A recurring topic for discussion in Mallorca is dog access on the many beaches that surround the coasts of the island. Although Mallorca is home to over 200 beaches, finding a beach to bring a dog to during the summer season can prove to be a real challenge. Due to Mallorca’s beaches being packed with people during the high season in summer, most beaches unfortunately have restrictions on pet access within the sandy premises. Fortunately, we have compiled a list of beaches where dogs are welcome to run around and swim during all seasons of the year. Note that dog friendly beaches are not limited to the ones listed here, many beaches offer seasonal access, though this will be discussed in further detail towards the end of the blog.
Platja de Can Cap de Bou, Pollença
Located alongside the Llenaire beach south of Port de Pollença, the Can Cap de Bou beach is a beautiful narrow beach that offers both smooth sand and rocky patches that aid in preserving the natural look of the bay. This beach offers full unrestricted access to dogs all year round! This beach has lots of sandy space for dogs to release their energy and shallow waters for them to safely swim around within safe range from their owners. One thing to make note of is that directly above the beach lies a road that cars drive along regularly. Though the speed limit is low there, it can be quite dangerous for your dog to run close to there so it is advised to have them under control or on a leash.
Es carnatge
Directly adjacent to the Palma airport lies the nature preserve Es Carnatge, which boasts a beautiful stretch of coast and plant life. On this coast there is a beach consisting of sand and rocks. This beach is a beautiful pocket of nature with crystal clear waters full of fish and magical rock formations. This beach is well known for its unrestricted access for dogs, so this can also serve as an opportunity for your dog to make some new friends! This beach is perfect for curious dogs as there is lots of space available for your dog to safely explore as there are no automobile roads close to the area, as well as it being located in Palma making it easily accessible. One possible downside of the Es Carnatge beach is that due to its close proximity to the airport, the noise disturbance from the planes landing and taking off may be irritating to dogs and their owners. Aside from this, Es Carnatge is definitely up there as one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Mallorca!
Cala Gamba
An additional dog-friendly beach close to the Airport is Cala Gamba, which is a small yet charming bay that lies just North-West of the previously mentioned Es Carnatge beach. This beach is similar to Es Carnatge, though it offers a more sandy beach that is also closer to other activities such as jet ski rentals and restaurants. Cala Gamba is another great opportunity for your dog to have fun in a central area that is easily accessible to anyone staying around Palma.
Playa de Alcanada
On the northern side of Mallorca is where the impressive Alcudia bay is situated. Playa de Alcanada lies on the top of this bay, facing south. Playa de Alcanada is a narrow rocky/sandy beach that lies directly below a golf course, whilst also being surrounded by trees and plant life. The beach offers a view of a small island not far off the shoreline, as well as shallow waters and crystal clear oceanic views. The beach has unrestricted access to dogs all year round, as well as its rural location providing the benefit of not too many people being present at the beach at all times. Though the beach can seem relatively far away from towns and cities, it is a great place to take your dog for a run or a swim that is both safe and beautiful.
Na Patana
Another dog-friendly beach located in the Alcudia bay is the Na Patana beach. This beach is smaller in size but offers a beautiful sand beach with fantastic views of the surrounding coastline consisting of small mountain ranges and greenery. Lying in the middle of the Alcudia bay coastline, Na Patana beach is only a 5 minute drive from Can Picafort, which boasts wonderful restaurants and hotels. What makes Na Patana beach so special is that it is one of the few full sand beaches in Mallorca that offers unrestricted access to pets all year around. An additional benefit to Na Patana is the lack of public roads in the surrounding area, as well as there being lots of nature for your dog to safely explore.
Cala Blanca
Situated on the coast of Andratx, Cala Blanca offers a small but fantastic beach for dogs to enjoy. The stony beach boasts crystal clear waters and a small rocky area for dogs to run around and relax. An added benefit of the beach’s small size is that it is easy to keep an eye on your dog as they don’t leave your eyesight when running around. The bay is quite closed off meaning that the dogs are safe as there are no nearby roads for them access.
Seasonal differences in dog-access to beaches in Mallorca
As the summer season comes along with the most tourist and beach activity in Mallorca, dog access to beaches are almost only limited to the beaches mentioned previously, but the off-season in winter brings a wider range of opportunities and locations for you and your dog. For example, the Bay of Alcudia allows dogs to access all the beaches from the 1st of November to the 31st of March. Additionally, the municipality of Artá opens its beaches to dogs all the way from the 1st of October to the 30th of April. In the municipalities of Pollença, Andratx and Capdepera, dogs are permitted to access all beaches during the winter months, where the beaches will most likely be close to empty, giving your dog lots of open space to run around freely.
Charlie Nygaard
Intern @ BO Mallorca
