Cala Mesquida - Picturesque sandy bay on Mallorca's north-eastern coast

Hedged in by gently rising hills, the picturesque bay of Cala Mesquida lies on the northeast coast of Mallorca. The 300 m long beach is made of finest white sand and the sea shimmers turquoise, bottle green or deep blue depending on the time of day. Cala Mesquida is located in a nature reserve and heading inland it is bordered by sand dunes. The natural beauty of the bay, which is refreshingly devoid of sprawling hotel complexes and apartment complexes make this a very agreeable place indeed. There is a very small urbanisation on one side of the bay with a handful of restaurants, small hotels and individual apartments.

Location of Cala Mesquida

Cala Mesquida is located about seven kilometres outside of the small village of Capdepera. The town of Artá is 15 km away. The bay can be reached by rental car if you follow the Artá - Capdepera road following the signs for "Cala Mesquida". Not far from the beach is a free car park, where you can safely leave the rental car. The beach can be accessed via a footpath that leads through the dunes. Part of the path runs over a wooden walkway, which meanders through the sparse, overgrown dune landscape.

If hire cars are not really your thing, hikers regularly make the trek to Cala Mesquida. The starting point is the small pebble cove of Cala Moltó and you make your way to Cala Mesquida via Cala Agulla. When you arrive there you can happily spend the day in the soft sand. The bay is bordered on one side by rocky hills and the dunes merge into individual pine groves. Together with the neighbouring bay of Cala Agulla, Cala Mesquida has been designated as a nature reserve since 1991. This has prevented the construction of hotel complexes. The bay is home to a large gull and cormorant population and is one of the largest of its kind in the Balearic Islands.

Beach Infrastructure

The fine white sands of Cala Mesquida shines brightly in the sunlight. The bay stretches along the coast over a length of about 300 m in a gentle arc. The beach is up to 130 m wide. Umbrellas and sunbeds are available for rent on one third of the beach. The rest of the beach is used by day visitors who bring their own umbrellas and spread their own towels in the soft sand. In the high season, a lifeguard is always at hand. There is a first aid station where minor injuries can be treated on an outpatient basis.

The tourist facilities at Cala Mesquida include freshwater showers, where you can rinse the salt and sand off. Cool drinks and snacks are available at the beach bar. If you are looking for something more substantial to eat there is a restaurant on the beach. The food is simple but good. You can choose between classics of Spanish cuisine such as pa'amboli and tortillas and lighter bites such as chicken thighs, hamburgers and French fries. Of course, chilled drinks and ice cream are also served. A few smaller restaurants can be found in the small town of Cala Mesquida, which is located on one side of the bay.

Swimming and water sports

The fine sandy beach at Cala Mesquida descends gently into the water. However, this does not mean that this is completely safe for little children to splash around without keeping an eye on them. Due to the location of the bay in the northeast of Mallorca winds can rise quite unexpectedly, which can cause sudden waves. For this reason, boats rarely anchor at Cala Mesquida. Another special feature is the strong current in the region.

The bay is located directly on the strait that separates Mallorca from the neighbouring island of Menorca. When swimming in the bay, always watch out for the colour of the flags on the beach. If a yellow or red flag is blowing, swimming in the sea is too dangerous. Under the green flag swimming and playing in the water is harmless.

The high waves are popular with surfers in the low season. In early spring and autumn, when the number of beach holidaymakers is much reduced, you can often see surfers riding on the crests of waves. Generally Cala Mesquida is not a bad spot for watersports. There is a rental station for paddleboats, where you can idly row along the shoreline on the crystal clear sea. Snorkellers tend to enjoy the flat cliffs, however, you should only consider snorkelling when the green flag is blowing on the beach.

Cala Mesquida Urbanisation

On one side of the beach just above the bay is the urbanization of Cala Mesquida. The small settlement has under 100 permanent residents. There are a few small restaurants, a supermarket, a handful of hotels and some apartments. A central meeting place is the village square of Cala Mesquida. If you spend your holidays in Mallorca in August, you should not miss the feast held in honour of the patron saint. In the centre there are a few souvenir shops.

An attractive hiking destination is the old watchtower Talaia de Son Jaumell, which rises on a 270 m high hill east of the settlement. It was built in the 16th century to protect against pirate attacks and is now a partial ruin but is protected. At the foot of the mountain are the remains of a bunker built at the time of the Franco regime.

Excursion destinations in the area

Only seven kilometres inland from Cala Mesquida is the charming town of Capdepera. The village is dominated by the Castell de Capdepera, perched on a cliff above the settlement. The castle is surrounded by mighty walls, which are partially walkable and allow a wonderful view of the Mallorcan coast. Of the more than 100 residential buildings, only the foundations have been preserved. Nevertheless the Governor's Palace and the chapel of Nuestra Senyora de la Esperanza are still worthwhile seeing.

The ascent to the castle is rather arduous. A trip to the small town of Artà is something you should plan in, if you spend your holiday at Cala Mesquida. The town has several very interesting tourist attractions including Santuari de Sant Salvador castle including two sets of caves - Coves d'Arta and Coves del Drac.

One of the most beautiful golf courses in Mallorca is the 18-hole course Golf Capdepera. Six artificial lakes alone are distributed among the fairways. From the greens you have beautiful views of the coast and the mountainous regions. Dogs are allowed to accompany their owners provided they are on a lead, when golfers start to tee off in front of the Mediterranean dream scenery. At Cala Mesquida more active holidaymakers will get their money's worth. The Mallorcan coastal trail Cami dels Carabiners passes by the bay. You can get a wonderful overview of the flora and fauna of the Balearic Islands if you walk through the nature reserve, which includes Cala Mesquida and Cala Agulla.

Cala Mesquida is one of the loveliest places in Mallorca for those with an eye for aesthetics or keen photographers. The snow-white sand, the crystal-clear water and the Mediterranean ambience offer the perfect conditions for a relaxing holiday under the southern sun.