Photo: Tommie Hansen, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).
In this article
If you’ve seen an impossible photo of Mallorca —a tongue of sand between cliffs and turquoise water that looks unreal—, it was probably Caló des Moro, in Santanyí. It’s one of the most spectacular coves on the island and it’s a short drive from Colònia. That said, getting there takes a bit of technique and timing. Here’s the detail, local-style, so it goes smoothly.
- Where: Santanyí, about 20-25 min by car from Colònia de Sant Jordi.
- Parking: in the free dirt car park at Cala Llombards; it fills up around 9:00.
- Walk: ~1.5 km (20-25 min) with a steep final descent; wear trainers.
- When: arrive before 8:30; best in May, June, September and October.
- Heads-up: no facilities (bring water and food) and in August there’s usually access control and a shuttle.
On foot from Cala Llombards
To park and skip the crowds
Bring water, food & trainers
Data: Open-Meteo.
- Es Port (village)mixed (side wind)
- Cala Galiotamixed (side wind)
- Es Carbómixed (side wind)
- Es Trencchoppy (onshore wind)
- Es Dolçchoppy (onshore wind)
- Es Marquèschoppy (onshore wind)
Worked out from the live wind (Open-Meteo) and each beach orientation; the real sea can vary with swell or currents.
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Getting there & parking
From Colònia de Sant Jordi it’s about 20-25 minutes by car towards Santanyí. The key is parking: there’s no car park next to the cove, so you leave the car in the free dirt area at the entrance to Cala Llombards and walk. That car park fills up very early —around 9:00 in summer, earlier in July and August—, and in August car access is restricted due to overcrowding and usually runs on a shuttle. That’s why the golden rule is to get up early. And don’t risk parking in the residents’ streets: the fines are steep.
From there you walk around 1.5 km (20-25 minutes). The final stretch is a steep, slippery descent, so wear trainers, not flip-flops. The easiest way is to take the staircase from Carrer des Caló des Moro to neighbouring Cala s’Almunia and, from there, follow the well-marked path to Caló des Moro. It’s not hard, but it’s not “step from the car onto the sand” either: treat it as a little hike.
What the cove is like
You arrive, and you get why there are so many photos. Caló des Moro is small: a couple of sandy patches wedged between rocky cliffs, with incredible turquoise, crystal-clear water. Being so small and famous, the catch is obvious: it fills up, and in high season the sand disappears under the towels by mid-morning. Right next to it, Cala s’Almunia —rockier, with its little boat huts— is a beautiful alternative for a swim if Caló des Moro is packed.
Caló des Moro in 360°: drag to look around. Photo © Travel Addicted / Google.
Who it’s for (and who not)
- The iconic Mallorca photo
- Postcard turquoise water
- A little hike (arriving early)
- To combine with Cala s’Almunia, right next door
- You’re with small kids or have reduced mobility (steep descent)
- You want to step from the car onto the sand (there’s a ~20-min walk)
- You can only go midday in August (it gets packed)
- You need facilities (there are none)
Since there’s no beach bar or facilities, bring water, something to eat, shade and a bag for your rubbish. It’s a protected, fairly unspoilt spot; looking after it is what keeps it that way.
When to go (and avoid the crowds)
Here’s the secret to really enjoying it: timing. Go early (before 8:30 in summer) or late afternoon, and choose May, June, September or October if you can; the water is still lovely and there’s a fraction of the crowd. July and August at midday is the worst combo: full car park, single-file path and a packed cove. If you can only go in peak summer, get up early, no excuses: the difference between 8:00 and 11:00 is night and day.
Access and parking rules in this area change every season (restrictions, shuttle). Check the latest information before going in July and August. And if you want sand without the walk, Es Trenc is much closer to home, or the family-friendly Cala Llombards with its beach bar.
Where to stay? See where to stay in Colònia de Sant Jordi: hotels and apartments compared.
Will it be crowded? Live crowd map
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Caló des Moro?
By car to the Cala Llombards area (about 20-25 min from Colònia de Sant Jordi), park in the free dirt car park and walk around 1.5 km (20-25 min). The final access is a steep descent; the easiest way is the staircase from Carrer des Caló des Moro to Cala s’Almunia and then the path to the cove.
Is there parking at Caló des Moro?
There’s no parking next to the cove. You park in the dirt area at the entrance to Cala Llombards, which fills up very early (around 9:00 in summer). In August car access is restricted and there’s usually a shuttle; arrive before 8:30 and don’t park in the residents’ streets (there are fines).
When is the best time to go?
In May, June, September and October, and always early. In July and August it gets crowded very quickly. Bring trainers (the descent is steep and slippery) and water and food, as there are no facilities.
Local tip: park at Cala Llombards and walk down (20-25 min). The car park above fills by mid-morning and the roadside risks a fine — and you’ll arrive more relaxed.
Sources: location and ratings from Google Maps; live sea and wind from Open-Meteo; access, parking and tips from first-hand local knowledge. Reviewed August 2026.
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