The stretch from Port Adriano to Sa Dragonera trades the south coast's open sand for cliffs, pine forest and some of the clearest water near Palma. It's a shorter route than the south coast circuit, and works well as a half-day.
Camp de Mar and Cala Fornells — the opening stretch
Leaving Port Adriano, the coast past Cala Fornells and Camp de Mar is scenic rather than a destination in itself — a good stretch for the run out before the coves start getting interesting closer to Andratx.
Port d'Andratx and the coves around it
Cala d'Egos and Caló d'es Monjo both sit close to Port d'Andratx and are sheltered enough to stay calm when other stretches of coast pick up some swell — Cala d'Egos in particular is a dependable choice if conditions elsewhere are marginal. Both are short stops rather than half-day anchorages, which makes them easy to fold into a longer run toward Sant Elm.
Sant Elm and Cala en Basset
Cala en Basset, reached past Cap Blanc with Sa Dragonera on the left, sits in one of the better-preserved marine conservation areas on this stretch of coast — clear water, visible marine life, and mountain views behind it. It's close enough to Sant Elm to combine with a stop at the village if wanted.
Sa Dragonera — the natural endpoint
Sa Dragonera is a protected natural park island just off Sant Elm, with dramatic cliffs and some of the clearest water on this side of Mallorca. Cala Mitjana, tucked against the island with cliffs and pine forest around it, has a genuinely wilder feel than anywhere else on this route. Dragonera works well as where the day turns around, rather than a stop to rush through.
Comparing it to the south coast
Where the south Mallorca route is flat dune beaches and open water, the southwest is cliffs, pine forest and tighter coves — a different feel for a similar amount of running time from a Palma-area marina. Both fit comfortably into a 7-day Balearic itinerary without repeating the same scenery twice.
Planning the day
This route suits a half-day as easily as a full one — see the Mallorca destination guide for the rest of the island's anchorages, or get in touch with your dates and preferences and we'll build the day around what you want to see.