Boat Trip from Cala Figuera to Calo de Moro, S'almonia, Cala Màrmols

The Real Southern Coast

My name is Rafa Velazquez. I am a landscape photographer and I live on the southeast coast of Mallorca. I spend my mornings walking the cliffs of Santanyí and watching the traditional wooden fishing fleets leave the harbor. The commercial boat tours operating out of Palma often miss the raw character of this island. This specific 4-hour boat trip starting from the working port of Cala Figuera is different. It takes you directly into the most protected, roadless sections of our southern coastline. You get to see Calo de Moro, S'almonia, and Cala Màrmols from the water. Cala Màrmols is a cove most tourists never figure out how to get to.

We are talking about vertical limestone cliffs dropping straight into clear Mediterranean water. The boat navigates past the old watchtower, sa Torre d'en Beu, built in 1569 to defend the local fishermen from pirate raids. You see the massive natural stone arch of Es Pontàs rising from the sea. You pass the old stone slipways, called escars, where fishermen still pull their boats out of the winter swells. This is the authentic Balearic maritime environment.

Vital Navigation Warning: The Formentor Trap

I need to warn you about a massive GPS routing error that ruins holidays here every single week in the summer. There are two places named Cala Figuera on Mallorca. One is a remote pebble beach on the far northern Cap de Formentor peninsula in Pollença. The other is the historic fishing port in the southeastern municipality of Santanyí. You want the southern port in Santanyí. The exact coordinates are Latitude 39.330013, Longitude 3.1681318. If your phone tries to send you north toward Alcúdia, stop your car immediately. The northern Formentor road has strict private vehicle bans in the summer, and you will miss this boat trip completely.

Getting to the Harbor

Public transportation in this rural corner of the island requires some planning. The regional TIB bus network operates Route 516. This bus runs from Campos, connects at the main transit hub in Santanyí (the La Verge stop), and terminates directly down in the Cala Figuera harbor at stop 57029. The fare is between €4.00 and €6.00 (~$4.35 to ~$6.55) when you tap your bank card on the bus. Departures from the village run at three-hour intervals during the peak summer months. The earliest direct departure from the port toward Campos is at 6:45 AM. The final night-time departure runs at 10:00 PM.

Ride-hailing apps like Uber are practically useless outside of Palma. If you need a taxi, you must download the local Mallorcab app. You can also call Radio Taxi Santanyí directly at +34 971 657 058. A typical taxi fare from Cala Figuera to a nearby town like Portocolom is around €35.00 to €45.00 (~$38.15 to ~$49.05).

Renting a car is the most reliable option for this region. All public parking in Cala Figuera is entirely free. The village has a spacious public car park at the harbor entrance and unrestricted street parking along the main avenues. During July and August, finding a spot in teh central spaces requires arriving before 10:00 AM. If the main lot is full, drive up to the clifftop parking area near the Torre d'en Beu trailhead. Do not attempt to drive down the steep, narrow alleys leading to the water. Those paths end in pedestrian stairs and private docks.

The Route and The Coves

The boat leaves the harbor of Cala Figuera and heads southwest. The first major landmark is the Caló des Savinar, a rocky inlet favored by local divers. We then push toward Calo de Moro and S'almonia. Calo de Moro is famous for its intense, almost electric blue water. It is heavily crowded with hikers on the land side during July and August, but viewing it from the deck of a boat gives you a completely unobstructed perspective. S'almonia sits right next door. It has a cluster of historic fishermen's houses built directly into the rock face above the water.

The final destination is Cala Màrmols. The name means Marble Cove. The limestone walls surrounding this beach are stark white. The sand is completely untouched by vehicle access. The only way to reach it by land is a brutal 5-kilometer hike from the Cap de Ses Salines lighthouse with absolutely no shade. Arriving by boat is a massive relief. The captain drops anchor here. You have time to jump into the water, swim up to the marble walls, and snorkel over the seagrass beds.

Understanding the Harbor and Local Culture

Many first-time visitors arrive in Cala Figuera expecting a sandy beach right in the village center. There is no sand here. The port is a deep, Y-shaped fjord lined with vertical cliffs and stone boat ramps. This lack of sand is the exact reason the village survived the 1970s hotel building boom. It protected the traditional character of the port. If you want to lay a towel on the sand before or after your boat trip, you need to drive 10 minutes to the neighboring beaches of Cala Santanyí or s'Amarador inside the Mondragó Natural Park.

The local fishing fleet leaves the Caló d'en Busques side of the harbor around 6:00 AM. The fishermen return between 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM to unload their daily catch. If your boat trip ends in the late afternoon, find a spot along the pedestrian boardwalk to watch them sort the nets. There is no longer a physical indoor retail fish market open to tourists in the village. If you want to eat the local seafood, book a table at Bistro Bar Bonavista, Restaurante s'Ona Beach, or Pamboleria Es Pontàs on the cliffs above the harbor.

The municipality of Santanyí hosts excellent local markets. The main Santanyí Artisan Market runs every Wednesday and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Plaza Major. You will find local organic wines, cheeses, and cured sobrassada. During the summer months, Cala Figuera hosts its own smaller seasonal market on Calle Sant Pere every Monday morning.

Seasonal Weather and the Ecotasa

June is my favorite month on the water. The daily temperatures range between 24°C and 28°C. The sea is warm enough for swimming, and the peak crowds have not arrived. July and August bring temperatures over 30°C and maximum water transparency. September and October are quiet, with warm sea temperatures holding steady against milder daily air temperatures.

Between November 1 and April 30, the region largely shuts down. The sea is rough, the air drops to 10°C, and most local hotels and boat operators close for the winter.

If you are staying overnight on the island to take this trip, you are legally required to pay the Balearic Sustainable Tourism Tax, known as the Ecotasa. The funds go directly toward coastal conservation and historical restoration projects. In the high season (May through October), guests in 4-star hotels pay €3.00 (~$3.27) per night, plus 10% VAT. Guests in rural estates or 3-star hotels pay €2.00 (~$2.18) per night. Hostels charge €1.00 (~$1.09) per night. Children under 16 are exempt. If you stay longer than eight consecutive nights, the rate drops by 50% on the ninth day.

The July Maritime Festival

If you are lucky enough to book this boat trip in mid-July, you will witness the Festes de la Mare de Déu del Carme. This is the primary maritime celebration honoring the patron saint of fishermen. The festival runs roughly from July 4 to July 16. The harbor esplanade fills with classical music concerts, community dinners featuring regional pork loin and tumbet, and late-night DJ sets. On July 16, the local priest conducts a solemn mass, carries the image of the saint down to the water, and leads a massive maritime procession of decorated boats out of the harbor. It is the best day of the year to be in Cala Figuera.