Don’t listen to the internet. Google “best virgin beaches in Mallorca,” and you’ll find the same list repeated a hundred times: Cala Llombards, Cala Barques, Cala Deia. While these beaches are beautiful, they’re far from virgin. I’ve lived in Mallorca long enough to know just how crowded they get on your average August weekend. If you’re looking for a secluded getaway in Mallorca’s natural paradise, these eight less-frequented and lesser-known beaches are a better bet.

Cala Bóquer

Cala Boquer is my favorite beach on the island. Only about a 30-minute hike from Port de Pollença, it always surprises me how few people are there, even on the weekends. On a weekday morning, it’s possible you might find yourself completely alone. The beach is rocks and pebbles but still comfortable with plenty of places to lie out.

I do suggest going early in the morning and leaving in the late afternoon because the hike through the Vall de Bóquer in the Mediterranean sun can get pretty hot. To reach the cove, you can park right near the entrance to Camí Bóquer along Ma-2200. Then take the trail past the small urbanization that involves passing through two gates that, yes, you’re allowed to open. The second gate may even appear closed and locked with a chain, but you can just lift the chain to open it.

Platja de Sa Font Celada

Nearest town: Arta
Recommended Hotel: Origins Boutique Hotel
Type of beach: Sand
Hiking time: 2.5 hours

Sa Font Celada is a rare virgin sand beach, as comfortable to lie down on as Es Trenc or Platja de Muro. That’s probably because getting there is a bit strenuous, requiring you to hike through the Parc Natural de la Península de Llevant. 

I recommend hiking along the coast from Cala Mitjana where you can park. Somehow the terrain changes several times before reaching the beach. Just keep in mind that it is a bit strenuous and takes nearly two and a half hours.

Es Coll Baix

Nearest town: Port d’Alcudia
Recommended Hotel: Hotel Bahia d’Alcudia
Type of beach: Black pebble
Hiking time: 2 hours

Es Coll Baix is one of the more unique beaches on the island, made of black pebbles as soft as sand. You’re likely to still find a decent number of people on the beach, but it’s large, and groups tend to stay spread out. I can’t promise the same about the goats, though.

Many people hike all the way from Port d’Alcudia which takes about two hours. You actually don’t have to, though. You can drive all the way to Refugi del Coll Baix and then just hike about 30 minutes down to the beach.

Cala Llamp

Nearest town: Port d’Andratx
Recommended Hotel: Las Escaleras
Type of beach: Boulder
Hiking time: 10 minutes

Located in Port d’Andratx, Cala Llamp has amazing views and is also pretty popular for everything from sailing to scuba diving. If you plug it into Google Maps, you’ll end up at a rock beach just below Beach Club Gran Folies. While this beach is pretty cool in and of itself, there are usually a lot of people. You can avoid them by walking through the restaurant, out past the straw parasols, and over the rocks. Along this stretch of coast, you’ll find a number of secluded coves with some of the best snorkeling on the island.

Caló d’en Monjo

Nearest town: Cala Fornells
Recommended Hotel: Hotel Petit Cala Fornells
Type of beach: Rock and pebble
Hiking time: 15 minutes

Though it’s never exactly deserted, it’s still surprising how few people end up on the beach at Caló d’en Monjo considering how close it is to Calvià. There are a lot of great hiking trails that lead to the cove, but the easiest way is to hike from Cala Fornells where there’s parking. It just takes 15 minutes.

When you arrive at the cove, the most comfortable beach is down to your right, but it’s often the most populated. You can continue down to two other inlets that usually have less people, or you can swim across the cove to the cave. There’s a small washout there where people rarely go, even on the busiest of days.

Cala Pilota

Nearest town: Porto Cristo
Recommended Hotel: Apartamentos Sol Romantica
Type of beach: Sand
Hiking time: 45 minutes

Most of the best coves in Mallorca are on the east coast near Porto Cristo. You can easily take a day hiking between them, or even better, snorkeling from one to the next. Cala Pilota has easy access to other great coves like Cala Magraner and Cala Virgili. Your best bet is to hike in from wherever you can park near Cales de Mallorca.

Cala Marmols

Nearest town: Ses Salines
Recommended Hotel: Hostal Palmaria
Type of beach: Sand
Hiking time: 2 hours

In the south of the island, Cala Marmols is truly one of the island’s most beautiful thanks to the direct sunlight that turns the water blue and transparent meters below the surface. Plus, it’s comfortable sand massaged by the rhythmic tide. 

Cala Marmols is frequented by a lot of boats, but the beach itself rarely has many people due to the fairly rugged three-mile (5 km) hike from Cap de ses Salines required to get there.

Cala en Paiàs de Baix

Nearest town: S’Estanyol de Migjorn
Recommended Hotel: Vistamar Sa Rapita
Type of beach: Rock
Hiking time: 1 hour

The south of Mallorca is famous for its wide sand beaches like Sa Rapita and Es Trenc. However, what many beachgoers don’t know about is the stretch of coast just west of Sa Rapita, a hidden gem held tight to the chest by the locals. 

Hiking west from s’Estanyol, you’ll find a number of beautiful beaches and coves as well as the Instagram-worthy Far de s’Estalella lighthouse. If you want to lie out, though, I recommend going about two miles until you hit Cala en Paiàs de Baix just past the Torre de s’Estalella.

Try a Coastal Villa or Boutique Hotel

If you book one of the most popular hotels in Palma or nearby, you’re going to end up on an equally popular beach crowded by tourists. To stay near secluded beaches like these virgin coves, you should explore a map of Mallorca and find a boutique hotel or coastal villa.