Port Des Canonge

Port des Canonge beach Mallorca: What you should know before you go

Port des Canonge is a small pebble cove and former fishing harbour on Mallorca’s northwest Tramuntana coast, below Esporles and Banyalbufar. The bay is narrow and stony, framed by boathouses, escars and steep green slopes dropping right to the sea. You come here for quiet, clear water and a strong sense of being in a traditional coastal corner rather than for a wide sandy bay. Many visitors describe it as a place to slow down, swim and watch the light on the mountains rather than to pack in activities. If you appreciate rugged landscapes and do not mind pebbles, this shoreline can be a rewarding stop.

Quick facts at a glance

• Beach type Small fishing cove
• Ground Pebbles and coarse gravel
• Water entry Stony, some posidonia
• Water feel Very clear, can have moderate waves
• Shade Limited, some from escars and trees
• Facilities Few, small village bars
• Parking Free but limited in the village
• Best for Snorkelers, hikers, quiet swimmers

The overall vibe

Port des Canonge is a beach in Mallorca that offers a rustic, authentic feel, where the fishing sheds and small boats still define much of the scene. The beach itself is only about 70 metres long and around 20 metres deep, so it feels intimate, backed by traditional boat shelters rather than big hotels. The village is tiny, and the cove is frequented mainly by local residents, walkers on the Volta des General path and a modest number of day visitors. The atmosphere is calm and unhurried, more about listening to the water over pebbles and watching the colour of the sea than about loud music or organised activities. It is a place where you sense the mountains and sea meeting directly, without much built infrastructure in between.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

This is a pebble and coarse gravel beach with a seabed of stone, gravel and patches of posidonia seagrass, so you should not expect soft sand underfoot. Walking from the escars to the water means crossing rounded stones that can shift slightly, so you need to step carefully. Once in the sea, the bottom remains mostly rocky, with depth increasing fairly quickly compared with gentle resort bays. On calm days, the water is extremely clear, which makes it very appealing for snorkeling and simply floating while looking back at the mountain slopes. Water shoes are highly recommended here to protect your feet from stones and to give better grip where rocks or seagrass may be slippery. Because the cove is open to the north and northwest, waves can become moderate on windier days, so you should always assess conditions before going in.

Who Port des Canonge is perfect for

Port des Canonge is ideal for travellers who like quiet, stony coves and do not need sand, extensive facilities or a large promenade. It particularly suits snorkelers and strong swimmers who enjoy clear water and rocky seabeds, as well as hikers using the cove as a midpoint on coastal routes. It is less suitable for families who want wide shallow sand for young children, for visitors with reduced mobility, or for anyone uncomfortable on pebbles and uneven ground. If your personal best beaches Mallorca list emphasises soft sand and easy access, this place should be seen as a characterful excursion more than a main base. For those who enjoy discovering smaller, more local coastal corners, it can feel like a satisfying, low key find.

Facilities and comfort

Infrastructure at the beach itself is minimal. On the shore you will mostly find the pebble strip, the boathouses and escars, and perhaps a simple shower or water point depending on local arrangements, but there are no long rows of sunbeds, big toilet blocks or changing facilities. In the small settlement just behind the beach you can usually find one or two bars or restaurants, which offer food and drinks with sea views. There is no formal promenade, just narrow village streets and paths, so you will spend most of your time on pebbles or sitting near the sheds. You should bring a towel or thin mat to make sitting more comfortable, along with sun protection, as natural shade on the actual beach is limited and shifts with the sun.

Getting there and parking

Port des Canonge lies on the northwest coast of Mallorca, about 12 kilometres from Esporles, reached by a signed side road that winds down from the Ma‑10 area. The last several kilometres are on a very sinuous mountain road with multiple 180 degree curves, but it is manageable if you drive slowly and carefully. Rental cars are often the easiest way to reach beaches in Mallorca, and here they are effectively the main option, since direct public transport is limited to nearby villages. At the bottom you find a small turning area with some parking spaces and additional free parking scattered along the village streets; in high season and on fine weekends, these can fill quickly. Many travelers in the Mallorcard community say that having a rental car lets them time their visit for quieter hours and combine Port des Canonge with other Tramuntana stops, and that by using strong offers from several companies plus the current promo code on mallorcard.es they often save around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season while staying independent from infrequent buses.

The best spots along Port des Canonge

On such a small cove, the best place to settle is usually wherever you find a reasonably flat section of pebbles with a clear path to the water. For example, many visitors choose to sit near the middle of the beach where the stones are more regular and boats and escars form a picturesque backdrop. If you prefer more space and slightly fewer people, the ends of the cove can feel calmer, although the ground may be a bit rougher. Snorkelers often move toward the outer edges of the bay, where rocks and seagrass create more underwater structure and marine life. For photos, stepping slightly back onto the path and including both the pebble beach, the line of boathouses and the surrounding mountains captures the character of Port des Canonge well.

What you can do nearby

• Walk the Volta des General coastal trail between Banyalbufar and Port des Canonge for impressive sea and mountain views
• Swim and snorkel in the clear water close to the rocks on calm days
• Enjoy a simple meal or drink at one of the small local bars in the village
• Drive or hike to neighbouring Tramuntana coves such as Port de Valldemossa for comparison
• Combine the visit with time in Esporles or Banyalbufar to experience inland mountain villages

Best time to visit

Morning and late afternoon are usually the most pleasant times to be at Port des Canonge. In the morning, the light is soft, temperatures are lower and the road and cove are quieter, which hikers and swimmers often appreciate. Midday in summer can feel quite hot and exposed on the pebble beach, with limited shade and strong sun reflecting off sea and stones; on some days waves can also be stronger by this time. Late afternoon brings a more gentle atmosphere again, with warm light on the mountains and a calm mood as some visitors leave. If you are coming by car in high season, arriving early in the day or later toward evening improves your chances of finding parking and reduces driving stress on the narrow road.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

Because the beach is pebbly and the seabed is rocky, wear sturdy shoes for walking in the village and good water shoes for entering the sea. Always check sea conditions before swimming; if waves look strong or are breaking heavily on the shore, it may be safer to enjoy the view from land, especially for less confident swimmers. Bring enough water, a hat, sunglasses and high factor reef safe sunscreen, since it is easy to underestimate how quickly you can burn while sitting on stones with little shade. A small first aid kit for minor cuts or blisters can be useful if you are walking the Volta des General path. Mallorcard recommends for this area that you use a rental car to carry extra drinks, food and shade gear in the boot, and many visitors find that by leveraging strong multi company rental deals and the current promo code listed on mallorcard.es they save around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season while keeping the flexibility to leave early if waves, heat or crowds build.

Good to know

Port des Canonge is on the northwest side of Mallorca in the Serra de Tramuntana, serving as the small natural port for the municipality of Banyalbufar. The coastline here is a narrow, pebble and coarse gravel cove partly covered with posidonia, backed by escars and fishermen’s sheds rather than by a broad sandy bay. The surrounding area is wild and mountainous, with a small residential settlement at the cove but no large resorts or promenades. Knowing the exact size and layout helps differentiate Port des Canonge from nearby Tramuntana coves like Cala Deià or Port de Valldemossa, which share a similar rocky character but have different levels of infrastructure and access. This context is useful when planning a Mallorca itinerary, because it highlights that Port des Canonge is best approached as a quiet, authentic Tramuntana cove for prepared visitors rather than as a general purpose family beach for all travellers.