Bonaire

Bonaire beach Mallorca: What you should know before you go

Bonaire feels like a green, quiet corner of the Alcúdia peninsula where residential streets, a small marina and a pair of intimate beaches come together. The air smells of pines, the water is typically clear, and the mood is much gentler than on the main resort strip of Port d’Alcúdia. Many visitors describe it as the place they go to slow down, swim in calm water and enjoy wide views across the Bay of Pollença. If you like small sandy coves, protected swimming and a laid back residential atmosphere rather than a busy promenade, this area will likely suit you very well.

Quick facts at a glance

• Beach type: small sandy coves in a residential bay
• Ground: fine white sand with some rocks at the edges
• Water entry: shallow and gradual
• Water: feel mostly calm and clear
• Shade: some from pines and nearby buildings
• Facilities: beach bar, basic services, marina nearby
• Parking: small roadside areas and local streets
• Best for: families, couples, relaxed swimmers

The overall vibe

Bonaire is a coastal residential area in northern Mallorca, on the Alcúdia peninsula between the bays of Alcúdia and Pollença, with its main bathing spots at the beaches known as Sant Pere and Sant Joan in the Mal Pas Bonaire area. These are compact sandy coves framed by low rock shelves, pines and villas rather than hotels, so the atmosphere is intimate and quietly upmarket. The nearby Marina de Bonaire, often called Puerto Cocodrilo, adds a nautical touch with moored boats and low key waterfront activity.

The mood on the beaches is relaxed, with a mix of local residents, villa guests and travelers who come specifically for a quieter scene. People spread out on the sand, children play in the shallows, and there is often a gentle murmur from the small beach bar and terraces rather than loud music. The scenery is particularly appealing: deep white sand, turquoise water and views across the Bay of Pollença toward the Formentor peninsula make the spot feel special without being overly developed.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

The main beaches used by visitors staying in Bonaire are Sant Pere and Sant Joan. Both have fine, light sand and a seabed that stays sandy well out from the shore, although small rock shelves frame the coves at the sides. Sant Pere is around 80 to 100 metres long and fairly deep, with soft sand that is comfortable for towels and for walking barefoot. Sant Joan is slightly longer but narrower, curving in a thin crescent with a wider sheet of water in front.

Water entry is shallow and gradual on both beaches, which many families mention as one of the main advantages of the area. Regular visitors say you can walk out quite a distance with water at knee to thigh depth before it deepens, making it easy for children and less confident swimmers. Water shoes are usually not necessary in the central zones, though they can be useful if you like to explore along the rockier edges. The water is often clear, with generally calm conditions, though moderate waves can appear when wind picks up across the bay.

Who Bonaire is perfect for

Bonaire is a great fit for travelers who value peace, greenery and small coves over nightlife and big hotel fronts. Families with children benefit from the shallow, sheltered water and the manageable size of the beaches, where it is easy to keep an eye on kids. Couples who enjoy relaxed swimming, quiet reading under pines and gentle evening walks by the marina also tend to appreciate this enclave. The area works well for guests staying in villas or small holiday homes who want a beach they can visit repeatedly without crowds.

It is not ideal for visitors who want long sandy expanses with many bars, clubs and constant activity. Public transport connections are limited, and the residential character means services are present but not dense. If your idea of best beaches Mallorca revolves around social promenades and busy beach clubs, you may find Bonaire a little too subdued, though it can still work as a contrasting afternoon stop during a wider Alcúdia based stay.

Facilities and comfort

Despite its small size, the Bonaire Mal Pas beach area has the essential facilities for a comfortable few hours. At Sant Pere there are usually sun loungers and parasols available for rent, a small beach bar or chiringuito serving snacks, salads and drinks, and basic services such as toilets and bins. The beaches are cleaned and tended, giving them a tidy and inviting feel in season.

The surroundings add extra comfort: pines and bushes offer natural shade at the back of the sand in places, and residential streets with villas mean no large buildings overshadow the shoreline. A short walk or drive brings you to the Marina de Bonaire, where you find a few more restaurants and services, and Alcúdia’s old town and Port d ‘Alcúdia are only a few kilometres away for full supermarket and shopping access.

Getting there and parking

Bonaire sits a few kilometres north of Alcúdia town, reached via a signed road from the centre of Alcúdia toward Mal Pas and then on to the Bonaire residential and marina area. The last part is along tree lined residential streets that end close to the coast, from where short access paths or steps lead down to Sant Pere and Sant Joan. There is no direct regular bus route to the beaches, so most visitors arrive by car, bike or on foot from nearby accommodation.

Parking is available in small roadside areas and informal spaces near the beaches, as well as around the marina and residential streets, but the number of places is limited and can fill up quickly on summer days. Arriving earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon usually makes it easier to park close. Many travelers in the mallorcard community say that visiting Bonaire by rental car is recommended because it allows flexible arrival times, easy access to both Bonaire beaches and nearby spots like Alcúdia old town or other coves, and avoids relying on scarce buses, 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 Bonaire

On Sant Pere, the central section of the sand offers the easiest water entry and the best balance between proximity to the beach bar and enough space to spread out. For example, many families prefer to set up close to the gentle slope near the wooden walkway, where strollers and bags can be managed easily and the children reach the shallows in seconds. Toward the sides, the sandy area narrows as low rock shelves appear, which can be nice for people who want a bit more separation or enjoy sitting on rocks between swims.

Sant Joan, a short walk or scramble over the rocks from Sant Pere, tends to feel slightly wilder and has a better overall sea feel, with a longer but narrower band of sand and a wide arc of water in front. Many swimmers and snorkelers choose this beach when they want a slightly more open sea area while still staying near the residential comfort of Bonaire. For photos, both coves offer lovely views toward the Bay of Pollença and the Formentor ridges, especially in early morning or late afternoon when the light softens and boats move slowly across the bay.

What you can do nearby

• Walk or cycle between Bonaire, Mal Pas and Alcúdia old town for a mix of sea views and historic streets
• Stroll around Marina de Bonaire and enjoy a drink or meal overlooking the moored boats
• Drive or hike to viewpoints along the Victoria peninsula for wide panoramas over both bays
• Visit Alcúdia’s medieval walls and weekly market for a change of pace from the beach
• Combine a swim at Bonaire with a trip to other nearby beaches such as Es Coll Baix or Port d’Alcúdia

Best time to visit

Mornings in Bonaire are often the most peaceful, with calm water, fresher air and fewer people on the sand. Many locals and regular visitors like to come early for a quiet swim and to secure a good spot under partial shade. By late morning and early afternoon, especially in peak summer, the beaches become busier as families and villa guests arrive, and sunbeds and parking can both approach capacity.

Late afternoon is particularly attractive in this area. The sun drops behind the hills, the light becomes softer across the Bay of Pollença and the atmosphere often shifts toward a calmer, evening mood. This is a good time for photos, longer swims in still warm water and staying on for a relaxed dinner in Alcúdia or by the marina. If you are exploring several beaches in northern Mallorca, Bonaire works very well as a second or third stop after more exposed bays.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

Because Sant Pere and Sant Joan are small, it is worth arriving earlier if you want a front line sand spot and straightforward parking. Check where the rock shelves begin at the edges of each cove, and guide children to enter the water through the sandy central sections for the easiest footing. Even though the water is usually shallow and calm, it still makes sense to watch out for deeper patches further out and keep an eye on younger swimmers.

Bring plenty of water, reef safe sunscreen and at least a hat or light cover, as shade is present but limited and can be taken quickly. If you plan to rent sunbeds, carry a small backup shade solution in case they are fully booked. Mallorcard recommends for this area that visiting the beach by rental car is recommended so you can store extra shade gear, drinks and clothes in the car and leave earlier or change beaches if wind or crowd levels shift, 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.

Good to know

Bonaire sits on the north side of the Alcúdia peninsula in northern Mallorca, facing the Bay of Pollença while remaining close to Alcúdia town and Port d’Alcúdia on the Bay of Alcúdia side. The coastline here is a mix of small sandy coves, rock shelves and a sheltered marina, with a strong residential and villa based character rather than large hotel complexes. Pine trees and Mediterranean vegetation around the Victoria peninsula add a green backdrop, giving the beaches a scenic, partly natural frame even though they sit below a housing estate.