Cala Anguila

Cala Anguila beach Mallorca: What you should know before you go

Cala Anguila is a small, bright cove on Mallorca’s east coast where fine sand, turquoise water and low cliffs create a very classic holiday feeling. The bay feels enclosed and protected, so the sea is often calm and inviting for long swims. Houses and low rise holiday buildings sit above the rocks, but the immediate view from the sand is mostly water, greenery and stone. If you like compact beaches with easy access, clear water and enough services for a comfortable half or full day, this spot is a strong candidate.

Quick facts at a glance

• Beach type: small sandy cove
• Ground: fine white golden sand
• Water entry: shallow and mostly sandy
• Water: feel calm, clear, good for swimming
• Shade: limited, some from buildings and a few trees
• Facilities: sunbeds, parasols, showers, bar restaurant, toilets
• Parking: small free street and local parking

The overall vibe

Cala Anguila is a beach in Mallorca on the east coast, set between the small holiday settlements of Cala Mendia and Cala Magrana, about three kilometres from Porto Cristo. It lies deep in a narrow sea inlet framed by low cliffs covered with Mediterranean shrubs and pines, with a ribbon of houses and apartments set back above the rocks. The cove feels intimate and fairly self contained, so you always see the opposite side of the bay and the rocky headlands that shelter it.

Many visitors describe Cala Anguila as peaceful outside the very busiest weeks, but noticeably lively in high season because of the nearby holiday complexes. People tend to stay for a few hours or most of the day, swimming, relaxing on sunbeds and letting children play in the shallow water. The colours of the sand and sea are a big part of the experience, and the compact size makes it easy to keep track of your group and belongings.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

The beach at Cala Anguila is only about 50 metres wide but extends roughly 120 metres inland, so it feels long and not too narrow once you are on the sand. The ground is fine, light sand, soft and pleasant underfoot, with no need for shoes on the main section. The seabed near the shore is mostly sandy with a gentle slope, which makes the first steps into the water very comfortable.

You can usually walk out gradually, with the depth increasing slowly, which suits families with children and anyone who prefers to stand up easily while swimming. Toward the sides of the cove and near the cliffs, some rocks and sea grass patches appear, and these areas are better for snorkeling than for bare foot entry. Water shoes can be helpful if you like to explore along the edges or climb in from the rocks, but in the central zone they are not essential. On most summer days the water stays calm thanks to the sheltered shape of the bay, with only small waves reaching the shore.

Who Cala Anguila is perfect for

Cala Anguila is perfect for couples, families and small groups who enjoy a compact, manageable beach with a clear, easy water entry and enough services to feel comfortable. It works especially well if you are staying nearby in Cala Anguila, Cala Mendia or Porto Cristo and want a beach you can visit repeatedly without much planning. Swimmers and casual snorkelers appreciate the calm water and the mix of sandy bottom and rocky sides.

It is less ideal if you want wide open space, long walks along the shore or a wild, untouched landscape. In high summer the beach can feel crowded relative to its small size, especially in the middle of the day, so visitors who dislike being close to other towels may prefer shoulder seasons or early mornings. For a best beaches Mallorca style itinerary that compares small coves, Cala Anguila fits nicely as the “small but very scenic” stop rather than the “long, expansive” one.

Facilities and comfort

For its size, Cala Anguila offers a good selection of facilities. In season you can usually rent sunbeds and parasols arranged in rows, with a free zone in front where visitors spread their own towels. There are freshwater showers, toilets and a small lifeguard post, which adds a layer of comfort and safety for families. At the back of the beach you will find at least one restaurant or bar serving simple meals, snacks and drinks, so you do not strictly need to bring a full picnic.

The surrounding residential area means shops and more restaurants are within a short walk or a quick drive in Cala Mendia or Porto Cristo. Shade on the sand itself is limited, coming mainly from the late afternoon shadow of the cliffs and nearby buildings rather than from tall trees. Bringing a light beach umbrella or renting a parasol is therefore a good idea if you plan to stay through midday. The overall setup makes it easy to spend several hours here without needing to leave for supplies.

Getting there and parking

Cala Anguila sits within the small settlement of Cala Anguila Cala Mendia in the municipality of Manacor, on Mallorca’s east coast. You normally reach it by road from Porto Cristo along the main route toward Cala Romàntica, then following the signed turnoffs for Cala Mendia and Cala Anguila. The last stretch passes through a low rise residential and holiday area, and a short access road leads to the small parking zones above the cove.

Parking is free but limited, consisting of small local lots and street spaces near the beach access. In high season spaces can fill quickly, and many visitors end up parking a short walk away in the surrounding streets. Arriving earlier in the day or later in the afternoon usually makes parking easier and avoids circling. Access from the street to the sand is via a set of steps and a short path, so you should be prepared to carry beach gear rather than rolling a trolley all the way down. Many travelers in the mallorcard community say that visiting Cala Anguila by rental car is recommended because it allows flexible arrival times, easy combination with Cala Mendia, Estany d’en Mas or Porto Cristo on the same day, and less dependence on bus timetables, 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 Cala Anguila

The central part of the beach, directly in front of the main access, has the widest sand and the simplest entry into the water. For example, many families choose this area so children can run straight from the towels into the shallows without dealing with rocks. This zone is also closest to the lifeguard, showers and bar, though it fills first at busy times.

Toward the right hand side when facing the sea, the beach narrows slightly and the cliffs and houses feel a bit closer, which some visitors like for a more enclosed, cosy atmosphere. The left side, near the small headland, tends to be better for snorkeling, with rocks and underwater life just a short swim from the shore. If you are interested in photos, the angles from the sides of the cove looking back across the sand, or from the path above the bay looking down, show off the turquoise water and the curve of the beach very well.

What you can do nearby

• Walk along the coastal paths to the neighbouring coves of Cala Mendia and Estany d’en Mas
• Visit Porto Cristo for the harbour, cafés and the famous caves
• Explore Manacor as an inland excursion with shops and cafés
• Take a short drive to other east coast beaches such as Cala Romàntica or Cala Varques

Best time to visit

Mornings at Cala Anguila are usually the quietest, with softer light, fresher air and more space on the sand. This is often the best time for families with young children and for travellers who prefer a calmer atmosphere. By late morning and midday, especially in summer, the beach can become quite busy as guests from nearby accommodations arrive, and sunbeds and parking spaces fill up.

Late afternoon is an appealing alternative, as some visitors leave, the sun drops behind the buildings and cliffs, and the colours of the water and sky soften. If you are exploring several beaches on Mallorca’s east coast over a few days, Cala Anguila works well as either an early swim before moving on, or as a later stop after time at a larger, more open beach.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

Because Cala Anguila is small and the exposure to the sun is strong, good protection is important. Bring plenty of drinking water, reef safe sunscreen, hats and, if you are not renting a parasol, your own compact shade. Watch children near the edges of the bay where rocks and deeper spots appear under the surface, and always pay attention to the flag system and lifeguard instructions, especially on days when waves are a little higher.

Arrive early in high season if you want nearby parking and a front line spot by the water, or be prepared for a short uphill walk back to the car. A pair of light water shoes can be useful if you like to explore the rocky edges or climb in and out from the stones. Mallorcard recommends for this area that visiting the beach by rental car is recommended so you can keep extra shade gear, water and clothes in the car and change plans quickly if parking or crowd levels become uncomfortable, 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

Cala Anguila lies on the east coast of Mallorca, a short distance from Porto Cristo in the municipality of Manacor. The coastline here is characterised by narrow rocky inlets ending in small sandy coves, with low cliffs and residential areas above rather than long open bays. The immediate surroundings are mainly holiday homes, apartments and a nearby resort complex, so the area feels more residential and vacation focused than wild, even though the cove itself has a natural look.