Cala Xarraca

A small pebble and rock beach tucked into a rocky cove. The water is clear enough for snorkeling, with schools of small fish weaving between the boulders. The left side of the beach opens onto a scramble across low rocks into a more sheltered basin, where you can find natural mud pools in summer and a rope swing at Sa Punta Negra, a 10-minute walk from the main beach. A bar and restaurant sit at the water's edge. The whole bay fills quickly in high summer; come early to secure parking and find space on the beach.

• The car park is small and free, but fills to capacity in July and August. Arrive by 10 a.m. to guarantee a space.
• The beach is pebbles and rocks, not sand. Bring water shoes or old trainers; the stones are sharp underfoot.
• The drive down from the main road is steep and winding. In high season, a queue of reversing cars backs onto the main road.
• Seaweed accumulates at the water's edge in summer. Wade in from the sides where entry is clearer.
• The beach empties after 3 p.m., but you'll still find seats at the restaurant for sunset drinks.

From the main road, a steep single-track descent winds down to a small free car park. In season, the queue to reverse back up the hill backs onto the main road. From the car park, a 30-metre scramble down rocks and loose stone leads to the beach. A wooden stair at one end offers an easier route down.

Better: June and September, when the car park rarely fills and you can find solitude before 11 a.m. Late afternoon—from 4 p.m. onward—brings calmer water and softer light, and the restaurant empties by 5 p.m. Autumn mornings are quietest.

Avoid: July and August. Peak summer turns the car park into a puzzle and buries the beach. The mud pools on the left side dry out entirely by midsummer. Midday (noon to 3 p.m.) concentrates crowds.