Cala Varques

The essentials of Cala Varques

  • • Access only on foot (1.5 km) or by sea, no road and no facilities in the cove
  • • Cova des Pont and Cova de s'Orgue: submerged caves with halocline and exceptional visibility
  • • Snorkelling over posidonia corridors with seabream, sand steenbras and octopus
  • • Limestone cliffs up to 20 m high providing afternoon shade
  • • Adjacent caletones accessible by an irregular coastal path
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Description

Cala Varques is located in the municipality of Manacor, on the eastern coast of Mallorca, roughly between Porto Cristo and Cala Domingos. Unlike most coves reachable by road on the east of the island, Cala Varques can only be reached on foot or by sea, which shapes its character and the profile of its visitors. From the Son Caló car park, a dirt track winds about 1.5 km through private farmland whose owners allow access in exchange for a small fee; access may be restricted depending on the season.

The cove has an entrance roughly 80 metres wide, flanked by limestone cliffs reaching up to 20 metres in some sections. The sand is fine-grained and pale, and the water in the bathing area does not exceed 4 metres in depth. Further out, the seabed descends to 8-12 metres over a mix of algae, rock and posidonia (Posidonia oceanica) patches. Water clarity on calm days is notable: the seabed is easily visible from the shore at 5-6 metres depth.

The main draw of Cala Varques for water sports practitioners is the entrance to a network of submerged caves accessible directly from the cove. Cova des Pont, connected to the sea, and Cova de s'Orgue are two cavities with underwater galleries explored by cave divers with lights and specialist equipment. Visibility inside the caves is exceptional in periods of low swell: the halocline — the interface between fresh and salt water — creates a visual effect that distorts objects like a liquid mirror. Access to the caves requires cave diving training or hiring a certified guide; attempting entry without specific training is extremely dangerous.

Beyond technical diving, the cove offers snorkelling along the rock and posidonia corridors on its flanks, where white seabream (Diplodus sargus), sand steenbras (Lithognathus mormyrus) and octopus (Octopus vulgaris) are commonly spotted between the rock crevices. The cliff topography creates a shaded zone from mid-afternoon that cools the cove on the hottest August days. The absence of facilities within the cove — no bars, no sunbed rental — means visitors must arrive self-sufficient with water, food and sun protection.

Practical information

Everything you need to know for your visit to Cala Varques

How to get there

How to get there

By car Public transport
From Manacor, take the Ma-4014 road towards Porto Cristo and turn off at Son Caló following signs. Paid car park at Son Caló; from there, 1.5 km on foot along a dirt track. The landowner charges an access fee. By sea: common anchoring point for boats from Porto Cristo.
Area Information
Manacor is the nearest city (around 12 km). Porto Cristo (8 km) offers full services: restaurants, shops and boat hire. The Coves del Drac, with their underground lake, are 3 km away. There are no services within the cove.
Geography
Small cove (around 80 m wide) on Mallorca's east coast in the municipality of Manacor. Flanked by limestone cliffs up to 20 m. Sandy floor to 4 m depth; beyond, rock, algae and posidonia to 8-12 m. Karst terrain allows the formation of coastal and submerged caves.
Flora & Fauna
Oceanic posidonia meadows on the cove's flanks. Marine fauna: white seabream (Diplodus sargus), sand steenbras (Lithognathus mormyrus), octopus (Octopus vulgaris), grey mullet and Mediterranean barracuda. Onshore, Aleppo pine and mastic and buckthorn scrub on the cliff tops.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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From Porto Cristo, take the Ma-4014 road towards Manacor and turn off at the Son Caló sign. There is a paid car park; from there walk 1.5 km along a dirt track crossing private farmland. The landowner charges a small access fee, typically between 2 and 5 euros. The path is unpaved so closed-toe footwear is recommended.
No. Diving in Cova des Pont and Cova de s'Orgue is technical cave diving and requires specific cave diving training (PADI Cave specialty or CMAS equivalent). Entering an underwater cave without this training is extremely dangerous. Dive centres in Porto Cristo offer certified guides to accompany divers with appropriate qualifications.
No. Cala Varques has no services within the cove: no bars, restaurants or sunbed and umbrella rental. Bringing sufficient water, food, sun protection and everything needed for the day is essential. The nearest services are in Porto Cristo, around 8 km away.
Yes, and it is highly recommended. The rocky flanks of the cove and the surrounding posidonia corridors are ideal for snorkelling: visibility is good on calm days and seabream, octopus and other Mediterranean species are commonly seen just metres from the shore. Mask, snorkel and fins are all that is needed; no tank or specific training is required to enjoy the shallow seabed.
Yes. Cala Varques is a regular anchoring point for boats coming from Porto Cristo or the marinas of eastern Mallorca. Anchoring inside the cove is permitted for moderately sized vessels, though motoring within the cove is discouraged due to the impact on posidonia meadows. A well-equipped anchor and respect for posidonia marker buoys are recommended.