resort and are free to visit.
Stay here or visit for the day?
As a holiday base, Cala de Sant Vicenç suits people who want a quieter setting and don’t need a huge choice of restaurants and shops. Hotels, waterfront places to eat and a small shop cover everyday needs, with the coves within walking distance. A car is mainly useful for excursions.
For more shops and evening activity, consider Port de Pollença, around 15 minutes away, and visit these coves for a day.
When to visit
May and late September into October are particularly appealing. In July and August, the small beaches fill quickly, so arrive early if you want a choice of space.
In winter, many businesses close, but the coves remain accessible. In suitable weather, the walks beneath Cavall Bernat offer another reason to come.
Photographs
Cala de Sant Vicenç in Mallorca
How much time do you have?
Things to do in Cala de Sant Vicenç
Three hours
Walk past all four coves before choosing where to settle. The walk across the resort takes roughly 15 minutes.
Half a day
Start at Cala Barques or Cala Molins, have lunch by the water, then try snorkelling around Cala Carbó's rocks in calm conditions.
A full day
Visit the coves in the morning, then head to Pollença for Plaça Major, the Calvari steps and museum. Alternatively, choose a walk beneath Cavall Bernat.
On a rainy day
There is little indoor sightseeing here. Pollença, around ten minutes away, has churches, a museum and places to eat indoors.
The beach at a glance
- Underfoot
- Fine pale sand at the larger beaches, with rock and pebbles at the smaller coves
- Getting into the water
- Sandy access at Cala Barques and Cala Molins; rockier ground at Cala Clara and Cala Carbó
- Length
- Four separate coves, each from a few dozen to around a hundred metres across
- Shade
- Limited, with a few pines at the edges
- Wind
- Northerly winds bring waves into the bays. Shelter varies between them; check the flags rather than assuming another cove is safe.
- With children
- Cala Barques and Cala Molins suit families in calm conditions; supervise children closely around the rocks
- Facilities
- Sunloungers and parasols at the larger beaches · Waterfront bars and restaurants · Seasonal lifeguards
Practical details
- Parking
- Free street spaces are limited. In high season you may have to park further uphill and walk down, especially later in the morning.
- Public transport
- Check current TIB services from Pollença and Port de Pollença
- Time to allow
- Half a day for a visit, or a week as a quiet holiday base
- Good to know
- Cala Barques, Cala Clara, Cala Molins and Cala Carbó are close together but quite different. Have a look before deciding where to lay your towel.
- Bus
- Check TIB connections from Pollença and Port de Pollença; journeys from Palma may require a change
- Shops and services
- Supermarkets: Small seasonal shop; larger supermarkets in Pollença · Pharmacy: Local availability may be limited outside the season · Medical care: In Pollença · Cash machines: Limited availability in the resort · Fuel: In Pollença
- Access
- Tarmac streets, some steep, with steps at several beach access points · Pushchairs: Possible towards Cala Barques and Cala Molins; difficult at the rocky coves · Wheelchairs: Limited, with steps on several approaches · Dogs: Not permitted on the bathing beaches during the season
- What you will not find
- A long sandy beach · Lively nightlife · Large supermarkets · Plenty of parking
- Coordinates
- 39.9214,3.0567 Google Maps Apple Maps
Which cove should you choose?
| Cove | Shore | Good for | Bear in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cala Barques | Sand, gently shelving entry | Families, a longer beach stay | Often the busiest |
| Cala Molins | Sandy beach | Families in calm conditions | Little shade |
| Cala Clara | Rock and a little sand | A short swim in calm conditions | Very little room to lie down |
| Cala Carbó | Rocky shore | Snorkelling | Entry over stones |
The four coves are close together and linked by a short walk through the resort.
Within reach
Places to visit
Nearby
Mallorca’s best-known viewpoint stands 232 metres above the sea on the Formentor peninsula. A terrace occupies a …
Via Port de Pollença
The remains of an important Roman town just outside Alcúdia. An urban centre developed here after the conquest of …
Mallorca's north-eastern tip, reached along a rocky peninsula with a lighthouse at its end since 1863. The …
A pilgrimage church on the Victòria peninsula, seven kilometres north-east of Alcúdia. The road ends at a …
A quieter cave visit near Campanet, with limestone formations rather than a boat ride or colourful show. Allow …
A small pilgrimage chapel among pines near Sa Pobla, on the site of an older settlement. A paved path leads up to …
One of Mallorca's oldest churches, standing alone among the fields outside Campanet. Built on the site of a mosque …
Mallorca's spiritual centre, a sanctuary at 525 metres in the heart of the Tramuntana, with guest rooms, a …
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
A quieter, more expensive neighbour to Alcúdia bay, with the waterfront Pine Walk, a royal yacht club and reliable …
One of the north's best-known beaches: pale sand beneath old pines, the peninsula's mountains behind and water in …
Five kilometres of pale sand shelving gently into the sea, backed by hotels, bars and shops. A classic beach …
Explore from here
Your questions answered
Your questions about Cala de Sant Vicenç
How many coves does Cala de Sant Vicenç have?
Four — Cala Barques, Cala Clara, Cala Molins and Cala Carbó. They sit close together beneath Cavall Bernat but differ considerably, from sandy shallows to rocky shores. Look at all four before choosing your spot.
What is Cavall Bernat?
A jagged mountain ridge with cliffs rising around 300 metres, forming the dramatic backdrop to the bays. It has been a popular subject for artists around Pollença for more than a century.
Is Cala de Sant Vicenç good for snorkelling?
Yes, especially around the rocky edges of Cala Carbó and Cala Clara in calm conditions. The water can be very clear. Water shoes are useful for rocky entry points, and you should avoid swimming when waves make access unsafe.
Is Cala de Sant Vicenç a good holiday base?
It suits a quieter holiday if you are happy with a modest choice of hotels, waterfront restaurants and a small shop. Daily essentials are within walking distance. For more shopping and evening activity, Port de Pollença is around 15 minutes away.
Can you get to Cala de Sant Vicenç without a car?
Check the current TIB connections from Pollença and Port de Pollença. From Palma, you may need to change buses in Pollença. Once here, all four coves can be reached on foot.
Are there prehistoric sites in Cala de Sant Vicenç?
Yes. The s'Alzinaret group of prehistoric burial caves lies above the resort. The chambers were cut into the rock and can be visited without an admission fee.
Practical questions
When is the best time to visit Cala de Sant Vicenç?
Recommended months: March, April, May, June, September, October. Access and opening are limited in January, February, November, December. See the visiting advice on this page. Pleasant weather for walking beneath Cavall Bernat.
Is Cala de Sant Vicenç worth visiting in July and August?
July: worth considering with some reservations. Usually very crowded. The beaches are small and fill quickly. Arrive early for a choice of spot. August: another month may suit you better. Usually very crowded.
How far is Cala de Sant Vicenç from Palma airport?
About 63 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 65 minutes by car. A winding but well-surfaced road leads from Pollença. Parking in the resort is the main difficulty.
Do I need a hire car for Cala de Sant Vicenç?
A car is useful Check TIB connections from Pollença and Port de Pollença; journeys from Palma may require a change
Where can I park in Cala de Sant Vicenç?
Free street spaces are limited. In high season you may have to park further uphill and walk down, especially later in the morning.
Can you swim at Cala de Sant Vicenç?
Yes. Fine pale sand at the larger beaches, with rock and pebbles at the smaller coves Sandy access at Cala Barques and Cala Molins; rockier ground at Cala Clara and Cala Carbó Four separate coves, each from a few dozen to around a hundred metres across Limited, with a few pines at the edges Cala Barques and Cala Molins suit families in calm conditions; supervise children closely around the rocks
Can I visit Cala de Sant Vicenç with a pushchair or wheelchair?
Tarmac streets, some steep, with steps at several beach access points Pushchairs: Possible towards Cala Barques and Cala Molins; difficult at the rocky coves Wheelchairs: Limited, with steps on several approaches
Are dogs allowed at Cala de Sant Vicenç?
Not permitted on the bathing beaches during the season
Words and photographs: Friedhelm Fischer. Exploring Mallorca since 2013 — by bike, on foot and with a camera.