12 Best Anchorages Around Mallorca for a Private Yacht Charter

The best anchorages around Mallorca — a broker's overview

Finding the best anchorages around Mallorca is the single most important step when planning a luxury yacht charter on this island. With roughly 550 kilometres of coastline, the Balearic island offers more than 30 viable overnight spots for vessels from 18-metre sailing yachts to 60-metre superyachts. The key is matching each anchorage to the prevailing wind, your vessel's draft, and the experience you want ashore. Below, we break down the coastline quadrant by quadrant so you can build an itinerary that avoids the crowds and catches the best light.

Southwest coast: deep-water coves with shore-side dining

The stretch between Port d'Andratx and Cala Pi is where most charter weeks begin — and for good reason. Cala Llamp sits just south of Port d'Andratx, offering 6–10 metres of depth over sand with good holding in moderate westerlies. A short tender ride drops guests at the small jetty for dinner at one of the port's waterfront restaurants.

Further southeast, Cala Marmassen provides shelter from northerly winds behind a low limestone bluff. Expect 4–7 metres of depth and almost no swell between June and September. For a longer lunch stop, Cala Falcó is a narrow inlet barely 80 metres wide at its mouth, which keeps the water glassy even when a light tramuntana blows offshore. Yachts drawing more than 3.5 metres should approach on a GPS waypoint rather than eyeballing the entrance. Browse our [fleet in Mallorca](#) to find a yacht whose draft suits these tighter anchorages.

North coast: dramatic cliffs and overnight calm

Cap de Formentor divides the north coast into two distinct zones. West of the cape, Cala Figuera de Formentor is a deep, fjord-like inlet surrounded by pine forest. Depths reach 15 metres in the centre, dropping to 5 metres near the sandy beach. Holding is reliable on sand and weed, though laying a second anchor in peak season is wise — space fills quickly by mid-morning in July and August.

East of the cape, the Bahía de Pollença opens up into a wide, shallow bay ideal for 20–30-metre motor yachts. The town of Pollença itself is a 10-minute cab ride from the marina, offering a morning market and stone-paved lanes worth exploring. Overnight stays here are calm when the wind clocks south or southwest, which is the dominant pattern from late May through October.

East coast: turquoise shallows and family-friendly stops

The east coast between Cala Rajada and Portocolom is dotted with calas that rival anything in the Caribbean for water colour. Cala Varques, accessible only by sea or a 20-minute walk, keeps crowds thin even in August. Anchor in 4–6 metres over white sand and let younger guests snorkel the rocky edges, where posidonia meadows shelter damselfish and octopus.

Cala Mondragó, inside the Parc Natural de Mondragó, enforces strict anchoring rules: vessels must use the designated sand zone and avoid the seagrass. A tender drop-off at the beach gives access to two connected coves and a short coastal trail. See our [Mallorca day-charter itinerary](#) for a suggested route linking Mondragó with Portopetro for a sunset mooring.

Quick-reference list: top anchorages by condition

1. Cala Llamp — Best for westerly shelter near Port d'Andratx; 6–10 m depth, sand bottom. 2. Cala Figuera de Formentor — Overnight calm in a fjord setting; 5–15 m depth, limited swing room. 3. Cala Varques — Sea-access-only beach on the east coast; 4–6 m, superb snorkelling. 4. Bahía de Pollença — Wide bay for larger motor yachts; reliable in south-southwest winds. 5. Cala Mondragó — Nature-park cove with regulated anchoring; ideal for families. 6. Cala Deià — Tiny northwest cove below the village; best on calm days with minimal swell, 3–5 m depth.

When to charter and what to watch for

The 2026 Mallorca season runs from late April through October, with peak demand in July and August. Early June and September deliver warm water — typically 24–26 °C — without the crowding at popular anchorages. Wind patterns shift noticeably: summer brings light thermal breezes of 8–14 knots from the southwest, while spring and autumn can see stronger north-westerlies that make the east coast more comfortable. Our [guide to Balearic sailing seasons](#) covers provisioning, customs for a hop to Menorca or Ibiza, and crew-tip etiquette in detail.

Plan your yacht charter around these anchorages

A well-routed week on the water connects three or four of these anchorages into a single, unhurried loop — southwest to north, or east coast out and back from Palma. Each cove has its own character: the pine-scented calm of Formentor, the luminous shallows off Mondragó, the cliff-framed intimacy of Cala Deià at golden hour. Choosing the right vessel, the right week, and the right captain turns a good itinerary into something you'll measure every future holiday against. The 2026 calendar is already filling for July and August, making spring and early autumn the smartest windows for a private yacht hire around the island.