Boat tour Cala Figuera, Es Pontas, Caló de Moro, Cala Marmols
Guided by Rafa Velazquez | Southeastern Mallorca
The steep limestone cliffs and deep waters off the coast of Santanyí.
Photo by Carlos Torres / Pexels
Guided by Rafa Velazquez | Southeastern Mallorca
I am Rafa Velazquez, a landscape photographer and a long-time resident of southeastern Mallorca. The coastline around the Santanyí municipality is a place of sheer rock faces, deep water, and old maritime traditions. Many visitors drive right past the best parts of this island because they rely on bad GPS routes or generic travel lists. I want to make sure you see the actual southern coast.
This four-hour boat tour covers the most dramatic geological formations in the Balearic Islands. We leave from the working fishing port of Cala Figuera. We pass the massive natural stone arch of Es Pontàs. We anchor near Caló des Moro and Cala Marmols. These are locations you can only truly understand from the water.
You need to know exactly where you are going before you book. There is a very common navigation error that ruins vacations here. The name Cala Figuera belongs to two entirely different places on this island. One is a remote pebble beach far in the north on the Cap de Formentor peninsula. The other is our active, historic fishing port in the southeast. This boat tour is in the southeast. If you follow standard map directions without checking the municipality, you will drive two hours in the wrong direction. Make sure your destination is Port de Cala Figuera in Santanyí (Latitude 39.330013, Longitude 3.1681318).
Public transportation to Cala Figuera is part of the regional Transports de les Illes Balears (TIB) network. You will use Route 516. This bus runs from Campos through Santanyí and ends directly in our village. If you travel from Palma, you take the express Route 501 to the La Verge stop in Santanyí. You transfer to Route 516 there.
The sequence of stops on Route 516 is specific. The bus departs La Verge and moves through Na Ravandella, Cas Canonge, Sa Tanca, Son Moja, and Cala Santanyí before terminating at the Cala Figuera harbor stop (Code 57029). The direct ride from Campos to Cala Figuera is about 30 minutes. In peak summer, departures are spaced roughly three hours apart. The earliest bus leaves at 6:45 AM. The final departure at night is at 10:00 PM. Fares are between €4.00 and €6.00 depending on where you board.
Rental cars are very popular because bus times are spread out. Public parking in Cala Figuera is free. There are no ticket machines on the main avenues or in the large harbor car park. Spaces fill up fast in July and August. You need to arrive before 10:00 AM to get a spot without driving in circles. The historic core of the village drops steeply down to the water. Do not try to drive down the narrow alleys toward the private boat slipways. Park on the upper street level and walk down the stone stairs.
Ride-hailing apps like Uber operate mostly near Palma and the airport. They are practically useless in the southeastern coves. You must download the Mallorcab app to book local licensed taxis. You can also call Radio Taxi Santanyí at +34 971 657 058.
Many visitors arrive expecting a wide expanse of sand. There is no sandy beach in the center of Cala Figuera. The harbor is carved out of solid rock and lined with sheer cliffs. This geological layout is the reason the village survived the high-rise hotel boom of the 1970s. If you want to lay a towel on sand, you have to go 10 minutes down the road to Cala Santanyí or s'Amarador.
The walking paths around the harbor water are steep and wet. The stone steps and the boat ramps (called escars in the local dialect) are covered in marine algae. They are incredibly slippery. Do not wear flip-flops. Wear sturdy water shoes or shoes with serious rubber grip. You will lose your footing if you wear smooth sandals near the water line.
The daily indoor fish market (Lonja) is no longer open to tourists. The fishermen still bring in their catch every single afternoon between 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM. You can sit at a table at Bistro Bar Bonavista or Restaurante s'Ona Beach and watch them unload the nets. If you want to buy raw seafood, you need to go to the weekly Santanyí municipal markets on Wednesday or Saturday mornings.
Accessing the harbor and clifftop trails is completely free all year. The town is open 24 hours a day. Staying overnight in the Balearic Islands requires payment of the Sustainable Tourism Tax, known locally as teh Ecotasa. The money funds environmental protection projects.
The rates change based on the season and the type of lodging. Children under 16 are exempt. Stays longer than eight days get a 50% discount starting on day nine. High season runs from May 1 to October 31.
| Accomodation Category | High Season (Per Night) | Low Season (Per Night) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Star Hotels / Luxury Residences | €4.00 (+ 10% VAT) | €1.00 (+ 10% VAT) |
| 4-Star Hotels / Mid-Range Apartments | €3.00 (+ 10% VAT) | €0.75 (+ 10% VAT) |
| 1- to 3-Star Hotels / Rural Estates | €2.00 (+ 10% VAT) | €0.50 (+ 10% VAT) |
| Hostels / Tourist Refuges | €1.00 (+ 10% VAT) | €0.25 (+ 10% VAT) |
The winter off-season stretches from November 1 to April 30. The weather cools to around 12°C. A massive portion of local hotels, rental agencies, and seasonal restaurants close their doors completely. It is a quiet time for hikers, but many commercial services are unavailable.
If you visit in mid-July, you will overlap with the primary maritime festival of the village. The Festes de la Mare de Déu del Carme honors the patron saint of fishermen. The entire port transforms. The boats are covered in flags and flowers.
The events run from July 4 to July 16. The opening night features an open-air classical concert by the sea. July 8 is dedicated to local gastronomy, pouring organic Son Alegre wines alongside craft beers. The community gathers on July 9 for Sopar a la Fresca, a large outdoor dinner of regional pork loin and tumbet. July 11 involves a morning environmental clean-up of the coves followed by a late-night DJ party on the docks.
The festival peaks on July 16. A solemn mass happens in the morning. The locals carry the image of the saint down the steep stairs to the water. The image is placed on a llaüt, and a massive procession of decorated boats sails out of the harbor mouth. It is the most important cultural display in the municipality.
You have free time before or after your four hours on the water. Do not just sit by the parking lot. Walk the clifftop trail leading out to the mouth of the cove. This path takes you to Torre d'en Beu. It is a stone watchtower built in 1569 to spot pirate raids. A working lighthouse from 1953 sits right next to it. The views of the open Mediterranean are completely unobstructed.
If you want quiet snorkeling away from the crowded beaches of Mondragó Natural Park, you can hike toward Caló des Savinar. It is a rocky, secluded inlet. The water transparency is excellent in July and August. The best light for photography across all these coves is between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, before the wind picks up and disturbs the water reflections.
Secure your spot on the boat and see the real southeastern coast.
Book This Boat Tour (€48.50 (~$52.46))