Golden sand, gently shelving water and a nearby bus stop make Cala d'en Marçal Portocolom's convenient family beach. It is easy to enjoy — and understandably busy in summer.
Cala d'en Marçal
Cala d'en Marçal in 30 seconds
The essentials at a glance
- Worth visiting for
- A short visit
- Best for
- Families with young children looking for gently shelving sand
- Best months
- March–June, September–October
- Time to allow
- Half a day
- With children
- Good in calm conditions
- Without a car
- Easy enough
- Parking
- Street parking above the bay, scarce in high season
- Getting into the water
- Gently shelving into the water
- Keep in mind
- Expecting an undeveloped cove without hotels or apartments
- Access
- Pushchairs: Manageable as far as the beach edge · Wheelchairs: Access towards the beach edge; the southern steps are unsuitable
Get a feel for Mallorca. Find your kind of place.
Beyond the beach, the view reaches across wooded areas towards the island's interior.
The wider view shows the beach and neighbouring rocky coastline together.
Boats lie offshore beyond the bathing area.
Getting to know Cala d'en Marçal
Does Cala d'en Marçal suit your plans?
What to expect and what to know before you visit.
Who it suits
- Families with young children looking for gently shelving sand
- Travelling without a car, with a bus stop nearby
- Restaurants and a supermarket within walking distance
- Seeing the bay from a boat, subject to local anchoring rules
Things to bear in mind
- Expecting an undeveloped cove without hotels or apartments
- Plenty of room in high summer
- Peace and quiet in peak season
- Relying on full services in winter
Drive from the airport
60 minutes
62 km
Bus connections
A nearby stop serves the beach
Region
Migjorn
Nearest beach
Portocolom
1 km
Elevation
5 m
above sea level
A glimpse of Cala d'en Marçal
Season guide for Cala d'en Marçal
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 d'en Marçal
- Region
- Migjorn
- Municipality
- Felanitx
- Elevation
- 5 m above sea level
- Airport
- 62 km , around 60 minutes
- Hire car
- not essential
- Worth visiting for
- a brief stop
- Coordinates
- 39.4100,3.2580
Portocolom’s beach
Fine golden sand shelves gently into clear water at Cala d’en Marçal. The beach is close to the southern part of Portocolom and has a nearby bus stop, making it easier to reach than many coves along this coast.
Broad steps on the southern side lead up to restaurants and bars, with a small supermarket behind them.
An easy family beach
In calm conditions, the sandy shallows and nearby facilities make this a practical choice with young children. You can reach the beach without a rough scramble or long footpath.
That convenience also makes it popular. Apartments, holiday homes and a larger hotel surround the bay, and in July and August the sand fills during the morning.
A different cove nearby
For a change of scene, Cala Brafi is around 20 minutes away on foot. Its rough approach is more demanding, and there are no bars, sunloungers or other facilities. Sure-footed visitors can combine the two, bringing water and food for the second part of the day.
When to visit
May and October offer a more relaxed visit. In high summer, choose the morning before the beach fills. Between November and March, many seasonal businesses close, though the sand remains accessible.
Photographs
Cala d'en Marçal in Mallorca
How much time do you have?
Things to do in Cala d'en Marçal
Three hours
Spend the morning on the beach, climb the broad steps on the southern side for a coffee, then walk back towards Portocolom.
Half a day
Start here, then walk to Cala Brafi for a quieter afternoon. The approach is rough and there are no facilities at that cove.
A full day
Add Portocolom's harbour and lighthouse, or head inland to Felanitx or Castell de Santueri.
On a rainy day
Try Portocolom or Felanitx instead; the open beach offers no shelter.
The beach at a glance
- Underfoot
- Fine golden sand
- Getting into the water
- Gently shelving into the water
- Length
- Around 100 metres
- Shade
- Limited; parasols are available to hire
- Wind
- Often sheltered, though conditions can change
- With children
- Good in calm conditions
- Facilities
- Sunloungers and parasols for hire · Restaurants and bars above the southern side · A small supermarket behind the waterfront · A nearby bus stop
Practical details
- Parking
- Street parking above the bay, scarce in high season
- Public transport
- A nearby stop serves the beach
- Time to allow
- Half a day
- Good to know
- Broad steps on the southern side lead to restaurants, bars and a small supermarket. Boats often lie offshore; follow local boating restrictions and keep clear of the marked swimming area.
- Bus
- A nearby stop serves the beach; check current connections from Portocolom and Felanitx
- Shops and services
- Supermarkets: Small supermarket above the bay, behind the waterfront · Pharmacy: In Portocolom · Medical care: In Portocolom; hospital in Manacor · Cash machines: In Portocolom · Fuel: In Portocolom
- Access
- Firm access to the beach edge, then sand; steps towards the southern side · Pushchairs: Manageable as far as the beach edge · Wheelchairs: Access towards the beach edge; the southern steps are unsuitable · Dogs: Not permitted during the season
- What you will not find
- An undeveloped setting · Quiet in high summer · A long continuous beach
- Coordinates
- 39.4100,3.2580 Google Maps Apple Maps
Within reach
Places to visit
Nearby
Es Fortí stands on the rocky headland at the entrance to Cala Llonga in Cala d’Or. Behind its thick walls is a …
A rocky hilltop fortress 408 metres above sea level near Felanitx, its walls rising directly from the cliff edge …
A pilgrimage church has stood here since 1348, 509 metres above Felanitx at the southern end of the Serra de …
A small 15th-century sanctuary on a 205-metre hill near S'Alqueria Blanca, rarely busy and with views over the …
A freestanding rock arch in the sea, one of the south-east coast’s best-known views. The viewpoint lies between …
The caves near Porto Cristo take their name from their hook-shaped formations. Smaller than the nearby Coves del …
Behind the Rafa Nadal Sports Center is a museum worth taking time over. Inside Torre dels Enagistes, the galleries …
The tall bell tower of Nostra Senyora dels Dolors rises above Manacor’s rooftops. Inside are a lofty vaulted nave …
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
One of Mallorca's largest natural harbours, with a quieter atmosphere than many east-coast resorts. Fishing boats …
A small, undeveloped bay with no kiosk or road to the sand. A rough path between dry-stone walls leads past a low …
On foot only, along gravel and rough paths
A resort planned in the 1930s by an Ibizan who brought the style of his home island with him. Low white buildings …
A kilometre and a half from Cala d'Or, but a different world — a natural harbour where fishermen still unload …
Explore from here
Your questions answered
Your questions about Cala d'en Marçal
Is Cala d'en Marçal suitable for children?
Yes, in calm conditions. The fine golden sand shelves gently into the water, and sunloungers, parasols and places to eat are nearby. It is popular with families and becomes busy in summer.
Can you reach Cala d'en Marçal without a car?
Yes. There is a bus stop near the beach, and you can walk from the southern part of Portocolom. Check the distance from your accommodation and the current bus timetable. Walking avoids the difficult summer parking search.
Are there restaurants at Cala d'en Marçal?
Yes. Broad steps on the southern side lead to restaurants and bars, with a small supermarket behind them. You can find what you need for a beach day nearby.
Can boats anchor off Cala d'en Marçal?
Boats often lie offshore. Anyone arriving by boat should check current anchoring rules and conditions, protect the seabed and remain outside the marked swimming area.
Does Cala d'en Marçal get crowded?
Yes, particularly in July and August. Hotels, apartments and holiday homes surround the bay, and their guests arrive during the morning. Nearby Cala Brafi is quieter, but involves a rough walk and has no facilities.
Practical questions
When is the best time to visit Cala d'en Marçal?
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.
Is Cala d'en Marçal worth visiting in July and August?
July: worth considering with some reservations. Usually very crowded. Guests from the surrounding accommodation fill the beach during the morning. August: another month may suit you better. Usually very crowded.
How far is Cala d'en Marçal from Palma airport?
About 62 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 60 minutes by car. The beach is within walking distance of the southern part of Portocolom. In high season, walking is often easier than searching for parking above the bay.
Do I need a hire car for Cala d'en Marçal?
Easy to manage without a car A nearby stop serves the beach; check current connections from Portocolom and Felanitx
Where can I park in Cala d'en Marçal?
Street parking above the bay, scarce in high season
Can you swim at Cala d'en Marçal?
Yes. Fine golden sand Gently shelving into the water Around 100 metres Limited; parasols are available to hire Good in calm conditions
Can I visit Cala d'en Marçal with a pushchair or wheelchair?
Firm access to the beach edge, then sand; steps towards the southern side Pushchairs: Manageable as far as the beach edge Wheelchairs: Access towards the beach edge; the southern steps are unsuitable
Are dogs allowed at Cala d'en Marçal?
Not permitted during the season
Words and photographs: Friedhelm Fischer. Exploring Mallorca since 2013 — by bike, on foot and with a camera.