Mallorca's north coast trades the south's flat beaches for headlands, cliffs and one of the island's genuine landmarks — the lighthouse at Cap Formentor. This route from Port d'Alcúdia works as a half-day or a full one, depending on how long you want to spend at each stop.
Port d'Alcúdia and Cap Pinar
Leaving Port d'Alcúdia, the route follows the coast around Cap Pinar, the headland separating the bays of Alcúdia and Pollença. It's a scenic run rather than a stop in itself — pine-covered cliffs dropping to the water, with the open sea starting to show past the headland.
Coll Baix and Es Caló
Coll Baix, on the Victoria Peninsula, is a broad beach reachable by boat or a demanding hike — there's no easy road access, which keeps it quieter than beaches elsewhere on the bay. Just along from it, Es Caló is a small, undeveloped cove overlooked by La Fortalesa, a 17th-century military fortress on the headland above. Both work well as a swimming stop before the longer run out toward Formentor.
Cala Murta and the approach to Formentor
Continuing along the Formentor peninsula, the route passes Cala Murta, a sheltered bay that marks the start of the approach to the cape itself. From here the coastline turns more dramatic — cliffs rising directly from the water as the peninsula narrows toward its tip.
Cap Formentor — the natural endpoint
Cap Formentor is the northernmost point of Mallorca, marked by a lighthouse set on cliffs that drop straight into the sea. It's one of the island's most photographed landmarks, and seeing it by boat avoids the switchback road up to the viewpoint, which gets heavily congested with day-trip traffic in summer. It's a strong endpoint for the day — a natural turnaround point rather than a stop to rush through.
Comparing it to the island's other routes
Where the south Mallorca route is flat dune beaches and the southwest route is moderate cliffs and pine forest, the north coast shares some of the drama of the northwest Sóller-Deià route but with a different character — broader headlands and a longer open-water approach to a single dramatic landmark, rather than a string of tighter coves. All four fit into a longer stay without repeating the same coastline twice.
Planning the day
Port d'Alcúdia to Cap Formentor suits a half-day comfortably, or a full day with more time at Coll Baix or Cala Murta. See the Mallorca destination guide for the rest of the island's anchorages, or get in touch with your dates and we'll build the route around what you want to see.