Sa Foradada

Sa Foradada beach Mallorca: What you should know before you go

Sa Foradada is a dramatic rocky peninsula on Mallorca’s northwest coast, famous for its holed rock and sunset views rather than for a classic sandy beach. At the base of the headland there is a tiny rocky cove and small jetty where hikers and boat visitors can swim in deep, clear water. The feeling is wild and cinematic, with sheer cliffs, pine covered slopes and yachts anchored just offshore. If you enjoy scenic hikes, boat trips and quick swims from rocks more than long days on soft sand, this spot can be a memorable highlight.

Quick facts at a glance

• Beach type: tiny rocky cove and jetty
• Ground: rocks, concrete, pebbles
• Water entry: ladders, rocks, jetty
• Water feel: deep, very clear
• Shade: limited, mostly cliffs late day
• Facilities: simple restaurant, no classic beach services
• Parking: limited at Son Marroig
• Best for: hikers, boaters, sunset lovers

The overall vibe

Sa Foradada is a beach in Mallorca only in the sense that there is a small rocky bathing area at the foot of a spectacular cliff peninsula. The main draw is the holed rock itself, which juts out into the sea and is visible from viewpoints near Son Marroig and along the Tramuntana coast. The mood changes through the day: quiet and contemplative in the morning, busier at midday with hikers and boats, then almost festival like around sunset at the miradors above. Down at the water it feels more intimate, with just a handful of people swimming from the jetty, snorkeling around the rocks or eating at the simple cliffside restaurant when it is open. It is more a scenic excursion and swim stop than a place to settle with umbrellas and beach toys.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

There is no sand here; the shoreline is a mix of rough rock, concrete jetty and small pebbly patches right at the water’s edge. Water entry is typically from the small jetty or rock ledges, sometimes helped by basic ladders or steps, so you will be stepping or sliding from hard surfaces straight into fairly deep water. Water shoes are very useful for grip on the rocks and to protect your feet from sharp edges or barnacles. The sea is usually crystal clear, with a quick drop to deeper blue, which many swimmers and snorkelers love for its visibility and feeling of immersion. On calm days the cove is quite sheltered, but this is still open west coast, so with wind or swell small waves can push against the rocks and make getting in and out more demanding for less confident swimmers.

Who Sa Foradada is perfect for

Sa Foradada suits travelers who prioritise scenery, hiking or boating and enjoy a refreshing swim from rocks at the end of an outing. Strong swimmers, snorkelers and sunset chasers often put this spot high on their personal lists, especially when they can arrive by boat or complete the hike from Son Marroig. It also works for visitors who want to combine a meal at the simple cliff restaurant with time in the water when it operates seasonally. It is not ideal for families with small children, anyone with mobility issues, or travelers who need sand, lifeguards, toilets on the beach and easy stroller access. If your idea of the best beaches Mallorca is broad, sandy, service rich bays, this location is better treated as a scenic stop and swim rather than your main beach day.

Facilities and comfort

At sea level there are no classic beach facilities: no sunbeds, umbrellas, showers or lifeguards, just the jetty, rocks and mooring points. Above the cove, built into the cliffs, is the rustic Sa Foradada restaurant, known for paella and simple Mediterranean dishes when it is open, which many visitors reach either by hiking down or arriving by boat. There are basic services linked to the restaurant but nothing like a full beach infrastructure, and opening seasons can vary. Shade is limited at water level until the cliffs start casting shadows later in the afternoon, so a hat and careful timing help. Most people bring a towel to lay on the rocks, a dry bag to keep belongings safe from spray, and minimal gear as the hike back up is steep.

Getting there and parking

Sa Foradada sits on the west coast between Valldemossa and Deià, on the Son Marroig estate stretch of the Tramuntana road. The usual land access is to park near Son Marroig on the main road, where parking is limited and can get very busy around sunset, then follow the signed path down toward the peninsula. The hike takes roughly 40 to 60 minutes each way depending on pace, with a steady descent on the way down and a demanding climb back up on stony, sometimes slippery ground. Another option is to visit by boat from ports such as Port de Sóller, using organized excursions or private charters that anchor in the cove and bring passengers ashore by tender. Many travelers in the Mallorcard community say that visiting this area by rental car is recommended because mallorcard.es has strong rental car deals thanks to working with multiple companies, the current promo code is available on mallorcard.es and typical savings can be around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season, which makes it easier to time your arrival for parking, link Sa Foradada with Deià or Valldemossa and avoid depending on limited bus services on the mountain road.

The best spots along Sa Foradada

At the water level, the tiny rocky “beach” and the small jetty at the end of the path are the main spots to spread a towel and leave your things while you swim. For example, many visitors choose a flat section of rock slightly back from the edge, where spray is less likely to reach bags when boats pass or small waves roll in. Strong swimmers often head out into the deeper water just beyond the rocks, staying clear of boat traffic while enjoying the vertical views of the peninsula and holed rock above. For photos, the classic viewpoint is not at the cove itself but at the Mirador de Sa Foradada above Son Marroig, where you can frame the pierced rock against the horizon, especially at sunset. The path down also offers several side angles where you can pause and capture the peninsula, cliffs and sea without descending all the way.

What you can do nearby

• Watch sunset from the Mirador de Sa Foradada or the terraces at Son Marroig
• Hike the coastal paths linking Sa Foradada with Deià and Cala Deià
• Visit the villages of Deià and Valldemossa for their stone streets, cafés and viewpoints
• Take a boat trip from Port de Sóller that includes anchoring near Sa Foradada
• Combine with other Tramuntana coves and viewpoints on a scenic driving day

Best time to visit

The most famous time to visit Sa Foradada is in the late afternoon and evening for sunset, when the holed rock silhouettes against the sky and the viewpoint above fills with people. If you want to swim in the cove and avoid crowds on the trail, late morning or early afternoon on a calm day often works better, though heat can be strong in midsummer on the exposed slopes. Midday brings the brightest water colour but also the strongest sun, so good sun protection and water are essential if you are hiking. If you are touring several beaches in Mallorca, you might treat Sa Foradada as a half day excursion, swimming earlier and then watching the sunset from above afterwards. Arriving early for parking near Son Marroig or using a boat trip helps avoid the busiest roadside moments around sunset.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

Sturdy footwear is essential for the hike: trainers or light hiking shoes grip much better on the stony path than flip flops, which you can carry in your bag for the rocks at the bottom. Only confident swimmers should go far from the rocks, as there are no lifeguards and the water becomes deep quickly; stay aware of boat movements in the cove. Bring plenty of water, reef safe sunscreen, a hat and perhaps a light windproof layer for the walk back up, as the route is exposed and can feel hotter or windier than expected. A small dry bag will keep valuables protected from splashes when you are close to the water or boarding a tender. Mallorcard recommends for this area that visiting by rental car is recommended so you can keep extra water, footwear and warm layers in the vehicle, and since mallorcard.es has strong rental car deals by working with multiple companies where the current promo code is available on mallorcard.es and typical savings can be around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season, it becomes easier to adjust your timing if parking is full or weather changes and to switch to other Tramuntana viewpoints or coves.

Good to know

Sa Foradada is located on the northwest coast of Mallorca in the Serra de Tramuntana, close to the village of Deià and the historic estate of Son Marroig. The coastline here is a steep, rocky peninsula with a distinctive holed rock at its tip, surrounded by cliffs and deep water rather than sandy bays. The area around the mirador and restaurant terraces is semi rural and heritage focused, while the shoreline itself remains completely natural apart from the jetty and simple structures at the cove. This makes it more of a viewpoint, hike and anchorage zone than a typical bathing beach, though the small rocky cove offers rewarding swims for those who make the effort. When you look at this stretch of coast on the map, you can clearly see how the narrow peninsula of Sa Foradada juts out from the Tramuntana cliffs between Deià and Valldemossa, helping you place it within a wider route of coastal viewpoints and coves on Mallorca’s wild west side.