Cala Mondragó Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Cala Mondrago, S'Amarador, Mondragó Natural Park
Cala Mondragó sits within the 785-hectare Mondragó Natural Park on Mallorca's SE coast — one of the island's few protected areas where anchoring is explicitly permitted in a verified Posidonia-free sandy bay. The double-bay system (Cala Mondragó + S'Amarador) offers a rare combination of clean sand, outstanding holding, and Natural Park landscape protection. Day visitors arrive by road but by sunset the bays are relatively quiet. The SE Mallorca coast can be exposed to Llevant (E/NE autumn) swell — check the 48-hour forecast before committing to overnight.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
39°20.6'N 003°10.4'E
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
sand
Holding
Excellent HoldingProtected From
N, NE, NW, W
Exposed To
S, SE
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free
Mooring Buoys
None
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m for the north bay in 2–5m on clean sand. Excellent holding means the alarm primarily protects against unexpected wind shifts to S/SE — in settled weather the alarm can be reduced to 45m.
Cala Mondragó (north bay): 55m recommended — Anchor in 2–4m on clean fine white sand.
S'Amarador (south bay): 65m recommended — The south bay (S'Amarador) is wider with more swinging room.
Anchoring Zones
Cala Mondragó has 2 distinct anchoring zones, each with different depth, holding, and exposure characteristics. Choose the zone that matches your boat size and the expected overnight conditions.
Zone 1: Cala Mondragó (north bay)
- Depth: 2–5m
- Bottom: sand
- Holding: Excellent Holding
- Protected from: N, NE, NW, W, E
- Exposed to: S, SE
- Recommended alarm radius: 55m
Anchor in 2–4m on clean fine white sand. Holding is outstanding throughout — the entire bay floor is sand with no Posidonia (officially verified in the Natural Park survey). The north bay (Cala Mondragó proper) is slightly smaller but better protected from SE than the south bay.
Zone 2: S'Amarador (south bay)
- Depth: 2–6m
- Bottom: sand
- Holding: Excellent Holding
- Protected from: N, NE, NW, W
- Exposed to: S, SE, E
- Recommended alarm radius: 65m
The south bay (S'Amarador) is wider with more swinging room. Also clean sand — excellent holding. Slightly more exposed to SE than the north bay. Park regulations apply — no noise after 22:00, no generators.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Cala Mondragó is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set. Use the following approach:
- Approach slowly and check your depth sounder on the way in. At 2–5m, deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (35m chain at 5m depth).
- Drop into the wind or current and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back — do not allow chain to pile on top of the anchor.
- Set firmly in reverse. Apply moderate throttle astern for 30–60 seconds. The chain should tighten and the boat should stop moving back.
- Take a GPS bearing. Note your position once set and compare to the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain for the depth.
Recommended anchor types for this bottom: SPADE, Rocna, Mantus, CQR, Delta. See our guide to anchor types by bottom for detailed comparisons.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Cala Mondragó are feasible but require monitoring. The anchorage is exposed to S and SE winds and swell.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 55m radius before going below for the night. 55m for the north bay in 2–5m on clean sand. Excellent holding means the alarm primarily protects against unexpected wind shifts to S/SE — in settled weather the alarm can be reduced to 45m.
May–June and September ideal. July–August busy 09:00–18:00 but calm at night. Avoid any Llevant (E/NE) forecast, especially October–November.
Navigation Hazards
- Open to SE/S — Llevant (E/NE gale) swell can make bay very uncomfortable within hours
- Shallow approach from S — depths of 1.5–2m at bay entrance; use charts and depth sounder
- Motor boat traffic from Porto Petro and Cala Figuera during day
Rules & Regulations
- Anchoring fee: Free
- Maximum stay: 5 days
- Key restrictions: Mondragó Natural Park rules: no noise after 22:00, no generators, no fires, no dogs on beach, no snorkelling equipment in boat exclusion zone within 50m of beach. Max 3kt within 300m of shore.
For a full overview of Spanish anchoring rules, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available on site
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Porto Petro (3nm)
- Restaurant: One chiringuito (beach bar) at the park access point, Jun–Sep.
- Provisions: None on site — Porto Petro (3nm)
Skipper's Tips
- This is the best sand-holding anchorage on Mallorca's SE coast — anchor here with confidence.
- Snorkelling in the Natural Park waters (outside the beach exclusion zone) is excellent — clear water, sea grass, and abundant fish.
- Porto Petro (3nm) has a good supermarket and fuel for provisioning — easy afternoon dinghy trip.
A note on this guide: The data in this guide has been researched from multiple sailing sources and is provided in good faith. Anchorage conditions — depth, holding, local regulations, and Posidonia zone boundaries — can change. Before visiting, always check current weather forecasts, NAVTEX and VHF weather bulletins, the DONIA app for current Posidonia mapping, and balearslifeposidonia.eu for current mandatory buoy zone status. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Cala Mondragó
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously through the night and sounds a loud alarm the moment your boat drifts outside your set radius — so you can relax and enjoy the anchorage.
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