Three days on the water in Mallorca is enough to cover the southwest coast, the south and at least part of the east, with time to anchor properly at each stop rather than rushing between ports. The itinerary below starts and ends in Palma and is designed for a private motor yacht carrying 6 to 12 people, departing from Palma or Puerto Portals. To rent a yacht in Mallorca and put together a route like this one, Naizur’s fleet covers vessels from 10 to 17 metres with the option of skipper and crew.
The route works in either direction, but the southwest-first approach has a practical advantage: the longest legs are done early, leaving the calmer east coast for the final day. Adjust the pace to the group and the conditions; a calm September morning and a windy July afternoon call for different decisions on the water.
3-day route at a glance
| Day | Route | Distance (approx.) | Key stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Palma to Cala Tuent (via Andratx) | 50 nm | Cala Tuent anchorage |
| Day 2 | Cala Tuent to Es Trenc (via Cabrera) | 65 nm | Cabrera national park |
| Day 3 | Es Trenc to Palma (via east coast) | 70 nm | Cala Mondragó, Cala Varques |
Day 1: Palma to the southwest coast
Depart Palma in the morning heading southwest. The first hour takes you past the bay of Palma, past the castle at Bellver and out toward the Malgrats Islands at the western edge of Santa Ponsa Bay. The water around the Malgrats is clear and shallow, a good first swim stop of the trip.
Continue west to Port d’Andratx, one of the most elegant harbours on the island. The port is sheltered and the town has good restaurants along the waterfront. This is the lunch stop. From Andratx, the northwest coast opens up: the stretch along the base of the Serra de Tramuntana is the most dramatic coastline on the island, with limestone cliffs dropping directly into the sea and very few roads reaching the water. Cala Tuent, tucked below the Tramuntana, is one of the quietest and most beautiful anchorages in Mallorca. Anchor here for the afternoon swim and stay overnight if the forecast allows. The anchorage is exposed to the north, so check conditions before committing; in light winds it is exceptional.
Day 2: south coast and the Cabrera archipelago
Leave the northwest coast in the morning and head south. The passage from the Tramuntana coast to the south takes you around Cap de ses Salines, the southernmost point of Mallorca, where the sea opens up and the water turns turquoise. Colònia de Sant Jordi is the main port on the south coast, with good provisioning and fuel.
The centrepiece of day two is the Cabrera archipelago, a national park around 10 nautical miles south of Colònia de Sant Jordi. Cabrera is uninhabited, undeveloped and only accessible by sea. The main bay, with the ruins of a 14th-century castle on the hillside above, is one of the best anchorages in the Mediterranean: calm, clear water and no noise except the sea. Entry to the national park requires advance authorisation, obtainable through the Balearic Islands park authority or your charter operator. From Cabrera, head east along the south coast for the evening and anchor near Es Trenc, Mallorca’s longest natural beach. The sea off Es Trenc is flat and shallow, ideal for paddleboarding or a sunset swim.
Day 3: east coast and return to Palma
The east coast of Mallorca is the quietest and least-visited section by road, which makes it the most rewarding stretch by sea. Cala Mondragó is a natural park with two connected coves, protected from development, with pine-covered hills behind and clear water. It is one of the few places on the island that looks exactly as it did fifty years ago.
Continue north to Cala Varques, an unspoilt cove with no road access and no permanent facilities, reachable only on foot through private land or by sea. The contrast with the beach clubs of the south coast is total. Porto Cristo is the main port on the east coast, with the Coves del Drach nearby for anyone who wants to go ashore. From Porto Cristo, the return passage to Palma takes around 3 hours at comfortable cruising speed, arriving in the early evening.
Practical notes for 3 days in Mallorca by boat
July and August are the busiest months on the water. The best anchorages fill by mid-morning; departing early each day gives you the pick of the spots. In September, the same route with a 9am departure has a completely different feel: anchorages are half full, the sea is at its warmest and the light in the late afternoon on the east coast is outstanding.
For provisioning, Palma has everything you need before departure. Colònia de Sant Jordi and Porto Cristo have adequate supermarkets for restocking mid-trip. Paddleboards and snorkelling gear are worth having for the Cabrera and east coast stops, where the water quality is exceptional.
Book your Mallorca boat itinerary with Naizur
For groups who want a skipper and crew, or a fully crewed charter where everything is managed from departure to return, Naizur’s fleet covers both options. The best anchorages on the south and east coast book up fast in summer; planning the route in advance makes the difference between arriving at an empty cove and sharing it with twenty other boats. Browse the available vessels and confirm your dates through the Mallorca boat charter page on the Naizur website.
