A Full-Day Yacht Itinerary from Mallorca
Depart from Marina Port de Mallorca in Palma and trace the southern coastline toward Cabrera National Park — roughly forty nautical miles round trip with five distinct stops.
From the port outwards
- 01
09:00 · Cast off from Marina Port de Mallorca
Clear the harbour wall and set a south-east heading past the airport coast. Morning wind off the Tramuntana is usually light, so motor-sailing keeps the schedule tight. Ask the crew to lay out breakfast on the aft deck while Palma Cathedral shrinks behind you.
- 02
10:30 · Swim stop at Cala Mondragó
Drop anchor in three to four metres over white sand. This sheltered double cove inside the Mondragó Natural Park rarely picks up swell before noon. Snorkel over Posidonia beds, launch the paddle boards, or swim straight from the bathing platform. Arrive early to secure space in high season.
- 03
13:00 · Seafood lunch in Colònia de Sant Jordi
Tender ashore to the harbour quay. Restaurants along Carrer Gabriel Roca serve grilled local catch and Mallorcan tumbet with views of the salt flats. Book a table for your group at least a day ahead through your broker — waterfront seats fill quickly between June and September.
- 04
16:00 · Explore the Blue Grotto at Cabrera
Cruise the final miles south to Cabrera National Park. Enter the Cova Blava by tender — the low entrance opens into a cavern lit electric blue by refracted sunlight. A park permit is mandatory and limited daily; your skipper arranges this in advance. Water inside is calm and swimmable.
- 05
19:30 · Sunset aperitivo off Illetes beach
Head back north and idle into the shallow bay off Illetes as the sun drops toward the Tramuntana ridge. The crew sets up gin and tonics with Mallorcan botanicals on the foredeck. Depths of five to six metres here give clean holding on sand — a peaceful close before a short run back to Palma.
About Mallorca
Where you start shapes what the day can hold. Puerto Portals suits parties who want a fuel dock and concierge provisioning close at hand before heading out; Puerto Sóller offers a sheltered north-west base; Port d'Alcúdia positions you for the run toward Cap de Formentor; Porto Cristo puts the east coast calas within easy reach. The fleet spans sailing yachts, catamarans and motor yachts alongside larger crewed vessels, so the choice of marina often follows from the boat and route you have in mind rather than the reverse.
Not every stretch of coast behaves the same way, and route feasibility depends on both distance and permits. A passage from Porto Cristo through Cala Mondragó to Cala Pi is sheltered from westerly winds and works as a half-day or full-day cala-hopping route. Cabrera National Park, 30 nautical miles south, is a different proposition: a permit from the park authority is required and should be confirmed before it goes on the itinerary, particularly in peak season when availability tightens. North coast routes toward Formentor reward calm days but can turn exposed when the summer Tramuntana picks up from the north-west, so wind direction is worth checking against the plan rather than assumed.
Budget for fuel and provisioning tracks the route, not the yacht alone. A short evening cruise in the Bay of Palma carries minimal fuel cost given the limited distance, a day toward Cabrera sits at a moderate level once the return run is included, and a crossing toward Ibiza or Formentera calls for a more significant allowance for both fuel and onboard provisioning. Fresh produce sourced through Palma's Mercado de l'Olivar or the yacht provisioners on Moll de Palma can be arranged ahead of departure, which is worth discussing with your broker once the route and guest count are set.