A little cove of green water at the far end of Cala d'Or
A small white-sand beach at the end of a narrow inlet, between low rock and pines that reach almost to the water. It is in the Cala d'Or resort, by the boundary with Felanitx, and you enter through a white arch and a path between gardens. It used to be called Caló des Corrals; the current name comes from the colour of the water.
25m
Of sandy beach
300m
From the free car park to the sand
Today at Cala Esmeralda
Sea conditions today
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- Wind
- Offshore waves
Cala Esmeralda opens to the . With an offshore wind it stays sheltered; if the wind blows in from the sea, the waves come in.
Parking
Free car park about 300 m away
Then about 5 min on foot (easy).
See it from the sea
Trips that pass by Cala Esmeralda. In July and August it pays to book ahead.
What you’ll find
- Sand
- White sand in the middle, rock at the sides and sand with seaweed at 4 to 5 metres deep, about 25 × 25 m of beach.
- Facilities
- Beach bar.
- Little shade
- The pines around the edges give some shade at certain times. There is none in the middle of the sand.
- Snorkelling: good
- Very clear water and rocks on both sides of the inlet. The middle is sand and seaweed, with little life.
- Good for kids
- Calm water and a gentle slope in, but we have not found a lifeguard service on this beach. In summer space is tight.
- Dogs: not allowed
- At the beach entrance there is a no-dogs sign (visible in photos from 2019). We have not found the municipal bylaw.
How to get there
- By car and on foot
- According to OpenStreetMap there is a free, tarmac public car park about 300 metres south of the beach, in the same resort. The car park right by the cove belongs to the hotel and is for guests only. In summer it is hard to find a space. Drive to Cala d'Or and follow the beach signs along carrer Cala Esmeralda. From the street you go in through a white arch with the beach's name on it and along a flat path between gardens that takes you down to the sand in a couple of minutes.
- By bus
- The Cala Esmeralda TIB stop is about 250 metres from the beach. According to OpenStreetMap, lines 428, 515 and 521 stop there. Cala d'Or's little tourist train has a stop next to the cove's hotel. Check tib.org to see which lines and timetables are running this year.
- By boat
- It has an anchoring area. In season, tour boats visiting the local coves pass by in front.
Best time to go
- Season
- May, June, September and October
- Time of day
- Before 10:00 or late in the afternoon
- Crowds in summer
- High
It is a semi-urban cove surrounded by hotels and apartments, and the sand is tiny. In July and August it is full from mid-morning.
Tips and what to bring
- Arrive early. The sand is tiny and in July and August it is full before midday.
- Use the public car park. The one next to the cove belongs to the hotel; the free one is about 300 metres away.
- Mask and snorkel. The interesting bits are on the rocks on both sides of the inlet.
- No dogs. There is a no-dogs sign at the entrance.
- Pair it with Cala Ferrera. It is right next door, in the neighbouring inlet, and has more sand and facilities.
The cove opens to the southeast, so it gets full sun in the morning. With a tramuntana (the north wind) or a ponent (west wind) it is usually calm; with a levante (east wind) or migjorn (south wind) some swell comes in.
Photos of Cala Esmeralda
Cala Esmeralda features in these guides
Nearby coves
- Cala Ferrera0.4 km
- Cala Serena0.5 km · guide coming soon
- Cala Gran0.5 km · guide coming soon
Frequently asked questions
Where do you park for Cala Esmeralda?
In the free public car park about 300 metres away, inside the resort. The one next to the beach belongs to the hotel. In summer it pays to arrive early.
Does it have facilities?
Several guides mention a bar next to the beach. The toilets and showers in the area belong to the hotel. We have not found any record of the Ajuntament (town council) running a lifeguard service here.
Is it good for children?
The water is usually calm and the slope in is gentle. Bear in mind that it is very small, fills up in summer and there is no record of a lifeguard.
Can you bring a dog?
No. There is a no-dogs sign at the entrance arch.
Can you get there by bus?
Yes. The Cala Esmeralda TIB stop is about 250 metres away. Check tib.org to see which lines are running on the date of your visit.