Cala Portals Vells Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Portals Vells, Coves del Pirata
Cala Portals Vells is one of Mallorca's most scenic south-coast anchorages — a pine-backed cove with ancient rock-hewn pirate caves at its head and crystal-clear water over white sand. Located 12nm W of Palma, it is easily reached in a morning sail from the Palma marina area. The sand bottom throughout the anchoring area is one of the cleanest in Mallorca, with minimal Posidonia intrusion (though the DONIA app should still be consulted). The caves can be explored by dinghy — originally built as wine storage by Genoese sailors, they are now a remarkable sight.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
39°27.9'N 002°32.5'E
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
sand
Holding
Excellent HoldingProtected From
N, NE, E, NW
Exposed To
S, SW, SE
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free
Mooring Buoys
None
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m covers the outer bay at 3–8m. Excellent holding on sand — the anchor buries reliably and the alarm will only trigger if genuine dragging occurs. Reduce to 55m in the inner cove.
Outer bay: 80m recommended — Anchor in 3–6m on clean sand in the outer (southern) part of the bay.
Inner cove (by the caves): 45m recommended — The innermost part of the bay by the famous Coves del Pirata (pirate caves) offers near-all-round shelter in 2–4m on sand.
Anchoring Zones
Cala Portals Vells 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: Outer bay
- Depth: 3–8m
- Bottom: sand
- Holding: Excellent Holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, NW
- Exposed to: S, SW, SE
- Recommended alarm radius: 80m
Anchor in 3–6m on clean sand in the outer (southern) part of the bay. Holding is excellent throughout the sandy area. Protection from the N/NE is strong due to the pine-covered limestone headlands. Open to S/SE swell — a rare SE Llevant blow can make the anchorage uncomfortable within hours.
Zone 2: Inner cove (by the caves)
- Depth: 2–4m
- Bottom: sand
- Holding: Good Holding
- Protected from: N, NE, NW, E, S
- Exposed to: SW
- Recommended alarm radius: 45m
The innermost part of the bay by the famous Coves del Pirata (pirate caves) offers near-all-round shelter in 2–4m on sand. Very limited space for 4–5 boats maximum. Approach carefully — there are rock outcrops at the cave entrances that are unmarked.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Cala Portals Vells 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 3–8m, deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (56m chain at 8m 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, Delta, CQR. See our guide to anchor types by bottom for detailed comparisons.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Cala Portals Vells are feasible but require monitoring. The anchorage is exposed to S and SW and SE winds and swell.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 80m radius before going below for the night. 80m covers the outer bay at 3–8m. Excellent holding on sand — the anchor buries reliably and the alarm will only trigger if genuine dragging occurs. Reduce to 55m in the inner cove.
May–June and September–October ideal. July–August busy but manageable — the bay is large enough to absorb the day crowd. Avoid in SE forecasts (Llevant).
Navigation Hazards
- Open to S/SE — Llevant (E/NE) autumn swells can enter within 2 hours of forecast change
- Rock outcrops at the cave entrance — approach inner cove slowly and assign a bow watch
- Day boats and gin-palace motor yachts from Palma arrive from 10:00 Jul–Aug
Rules & Regulations
- Anchoring fee: Free
- Maximum stay: 5 days
- Key restrictions: No anchoring on Posidonia if present. Standard Mallorca coastal zone — fines up to €200,000.
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: Palmanova (4nm)
- Restaurant: One beach bar (Es Forti) open Jun–Sep, accessible by dinghy at the inner cove.
- Provisions: None on site — Palmanova (4nm)
Skipper's Tips
- The outer bay provides space for 15–20 boats comfortably — arrive by 11:00 in summer to secure a good position.
- The inner cove is worth the careful entry for the unique cave atmosphere — explore by dinghy if outer bay is too rocky for your boat draft.
- A good overnight anchorage in settled summer weather — the bay quiets down completely after the day boats leave at sunset.
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 Portals Vells
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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