Cala Anguila Beach

Cala Anguila sits just outside the village of Cala Anguila-Cala Mendia, about 10 minutes by car from Porto Cristo. A bus from Porto Cristo runs hourly and takes just 4 minutes — a genuinely easy option if you want to skip the parking hunt. Free parking is available in a lot and along the street nearby, but spaces are limited; arrive early in peak season or you'll be circling. There's no entry fee to access the beach.

The nearby Caves of Drach, just 3.6km away, are one of Mallorca's most famous attractions — an extraordinary underground cave system with an underground lake and live classical music concerts that are genuinely worth the short drive. If you prefer to stay closer, Platja de Cala Mendia is a 0.4km walk and rated 4.6/5 by visitors, making it an easy second beach for the day. Cala Murta, 1.7km away, offers another scenic cove for those who want to explore the coastline on foot or by car. Fans of sport and culture can make the 12km trip to the Rafa Nadal Sports Centre in Manacor, a museum and sports complex dedicated to the island's most famous son.

The Cala Anguila Beach Restaurant & Cocktails is right on the beach at just 0.1km — the obvious choice for a lunch break without leaving the sand. A short drive of around 8km brings you to ICON Valparaíso, rated 4.5/5, which offers a more refined dining experience away from the beach. For something different, the Organic Restaurant Ecològic at 13.6km holds an impressive 4.8/5 from over 3,400 reviews and is worth the trip for an evening meal.

The closest hotel is Insotel Cala Mandía Resort & Spa, just 0.5km from the beach and rated 4.4/5 across more than 3,600 reviews — a convenient base if you want to walk to the water each morning. Further afield, both Iberostar Waves Cala Domingos (4.7/5, 8.1km) and HYB Eurocalas (4.4/5, 7.1km) offer solid options with strong guest scores for those happy to drive a short distance.

The low cliff backdrop behind the white-gold sand makes for a strong wide-angle shot, especially in the soft light of early morning before the beach fills up. For the most vivid turquoise water colour, shoot from the cliff edge looking down into the cove around mid-morning when the sun is high enough to illuminate the shallows.

Arrive before 10am in July and especially in August — August is peak season and the beach gets packed fast, so if you can, plan your visit for June or September instead. Swimming here is safe, but keep an eye on younger children near the water's edge as the cove can get busy with water sports activity. The caves in the area are a highlight, but visit Caves of Drach independently rather than assuming you can walk there — it's 3.6km away and best reached by car. Bring cash or card for water sports rentals on the beach.