Playa d'en Tortuga

The water is clear enough to pick out every dark patch of seagrass on the bottom, and it lies calm on a still day. The walk in thins the crowd: few people make the effort, so the sand stays quiet.

The beach itself is a narrow strip of soft sand with pebbles mixed through it, and there is room for a towel. The clear water makes for good snorkelling. Nothing is built here, and some people on the beach go naked. On the path back the coast opens up around you, and the views are worth a stop.

• There is no shade on the beach or on the path: bring a parasol, sun cream and more water than you think you need.
• No toilets and no drinking water at the beach or nearby, and nothing to buy — pack food and drinks for the whole day.
• Sea urchins live in the water here; wear water shoes if you snorkel.
• Some people on the beach go naked — it is a wild beach.
• The approach is a 30–40 minute walk each way, so a wheelchair or pushchair will not get through.

You arrive by car and cover the last stretch on foot. Two car parks lie about 900 m and 1.1 km from the beach in a straight line, and from the car park the walk takes 30 to 40 minutes. The path is signposted and easy underfoot, with a few dips and short climbs, and it runs in full sun the whole way. The coast comes into view as you go.

The nearest named bus stop is at Es Grau, about 4.6 km away in a straight line — too far to count as a practical way in.

Best: early morning or late afternoon, from late spring to early autumn.

Avoid: the middle of a hot summer day, and days when the wind blows hard onto the shore.

Neither the path nor the sand has any shade, so the midday sun turns the walk into hard work, while a strong onshore wind roughs up the water that makes the swim worthwhile.