12 Best Anchorages Around Mallorca for a Private Yacht Charter

Best anchorages around Mallorca: a working broker's guide

Choosing the best anchorages around Mallorca is the single decision that shapes every charter day. The island's 550-kilometre coastline offers more than 30 viable overnight spots, yet only a handful combine clean holding ground, weather protection, and the kind of scenery that justifies a private yacht hire. Below, we break down twelve anchorages our captains return to season after season — grouped by coast, with practical detail on depth, seabed type, and when to visit. Whether you are planning a week-long boat charter or a single day at anchor, this guide gives you the local knowledge that matters.

Southwest coast: deep-water coves with reliable shelter

The southwest stretch between Port d'Andratx and Cala Pi is where most luxury yacht charters begin. Cala Llamp, just south of Port d'Andratx, drops to 8–12 metres over sand and posidonia, with cliffs blocking the prevailing westerly swell. A tender ride of three minutes puts guests ashore at Sa Dragonera island on calm days.

Further southeast, Cala Falcó and Cala Vinyes sit within 2 nautical miles of each other. Both offer 6–10 metre depths and sandy patches wide enough for a 40-metre motor yacht to swing on a single anchor. During June and September the area is far quieter than in peak August weeks, making it ideal for families who prefer space over spectacle. Port Adriano, only 4 nm away, provides shore-side dining and fuel if needed.

North coast: dramatic backdrops and morning-calm windows

The Formentor peninsula creates a natural wind barrier that keeps Cala Figuera de Formentor glassy until late morning most summer days. Depths of 5–8 metres over sand allow straightforward anchoring for yachts up to 50 metres. The bay faces east, so it is best used when the forecast shows light offshore winds — typically May through mid-July.

Around the headland, Cala Sant Vicenç offers three narrow inlets with holding in 4–7 metres. Swell can wrap in from the northeast after midday, so experienced skippers treat it as a lunch stop rather than an overnight stay. For provisioning or crew changes, the commercial port at Alcúdia is roughly 12 nm east and accepts yachts drawing up to 4.5 metres.

6 anchorages every charter itinerary should include

1. Cala Deià — A tight cove beneath the Serra de Tramuntana. Best for yachts under 30 metres; anchor in 6 m over rock and sand, bow-to the cliff. 2. Portals Vells — Three adjoining bays with 5–9 m depths. The southernmost cave beach is reachable by tender in under two minutes. 3. Es Trenc (offshore) — Anchor 200 m off the beach in 4–6 m of sand. The longest undeveloped beach on the island, ideal for paddleboarding. 4. Cabrera archipelago — A national park 10 nm south of Colònia de Sant Jordi. Permits are mandatory; our team books them weeks in advance. Holding is excellent in 8–12 m of sand inside the main harbour. 5. Cala Mondragó — Part of a natural park on the southeast coast. Two connected bays, 5–7 m depths, crystal-clear water over white sand. 6. Illetes (north Formentera hop) — Technically a day-trip across the channel, roughly 80 nm from Palma. Worth the passage for the pale-turquoise shallows that define a Balearic yacht rental experience.

For a closer look at route planning, see our [Mallorca day-charter itinerary](#).

How wind and season affect your anchorage choices

Mallorca's summer thermal wind — the embat — typically fills from the southwest at 10–15 knots between 13:00 and 18:00. That makes east-facing coves calmer in the afternoon and west-facing spots better for morning swims. In 2026 the charter high season runs from late May to early October, with July and August bringing the warmest water (25–27 °C) and the busiest anchorages.

Spring and autumn shoulder weeks reward flexibility. Fewer mooring restrictions apply, swell periods are longer but less frequent, and anchorages such as Cala Tuent on the northwest coast — exposed in summer thermals — become viable overnight stops. If you browse our [fleet in Mallorca](#), you will notice many sailing yachts are available at reduced rates during these quieter months.

Anchoring regulations and good practice

The Balearic government enforces posidonia-protection zones across much of the coastline. Anchoring over posidonia meadows is prohibited, and fines apply. GPS-referenced exclusion maps are updated each spring; every captain in our network carries the latest charts. In Cabrera National Park, anchoring outside designated buoys is not permitted, and overnight stays require a prior reservation.

Practical tips: set the anchor with a slow reverse at 1,500 rpm, confirm holding on the plotter, and keep a watch for shifting wind after 16:00. Our crew briefings cover these details before departure from Palma or any of the island's marinas. For more on what to expect aboard, see our [charter preparation guide](#).

Plan your charter around Mallorca's finest anchorages

A well-chosen anchorage turns a good day on the water into something you talk about for years — the colour of the water at Cala Mondragó, the silence inside Cabrera's harbour at dawn, the limestone glow of Portals Vells at sunset. Every cove on this list is one our skippers know by depth, by season, and by the exact hour the light hits the cliff face. The 2026 Balearic season is shaping up to be one of the most sought-after yet, and the best weeks tend to be reserved earliest.