Cala Mitjana

The colour arrives through the pines on the way down — turquoise water over white sand, with low rock walls closing the cove on both sides. The water is clear enough to snorkel straight off the beach, and there are caves in the rock to poke around in. Paths climb to viewpoints above either side of the bay: one drops right to Cala Mitjaneta, another follows the coast to Cala Galdana, and a longer walk heads off to further beaches on the left. Nothing is built on the sand — which is the appeal, and also why everything you need comes in with you.

• Nothing is sold here. Bring food, drink and enough water — there is nowhere nearby to fill up.
• The shade is at the back. Only the rear of the beach has natural shade; bring an umbrella, and expect glare off the white sand and the clear water.
• Toilets and picnic tables. Public toilets stand close to the sand at no charge, and picnic tables sit where the path comes out onto the beach.
• It fills up. The sand is still fairly quiet around ten in the morning and crowded by eleven in high season, so come early for a spot.

The drive ends at a gravel car park inland, off the OM-714 country road, about 719 m from the bay in a straight line; a second car park sits a little further back. From there it is a walk of 15 to 20 minutes under pine trees, and there are two ways down. One is a concrete road that runs the whole way and will take a pushchair; the other is a rocky gravel path, the gentler of the two on the legs. Both end at the same point on the sand, and both are a climb back up at the end of the day. Buses stop at the Cala Galdana roundabout, roughly 790 m away in a straight line.

Best: early morning, from around nine.

Avoid: the middle of the day in high season.

The beach is still fairly quiet at ten and crowded by eleven, and with the natural shade sitting only at the back of the sand there is nowhere to retreat to once the sun is high. Come early and the low light works on the turquoise water, and the cove can be empty.