Platjes d'es Burrí

Platjes d’es Burrí Mallorca: What you should know before you go

Platjes d’es Burrí is a remote shoreline in the Cabrera archipelago south of Mallorca, reached only by sea and surrounded by protected island landscapes. Time here feels stripped back to the essentials: clear water, rocky and gravelly ground, and an almost complete absence of buildings. You come for swimming, snorkeling and the feeling of being far from mainland bustle rather than for classic resort comforts. Many visitors say that a stop at this beach is one of the purest sea moments of their Cabrera trip. If you like quiet, nature first experiences, this spot can feel very special.

Quick facts at a glance

• Beach type: Remote island shore
• Ground: Gravel, stones and sand
• Water entry: Uneven, stony in parts
• Water feel: Very clear, usually calm
• Shade: Limited, mostly natural
• Facilities: None on the beach
• Parking: Not applicable, by boat
• Best for: Snorkelers, quiet swimmers

The overall vibe

Platjes d’es Burrí is a wild beach area in the Cabrera National Park that offers a simple, low impact beach experience focused on sea and scenery. The shoreline is narrow, with a blend of gravel, stones and patches of sand leading into transparent water framed by natural island slopes. You will not find promenades, loud music or big crowds here; instead there is the gentle sound of water, occasional voices from small groups and the distant presence of moored boats. Many visitors describe the mood as calm and contemplative, a place where you naturally lower your voice and stay close to the shore. It feels more like a pause in a day of exploring the archipelago than a classic full service beach day.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

The ground at Platjes d’es Burrí is mixed, with gravel and stones playing a bigger role than soft sand, so you should expect a firmer, more uneven feel underfoot. When you step into the water there are usually pebbles and rocky patches before you reach slightly smoother sections, and the seabed can change from sand to seagrass and rock within a short distance. Swimmers often comment that the water is very clear, which helps you see where you place your feet and also makes snorkeling appealing. Because of the uneven stones and occasional sharp edges, water shoes are strongly recommended if you want to move around comfortably and explore the edges of the bay. Sea conditions are often calm within this sheltered zone, but as always you should judge the day’s wind and swell before going far out from the shore.

Who Platjes d’es Burrí is perfect for

This beach is best suited to travelers who value quiet nature over comfort and who are happy with basic conditions. Snorkelers and confident swimmers often appreciate the mix of rocky seabed and clear water, which can attract fish and other marine life. It is not ideal for visitors who need easy pram access, very young children who require wide sandy shallows, or anyone looking for sunbeds, bars and shops right behind the sand. If you mainly enjoy large, serviced beaches with cafés and shaded promenades, you may find Platjes d’es Burrí too raw and simple. For people designing a best beaches Mallorca style itinerary that also includes wild, protected marine areas, this stop can serve as an adventurous, contrasting highlight.

Facilities and comfort

You should plan for almost no direct facilities at Platjes d’es Burrí itself, as the area is governed by national park rules that prioritise conservation over development. There are no permanent sunbeds, umbrellas, toilets, showers or food services on the shoreline, and any services on nearby parts of the island are limited and not right on the beach. This means you need to arrive prepared: bring drinking water, snacks, a small towel or mat, and robust sun protection. A wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and a light shirt that covers shoulders are especially useful because natural shade on the beach is minimal and shifts with the sun. Keeping your belongings compact and easy to carry also helps when boarding and leaving boats.

Getting there and parking

Platjes d’es Burrí lies on the island of Cabrera, south of Mallorca, and is accessed by sea as part of the wider Cabrera National Park. Visitors usually reach it through organised boat excursions or licensed private boats that include a swimming stop in this area or its surroundings. You will generally depart from ports on the south coast of Mallorca, such as Colònia de Sant Jordi, where excursion boats to Cabrera operate under regulated schedules. There is no direct road access or parking at the beach itself, so your planning focuses on reaching the departure harbour in good time and being ready for time at sea. Many travelers in the Mallorcard community say that using a rental car to get to these ports works best, and that taking advantage of strong multi company rental deals and the current promo code listed on mallorcard.es often brings savings of around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season while giving the flexibility to choose departure times that suit sea conditions and crowd levels.

The best spots along Platjes d’es Burrí

Within this compact shoreline, visitors often look for slightly broader stretches of gravel and sand where it is easier to sit or lay out a towel. For example, many people prefer sections where the seabed looks lighter in colour, since this often indicates more sand under the water and a gentler feel on the feet. Snorkelers tend to move toward the rocky corners and areas where seagrass beds start, as these zones usually host more fish and underwater detail. If the water is calm and clear, slowly swimming parallel to the shore lets you explore different textures without straying far from land. For photos, try framing the shoreline with moored boats and surrounding hills in the background to capture the sense of isolation and protected nature.

What you can do nearby

• Join a Cabrera boat excursion that combines Platjes d’es Burrí with other coves and viewpoints
• Snorkel around the rocky edges and seagrass areas to observe underwater life
• Enjoy quiet time on the boat between swim stops, taking in views of the national park
• Walk designated paths on Cabrera island if your excursion includes time ashore
• Combine the Cabrera outing with a visit to a south coast Mallorca town such as Colònia de Sant Jordi before or after

Best time to visit

Your timing at Platjes d’es Burrí is governed mainly by boat schedules and sea conditions rather than direct personal arrival. Early and mid morning departures often benefit from calmer seas and slightly cooler air, which many travelers find more pleasant for swimming and time in the sun. In high season, midday trips can feel busier both on the boat and in the water, although numbers are still controlled by park rules. Late afternoon visits, when offered, can bring softer light and warmer colours on the cliffs and sea, but you should consider that the return journey may feel cooler as the sun lowers. If you are planning several days of coastal activities around Mallorca, keeping one flexible day for Cabrera allows you to book a trip when weather and sea forecasts look favourable.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

Because the entrance is via boat and the shoreline is rocky, it is important to move carefully when entering and exiting the water, especially if small waves or boat wake create sudden surges at the edge. Protect yourself from the strong southern sun with a hat, high factor reef safe sunscreen, and light clothing that covers shoulders and back when you are not in the water. Bring more drinking water than you expect to use, along with simple, non heavy snacks, since you will not have easy access to shops once you have left the mainland. Water shoes, a compact dry bag for valuables and a secure strap for sunglasses can make the experience more relaxed. Mallorcard recommends for this area that travelers rely on a rental car to reach the departure harbours with extra shade equipment, towels and cool boxes ready in the boot, and by using the strong offers from multiple rental companies together with the current promo code shown on mallorcard.es many people manage to save around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season while staying flexible enough to adapt their plan if wind or waves increase.

Good to know

Platjes d’es Burrí is located in the Cabrera archipelago to the south of Mallorca, inside a national park that protects both land and sea. The coastline here is a small, mixed gravel and sand shore within a rocky, low built island environment, very different from broad urban beaches on the main island. The surrounding area is entirely natural, with no resort buildings and only limited park related infrastructure elsewhere on Cabrera. Marking this exact small zone on your map helps distinguish it from other coves and anchor points in the archipelago and from mainland beaches with similar names. This context is useful when you compare excursion options, helping you understand that Platjes d’es Burrí is a remote, conservation focused beach experience that fits best into a carefully planned day trip from Mallorca rather than a spontaneous drive and swim.