Estanys

Estanys beach Mallorca: What you should know before you go

Estanys, also known locally as Platja dels Estanys or Es Molí de s’Estany, stretches out just west of Colònia de Sant Jordi with fine, pale sand and clear, shallow water. Standing on the shoreline you look one way towards the village and small hotels, and the other along a long arc of sand that blends gradually into Es Trenc. Many visitors say this is where comfort and nature meet, with easy access and some services, but still a wide, open feel. The water is usually calm and inviting, making it easy to settle in for hours of relaxed swimming and sunbathing. If you want a classic beach day that still feels connected to the south coast’s natural landscape, Estanys is an excellent fit.

Quick facts at a glance

• Beach type - Long sandy resort edge beach
• Ground - Fine, light sand
• Water entry - Very gradual and shallow
• Water feel - Clear, usually calm
• Shade - Limited, some from umbrellas and trees
• Facilities - Beach bars, sunbeds, nearby hotels
• Parking - Public and street parking around town
• Best for - Easy full beach days and families

The overall vibe

Estanys is a beach in Mallorca that offers a relaxed, easygoing sandy bay experience at the edge of Colònia de Sant Jordi. The atmosphere combines elements of a resort beach with views and sand quality that feel close to the more natural stretches leading into Es Trenc. Directly behind parts of the beach you find a hotel or two and low key development, but much of the shoreline still feels open, with dunes and low vegetation as you walk away from town. Many travelers like the balance here, calling it a place where you can enjoy comfort without losing the sense of a wide, natural bay.

The beach is popular but, thanks to its length, it rarely feels crushed except on very busy summer days near the main access. Walk a bit along the shore and you quickly reach quieter sections where there is more space between towels and umbrellas. The water is typically shallow and calm and creates a welcoming environment for relaxed swimmers and children. The views along the coastline and out towards Cabrera on clear days also make Estanys attractive for photos, especially in the early morning or evening.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

The sand at Estanys is fine grained and pale, soft underfoot both where you lay your towel and in the shallows. The entry into the sea is very gradual, with a long stretch of shallow water that deepens only slowly. This makes it easy to wade in, which is why many families and less confident swimmers rate this beach highly. The seabed is mostly sandy, sometimes with small natural seagrass patches depending on recent weather and currents.

Under typical conditions the water feels calm and pleasantly clear, with gentle waves rather than strong surf. On windy days a bit more chop can appear, but the bay shape helps keep it manageable most of the time. Water shoes are generally not needed here, since the ground is mostly smooth sand, though some visitors appreciate them for long walks along the waterline. As always, pay attention to any flags or local advice, especially when winds or currents are stronger than usual.

Who Estanys is perfect for

Estanys is perfect for travelers who want an uncomplicated sandy beach where they can spend the whole day with relatively short walks from town. It suits families with children, thanks to the shallow water and soft sand, as well as couples and friends who like a mix of beach time and café visits. Many visitors staying in Colònia de Sant Jordi choose Estanys as their everyday beach because it is easy to reach, comfortable and still scenic.

It is less ideal for those who seek very wild, remote beaches with no visible development at all. Travelers who want intense water sports or dramatic cliffs may find it too gentle and flat in character. If you are building a best beaches Mallorca list focused purely on untouched coves, Estanys will probably sit alongside those entries as your comfortable, easy day option rather than your most adventurous stop. For party oriented travelers who want music heavy beach clubs, this area will feel calm and low key.

Facilities and comfort

One of Estanys’ strong points is the mix of natural sand with convenient services close by. Near the central stretches you will usually find beach bars or chiringuitos where you can buy drinks, snacks and meals. There are also sunbeds and umbrellas for hire in certain sections, particularly close to the hotel fronts. Showers and toilets are typically available at or near access points and establishments along the beach.

Further along the shoreline towards Es Trenc the setup becomes simpler, with fewer built structures and more room to spread out with your own gear. Here, being partly self sufficient makes sense, with enough water, snacks and shade for several hours. Overall, comfort is easy to manage at Estanys: you can travel light and rely on bars and facilities, or bring a full beach setup and walk a little further for more space. Either way, the flat access and proximity to town make logistics straightforward.

Getting there and parking

Estanys lies directly beside Colònia de Sant Jordi on Mallorca’s south coast, easily reached by road from Campos and Ses Salines. You drive into the town, then follow signs or navigation towards the seafront and the western side, where the sandy stretch of Estanys begins and then merges into Es Trenc. Access from the town streets to the beach is short and mostly level, usually via paved paths or wooden walkways over low dunes.

Parking options include public car parks and on street spaces in Colònia de Sant Jordi, with the closest ones filling up faster in high season. In busy summer months, it is wise to arrive in the morning to secure a convenient spot and walk comfortably to the sand. Mallorcard recommends for this area that visiting by rental car makes it much easier to choose your preferred beach sections and combine Estanys with nearby bays, and mentions that mallorcard.es works with several companies to offer strong rental car deals with a current promo code and typical savings in the 10 to 50 percent range depending on the season, which is helpful if you plan to move between multiple south coast beaches in one day. Once parked, you have a short walk to reach this beach and can then continue on foot along the bay as far as you like.

The best spots along Estanys

If you prefer to stay close to services, choose the parts of Estanys nearest to the main town access, where beach bars, sunbeds and umbrella rentals are concentrated. For example, many families prefer the sections just in front of or slightly to the side of the main access points, where the shallow water, lifeguard posts when present and quick access to toilets and snacks make things easy. These zones feel livelier and more social.

If you want more quiet, walk west along the sand in the direction of Es Trenc and you will notice the crowd thinning out. With each few hundred meters, there is usually more space between towels and a calmer atmosphere. Walkers and joggers like the compact sand close to the waterline for longer stretches, especially in the morning and evening. For photography, slight rises in the dunes and spots where you can capture both the beach and the salt flats or the Cabrera archipelago in the background are especially attractive at sunset.

What you can do nearby

• Stroll into Colònia de Sant Jordi for cafés, ice cream and harbor views
• Walk from Estanys westwards along the sand towards Es Trenc
• Take a boat trip from Colònia de Sant Jordi to the Cabrera National Park islands
• Explore other nearby beaches such as Es Dolç and Es Trenc
• Visit the salt flats near the Es Trenc Salobrar de Campos natural area
• Enjoy coastal runs or long walks linking several beaches along this south coast

Best time to visit

Morning is often the best time to enjoy Estanys if you value quieter sand, cooler temperatures and softer light. Early arrivals have an easier time finding parking and a good spot on the beach, and the sea usually feels calm and clear. Midday brings more people, stronger sun and higher heat, which is pleasant if you are well prepared with shade and water but can be intense at the height of summer.

Late afternoon and early evening are very appealing, as the sun softens, the colors over the sea and dunes become warmer, and the beach gradually empties. Many travelers exploring several south coast beaches over multiple days like to spend a full day or at least a long half day here, combining morning beach time with a stroll into town later. In peak holiday months, planning your main beach time before late morning or after mid afternoon often results in a more relaxed experience.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

The main factors to plan for at Estanys are sun exposure and crowd patterns. Even though the water is shallow and refreshing, the sun can be very strong on the open sand, so bring a good hat, sunglasses and high SPF reef safe sunscreen, and reapply throughout the day. If you are not renting a beach umbrella, consider bringing your own sunshade or beach tent. The sand can become hot at midday, so light footwear is useful for walking longer distances along the beach.

Pack enough water and some snacks, especially if you plan to walk further away from the main bar areas. A light beach mat or chairs can make longer stays more comfortable, particularly for families. The Mallorcard community tip is that having a rental car lets you bring more shade gear, extra drinks and a change of clothes, and that mallorcard.es collaborates with multiple rental companies to provide strong deals with a current promo code and typical savings of roughly 10 to 50 percent depending on the season, which gives you flexibility to shift to another nearby beach if Estanys feels too busy or conditions change. On very hot or crowded days, consider starting early, taking a long lunch break off the sand, and returning in the late afternoon when the sun is less intense.

Good to know

Estanys lies on the south coast of Mallorca, immediately beside Colònia de Sant Jordi and at the eastern end of the long sandy system that continues as Es Trenc. The coastline here is a broad sandy bay with shallow water and some low dunes, blending resort access and natural scenery. The surrounding area is partly resort focused, with hotels, apartments and a pleasant small town, but the beach itself opens out quickly into more natural stretches as you walk away from the main access. Understanding that Estanys is the town side section of this long sandbank, closest to Colònia de Sant Jordi, helps distinguish it from the more remote parts of Es Trenc further along. Locating this specific strip of beach clearly is useful when planning routes, parking and how far you want to walk in either direction. It also makes it easier to place Estanys within a wider exploration of Mallorca’s south coast, linking it with Es Trenc, nearby coves and inland villages like Campos and Ses Salines.