The coastal walk from Cala Romantica to Cala Varques is a fantastic trail on the east coast of Mallorca. Located near Manorca, the hiking excursion to these beaches should be high on your Balearic Islands to-do list. By doing this coastal walk, you’ll explore some of the most hidden beaches in Mallorca. Indeed, even if you’re staying on the other side of the island in Palma de Mallorca, it’s certainly worth the day trip to Cala Romantica and Cala Varques.
In this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about this coastal walk. After describing the trail, we’ll also talk about important things to know before doing the hike. We’ll then cover details on how to get to Cala Romantica from Palma de Mallorca. In addition, for those wanting to stay near these hidden beaches in Mallorca, we’ll talk about the best Cala Romantica hotel option.
Other than reading this guide, you can watch footage of the coastal trail on our Mallorca hiking video.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Cala Romantica to Cala Varques trail is one of the best coastal walks in Mallorca. Personally, it was our favourite coastal walk on the island. Of course, when it comes to hiking in Mallorca, it’s hard to beat the trails in the Tramuntana Mountains. But, if you’re after a coastal walk rather than a mountain hike, the Cala Romantica to Cala Varques trail is a must during your time in Mallorca.
Cala Varques, more than Cala Romantica, is one of the most hidden beaches in Mallorca. So, you’ll certainly have a tranquil and relaxed beach experience at Cala Varques. Sure, Cala Romantica can get busier as it’s easier to access, but it’s still one of the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca. Better yet, getting to Cala Romantica from Palma de Mallorca, to start the hike, is very straightforward. We’ll talk about this later in the post. For now, let’s look at a map of the hike and the trail specs.
Read about Torrent de Pareis, Parc Natural de Mondragó and the Sant Elm to La Trapa Hike
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Cala Romantica to Cala Varques Map
Here’s a GPS-guided map of the walk.
Cala Romantica to Cala Varques Coastal Walk Route Details
- Type: Out & Back
- Distance: 8.35km
- Time: 3.25–4 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 100m
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: Cala Romantica Car Park
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Cala Romantica to Cala Varques Trail Description
In this trail description, we’ll break down the trail into stages, to help show the highlights of this magnificent coastal walk. It all starts at Cala Romantica!
Cala Romantica: One of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Mallorca
Also known as Playa Romantica, your coastal walk starts at one of the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca. Expect crystal clear turquoise waters straight from the get-go. However tempting, we recommend cracking on with the coastal walk before popping your towel down on the beach and going for a dip! We recommend finishing your coastal walk with a swim at this beach. For now though, you’ll follow a steep dirt trail exiting the beach. You’ll then reach a flat trail that winds through the shrubbery, heading closer to the coastline. Soon enough, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Balearic Sea from a decent vantage point on the trail.
Following the coastline southwards, the trail is very easy to navigate. The path is well defined. But, you’ll have surprisingly difficult and uneven calcareous terrain to negotiate.
Cova de na Dent
As you continue south, you’ll enjoy a series of stunning seaside cliffs. You’ll find some of these cliffs have small caves edged into them. One of the most well-known of these caves is called Cova de na Dent. But, in my opinion, Cova de na Dent doesn’t necessarily stand out. There are simply tonnes of these cave openings along the coastline to feast your eyes on.
After passing some of the most scenic sea cliffs in Mallorca, you’ll reach a sublime stretch of coast called Cova de Cala Falcó. We can’t classify it as one of the most hidden beaches in Mallorca, as technically, it’s a cove. Anyway, it’s certainly one of the most hidden coves in Mallorca! We don’t recommend swimming here. But, don’t worry, swimming opportunities are aplenty at Cala Romantica and Cala Varques!
Cova Marina del Pont
After hiking down and up out of Cova de Cala Falcó, you’ll soon reach Cova Marina del Pont. It’s located next to a nice small bay called en Casa Blanc. Cova Marina del Pont, simply known as ‘the Bridge’, is perhaps the highlight of the epic coastal trail. This natural arch bridge is a spectacular natural attraction.
Cala Varques: One of the Best Hidden Beaches in Mallorca
After passing the natural arch, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking stretch of coast leading to Cala Varques – one of the most hidden beaches in Mallorca. As you near Cala Varques, the water becomes even clearer and the reddish-toned rocks even more vivid. Indeed, the coastline around Cala Varques is simply dreamy and some of the most drool-worthy in Mallorca.
How you spend your time at Cala Varques is only limited by your imagination! Personally, Beck and I walked along the beach. We then explored the rocky headland south of the beach. Given the impending rain, we decided it was best to retrace our steps to finish the hike. Indeed, once we had done some speed hiking back to the car, it pelted down. That’s always the risk of visiting Mallorca outside of summer – a higher chance of rain.
Cova del Xots
It’s possible to add a detour to a cave called Cova del Xots during the Cala Romantica to Cala Varques coastal walk. Admittedly, Beck and I didn’t know about this other natural attraction when we visited. Basically, from near Cova de Cala Falcó, you’ll head inland around 600 metres to access the cave. For more detailed instructions, please check out the map here to find out how to reach it.
Important Things To Know
Parking: you can park at Cala Romantica in Mallorca for free. The car park is reasonably sized. But, it can fill during peak season in summer. So, if you’re day trippin’ from Palma de Mallorca, make sure you don’t arrive at the Cala Romantica Car Park too late.
Difficulty: the hike is fairly easy. But, keep in mind that many sections of the trail consist of uneven calcareous terrain. So, even though it’s an easy hike, make sure to wear proper footwear. This terrain can get quite slippery after rainfall.
Snorkelling opportunities: we’ve heard there’s decent snorkelling at Cala Varques. So, don’t forget your snorkels!
Getting to Cala Romantica From Palma de Mallorca
Getting to Cala Romantica from Palma de Mallorca is straightforward if you have your own vehicle, whereas, getting there by public transport is time-consuming and tedious.
Certainly, the easiest and quickest way to get to Cala Romantica from Palma de Mallorca is driving there yourself. Usually, the drive time from Palma de Mallorca to Cala Romantica is around an hour. It’s also worth mentioning, that outside of summer, the buses listed above run less frequently. So, getting to Cala Romantica from Palma de Mallorca, outside of peak season, can be quite difficult.
We hired an automatic car from Palma de Mallorca Airport for only €10/day!
How to get to Cala Varques? Hiking there from Cala Romantica of course! Well, that’s if you’re up for the coastal walk. If you want to go directly to Cala Varques, it’s best to drive. You can access the beach via a gravel road off the main road. At the end of the gravel road, there’s a small free car park. From there, it’s an approx. 800 metre walk to Cala Varques.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
Public Transport
If you’re using public transport, the best option involves catching two buses. First, you’ll catch the 70 minute 401 bus from the Intermodal Station in Palma de Mallorca to Porto Cristo (bus stop). Then, from a nearby bus stop, you’ll catch the 15 minute 427 bus to Cala Romantica. Overall, this journey from Palma de Mallorca to Cala Romantica takes around two hours. The cost of a ticket for this journey is around €5.40 each way. Please check Transports de les Illes Balears for the latest information on prices and departure times.
Cala Romantica Hotel Options
Most people heading to Cala Romantica for the coastal walk to Cala Varques will visit on a day trip from Palma de Mallorca or from elsewhere on the island. But, staying near Cala Romantica is a fantastic option. Compared with other beaches in Mallorca, it’s one of the more hidden ones and off-the-beaten-track. Indeed, staying near Cala Romantica would be a great idea if you’re keen to explore this part of the island around the east coast.
Admittedly though, there isn’t much in the way of options with high ratings. The one exception is Apartamentos Vista Alegre Mallorca. Of course, accommodation in Mallorca isn’t generally too budget-friendly. But, Apartamentos Vista Alegre Mallorca is likely the cheapest Cala Romantica hotel you’ll come across. Better yet, this modern-style apartment comes highly rated, whilst featuring an awesome pool.
Stay at Apartamentos Vista Alegre Mallorca
- Great location near the coast
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Outdoor swimming pool
Cala Romantica Restaurants
Similar to Cala Romantica hotels, there aren’t a lot of choices when it comes to dining in the area. The Coco Beach Bar is one place open in summer that serves typical Spanish food. Otherwise, it’s fairly slim pickings, particularly outside of the peak season. If you plan on staying near Cala Romantica, it’s a bit more of a self-catering situation!
Other Quiet Beaches in Mallorca
Other than Cala Romantica and Cala Varques, there are plenty of other quiet beaches in Mallorca. One of the other best quiet beaches in Mallorca is Cala Mondragó, which you can explore by visiting Parc Natural de Mondragó. Otherwise, other excellent quiet beaches in Mallorca, include Cala Deia, Cala Murta and Sa Calobra, the last of which, can be accessed doing the Torrent de Pareis walk.
Hiking Gear Essentials
These are our gear essentials for this coastal walk.
Osprey Skarab 30
The Osprey Skarab 30 is our go-to hiking backpack for day hikes. This well-designed unisex backpack is comfortable and spacious, so you’ll have plenty of space to pack everything without feeling the strain on your upper back.
Osprey Ultralight Raincover
A waterproof backpack cover is an absolute must when you’re adventuring outdoors. The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium is a high-quality waterproof cover that’ll keep your backpack bone dry.
GRAYL Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best water filter bottle that allows you to purify 710mL (12 ounces) of water. This bottle will make water safe to drink wherever you’re hiking.
BUFF Original Ecostretch
The BUFF Original Ecostretch is a great option when it comes to multifunctional headwear. We use the Ecostretch as a neck gaiter to keep the sun off our necks and it helps us keep warm in cooler climates.
Sony Cybershot RX100 VII
Capture epic photos and videos with the Sony Cybershot RX100 VII. This is hands-down the best compact camera. We love using this simple point-and-shoot camera when we’re hiking as it’s lightweight and durable.
To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.
You should also take water, snacks, lunch, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimmers, a towel and a hat.
For other epic coastal walks in the Balearic Islands, check out our Menorca hiking guide. Otherwise, read our Mallorca hiking guide.
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