Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide. Cala Figuera is a small, narrow natural harbour on the south-east coast of Mallorca, south of Portopetro and north-east of Colònia de Sant Jordi. It is a traditional fishing harbour and local port rather than a full marina complex, with limited visitor berthing, shallow water, narrow fairways and a confined harbour head. For yachts cruising the south-east coast, Cala Figuera is useful as a fair-weather harbour stop, but it should not be treated as a deep-water refuge or a guaranteed berth in season.

For cruising yachts, Cala Figuera sits between the cala anchorages of the Santanyí coast and the south-coast route toward Colònia de Sant Jordi, Es Trenc and Cabrera. It is close to Portopetro, Cala Mondragó and Santanyí, and is useful for small and moderate-draught yachts that can obtain a berth or safe mooring. The harbour is attractive but operationally constrained: visitor berths are few, draught is limited, holding can be poor if using an anchor, and easterly through southerly weather can send uncomfortable water into the bay

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - History

Cala Figuera developed as a fishing harbour for the Santanyí coast, with the long inlet providing a natural place for local boats to land fish and shelter from open-coast conditions. The port retains a fishing-harbour character, with traditional waterfront buildings, boat ramps, small craft and working quays rather than a large commercial or yacht-service layout. For a skipper, the historical use remains practical: this is a local fishing harbour adapted for limited yacht use, not a major marina or technical centre.

Chart Disclaimer. This chart is a schematic representation for illustrative purposes only and must not be used for navigation. Refer to official hydrographic charts for safe navigation. Be aware ENC charts may differ from official hydrographic charts. Both should be corrected and updated regularly.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Currents and Tidal Flow

Tidal range at Cala Figuera is small and has little effect on ordinary yacht navigation. Tidal streams are weak; water movement in and near the harbour is mainly caused by wind-driven set, local harbour circulation, vessel wash and swell entering the narrow cala. Inside the harbour, current is normally minor, but the confined space means even small wind shifts or wash can affect close-quarters handling.

The more important factor is sea state outside and inside the entrance. Winds from the east through south-east and south can create an uncomfortable sea inside the bay and make the berths exposed or unsuitable. The harbour entrance and outer cala should therefore be judged by wind and swell direction rather than tide height.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Weather

Cala Figuera is a south-east Mallorca harbour and is affected by east-coast and south-east coast weather patterns. In settled summer weather, it can be a useful and sheltered stop for suitable-sized yachts. In easterly, south-easterly or southerly weather, the entrance and harbour can become uncomfortable, and berth security may be affected.

The harbour should not be approached casually in poor light, strong onshore conditions or deteriorating weather. Nearby calas such as Cala Mondragó, S’Amarador, Cala Santanyí and Portopetro may be comfortable in one wind direction and untenable in another. Yacht skippers should treat the whole coast as swell-sensitive and keep a fallback refuge port plan for Cala d’Or, Portocolom, Colònia de Sant Jordi or Palma depending on your route plans and conditions.

The Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible has a complete list of Spanish VHF Radio Channel information and weather forecast times along with NAVTEX UK and Europe and NAVTEX Mediterranean for 490kHz and 518kHz.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Local Winds

Summer local winds often follow the normal Mallorca pattern of lighter mornings and afternoon sea-breeze development. Along the south-east coast, that afternoon breeze can produce chop outside the cala entrances and increase manoeuvring difficulty in confined water. Inside Cala Figuera, the narrow inlet reduces wind strength but can also funnel gusts along the harbour.

Easterly, south-easterly and southerly winds are the main concern. These can send swell toward the entrance and disturb the inner berths. Northerly and north-westerly winds are usually more favourable for the harbour, though local gusts and wind shifts can still occur around buildings, cliffs and the narrow inlet.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Approaches

Cala Figuera, on Mallorca’s southeast coast near Santanyí, can be difficult to identify from seaward until close in, as the entrance is a narrow cleft in the cliffs rather than a wide bay. Approach from offshore keeping a good clearance from the rocky coast, then identify the small lighthouse with white-and-black vertical markings on the starboard side of the entrance. The cala lies about 7 miles north-east of Cabo Salinas; outside and in the outer inlet the water is deep, but the entrance is narrow and the harbour runs inland in an S-shaped channel for about 550 m before dividing into two arms, Caló d’en Busques and Caló d’en Boira. Depths reduce significantly only once well inside, with about 3 m reported near the pier, so maintain mid-channel, keep speed low, and watch the sounder continuously as the rocky margins are close and the usable water is confined. The approach is best in settled weather; avoid entering in heavy onshore swell or poor visibility, and expect fishing boats, local craft and tenders in the narrow waterway

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Navigation

Entry into Cala Figuera is through a narrow cliff-cut entrance on the southeast coast of Mallorca, with the small lighthouse on the starboard side when entering. Keep to the centre of the entrance and do not close the rocky margins, as the cala quickly becomes confined and then bends inland in an S-shaped channel for about 550 m. Depths are good in the entrance but shoal progressively inside; expect the usable channel to reduce toward around 3 m near the pier and inner harbour area, with less water close to the edges. Proceed at dead slow speed, keep the sounder under constant watch, and be prepared for local fishing craft, tenders and small boats using the same narrow fairway. Entry should be avoided in heavy onshore swell, strong easterly or southeasterly conditions, or poor visibility, as there is little room to turn or correct once committed.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Entry Formalities

Spain and the Balearic Islands are within the Schengen Area and the EU customs territory, so yachts arriving from another Spanish or Schengen/EU port normally do not complete full border clearance again. Yachts arriving from a non-Schengen port must clear through an authorised port of entry, for practical yacht clearance, the main Balearic entry ports include Palma, Alcudia, Ibiza, Mahon and La Savina. The usual formalities include crew passports handled by the Frontier Police and vessel/customs formalities handled through the appropriate Spanish authorities. Since 10 April 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System records non-EU short-stay entries and exits electronically rather than by passport stamping. Non-EU visitors remain subject to Schengen short-stay limits, normally 90 days in any 180-day period, unless they hold a visa or residence status allowing longer stay. Non-EU flagged yachts may also need to consider Temporary Admission rules for EU waters, commonly allowing private non-EU yachts used by non-EU residents to remain in EU customs territory for up to 18 months without VAT/import duty being due, provided the conditions are met.

Communications equipment normally used on cruising yachts does not require harbour-specific clearance, but drone use is regulated under Spanish and EU UAS rules. AESA states that drone operators must register in the member state of residence or activity and that the operator registration number must be included on the operator’s drones. Starlink use should be checked against the service plan and local availability; Starlink states that in-motion use in territorial waters requires local government approval and may not be available in all regions.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Chart Accuracy

Navigation should be based on current official hydrographic charts, updated electronic charts, local notices to mariners, harbour instructions and the vessel’s own depth sounder. Electronic charting is useful for route planning and position awareness, but it should not be treated as exact at harbour, quay, reef, marina or anchorage scale. Cala Figuera requires particular caution because the harbour is narrow, shallow, berth-limited and affected by local moorings and fishing traffic. Published depth figures vary between sources, with practical harbour information giving maximum depth as low as 1.7 m and other sources listing maximum draught around 2.5 m. Use conservative assumptions unless PortsIB confirms otherwise. Check depths continuously, enter in good light where possible, and avoid relying on app chart detail for berth-scale decisions.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Anchorages

Cala Figuera is primarily a small harbour and local fishing port, not an anchorage destination. Free anchoring inside the harbour is constrained by limited space, local craft, fishing operations, moorings, poor holding and berth access. Use only where specifically permitted and where the yacht will not obstruct the harbour.

• Cala Figuera harbour.  Anchoring inside Cala Figuera is generally not a practical option for visiting yachts, as the inlet is narrow, busy and largely occupied by local craft, moorings and harbour activity. Depths shoal toward the inner harbour, with around 3 m reported near the pier, and the bottom is typically harbour mud/sand with local weed and rock close to the margins. Use the harbour only with local permission or instructions.
• Cala Santanyí .  Around 1 mile south of Cala Figuera, this is the nearest practical fair-weather anchorage. Anchor in approximately 4–6 m over sand, taking care to avoid weed/Posidonia patches and allowing for swimmers, buoys and beach traffic in summer. Shelter is reasonable in settled conditions but poor with any swell from the south or southeast.
• Cala Llombards.  South of Cala Santanyí, this narrow cala can be used in calm weather by yachts with suitable draft and room to swing. Anchor in about 5–8 m over sand patches with weed and rock, using good light to select the bottom and avoid Posidonia. The cala is exposed to swell from the south and southeast and can become crowded close to the beach.
• Calo des Moro/Cala s’Almunia area.  Farther southwest, this is a scenic but confined fair-weather anchorage only. Depths are commonly around 6–10 m where there is room to lie, over sand patches mixed with rock and weed, with limited swinging space and many swimmers/day boats in season. Use only in settled weather and avoid anchoring on seagrass.
• Mondragó/Cala Mondragó and S’Amarador.  North of Cala Figuera, these are the more useful natural anchorages in the area, offering wider space than the smaller calas. Anchor in roughly 4–8 m over sand, with weed/Posidonia patches to be avoided. Shelter is good in settled summer conditions, but both bays are open to easterly and southeasterly swell and are very popular with trip boats and yachts in high season.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Marina and Berthing

Cala Figuera is a small PortsIB-managed fishing harbour, not a conventional yacht marina. The port has 111 berths in total, of which 9 are allocated for visiting/transient boats, so availability is very limited and should be arranged through Ports de les Illes Balears rather than assumed on arrival. Visiting-yacht space is concentrated at the head of the pier, where pilotage guides describe about 9 berths, normally taken stern-to with bow anchor or mooring line. The holding is reported as poor, so plenty of chain or warp may be needed. Depth near the pier is reported at around 3 m, though some listings give more conservative marina-depth figures, so draft should be checked before committing. Facilities are basic but useful and include water, electricity, toilets, showers, fuel, waste/sewage facilities and Wi-Fi. The harbour is best suited to small craft and moderate-draft yachts, and berths can become uncomfortable or unusable in E–SE–S winds, which send sea into the cala

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Provisioning

Supermarkets. Cala Figuera has only limited local grocery options, suitable for top-up supplies rather than major yacht provisioning; the village has had a small SPAR/minimarket-style supermarket, useful for basics such as bread, milk, water, snacks and simple fresh goods, but stock and seasonal opening should be checked locally before relying on it. For a proper provisioning run, use Santanyí, about 10 minutes inland, where EROSKI/city Santanyí on Carrer de Campos 21 and EROSKI/center Santanyí on Palma 133 provide fuller supermarket supplies, including fresh produce, meat, dairy, dry goods and is open Monday–Saturday 08:30–21:00, closed Sunday, and the larger center store as open daily, generally 09:00–21:30 with Sunday opening shown to 21:00. For larger-scale stocking, Mercadona Cala d’Or, opened in 2024 at Carrer dels Comellars 17, is another strong option within the Santanyí municipality, with a wider range for bulk provisioning before returning to Cala Figuera.

Markets. Santanyí Market is the main produce market for Cala Figuera. It operates in Santanyí town on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, commonly around 09:00–14:00, in the centre around the main square and adjacent streets. It is reached from Cala Figuera by taxi, bus, bicycle or road transfer rather than on foot with heavy stores. Your trolley will be essential. Santanyí Market supplies fruit, vegetables, local produce, cheeses, cured meats, olives, bread, flowers, clothing and local goods. Yacht-galley produce includes tomatoes, peppers, onions, potatoes, citrus, figs, melons, herbs, olives, almonds, Mallorcan olive oil, sobrasada, cheeses and seasonal vegetables.

Fish Markets. Cala Figuera retains a fishing-harbour identity, so fish may be available through local harbour contacts, fishmongers or direct purchase where local practice allows. This should be treated as opportunistic, depending on landings, weather, time of day and local arrangements. For more predictable fish-market provisioning, use Santanyí-area fishmongers, Cala d’Or & Portopetro suppliers, Portocolom, or Palma.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Local Cuisine

Cala Figuera food reflects its fishing-harbour setting and the Santanyí district. Local dishes suitable for this page include pa amb oli, tumbet, frito mallorquin, sopas mallorquinas, arròs brut, grilled fish, seafood rice, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, prawns and seasonal fish. Sobrasada, ensaimada, Mallorcan cheeses, olives, almonds and local olive oil are standard island products. The most practical local items are bread, tomatoes, olive oil, olives, cheese, sobrasada, seasonal vegetables, fruit from Santanyí market, and fish where available from the harbour or local suppliers.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Local Beverages

Local beverages include Mallorcan wines, hierbas mallorquinas, local vermouth, coffee, bottled water, soft drinks and island-brewed beers. Mallorcan beers that may be found in supermarkets, bottle shops or restaurants include Rosa Blanca, Sullerica, Beer Lovers, Ralf, Toutatis, Cas Cerveser, 4 Alqueries and Forastera, depending on outlet and season.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Diesel Fuel Supplies

Because the harbour is narrow and shallow, yachts should confirm fuel availability, fuel-berth depth, opening hours and access directly with PortsIB or the harbour office before relying on Cala Figuera as a fuel stop. For dependable fuel planning on the south-east coast, Cala d’Or, Portocolom, Porto Cristo, Colònia de Sant Jordi where confirmed, or Palma are safer planning points depending on route.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Water Supplies

Water is available at Cala Figuera berths.  Confirm availability with the harbour office before arrival, especially if using a short-stay or visitor berth. Anchored yachts or yachts waiting outside should treat the position as a no-water stop unless they can enter the harbour and obtain permission to fill tanks.

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Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Marine Services

Cala Figuera has only basic local marine support only. The harbour is suited to local craft, small repairs, basic assistance and short-stay services rather than complex yacht repair.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Etiquette

Cala Figuera is informal but operates as a fishing harbour, local port and small visitor harbour. Use basic greetings in harbour offices, shops, markets, cafés, fuel points and service areas. Spanish and Catalan are both used locally; buenos días, bon dia, gracias and gràcies are appropriate. Keep communication with harbour staff, fishers, market sellers and local service providers clear and patient, especially in summer when visitor space is limited.

Dress is casual around the waterfront, but swimwear is not normal in shops, harbour offices, town streets or restaurants away from the beach. Do not treat fishing quays, local moorings, working boat space or private berths as available yacht space. In the harbour, avoid blocking the fairway, visitor berths, local boats or fishing activity. Outside the harbour, keep clear of the entrance, leave proper room, avoid generator nuisance and follow Posidonia anchoring rules without argument.

Cala Figuera Mallorca Sailing Guide - Summary

Cala Figuera is a small south-east Mallorca fishing harbour with limited visitor berthing, shallow water, local provisioning and basic services. It is useful for suitable small and moderate-draught yachts in settled conditions, but berth space is limited and easterly through southerly weather can make the harbour uncomfortable. Skippers should confirm depth, berth availability, fuel and water before arrival and treat nearby anchorages as fair-weather only. This page is the harbour-level guide for the Cala Figuera Mallorca sailing guide for all you need to know.