12 Best Anchorages Around Mallorca for a Private Yacht Charter

Best Anchorages Around Mallorca: A Broker's Coastal Guide

Finding the best anchorages around Mallorca is the single biggest factor that separates a memorable yacht charter from a forgettable one. The island offers more than 300 calas and bays along roughly 550 kilometres of coastline, yet only a handful combine clean holding, shelter from prevailing summer winds, and the kind of scenery that keeps guests on the sundeck past sunset. Below is our curated list — drawn from seasons of routing private yacht charters — covering the anchorages we brief every captain on before departure from Palma or Port Adriano.

Where to Anchor on Mallorca's Southwest Coast

The southwest stretch between Port Adriano and Sant Elm delivers some of the island's most reliable overnight anchorages. Cala Portals Vells sits inside a triple-cove formation with sand-over-rock holding in 4–8 metres; it is well protected from the typical northwesterly swell that builds through July and August. A short tender ride south, Cala Falcó offers a quieter alternative when Portals Vells fills on weekends.

Further west, the bay off the uninhabited Isla del Toro provides a dramatic lunch stop. The seabed here is Posidonia meadow, so skippers must use the designated anchor-free buoy moorings to comply with Balearic environmental regulations. From Isla del Toro it is roughly 6 nautical miles to the sheltered roadstead at Sant Elm, where guests can take the tender ashore for a clifftop walk overlooking Isla Dragonera. For more ideas along this coast, browse our [fleet in Mallorca](#) to match the right vessel to these anchorages.

Sheltered Bays Along the Serra de Tramuntana

The northwest coast beneath the Serra de Tramuntana is dramatic but exposed. Smart routing makes all the difference. Sa Calobra, the narrow gorge inlet below Torrent de Pareis, is accessible in settled conditions from May through September. Depths drop steeply, so most yachts over 30 metres hold position on dynamic positioning or anchor in 12–15 metres close to the entrance.

Port de Sóller, roughly 8 nautical miles northeast of Sa Calobra, is the only fully enclosed natural harbour on this coast. It can accommodate yachts up to around 50 metres on the outer quay, and the holding in the central basin is good mud at 6–10 metres. The town behind the port has a restored tramway, fresh seafood restaurants, and a Saturday market — a welcome change of pace for guests after several days at sea. Port de Sóller also serves as a safe bolt-hole when a westerly Poniente builds unexpectedly.

Top Anchorages on the East Coast: A Quick-Reference List

1. Cala Mondragó — A nature-reserve cala south of Portocolom with white sand and 3–5 metre depths over sand. Limited to around 20 vessels, so arrive before 10:00 in high season. 2. Cala Varques — Only reachable by sea or footpath, keeping crowds low. Good holding in 5–7 metres with protection from westerlies. 3. Portocolom harbour — A deep, fjord-like inlet with Med-mooring options and a waterfront lined with low-rise fishermen's houses. Suitable for yachts up to 40 metres. 4. Cala Millor bay — A wide, open roadstead best suited to day anchoring in calm conditions. The sandy bottom at 6–8 metres makes for easy setting. 5. Cala Rajada — A working fishing port on the northeast tip with a protected outer anchorage. From here it is only 22 nautical miles to Ciutadella, Menorca — ideal for a cross-island hop.

See our [Mallorca day-charter itinerary](#) for a route that links several of these east-coast stops into a single week.

How Wind and Season Affect Your Anchorage Choices

Mallorca's charter season runs broadly from May to October, with peak demand in July and August. During peak months, the dominant thermal breeze — the Embat — blows from the southwest at 8–15 knots most afternoons, making east-coast calas the calmest option after midday. In June and September the wind is lighter and more variable, opening up the exposed northwest anchorages that are untenable in midsummer.

Autumn Llevant storms (easterlies) can arrive from late September. When they do, the southwest coast and Palma Bay become the safe side of the island. A good broker factors these patterns into every itinerary before the charter begins, not after the anchor alarm sounds at 02:00. Our [guide to chartering in the Balearics](#) covers seasonal routing in more detail.

Plan Your Charter Around Mallorca's Finest Anchorages

Every anchorage on this list tells a different story — from the silent, pine-fringed coves of Cala Mondragó to the mountain-backed harbour at Port de Sóller. Choosing the right sequence depends on your yacht's draft, your group size, and the week's forecast. A well-planned Mallorca yacht hire in 2026 threads these stops together so that each morning view feels entirely new, and each afternoon swim feels like the best one yet. That is the kind of detail a charter deserves.