Es Matzoc

Es Matzoc beach Mallorca: What you should know before you go

Es Matzoc feels like one of those wild corners of Mallorca where you step off the usual beach circuit and into something more elemental. The cove sits at the foot of pine covered hills in the Llevant Peninsula Natural Park, with rough dunes, cliffs and the Torre des Matzoc watchtower looking over the bay. The shore itself mixes stones, pebbles and strips of pale sand, and the water turns a deep, shifting blue when the wind blows. Many hikers and nature focused travelers say the walk in and the quiet, open scenery are as important as the time on the beach. If you enjoy remote places and do not need any facilities, this spot can be a special experience.

• Beach type: Remote natural cove
• Ground: Pebbles, stones and patches of sand
• Water entry: Uneven, quickly getting deep
• Water feel: Very clear, often wavy
• Shade: Pine trees set back from shore
• Facilities: None on the beach
• Parking: Dirt areas, then walk
• Best for: Hikers, strong swimmers, nature lovers

The overall vibe

Es Matzoc is a beach in Mallorca that offers a wild, exposed cove on the northeastern coast near Artà, within the Parc Natural de la Península de Llevant. The landscape around it is strikingly open: pine forest on the slopes, low dunes, rocky headlands and almost no buildings in sight. The atmosphere is quiet and often solitary, with only a few people at a time making the effort to reach the bay, usually hikers or experienced coastal explorers. You hear mainly wind and waves, sometimes quite loud when the sea is up, along with occasional goat bells or bird calls from the hills. Many regular visitors say that this is not a casual family resort beach but a place for those who appreciate raw nature and are comfortable in more demanding conditions. The views are impressive in all directions, especially if you look back at the Torre des Matzoc on the headland or along the coast toward Cala Torta and Sa Font Celada.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

The ground on Es Matzoc alternates between coarse pebbles, stones and pockets of fine sand, so you rarely have large uninterrupted sandy areas. Walking along the shoreline often means choosing your steps carefully, especially near the waterline where rounded stones can roll or feel unstable. The seabed near the central part of the cove is mostly sandy with some rocky patches, but the slope is noticeable, so the water becomes deep quite rapidly as you move away from shore. Because the beach is open to winds from several directions, especially the north and east, waves and swell can build easily, creating choppy conditions and strong pull when the sea is unsettled. Water shoes are helpful for getting across the pebble zones and for entering over any rocky sections. Even confident swimmers need to be mindful here: when the sea is rough, bathing can be dangerous, and many locals recommend not going in at all on those days. On calm days, the water is very clear and attractive, but you should still treat it with respect and stay closer to shore than you might at a sheltered sandy bay.

Who Es Matzoc is perfect for

This cove is ideal for hikers and nature lovers who are already exploring the Llevant Peninsula and want a quiet, raw seaside stop as part of their route. It suits confident swimmers who understand open sea conditions and are used to reading waves and currents, and who are happy to skip swimming altogether if the sea looks too rough. Photographers, bird watchers and landscape fans also appreciate the combination of forest, dunes, cliffs and sea views. It can be appealing for people who like nude or semi nude bathing in a low key, natural setting, since this practice is fairly common here. Es Matzoc is not suitable for families with small children, visitors with mobility issues, or anyone expecting easy access, lifeguards, sunbeds and a beach bar. If your best beaches Mallorca list is focused on comfort and services, this cove is more likely to be a one off adventure day rather than a regular stop.

Facilities and comfort

There are no facilities on Es Matzoc itself. You will not find bars, toilets, showers, sunbeds or lifeguard posts anywhere on the sand or in the immediate surroundings. Comfort is entirely a matter of what you bring and how well you prepare. A good backpack with plenty of water, snacks or a picnic, a thick towel or lightweight mat and sun protection are all essential. Some shade is available further back among the pine trees and scrub, but you may still be exposed to wind and strong light in the middle of the day. Because of the lack of services and the effort involved in getting here, most visitors plan shorter stays combined with hiking, rather than full, static beach days. You should also bring a bag to take all your rubbish out again, as this is a protected natural area with limited maintenance.

Getting there and parking

Es Matzoc is located about ten kilometres from Artà, in the Llevant Peninsula Natural Park, roughly between Cala Torta and Cala Estreta. Reaching it by car involves driving from Artà toward Cala Torta along a partly rough track and then continuing on foot. Many visitors park near Cala Torta or at dirt clearings along the access track where parking is tolerated, taking care not to block paths or damage vegetation. From there, you follow a coastal trail or paths through the natural park, usually needing around twenty to thirty minutes of walking to reach Es Matzoc, depending on your starting point and pace. The walk is not technically difficult in dry weather but does involve uneven ground, so proper footwear is important. Because public transport does not reach this remote part of the coast, arriving without a car usually means a longer combination of taxi and walking. Mallorcard recommends for this area that visiting by rental car is recommended so you can get close to the trailheads on the rougher access roads, make use of strong rental car deals with multiple companies where the current promo code is available on mallorcard.es and benefit from typical savings of roughly 10 to 50 percent depending on the season if you decide to combine Es Matzoc with other nearby coves instead of relying on very limited bus options.

The best spots along Es Matzoc

Because the cove is relatively small and unstructured, the best places to settle are simply the most even parts of the shore. For example, many visitors look for mixed zones where patches of sand interrupt the pebbles, giving a more comfortable base for a towel and backpack. Others prefer to sit slightly back from the water near the dunes or tree line, where the ground can feel a bit more stable and where shade appears at certain times of day. For entering the sea, people usually choose the central area of the beach where the seabed is more sandy and the slope, though still steep, is at least free from obvious rocks. Strong swimmers often move to one side of the cove to snorkel near rocky edges when the water is calm, but they stay close to shore given how fast the depth increases. For example, many hikers pause at the higher approaches near the Torre des Matzoc or on the path from Cala Torta to look down on the cove and take in the full view before descending to choose their specific spot.

What you can do nearby

• Hike coastal routes in the Llevant Peninsula Natural Park that link Cala Torta, Cala Mitjana, Es Matzoc and Cala Estreta
• Visit the Torre des Matzoc watchtower on the headland above the cove for wide coastal views
• Spend time at Cala Torta or Cala Mitjana for slightly easier beach access and more sand
• Explore the inland town of Artà with its weekly market, Sant Salvador sanctuary and old town streets
• Combine a day here with other northeast coast spots like Caló des Moros (Artà), Canyamel or Costa dels Pins on different days

Best time to visit

Morning is usually the safest and most comfortable time to visit Es Matzoc, both for hiking and for spending time on the shore. Temperatures are lower, and wind is often calmer earlier in the day, which can make the sea more manageable in an exposed cove like this. By midday and afternoon, sun and heat intensify, the pebbles and stones warm up and any wind tends to feel stronger, which can make both the hike and the sea conditions more demanding. Late afternoon can bring beautiful light and cooling air, but you need to allow enough time to walk back safely before dusk and to avoid being caught on rough ground in fading light. If you are planning several hiking and beach days in this part of Mallorca, it often makes sense to dedicate a half day to Es Matzoc on a day with stable, calmer weather and to skip it entirely when strong winds from the north or east are forecast.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

Good preparation is vital here. Wear sturdy hiking shoes or solid trainers for the approach and for moving across stones and uneven ground, as flimsy sandals are not enough for this terrain. Bring more water than you think you will need, especially in warm months, because there are no sources on the trail or at the beach. A hat, reef safe sunscreen and light long sleeves help protect you from strong sun, particularly since there is little built shade and wind can hide how powerful the sun feels. Water shoes are helpful if you plan to enter the sea, but always assess the waves and avoid swimming when the sea is clearly rough or when you feel uncertain. The Mallorcard community tip is that many travelers in the Mallorcard community say that visiting by rental car is recommended so you can keep extra water, food and spare clothes in the vehicle, make use of strong rental car deals through several companies where the current promo code is available on mallorcard.es and benefit from typical savings of around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season if you decide to shorten your time at Es Matzoc due to wind or swell and move on to a more sheltered beach nearby. Respect all park regulations, stay on marked paths and carry all rubbish out with you to keep this protected area as untouched as possible.

Good to know

Es Matzoc is on the northeast coast of Mallorca in the municipality of Artà, within the Parc Natural de la Península de Llevant and the Llevant Marine Reserve. The coastline here is a small, open cove with a short pebble and sand beach framed by rocky headlands and backed by dunes and pine forest. The surrounding area is entirely natural, with no hotel buildings or resort development visible from the shore, which is a major part of its appeal. This also means that access is rougher and services are absent, so it is primarily a destination for prepared hikers and nature lovers rather than casual beachgoers. When you look at a detailed map of the region, Es Matzoc appears between Sa Font Celada and Cala Estreta, close to the Torre des Matzoc and well inside the natural park boundaries, which helps you visualise how it fits into broader coastal hiking routes and how remote it is from the main roads along this wild stretch of the Mallorca coastline.