Mallorca beaches on windy days: where to swim in each wind

How do you choose where to swim in Mallorca when it's windy?

Find out where the wind comes from, then pick a beach in Mallorca that faces away from it. A north wind leaves Cala Pi and Cala Major in Palma calmer, and an east wind favours bays that face south-west, such as Porto Colom. When you arrive, check the flag where one flies and follow any lifeguard's advice.

Our shelter marks come from the compass direction each beach faces. A cove that faces south-south-east, like Cala Pi, has its back to a north wind. A beach that faces north-north-east, like Cala Mesquida in Capdepera, takes that wind head on. These are calm beaches by geometry, not by guarantee.

The direction a beach faces is only half the picture. Wind speed and wave height matter as much, and they change by the hour. The scores at the top of this page use the forecast for both, so look at them before you drive across the island.

Flags tell you what the lifeguards think of the sea on the day. On Capdepera's beaches a yellow flag means moderate risk and a red flag means high risk. Since August 2026, a lightning flag joins them in a thunderstorm. In 2019, after storms eroded Canyamel and exposed rocks, the council flew the yellow flag there for an indefinite period.

Some open beaches also have rip currents, strong flows that run out to sea. Capdepera's environmental statements list them at Cala Agulla and Cala Mesquida. Muro's lifeguards signposted 36 rip currents on Playa de Muro in the 2015 season. If you swim at an exposed beach, swim with a companion and do not go far out.

Cala PiPorto ColomCala MesquidaCanyamel

What are Mallorca's main winds called?

Mallorca uses Catalan names for its winds. The tramontana blows from the north, the llevant from the east, the migjorn from the south and the ponent from the west. Each one sends waves onto the beaches that face it and usually leaves the beaches on the far side of a headland or the island calmer.

The tramontana wind is cold in winter. Palma's tourism site says Cala Major is fully sheltered from the north winds, which are very cold in winter. That is why people use the beach out of season too. On the north coast the same wind strikes Cala Molins in Cala Sant Vicenç, where Pollença's council says it turns the water foaming and turbulent.

The llevant wind is the summer one. The regional tourism site says it is very frequent in the summer months. It names Cala Pi as a place for days when the llevant or the tramontana blows. The migjorn and the ponent reach the bays that open to the south and west, such as Peguera and Santa Ponsa.

Wind and storms also move the beach itself. At Cala Agulla, near Cala Rajada, the beach grows or shrinks by up to 10 m. It depends on whether the west or the east wind blows. Storms pile algae on the raised shore of Cala Torta. On Playa de Muro, the council's cleaning service removes the dead Posidonia (a seagrass) that storms wash up.

Cala MajorCala Sant VicençCala Agulla

Where should you swim when the tramontana wind blows?

In a tramontana, swim on the south coast or at Palma's city beaches. Cala Pi, Cala Major, Cala Estància and most Santanyí coves face away from the north. The north coast of Mallorca, from Cala Sant Vicenç to Cala Mesquida, takes the waves.

The open north coast faces straight into this wind. Pollença's council says Cala Molins in Cala Sant Vicenç is open to the north-north-east. At Cala Mesquida, Capdepera's environmental statement rates the waves as strong, with the breakers 5 m from the shore. Artà's council says Cala Torta opens to the tramontana and to the north-east wind.

The bays of Alcúdia and Pollença feel it too. Santa Margalida's plan for Can Picafort says the beach's opening to the bay brings moderate waves when north winds dominate. A few beaches inside the bays face south and turn their back on it. Alcanada and Cala Formentor both face south, so our estimate marks them sheltered.

On the south side, Cala Pi faces south and cuts deep into the coast between steep walls. The regional tourism site credits those three features for the shelter. In Palma, the city's tourism site describes Cala Estància as very sheltered from the winds. In Cala d'Or, Turespaña says the medium-height cliffs around Cala Gran keep the wind off.

Cala PiCala MajorCala EstànciaCala GranAlcanadaCala Formentor

Which beaches are sheltered from the llevant wind?

In a llevant, swim on beaches that face west or south-west. Playa de Palma, Es Trenc, Porto Colom, Sant Elm, Camp de Mar and La Romana in Peguera turn their back on the east wind. The east coast from Cala Millor to Cala Murada, and the Calvià coves that face east, take the waves.

On the east coast itself, Porto Colom is the one listed beach our estimate marks sheltered from the east. Its beach, s'Arenal, faces south-west. The regional tourism site says s'Arenal is sheltered from north-east and south-east winds, so boats anchor there. The water there is 4 m deep at 200 m from the shore.

Calvià's coves near Palma face the other way. Calvià's tourism pages say Portals Vells, El Mago and Cala Vinyes are open to east and south-east winds. Cala Fornells is open to the south as well. In Magaluf, the northern part of the beach is open to the east and south-east, while the island of sa Porrassa gives some protection.

Cala Pi is an exception on the south coast. It faces south-south-east, yet the regional tourism site lists it for llevant days thanks to its depth and steep walls. If you want a long stretch of sand instead, Es Trenc and Playa de Palma both face south-west. Es Trenc runs for almost 2 km, and Playa de Palma for about 4.6 km along the Bay of Palma.

Playa de PalmaEs TrencPorto ColomSant ElmCamp de MarPeguera (La Romana)

Where is it calm when the south wind (migjorn) blows?

In a migjorn, head for the north coast of Mallorca. Sant Joan, Sant Pere, Can Picafort and Son Serra de Marina face north or north-east across their bays, and Port de Sóller and Cala Tuent face north-west. The south coast and the Peguera beaches face into this wind.

On the north coast a south wind blows off the land. Sant Joan and Sant Pere, two small beaches near Alcúdia on the bay of Pollença, both face north. Sant Joan is about 100 m of fine white sand. Alcúdia's tourism site says the water there can be calm or whipped into waves, depending on the wind.

In the north-west, Port de Sóller, Cala Tuent and Sa Calobra face north-west, so a south wind blows from behind them. Storms bring a separate risk at Sa Calobra. The Torrent de Pareis gorge that ends at Sa Calobra can flood suddenly. The government warns walkers not to start the route under a yellow, orange or red rain or storm warning.

The south-facing beaches take the waves. Calvià's tourism pages say Palmira and La Romana in Peguera are exposed to south-east, south and south-west winds. They advise boats to anchor there during the day. Turespaña describes Sa Ràpita as very open to the sea and says windsurfers come there when the wind blows.

Sant JoanSant PereCan PicafortSon Serra de MarinaPort de SóllerCala Tuent

Which beaches are sheltered from the west wind (ponent)?

In a ponent, the east coast of Mallorca is the side to choose. Cala Millor, Cala Bona, Sa Coma, Cala Agulla and many Manacor coves face east, so the west wind blows off the land. Santa Ponsa, Sant Elm, Camp de Mar and Es Trenc face west or south-west and take the waves.

Cala Millor runs for about 1.8 km of sand and gravel and faces due east. Next door, Cala Bona has three small beaches between groynes, and Turespaña describes its water as calm. Further north, Cala Agulla near Cala Rajada faces north-east and our estimate also marks it sheltered from the west.

Near Palma, the Calvià coves that face east or south-east also work in a ponent. Ses Illetes, Palmanova, Magaluf and Portals Vells all have their backs to the west. Calvià's tourism pages list Illetes, Magaluf and Portals Vells as open to easterly winds, so keep them for a ponent, not a llevant.

The bays that face west take this wind head on. Santa Ponsa faces due west, and Sant Elm faces west-south-west towards the island of Sa Dragonera. The government advises against crossing the strait to Sa Dragonera by kayak or small boat unless you are very experienced, because its currents are strong.

Cala MillorCala BonaSa ComaCala AgullaSes IlletesPalmanova