Region · South
Southern Mallorca: Es Trenc, Colònia de Sant Jordi, Santanyí
Last checked: October 2026
Flat, dry and little built-up: this is where the island's natural beaches are – but the infrastructure is thinner than elsewhere.
The south lacks infrastructure – many beaches are hard to reach without a car.
The short answer
Who is southern Mallorca ideal for?
Southern Mallorca, between Sa Ràpita, Colònia de Sant Jordi and Santanyí, is one of the least built-up stretches of coast on the island. This is where you will find Es Trenc, the salt pans of Ses Salines and the departure harbour for Cabrera National Park.
Natural beaches with rules
Es Trenc and Sa Ràpita lie in a protected dune area. There are managed car parks with limited capacity, but no continuous promenade and little shade – pack sun protection and water.
Towns with character
Santanyí lives from its golden-yellow sandstone, its galleries and its market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Colònia de Sant Jordi is both a fishing village and a ferry port; Ses Salines lies inland between salt pans and fields.
Getting there and getting around
Without a car or a seasonal bus, many beaches are hard to reach. The drive from the airport takes 35 to 50 minutes – considerably shorter than to the east. For trips to Cabrera, the boat from Colònia de Sant Jordi must be booked in advance.
- Transfer from Palma Airport
- around 35 to 50 minutes
- Without a hire car
- difficult – beaches are away from the towns
- Coastline
- Dune beaches, low rocky coast, salt pans
- Season
- May to October, car parks full early in high summer
Good for
Natural beaches and photography Couples and peace and quiet Off-season with a hire car Trip to the Cabrera archipelago
Less suitable for
- Holidays without a car
- Large hotel complexes with entertainment programmes
Towns in this region
Where exactly should you stay?
Transfer time from Palma Airport and suitability without a car matter more in everyday life than the hotel category.
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Santanyí
Small sandstone town with a market and access to small coves.
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Colònia de Sant Jordi
Starting point for Es Trenc, the salt pans and boat trips to Cabrera.
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Ses Salines
Quiet village in the far south with salt pans and unspoilt natural beaches.
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Campos
Agricultural municipality in the south, where most of Es Trenc lies.
Location of the resorts in the South region.
Beaches
Beaches in the South region
Surface, entry into the water and parking are listed in each beach profile.
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Caló des Moro
Fjord-like rocky cove with crystal-clear, bright turquoise water between steep rock walls.
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S'Amarador
Unspoilt sandy beach in the middle of the Parc Natural de Mondragó, surrounded by dense pine forest.
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Platja d'Es Trenc
Natural sandy beach with shallow turquoise water and a dune landscape.
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Cala Pi
Fjord-like sandy cove lying deep between steep cliffs, with extremely calm water.
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Cala S'Almunia
Ancient fishing cove with tiny stone houses, boat ramps and crystal-clear water.
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Cala Llombards
Fjord-like cove with a wide stretch of sand, turquoise-green water and a popular beach bar.
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Cala Santanyí
Family-friendly sandy cove with a diving school and the nearby Es Pontàs rock formation.
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Caló des Màrmols
Isolated cove with fine sand and striking marble-like rock patterns.
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S'Arenal de Sa Ràpita
Fine-sand natural beach right next to the Sa Ràpita marina, easier to reach than Es Trenc.
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Platja des Carbó
Miles of untouched sandy beach with views of offshore islands, south of Colònia de Sant Jordi.
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Platja des Caragol
Unspoilt sandy beach in the far south, framed by dunes.
Food & drink
Restaurants in the South region
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Michelin star Michelin Green Star Repsol Soles €€€€
Andreu Genestra
Llucmajor
Mallorcan
Chef Andreu Genestra cooks with hyper-local, often home-grown ingredients.
- Special occasion
- Fine dining
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€€€
Ca'n Bonico Restaurant
Ses Salines
Modern Mediterranean
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€€
Casa do Pulpo
El Arenal
Fish & seafood
Specialises in octopus and paella dishes.
- Families
Next steps
Frequently asked questions about the South region
How do you get to Es Trenc beach?
Most easily by car, using the managed car parks near Ses Covetes or Es Trenc; in summer there are also seasonal buses. It pays to arrive early because capacity is limited.
Is the south suitable for families?
Yes, if you have a car. The beaches are shallow and sandy, but they lack the shade, promenades and short hotel-to-beach distances of the north.
What is the difference between Santanyí and Colònia de Sant Jordi?
Santanyí is a small country town with a market and galleries but no beach of its own; Colònia de Sant Jordi is a coastal village with a harbour, beaches and a boat connection to Cabrera.
Can you go from Colònia de Sant Jordi to Cabrera?
Yes, in season boats leave Colònia de Sant Jordi for Cabrera National Park. Details on our page about the Cabrera boat trip.
Other regions
Keep comparing
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Southwest
Short transfer times, city life and marinas: the southwest is the island's best-developed region and works outside the summer months too.
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Serra de Tramuntana
A UNESCO World Heritage Site of dry-stone walls, olive terraces and mountain villages – the region for hiking and cycling, the weakest for small children at the beach.
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North
Miles of gently shelving sandy bays with a promenade – Mallorca's classic family region, easy to combine with cycling and nature trips.
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East
A chain of small calas between pine trees and limestone rock – quiet resorts with holiday flats, marinas and short coastal paths.
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Island centre: Es Pla
Farmland instead of coast: wineries, weekly markets and fincas – only practical as a base with a hire car, but quiet all year round.