Mallorca's Mermaid Grottos - Caló des Moro & Cala S'Almonia

Popular amongst locals, cliff jump into a hidden Mediterranean oasis of endless sparkling turquoise water

Touching down on the largest Balearic island of Mallorca/Majorca was a welcomed sensation. Immediately upon arrival, the warmth of the sun illuminated my body and the dry salty air had an ever-so-slight yet ever-present aroma of orange blossoms. Imagine feasting your eyes on dancing palm trees and being beckoned and greeted by pink and purple flower vines encouraging further exploration of Mallorca's treasures.

Instant rejuvenation.

A long lost friend happened to be living on Mallorca, visiting him required a trek into the isolated island center.

The winding drive on a gravely unpaved one-way stone lined wall road tested our French car's finicky endurance, eventually, we arrived at his finca. Situated in the middle of local vineyards the only connection to the modern world keeping you in this century was the occasional airplane passing by overhead and some scattered electricity lines. After an al-fresco brunch, we were deemed worthy to be gifted with the island knowledge of the best beach, Caló des Moro.

With newly discovered knowledge and destination in mind, we departed on a mission fueled by blind faith. After an hour and a half of passing through countryside and long abandoned farms, the promise of the beach was nearing. Yet in the distance, a privada sign on a nominal barrier neared closer. How strange, Google Maps said to continue. Having determination on our side and little regard to barriers, we ignored the sign and drove onwards.

Upon reflection, this sign is most likely a futile yet effective way to discourage non-locals from discovering Caló des Moro, don't say I told you!

After a couple of minutes of driving past the barrier parked cars started appearing. It became clear that we were almost there based upon the lack of parallel parking on the makeshift parking spots lining the entire road. Eventually arriving at our destination we miraculously managed to find a parking spot.

The pilgrimage albeit nearing completion still required further persistence. The air was filled with the distant cawing of seagulls, murmured Spanish, and the heaviness of being near the seashore. Finally, a nondescript sign appeared in the distance next to a steep natural staircase leading to the Caló.

Feasting my eyes upon the glorious beauty of the Mediterranean, all was worthwhile.

Practical Tips:

How to get there: Best way is to drive, but parking could be tricky to find in peak seasons.

Located 6 miles from Santanyí use Google Maps to get you there and politely ignore the private property signs. Many of the roads are narrow and make 2-way traffic slightly challenging.

Best time to go: Early season, April-May before all the summering Europeans, it is more local vibe and less crowded than in the summer months. Additionally, not as hot, returning up the stairs is slightly more tolerable.

Upon Arrival: Pack a beach bag with essentials for the day: water, sunscreen, snorkels, music, towels, etc. After leaving the car there are still 120 stairs to climb down!

After the Stairs: You can choose to turn left and hike over to Caló des Moro. This tends to be more crowded with not too much space to lay your things. Alternatively, straight ahead or to the right is Cala S'Almonia a personal favorite.

Tips: Wear shoes to be able to hike downstairs and walk on inconsistent rocks. Preferably ones to get wet as well for cliff jumping. Birkenstock Rio's saved the day!

If you want the secluded mermaid grottos seen in the pictures, turn right and hike along the coastline. This will require balance but if you keep walking there are secluded alcoves away from the crowds. Bring some cushions if you want to sit on the rocks and solid swimming skills. There are no lifeguards on duty and the only way in the water on this side is to hop in! Climbing up out of the water can be scary if there are waves, I admit I scraped my knee climbing out of the water, totally worth it!