12 Best Anchorages Around Mallorca for a Private Yacht Charter

Best Anchorages Around Mallorca: A Broker's Working Guide

The best anchorages around Mallorca reward captains who know the island's coastline intimately. With roughly 300 nautical miles of shore, this Balearic island offers everything from deep-water coves with sand bottoms to cliff-lined inlets where a 40-metre superyacht can sit in 6 metres of crystal-clear water. What follows is a practical, season-tested breakdown of the spots our skippers return to year after year — and the conditions you need to enjoy each one safely.

Why Mallorca Attracts Yacht Charters Every Summer

Between late May and early October, the island delivers consistent Beaufort 2–4 conditions on most mornings, building to a thermal sea breeze of 12–18 knots by early afternoon. That pattern makes passage planning straightforward and keeps anchorages comfortable overnight. Palma's main harbour, the Club de Mar marina, provides full customs clearance, fuel, and provisioning within a 10-minute tender ride of the old town. Port Adriano, 12 nautical miles southwest, adds a Philippe Starck–designed superyacht facility with berths up to 80 metres. The combination of reliable weather, first-rate infrastructure, and short sailing distances between coves is precisely why luxury yacht hire on this island keeps growing.

12 Top Anchorages Worth Dropping the Hook

1. Cala Deià — A narrow inlet on the northwest coast, best in settled southerly conditions. Holding is rocky, so a Mediterranean moor with a stern line ashore works well for yachts under 25 metres. 2. Cala Formentor — The long sandy bay at the tip of the Formentor peninsula offers 4–8 metre depths over sand. Ideal for families wanting a calm swim stop. 3. Es Trenc (offshore) — Anchor 150 metres off the beach in 5 metres of sand. The water colour rivals anything in the Caribbean, and there is no development behind the dunes. 4. Cala Mondragó — A protected natural park on the southeast coast with two adjoining coves. Depths of 3–6 metres suit catamarans and motor yachts up to 30 metres. 5. Cabrera Archipelago — A national park 10 nautical miles south of Colònia de Sant Jordi. Permits are mandatory and limited to a set number of vessels per day; your charter captain should apply well in advance for summer 2026. 6. Portals Vells — Three small caves and a sandy bottom at 4 metres make this a favourite lunch stop on any Mallorca day-charter itinerary. See our [Mallorca day-charter itinerary](#) for a detailed route.

Sheltered Overnight Spots for Superyachts Over 30 Metres

Larger vessels need deeper water, better swing room, and reliable holding. Port de Sóller, a near-circular natural harbour on the northwest coast, ticks every box — 8–12 metres of depth over mud and sand, excellent protection from prevailing winds, and a charming waterfront for evening strolls. Further south, Cala Llamp near Port d'Andratx provides 10-metre depths close to shore and shelter from the north through east. The bay rarely gets crowded because the approach requires confident navigation past a rocky headland. For a multi-night stay, many of the yachts on our roster swing between these two anchorages and spend a third night in the Cabrera marine reserve — a three-stop loop covering roughly 65 nautical miles. Browse our [fleet in Mallorca](#) to find the right vessel for that circuit.

Wind and Swell Conditions to Watch in 2026

The dominant summer wind is the Embat, a daytime thermal that funnels through the Badia de Palma from the southwest. It rarely exceeds 20 knots and drops after sunset. The Tramuntana, a northerly wind that funnels down the Serra de Tramuntana range, can arrive suddenly in late September and make northwest anchorages like Cala Tuent untenable. Swell from the east, triggered by distant low-pressure systems near Sardinia, occasionally wraps around Cap de Formentor and rolls into northeast-facing bays. A good charter crew monitors AEMET forecasts every 6 hours and repositions overnight when necessary. Planning a boat charter around the island between June and mid-September gives the widest choice of calm anchorages.

Choosing the Right Yacht for Coastal Cruising

A sailing yacht of 18–24 metres draws less than 3 metres and can nose into shallow calas that larger motor yachts cannot reach. A flybridge motor yacht of 28–35 metres, on the other hand, offers air-conditioned salons, a hydraulic swim platform, and enough tender garage space for a jet-ski — essentials for families with children. Catamarans provide stability at anchor and generous deck space for al-fresco dining. Whichever hull you prefer, matching draught and beam to the anchorages on your wish list is the single most important decision. Our [guide to Mallorca charter yachts](#) breaks down the options by size and style.

Plan Your Charter Around These Anchorages

Knowing where to anchor is half the pleasure of a private yacht hire around this island. The other half is the rhythm of each day — a morning swim at Cala Mondragó, a slow sail past the Dragonera island silhouette, an evening glass of Binissalem rosé in the cockpit while the sun drops behind Port d'Andratx. Summer 2026 berths and anchorage permits are already filling, and the best weeks in July and August tend to be reserved months ahead. A well-planned itinerary turns a week on the water into something you measure the rest of the year against.