Interested in visiting Cap de Formentor in Mallorca and wondering what there is to see? There’s plenty to spend an entire day out here! But there’s stuff you should know before you jet out there!
Cap de Formentor has stunning vistas with steep, dramatic cliff lines as the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range meets the Balearic Sea. Located on the northern-most point on the island of Mallorca, Cap de Formentor has lots to offer: a historic watchtower, post-card mediterranean beaches, and a lighthouse at the furthest point.
Cap de Formentor is a stone’s throw from Pollença and a very convenient place to visit by bus (or car October – April). With so much to explore, we spent the better part of two days here and it was very memorable!
Know Before You Go
- Due to extremely high traffic on the narrow mountainous road, the road to Cap de Formentor is closed to private cars during the summer months June – September (exact dates vary each year) from 10 a.m to 10:30 p.m. There’s no sneaking by – the cameras will catch you. The road is still assessable by bicycle or shuttle bus, with bus number 334 departing every 35 minutes. The bus route goes from: Alcudia – Port de Pollenҫa – Platja de Formentor (Formentor beach)- Cala Murta / Cala Figuera – Far de Formentor (lighthouse).
- If you take the shuttle bus, it’s cheaper to pay with card than with cash!
- Go early!! Be there for sunrise. The crowds are no joke.
- If you’re there in the off-season and driving, enjoy the freedom but know that the roads are complete mayhem. You’ll be in a solid line of cars, slowly snaking through the switchbacks and dodging more bicycles than I’ve ever seen in my entire life. The tour buses fly around corners, taking up the entire road at times. It gets intense.
Talaia d’Albercutx –
If the crowds at Mirador de Es Colomer are too overwhelming, turn right at the busy intersection and head up to Talaia d’Albercutx instead. You’ll find breathtaking, unobstructed 360° views with a fraction of the hordes. Less people can make an experience so much better.
This very photogenic, historic watchtower was built between the late 16th and early 17th century. The tower is still open and if heights aren’t an issue, you can climb the ladder and look out across the sea, imagining the men that stood in that same spot, scanning the sea for pirates hundreds of years ago.
How did they communicate? When pirates were spotted, one tower to another would pass along smoke signals during the day and torch signals at night to warn the towns of impending danger.
Bathroom facilities? – No.
Kid friendly? – Yes and no. Kids will love seeing the tower and old building ruins! But keep them close; the moment you step out of the car or off of the main path, there is an alarming amount of human waste and garbage. You don’t want them accidentally getting into that.
What the internet won’t tell you – I was very disappointed to see that all of these beautiful historic structures are covered in graffiti. Hundreds of years old with an incredible amount of labor to build these beautiful structures and they’re tagged carelessly within moments. Also, the garbage and toilet paper is everywhere around this gorgeous vista, it’s shocking. PLEASE pack out all your trash, TP included!
Cala Figuera – This postcard-worthy, turquoise inlet beckons for swimming, snorkeling, and just being there. The bus conveniently stops at the trailhead and if you’re driving know that parking is limited. Go early, for all the reasons!
Pictures can be deceiving and this beach isn’t a soft, white sand oasis. Bring water shoes, good sandals, or even light tennis shoes for exploring because the rock is rough and sharp on bare feet. It’s also not very cozy for sitting, so if you have something you can bring as a seat, do so! There is no shade, so don’t forget a sun-blouse and sunscreen.
Getting there by car – From Port de Pollença take the MA-2210 towards Cap de Formentor. Follow the road about 13 kilometers to the free gravel parking lot at the “trailhead” for Cala Figuera. The hike to the beach is an easy 15-20 minute walk.
Bathroom facilities? – No.
Kid friendly? – Kinda. Kids would probably enjoy a sandier beach over the rough sandstone here, but the water is decently calm for swimming.
What the internet won’t tell you – Where I stood to take this picture was my favorite part of this beach. Funny, huh? Sure, it’s beautiful to be down by the water and swimming feels fabulous on a hot day. But the reality is, it’s a small and very busy beach covered in mares sandstone that makes for uncomfortable sitting and lounging. The no-shade situation gets intense quick, so make sure you’re covered up (loose fitting clothes are best) and watch as the tourists around you turn a deep shade of lobster. Nothing like a sunburn to ruin the rest of a trip! And for goodness sakes, don’t feed the goats!
Far de Formentor – The scenic Formentor lighthouse is the final stop on road MA2210.
The lighthouse opened in 1863 after a long and difficult construction. With such rugged terrain, the only way it was accessible was by sea or by mule.
Pro tip – I don’t recommend driving to the lighthouse, though. Zoom in on the picture and take note of the solid line of cars and know that I took this picture mid-week during off-season. If you’re AT the lighthouse, you’re too close for taking lighthouse pictures like this, anyways! If you find a safe place to park, you can walk to a high point for more solitude and better views.
Playa de Formentor – This golden-sand beach with calm and crystal clear waters is a perfect spot to spend a lazy afternoon, lounging and swimming! This long and narrow beach is lined with pine trees so you can find a little dappled shade (a rare thing in Mallorcan beaches, I discovered) and relax with a book and picnic. Bring your snorkel!
We rented clear-bottomed kayaks and paddled around Illa de Formentor, a fun little side adventure! Keep an eye on the time, they charge by the hour and will charge for extra time you’re out there.
Bathroom facilities? – Yes.
Kid friendly? – Yes! This soft-sand beach with glassy water is the perfect spot for kids of all ages.
What the internet won’t tell you – It can get busy here, so you may be towel-to-towel with your neighbors.
Road to Cap de Formentor– Aside from being a stressful drive with mobs of bikes, endless cars, and monster busses, this twisty mountain road is quite scenic.
We loved finding random pull-outs and walking and exploring from there. Off the beaten path can bring some welcoming solitude and incredible pictures.
Cala Muerta – This small, pebble beach sits below the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, nestled in a calm inlet perfect for swimming and snorkeling in the brilliant turquoise waters.
Getting there – Park at the Cala Figuera parking lot and walk to the house near the parking lot. There’s a path that leads from this house to the beach. The hike to the beach is a 20-30 minute walk.
Bathroom facilities? – No. Poop before you leave the hotel and always pack out your toilet paper!
Kid friendly? – Not particularly. The walk to this rocky beach might be tiresome, unless you’ve got a tough kiddo. The water is gentle for swimming, though.
What the internet won’t tell you – The walk may deter some people, but since this beach is so small it doesn’t take much to make it feel crowded. Go early, especially if you’re driving and want to snag a parking spot!
The good, the bad, and the ugly
Mallorca is such a gorgeous island off of Spain! With the tropical climate, the clear mediterranean waters, dramatic mountains, and bright flowering plants everywhere. But it has to be said: the amount of garbage and toilet paper was shocking.
Yes, pollution is worldwide and there are places that are worse (apparently Mallorca is in much better shape than it used to be) but it doesn’t have to be so bad. There is little we can do about garbage that washes up on shore, but I’m not talking about that. I’m referring to the litter just carelessly dropped to the ground or stuffed in a crevice of a historic structure and the unbelievable volume of toilet paper.
Please please please pack out your toilet paper! Always have a garbage bag on excursions for any of your litter (and fill your bag at some up at these spots on your way out!) and if you have to poop outside, take your used toilet paper with you. That’s right, wipe and take it with you.
Ladies, if you’ve used toilet paper after merely urinating and you don’t have a garbage bag handy, just stuff it in the outside pocket of your backpack or jeans pocket. It’s not gross, really.
Dropping it on the ground isn’t “sending it back to nature”. TP is no longer a tree. It’s bleached, processed with chemicals including formaldehyde, and pollutes the ground where it is dropped.
It also doesn’t just decompose overnight. It all depends on the conditions and in the rocky terrain of Mallorca that toilet paper isn’t going anywhere. Toilet paper buried deep in the soil (not sitting on top of the ground) in a lush and healthy forest even with the most ideal temperatures and conditions will still take about 1-3 years to break down. That is best-case scenario. Toilet paper in a landfill will take two centuries to decompose. Toilet paper sitting on top of sandstone or stuffed in the fronds of a plant isn’t going back to nature anytime soon, it’s probably leaning more towards a hundred years.
Pack it out and educate those around you! Together, let’s keep these exotic places beautiful!
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed, leave me a comment! 🙂
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