Sand, pines and the cathedral quarries
A small cove of fine sand at the head of the Portals Vells inlet, on the south-western tip of the bay of Palma, surrounded by pine woods and marès sandstone. In the cliff on the south side are the old quarries which, according to tradition, supplied stone for Palma cathedral, and inside them is the Cova de la Mare de Déu (a cave chapel).
46m
Of fine sand
5min
On foot to the Cova de la Mare de Déu
0€
Public parking next to the cove
Today at Cala Portals Vells
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- Wind
- Offshore waves
Cala Portals Vells opens to the . With an offshore wind it stays sheltered; if the wind blows in from the sea, the waves come in.
Parking
Free parking next to the cove
Then about 3 min on foot (easy).
See it from the sea
Trips that pass by Cala Portals Vells. In July and August it pays to book ahead.
Palma de Mallorca: 5-hour catamaran cruise with lunch and swimming
Catamaran from Palma that anchors at Portals Vells (or Cala Vella, depending on the wind) for a swim.
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Mallorca: Bladerunner speedboat trip
Leaves from Magaluf beach; stop for swimming and snorkelling at Portals Vells.
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From Palma: SUP and snorkelling trip to Portals Vells beach and cave
Minibus trip from Palma with paddleboarding and snorkelling at the Portals Vells beach and cave.
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What you’ll find
- Sand
- Fine sand, with rock and posidonia seagrass towards the mouth, about 46 × 46 m of beach.
- Facilities
- Beach bar, sunloungers.
- Little shade
- There are pines behind, but the sand is in the sun. Parasols are for hire.
- Snorkelling: good
- Rock at the sides and posidonia towards the mouth. The most interesting part is along the quarry cliff.
- Good for kids
- Sheltered, shallow water near the shore, and the car close by. There's no lifeguard and no public toilets; the beach restaurant is the only option.
- Dogs: not allowed
- Calvià bans pets from its beaches. The nearest dog swimming areas are Punta Marroig (Palmanova) and Cala des Gats (Costa de la Calma).
How to get there
- By car and on foot
- Calvià council lists a public car park with no charge. It's a small dirt area and in summer it fills up early. If it's full, don't park on the road or across house entrances. You drive there from Magaluf and Sol de Mallorca along the Portals Vells road, between the pines and the golf course. The car park is a couple of minutes from the sand along a short, step-free path. The Cova de la Mare de Déu is about five minutes away along the path that skirts the south side of the cove.
- By bus
- TIB route 105 (Palma to Sol de Mallorca) ends in Sol de Mallorca, a little over a kilometre from the cove. From there it's about 20 minutes on foot.
- By boat
- It's a popular anchorage for boats from Puerto Portals and Port Adriano. The swimming area is marked off with buoys and boats must stay outside it.
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's only 46 metres of sand, with sunbeds, a restaurant and boats anchored in front. In July and August the car park and beach fill up by mid-morning.
Tips and what to bring
- Get there early. The car park is small and in summer fills up by mid-morning. If it’s full, don’t leave your car on the road.
- Parasol or hire one. The pines are behind and the sand is in the sun almost all day.
- Mask and snorkel. Swim towards the southern cliff: rock, posidonia and the quarry openings seen from the water.
- Take your time at the cave. The Cova de la Mare de Déu is five minutes away. Wear closed shoes and respect the chapel.
- Leave the dog at home. Pets aren’t allowed on Calvià’s beaches, and this one’s no exception.
The cove faces east, towards the bay of Palma. With the ponent (the west wind) or tramuntana (the north wind) it’s usually calm; with the llevant (the east wind) some swell comes in.
Photos of Cala Portals Vells
Cala Portals Vells features in these guides
Nearby coves
- Platgeta de Portals Vells0.1 km · guide coming soon
- Platja del Mago0.3 km · guide coming soon
- Caló dels Reis0.5 km · guide coming soon
- Cala Xada0.9 km · guide coming soon
- Cala Falcó2.1 km · guide coming soon
- Cala Vinyes2.9 km · guide coming soon
Frequently asked questions
How do I get there and where do I park?
Drive from Magaluf or Sol de Mallorca along the Portals Vells road. There's a free public car park a couple of minutes from the sand, but it's small and fills up early in summer.
Does it get very busy?
Yes, in July and August. The beach is small and lots of boats anchor in front. Get there before 10:00 or go late in the afternoon.
Is it good for children?
The water is usually calm and the sand is close to the car. There's no lifeguard and no public toilets, so keep a close eye on them.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Calvià bans pets from its beaches. The municipality's dog swimming areas are Punta Marroig, in Palmanova, and Cala des Gats, in Costa de la Calma.
Are there any rules to be aware of?
There's no lifeguard or flag. Lighting fires, camping, playing music and stubbing out cigarettes in the sand are forbidden. Swim inside the buoyed area, away from the boats.
Can I visit the Cova de la Mare de Déu?
Yes, it's about five minutes' walk along the path on the south side. It's an old quarry with a chapel carved into the rock. Go in carefully: the ground is uneven and it's quite dark.
Is it a nudist beach?
Cala Portals Vells isn't. The nudist beach is its neighbour, Platja del Mago, a few minutes' walk to the north.