Mallorca's southernmost beach
An open sweep of white sand between Punta Negra and the illot d'en Curt, a short walk from the Cap de ses Salines lighthouse. Behind it, dunes reach up to a kilometre inland into the sa Vall estate, and in front, shallow water inside the Reserva Marina del Migjorn (a marine reserve). There isn't a single building or facility.
1,5km
On foot from the ses Salines lighthouse
450m
Of white sand
1km
Of dunes inland
Today at Platja des Caragol
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- Wind
- Offshore waves
Platja des Caragol opens to the . With an offshore wind it stays sheltered; if the wind blows in from the sea, the waves come in.
Parking
No parking; roadside by the lighthouse
Then about 30 min on foot (easy).
See it from the sea
Trips that pass by Platja des Caragol. In July and August it pays to book ahead.
From Colònia de Sant Jordi: catamaran cruise to Es Trenc
Catamaran from Colònia de Sant Jordi that may anchor at es Caragol (or at Cala Màrmols).
Check dates and pricesBook on GetYourGuide
Colònia de Sant Jordi: boat and snorkelling trip to southern coves and beaches
Speedboat from Colònia de Sant Jordi to Es Trenc, es Carbó, es Caragol and Cap de ses Salines.
Check dates and pricesBook on GetYourGuide
What you’ll find
- Sand
- Fine white sand, with rock slabs at either end, about 450 × 55 m of beach.
- Facilities
- None: no beach bar, no toilets, no lifeguard. Bring everything you need.
- Little shade
- There are pines and scrub behind the dunes, but there's no shade on the sand.
- Snorkelling: good
- Sandy seabed with posidonia seagrass meadows and rock slabs at either end of the beach.
- Good for kids
- The water is shallow and the walk is short and flat. Bring a parasol and water, as there are no facilities or lifeguard.
- Dogs: not allowed
- The Ajuntament de Santanyí (town council) sign at the beach entrance bans dogs.
How to get there
- By car and on foot
- There's no official car park. People leave their cars on the verge of the last stretch of the lighthouse road (Ma-6110), which fills up early in July, August and at weekends. Get there early and don't block the estate entrances. From the Cap de ses Salines lighthouse, follow the coastal path west for about 1.5 km. It's almost flat, but alternates between rock and sand, so closed shoes are a good idea. You can also get there along the coastal path from Colònia de Sant Jordi, via es Carbó and Cala en Tugores. Everything inland is private, fenced estate.
- By bus
- We haven't found any bus route that goes to Cap de ses Salines. From Colònia de Sant Jordi, which has TIB buses, you can walk along the coast, though it's a long way.
- By boat
- There's an anchorage with a sandy bottom off the beach, and in summer there are usually sailing boats and motorboats.
Best time to go
- Season
- May, June, September and October
- Time of day
- Before 10:00 or late in the afternoon
- Crowds in summer
- Low
You have to walk, so even in summer there's room. At weekends in July and August more people come and the anchored boats are noticeable.
Tips and what to bring
- Closed shoes for the walk. It’s short, but alternates between rock slabs and sand.
- Parasol and water. There’s no beach bar or shade on the sand, and the walk back to the car is in full sun.
- Respect the dunes. They’re part of a protected area: walk on the marked paths and don’t climb on them.
- No dogs, no music. The council sign at the entrance forbids both.
- Take your rubbish home. There are no bins on the sand.
The beach faces south-west, so it gets full sun in the afternoon. With the tramuntana (the north wind) it’s usually calm; with the migjorn (the south wind) or llebeig (the south-west wind) the waves come in and posidonia piles up on the shore.
Photos of Platja des Caragol
Platja des Caragol features in these guides
Nearby coves
- Cala en Tugores1.7 km · guide coming soon
- Es Carbó4 km
- Caló des Màrmols4.1 km
- Es Trenc8.9 km
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Platja des Caragol?
On foot. Park near the Cap de ses Salines lighthouse and follow the coast west for about 1.5 km, around 30 minutes on an almost flat path over rock and sand.
Where can I park?
There's no official car park. People park on the verge of the lighthouse road, which fills up early in summer. Get there before 10:00.
Can I bring my dog?
No. The Ajuntament de Santanyí sign at the beach entrance bans dogs, because it's an area of high environmental protection.
Is it good for children?
Yes, if you come prepared. The walk is short and the water shallow, but there's no shade, no facilities and no lifeguard.
Why is there seaweed on the shore?
It's dead posidonia leaves, from the seagrass that keeps the water clear and protects the sand. It's normal and isn't cleared away on unspoilt beaches.
Is it a nudist beach?
Nudism is common, especially at the ends, alongside people in swimwear.