Porto Cristo Guide
Beaches, coves, restaurants and day trips near Es Ganxo House
Porto Cristo has a sheltered sandy beach, a marina and some of the island’s most beautiful coves just a few minutes away. This is our personal guide to the beaches, restaurants and trips we recommend to guests staying at Es Ganxo House.
| Beach | Type | How to get there |
|---|---|---|
| Porto Cristo beach | Sandy town beach with services | 8 min walk |
| Cala Petita | Tiny, quiet cove | 15 min walk (1.3 km) |
| Cala Morlanda | Pebble beach | 6 min drive (4.5 km) + 1 min walk |
| Sa Coma & Sa Punta de n’Amer | Large sandy beach with all services | 10 min drive (7 km) |
| Cala Anguila | Sandy cove with clear water | 10 min drive |
| Cala Varques | Unspoilt cove | 20 min drive + approx. 40 min walk |
| Cala Magraner | Pebble cove with cliffs | 20 min drive + approx. 40 min walk |
Cala Petita
A very small and lovely cove just 15 minutes on foot from the villa (1.3 km). Its sheltered, crystal-clear water is perfect for a quiet swim or some snorkelling away from the busier town beach. Bring water, as there are no services.
Cala Morlanda
A charming rocky cove 6 minutes by car, with crystal-clear water that is great for swimming and snorkelling. Spread your towel on the flat rocks by the sea, and take a look at the prehistoric talayot ruins right next to it.
Cala Anguila
A beautiful sandy cove with turquoise water, just 10 minutes by car. It has a beach bar, sunbeds and umbrellas, and the rocks on each side are great for snorkelling. Go early in summer, as parking is limited.
Sa Coma and Sa Punta de n’Amer
A large sandy beach with crystal-clear water and all services, 10 minutes by car. Next to it, Sa Punta de n’Amer is a small natural cape with an old watchtower and a lovely walk of about 4 km there and back.
Cala Varques
One of the most beautiful unspoilt coves on the east coast, with sea caves and a natural rock arch. Drive about 20 minutes, park off the main road and walk around 40 minutes. There are no facilities, so bring water.
Cala Magraner
A wild cove at the end of a green valley, surrounded by impressive cliffs that are popular with climbers. It is a 20-minute drive plus a 40-minute walk, so bring water, sun protection and good shoes.
- Vibes by Quince – Mediterranean cuisine.
- Sa Cantina Es Nàutic – at the yacht club, by the marina.
- Trattoria del Porto – Italian food in the port.
- C’an Tauleta – paellas and fresh fish.
- Fussio Lounge – Mediterranean fusion cuisine.
- Feli Cocina – Thai cuisine.
For a cocktail in the evening, we recommend Twist.
- Dragon Caves (Coves del Drac) – spectacular caves with an underground lake and a short classical music concert, 5 minutes by car.
- Coves dels Hams – another cave system, 5 minutes by car.
- Rafa Nadal Academy & Museum Xperience – a must for tennis and sports fans, 15 minutes by car.
Seeing the coast from the sea is one of the highlights of a stay in Porto Cristo. There are three main options:
- Rent your own motorboat (a boating licence is required): Vermell.
- Sail with a skipper, sharing the boat or just for your group: Charters Llevant, Sailing Porto Cristo and Caribia (from Porto Colom).
- Catamaran and glass-bottom boat trips: Sunbonoo and Moonfish Cat.
Sóller and Sa Calobra
Sóller and Port de Sóller are a village and harbour on the north coast, and Sa Calobra is a spectacular cove reached by a winding mountain road. You can drive there, or make a day of it: go to Palma, take the historic train to Sóller and the tram to Port de Sóller, and from there a boat to Sa Calobra.
Hiking in Mallorca
There are hundreds of hiking routes for every level. A good place to start is this guide to hiking in Mallorca. If you choose a route, ask us and we will be happy to give you our advice.
Other places we recommend
- Palma city and its cathedral
- The villages of Valldemossa and Deià
- Formentor beach and lighthouse
- Es Trenc beach
- Playa de Muro beach
- S’Amarador beach (Mondragó Natural Park)
- The Lluc monastery in the Tramuntana mountains
We have no commercial relationship with any of the companies mentioned on this page. We simply recommend them to help our guests enjoy the island.
Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons): Porto Cristo beach by A. Savin (Free Art License); Cala Morlanda by Antonio De Lorenzo (CC BY 2.5); Cala Anguila, Cala Varques, Cala Magraner, Cala Petita and Sa Punta de n’Amer by Olaf Tausch (CC BY 3.0, Sa Punta de n’Amer CC BY-SA 3.0); Porto Cristo harbour entrance by Asurnipal (CC BY-SA 4.0).