Cala Varques is a natural cove in the municipality of Manacor, on Mallorca, off the road between Porto Cristo and Porto Colom. Its beach of white sand is about 70 metres long and 50 wide, backed by pine forest, and its clear water draws snorkellers and divers. The rock around it holds caves and underwater galleries more than 500 metres long in all, prized by cavers. No road reaches the sand: the last stretch is on foot.
Cala Varques
White-sand cove ringed by pine forest and sea caves, reached only on foot through the pines.
- Entrance
- Free; there is no ticket.
- Accessibility
- Not accessible by wheelchair or for limited mobility: the beach is reached only on a 1.5–2 km walk that ends on a rocky, slippery path and crosses a half-ruined stone wall.
- Parking
- Free parking along the road, about 2.1–2.3 km in a straight line from the beach; the rest is on foot.
- Difficulty
- Walk of 1.5–2 km each way, 20–45 minutes: a dusty, unshaded track, then a rocky, slippery path through pine forest with a half-ruined stone wall to climb. Wear trainers.
- Transport
- No bus reaches the cove. The nearest stops, Club del Mar and Violetes, are about 2.1 km away in a straight line.
- Advance booking
- No booking needed.
- Hours
- No set hours: an open, natural beach.
What makes it special
The path comes out of the pines onto a crescent of white sand and light-blue water clear enough to bring snorkellers and divers. The bottom is soft sand and shelves gently, so the swimming is easy on a calm day. The beach runs about 70 metres long and 50 deep.
The rock around the cove is riddled with caves. Caves and underwater galleries run for more than 500 metres in all, and cavers prize them. Three of them, the Cueva del Pont, the Cueva del Xot and the Cueva del Pirata, have paths and steps from around 1987, when they were fitted out for visitors. Inside are stalactites and stalagmites, many of them broken. The cliffs are used for deep-water soloing.
Walk left or right from the main beach for quieter spots on the rocks, with a rock arch to the left. A few small coves and cliff-jumping spots lie along the way, and the coast beyond carries on for a longer walk.
Good to know
- No toilets or drinking water at the cove or nearby; carry enough water for the walk back as well.
- The track in is dusty and unshaded, hot going on a summer day. Bring a hat, and an umbrella if you want shade on the sand.
- Wear trainers: the second half of the path is rocky and slippery, and flip-flops make it hard going.
- Nudism is practised on the beach.
- Take nothing from the caves: many of the stalactites and stalagmites have already been broken off and carried away.
Getting there
The turn-off lies on the road between Porto Cristo and Porto Colom, and signs are scarce. Cars are parked along the road, about 2 km in a straight line from the beach, and everything after that is on foot, past a gate.
The walk covers 1.5 to 2 km each way and takes 20 to 45 minutes. The first half follows a dusty track in full sun. Then you climb over a half-ruined stone wall and take a rocky path through the pine forest, slippery in places, down to the sand. Trainers make the second half far easier.
Best time to visit
Best: early morning on a calm day, so the walk in is done before the heat. Avoid: the middle of a hot summer day, and days of strong wind. The track in has no shade, and a hard wind raises big waves in the cove that spoil the swimming.
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Cala Varques on the map
Strong wind drives big waves into the cove; stay out of the water when the sea is up. The rocks and cliffs around it are unfenced, so check the depth and the swell before any jump.
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk to Cala Varques?
From the road it is 1.5 to 2 km each way, taking 20 to 45 minutes: a dusty, unshaded track first, then a rocky and slippery path through pine forest, with a half-ruined stone wall to climb.Are there toilets or drinking water at the beach?
No. There are no toilets or drinking water at the cove or nearby, so bring everything you need, including water for the walk back.What are the caves at Cala Varques?
The rock around the cove holds caves and underwater galleries more than 500 metres long in all. The Cueva del Pont, Cueva del Xot and Cueva del Pirata have paths and steps from around 1987, when they were fitted out for tourist visits.Is Cala Varques good for swimming?
On a calm day, yes: the water is clear and the soft sandy bottom shelves gently. In strong wind big waves roll in, and then it is better to stay out.