Cala Bona

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

Cala Bona combines a small series of protected coves with a working fishing harbour and a lively seafront, so it feels more like a seaside village with beaches than a single long bay. The water is clear, the sand is mixed with pebbles and rocks, and breakwaters create calm, shallow areas for bathing. Many visitors say it is a friendly, relaxed place where you can swim, stroll the promenade and watch boats without the intensity of big resort strips. If you like accessible beaches, a harbour atmosphere and a good choice of cafés and services nearby, this spot fits very well.

Quick facts at a glance

• Beach type three small coves in a resort and harbour setting
• Ground mainly sand with pebbles and some rock
• Water entry shallow and protected by breakwaters
• Water feel calm, clear in bathing zones
• Shade some from parasols and buildings
• Facilities full services, sunbeds, accessibility features, harbour
• Parking nearby streets, public parking, mini train and buses

The overall vibe

Cala Bona is a beach in Mallorca on the east coast, in the municipality of Son Servera, just north of Cala Millor. The coastline here has been shaped into three small coves protected by large man made breakwaters and backed by a promenade, accommodation and the fishing harbour. Official descriptions give the combined beach area a length of about 550 metres and a relatively narrow width of around 9 metres on average, spread across these separate sections.

The atmosphere is friendly and moderately busy, with a mix of families, older travellers and couples staying in the many hotels and apartments nearby. The small harbour still keeps some of its traditional character, with fishing boats and leisure craft giving the area a lived in feel. Many people highlight evening walks along the promenade that links Cala Bona to Cala Millor and the relaxed, sociable vibe around terraces and bars by the water.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

Officially Cala Bona has three beaches, though reviews suggest that only two of them function as clear bathing beaches, with the third more mixed and rocky. The main coves are mostly sandy but include areas with gravel and pebbles on the shore and some low rock shelves under the water. The breakwaters create small, semicircular bays, so waves are usually low and the water is shallow close to the shore, especially in the main bathing areas.

Water entry is easy and well suited to children: you step onto sand or small pebbles and the depth increases gradually inside the protected zones. In some places there are parts of low rock or scattered stones underwater, so water shoes can be helpful for sensitive feet or for exploring the edges, but are not essential in the central sandy strips. Outside the breakwaters, the depth quickly reaches about five metres with a seabed of sand, rock and seaweed, so most regular bathing stays within the enclosed areas. Water clarity is generally good, and many visitors mention that snorkeling is enjoyable in the rocky corners near the harbour and breakwaters.

Who Cala Bona is perfect for

Cala Bona is particularly good for families with children, older travellers and anyone with reduced mobility who values accessible, calm bathing areas and complete services. The beach and promenade infrastructure includes adapted toilets, reserved parking, ramps and walkways, and Cala Bona was the first beach in Mallorca to be awarded an AENOR universal accessibility certificate. Lifeguards, flotation devices and amphibious wheelchairs as well as assisted bathing in a shaded area make it very practical for people who would struggle with more natural, uneven beaches.

It is less ideal for travellers seeking wild landscapes, long unbroken sand dunes or a sense of remoteness. The beaches are narrow, partly artificial and clearly set in a resort environment, so you always feel close to hotels, restaurants and the port. If your best beaches Mallorca list focuses on natural coves and dramatic scenery, Cala Bona may serve better as a comfortable base and harbour town, with day trips to wilder beaches nearby.

Facilities and comfort

Facilities at Cala Bona are extensive. As a resort and harbour area, it offers sunbeds and umbrellas, showers, toilets, changing cabins and lifeguard posts along the various beach sections. The promenade behind the beach is lined with restaurants, cafés, bars and shops, and there are multiple hotels and apartments directly facing the water.

Accessibility is a standout feature: there are reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities, access ramps, walkways with coloured strips to help visually impaired visitors, adapted toilets and showers, flotation devices and amphibious chairs and crutches. A special shaded area offers personalised assistance from lifeguards trained in accessibility for a set period each day, typically mid morning to early afternoon. Shade otherwise comes from rented parasols and from nearby buildings at certain times of day. Overall comfort here is high if you like having everything close at hand.

Getting there and parking

Cala Bona is located on Mallorca’s east coast in Son Servera, about 70 kilometres from Palma and just north of Cala Millor. Access by car is straightforward via the Ma 15 or Ma 4030 from Manacor and the local roads toward Cala Millor and Cala Bona. The approach is well signposted, and you enter a developed resort area with clear directions to the harbour and beach.

Parking is available in streets and public areas near the beach, with specific spaces reserved and adapted for visitors with reduced mobility as part of the accessibility scheme. Free parking is possible in second or third line from the beach according to official information, and there is a tourist mini train that stops around 50 metres from the sand, linking Cala Bona with Cala Millor. Public buses also connect Cala Bona to other east coast resorts and to Palma. Many travellers in the mallorcard community say that visiting Cala Bona by rental car is recommended because it allows easy access from other parts of the island, flexible combinations of Cala Bona with nearby beaches like Cala Millor or Costa dels Pins 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 Bona

Officially there are three beaches, but the two main ones offer the best balance of sand, services and space. For example, many families choose the central cove just north of the harbour, where the sand is relatively wide, the water is shallow and the lifeguard presence is strongest. This area also has easy access to sunbeds, ramps and adapted facilities.

The smaller coves near the edges and close to the harbour are often preferred by couples and snorkelers. The mix of rocks, pebbles and sand, together with the breakwaters, creates interesting underwater areas with fish and rock formations. The harbour itself and the promenade linking to Cala Millor are popular for evening strolls and casual photos, with views toward Costa dels Pins and the coastline beyond. If you want slightly more space, walking a little toward the Cala Bona Cala Millor boundary and finding a spot there can work well.

What you can do nearby

• Walk or cycle along the seafront promenade between Cala Bona and Cala Millor, enjoying cafés and sea views
• Take a glass bottom boat or coastal boat trip from either Cala Bona harbour or the end of Cala Millor’s beach
• Join a diving or snorkeling trip from the local dive centre based in the harbour
• Visit nearby Costa dels Pins, Sa Marjal or Port Verd for different beach and cove styles along the east coast

Best time to visit

Mornings at Cala Bona are usually calm and particularly good for families and older visitors. The water is often at its clearest and the sun less strong, and the accessible services such as assisted bathing are typically scheduled in the morning hours. By late morning and midday the beach sections become busier as guests from hotels and apartments arrive for sunbathing and swimming.

Late afternoon and early evening offer a different charm, with softer light, cooler air and more focus on promenade life and harbour views. This is a popular time for walks, boat watching and sitting at a café or bar facing the sea. If you are exploring several east coast beaches, you could spend the morning at a more natural bay, then move to Cala Bona in the afternoon for accessible swimming, services and a harbour side evening.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

Because the beaches are relatively narrow and broken into small sections, it is worth arriving earlier in high season if you want a front line spot by the water and nearby sunbeds. Bring reef safe sunscreen, hats and enough water, as the sun can feel strong on the open promenade and sand despite the breakwaters providing calm water. Pay attention to the designated swimming areas marked by buoys and avoid venturing into the boat channels near the harbour.

If you are travelling with someone who has reduced mobility, take advantage of the accessible facilities: ramps, coloured walkways, adapted toilets and the assisted bathing service are designed to make the beach experience smoother. Water shoes can be helpful for moving over pebbles and rocky bits in some bathing areas, though central sandy patches are comfortable barefoot. Mallorcard recommends for this area that visiting the beach by rental car is recommended so you can carry mobility aids, extra gear and supplies comfortably, visit other nearby beaches in the same day and leave when conditions or energy levels change, 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 Bona lies on the east coast of Mallorca near Son Servera, forming part of a continuous resort strip with Cala Millor but keeping its own fishing village character around the harbour. The coastline here is largely artificial in terms of beach shape, with breakwaters, imported sand and a structured promenade, while the harbour and some traditional buildings reference its fishing past. The wider area around Cala Bona is tourism focused, with plenty of accommodation, rental services and family amenities.

Beach classifications describe Cala Bona as a set of semi urban beaches with fine sand and gravel, calm waters and artificial protection, suitable for anchoring outside the breakwaters and offering excellent accessibility for all visitors.