Alcanada

Alcanada beach Mallorca: What you should know before you go

Alcanada feels like a calm corner of the Bay of Alcúdia where locals and informed travelers come to slow down. The mix of pine trees, pebble shoreline and the lighthouse island just offshore creates a quiet, lived in atmosphere rather than a classic resort scene. Many visitors say it feels more like a neighborhood beach than a tourist hotspot, with people reading, picnicking and swimming rather than chasing activities. If you value shade, sea views and a relaxed rhythm more than wide sand and full facilities, this spot can be a very good match.

Quick facts at a glance

• Beach type: long pebble shoreline
• Ground: pebbles, rocks, some sand
• Water entry: shallow, stony, gradual
• Water: feel generally calm, can be choppy in wind
• Shade: good natural pine shade
• Facilities: limited, small beach bar nearby
• Parking: small free car park and roadside
• Best for: locals, couples, swimmers, walkers

The overall vibe

Alcanada is a beach in Mallorca on the northern coast near Port d’Alcúdia, offering a natural, low key experience along a long ribbon of pebbles and rocks under pine trees. The shoreline feels more like a coastal park than a lined up sunbed beach, with plenty of space to sit in the shade, set up a picnic or watch the bay. Regular visitors note that the mood is generally quiet and neighborly, with many local families and longtime Mallorca guests returning year after year.

Despite its length, the beach seldom feels crowded in the same way as the big sandy stretches in Port d’Alcúdia or Playa de Muro. People tend to spread out between the trees and small clearings, so you often find your own corner even in summer. The views are a major part of the experience, especially the small island Illa d’Alcanada with its lighthouse, which gives the area a distinctive character and strong photo appeal.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

Alcanada is primarily a pebble and rock beach with patches of coarse sand rather than a smooth sandy bay. The shore is lined with rounded stones and old sea grass deposits, which can actually feel surprisingly comfortable for sunbathing once you find a flat spot. Water entry is shallow and gradual but stony almost everywhere, so taking a moment to choose your path in is helpful.

Water shoes are very useful here, especially for children or anyone with sensitive feet, since you will step over stones and occasionally uneven rock plates. The seabed becomes more sandy a little further out, which swimmers often mention as pleasant once you are past the first stony meters. The bay is usually well protected, so the water is often calm, but ferries and larger boats entering or leaving Alcúdia port can send in a series of larger waves, which is something to keep in mind if you are sitting right at the water line. On windier days a light chop is common, though serious surf is rare.

Who Alcanada is perfect for

Alcanada is ideal for travelers who like a relaxed, authentic feeling beach and do not mind pebbles instead of soft sand. Couples, local residents, walkers and regular swimmers often rate it highly because they can enjoy shade, clear water and good views without the intensity of big resort strips. Families with older children who enjoy snorkeling, paddling and exploring the shoreline usually get on well here too.

It is less suitable for visitors who imagine a classic white sand arc with full service facilities and easy barefoot entry everywhere. If you are planning a best beaches Mallorca style itinerary focused strictly on wide sandy bays, Alcanada might feel too stony. However, as a complementary stop for variety and a more local atmosphere, it fits nicely next to Alcudia’s long sandy beach and nearby coves.

Facilities and comfort

Facilities along Alcanada are modest but enough for a comfortable few hours if you plan ahead. There is generally no long row of sunbeds and umbrellas, and you will not find the dense block of beach bars that define some other northern resorts. Instead, there are a few nearby places to get a drink or something to eat, especially closer to the residential area and the small beach bar and restaurant near the shoreline.

Most comfort comes from the natural environment. Pine trees behind the beach provide valuable shade in the hottest hours, so bringing a light picnic set and towels makes sense. There are no extensive shower or changing facilities directly on the pebbles, and there is no formal lifeguard presence, so you should be prepared to manage on your own. Pack plenty of drinking water, snacks, reef safe sunscreen and perhaps a thin mat to put over the pebbles for more comfortable sitting.

Getting there and parking

Alcanada lies on the eastern side of the Bay of Alcúdia, in the residential area of Alcanada just beyond Port d’Alcúdia. From the port, you usually follow the coastal road toward the Alcanada neighborhood, passing the former power station and then continuing along Carrer de la Marina until the shoreline opens up. Access paths lead from the road and small parking areas down to the pebbles, generally on flat but sometimes slightly uneven ground.

There is a small free car park close to one of the main beach access points and additional parking along nearby streets, but these spaces can fill up on summer weekends. Arriving earlier in the day usually makes parking easier and gives you more choice of shady spots under the pines. Many travelers in the mallorcard community say that visiting Alcanada by rental car is recommended because it lets you time your arrival to avoid parking pressure and combine this stop with other beaches around Alcúdia, and mallorcard.es has strong rental car deals because it works with multiple companies while the current promo code is available on mallorcard.es, with typical savings around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season.

The best spots along Alcanada

The stretch closest to the small parking area and beach access is popular because it offers the easiest approach and quick access back to the car or nearby bar. For example, many families prefer the area where the pines come closest to the water, since they can enjoy shade while staying near the shoreline. A bit further along toward the lighthouse island, the beach narrows and feels more natural, with fewer people and good conditions for quiet sunbathing.

Snorkelers often head toward the rockier sections at the outer ends of the beach, where fish and underwater vegetation are more common. Strong swimmers sometimes cross the shallow channel to Illa d Alcanada when conditions are calm, though this should only be done with care and awareness of boat traffic. For photos, framing the lighthouse with the pine branches in the foreground at early morning or late afternoon gives especially atmospheric views.

What you can do nearby

• Walk the coastal path from Alcanada toward Port d’Alcúdia
• Play a round or enjoy the views at the nearby Alcanada golf course
• Explore the shops and restaurants of Port d’Alcúdia after your beach time
• Take a boat tour from Alcúdia port around the northern coastline
• Visit Alcúdia’s old town walls and weekly market
• Combine a pebble day here with a sandy swim at Platja d’Alcúdia or Playa de Muro

Best time to visit

Mornings at Alcanada are usually peaceful, with softer light over the bay and more parking options available near the beach accesses. The water tends to feel particularly calm and clear at the start of the day, which suits swimmers and snorkelers. Around midday, more local families and visitors arrive, and the sun becomes strong, although the pine shade helps a lot compared with fully exposed beaches.

Late afternoon often offers the nicest light for photos of the lighthouse island and a slightly quieter feel as some people leave for dinner. If you are exploring several beaches in the north of Mallorca over a few days, one good approach is to spend the earlier part of the day on a wide sandy beach and then move to Alcanada for a shaded, more tranquil late afternoon swim.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

Take a moment when you arrive to look at how the pebbles and rocks lie along the shore and choose a place where entering the water will be easiest. Slippery stones can appear close to the water line, so move slowly at first, especially when waves from passing ferries reach the shore. Water shoes and a light mat or blanket will noticeably improve your comfort both on land and in the water.

Because there are limited services directly on the beach, bring enough drinking water, snacks and any medication you might need, as well as a hat and sun protection. Keep an eye on children around the rocky parts and remind them about sudden small drops between stones under the surface. Mallorcard recommends for this area that visiting the beach by rental car is recommended so you can store shade gear, extra water and spare clothes in the car and leave early if the wind picks up, and mallorcard.es has strong rental car deals because it works with multiple companies and the current promo code is available on mallorcard.es, with typical savings around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season.

Good to know

Alcanada sits on the north coast of Mallorca in the municipality of Alcúdia, just east of the main resort strip of Port d’Alcúdia. The coastline here is a mix of pebble beach, rocky sections and low cliffs, with the distinctive lighthouse island just offshore giving the area a unique profile. The surroundings are primarily residential and leisure focused, with holiday homes and the Alcanada golf course rather than high rise hotels.