SeaTV · Spain · Balearic Islands · Mallorca · Cala de Santa Ponça
Cala de Santa Ponça — Pine-Surrounded Marina + Anchorage on Mallorca’s SW Coast
39°30.8’N · 02°28’E · Club Nàutic Santa Ponsa (CNSP) · 522 berths · 7-20 m LOA · max draft 8 m (deep marina!) · 50-ton travel lift · founded 1975 in the natural cove “La Caleta” · 25 km from Palma airport · the historical landing place of King James I (1229 conquest of Mallorca) · cross at entrance commemorates the conquest · marina sheltered by gardens and pine forests · external anchorage NE of harbour holds up to 50 yachts in summer.
+34 971 694 950 · [email protected] · VHF Ch. 9 + 77 · ⚠ Dangerous access in strong SW-W winds · narrow entrance · approach at reduced speed
Cala de Santa Ponça combines a sheltered marina inside the natural cove “La Caleta” with one of the most-used summer anchorages on Mallorca’s SW coast. The wider Bahía de Santa Ponça opens to the W, with the marina tucked into a deep narrow inlet on the south side of the bay (La Caleta). The natural harbour has been used for trading for over 2,000 years — archaeological remains at Puig de Sa Morisca document the site as a working port from at least Talayotic times — and on 11 September 1229, King James I landed his troops here and began the Aragonese conquest of Mallorca. A stone cross at the entrance still commemorates the event. For sailors: CNSP is well-respected (Lloyd’s Register + ISO 14001 certified), 50-ton travel lift, deep berths up to 8 m draft (unusual on Mallorca!), and the bay’s external anchorage NE of the marina holds up to 50 yachts in season. Trade-off: the entrance is narrow and dangerous in strong SW-W winds; outer anchorage is exposed to W; the wider area has gone heavily resort.
⚠ Reality check before you arrive:
→ ⚠ Dangerous access in SW-W gales · the natural cove faces partly W · in strong winds the entrance gets surge and chop · approach with care
→ ⚠ Narrow entrance · approach at reduced speed · less than 50 m wide between the rocky headlands
→ ⚠ Outer anchorage: NE of harbour · sand + Posidonia bottom · exposed to W winds · don’t rely on it overnight in unsettled forecast
→ ⚠ Tourist resort area · the wider Santa Ponça village is heavily developed · this is not a quiet undeveloped harbour
→ ⚠ Hot and crowded in marina in midsummer · the natural cove with limited air circulation gets stuffy in heat waves
→ Schengen status: Spain · clear in/out at Palma if from outside EU
⚓ Santa Ponça at a Glance
Coordinates
39°30.8’N · 02°28’E
Berths
522
LOA range
7-20 m
Max draft
8 m (unusually deep!)
Operator
Club Nàutic Santa Ponsa (1975)
VHF
Ch. 9 + 77 · Ch. 16 distress
Phone
+34 971 694 950
Travel lift
50-ton
Distance · Palma Airport
25 km · ~30 min drive
Distance · Andratx
~5 NM W
Office hours
9:00-18:00 (9:00-21:00 summer) · Mon-Sat
Approach & Entry
From the W (Andratx direction)
→ Round Cap Andritxol · the wider Bahía de Santa Ponça opens to the N.
→ The cross at the entrance · a stone cross visible from 2 NM offshore marks the N side of the marina entrance.
→ Easy approach in calm conditions · open water leading to the inlet.
→ Once close, identify the inner cove (La Caleta) on the south side of the bay.
From the E (Palma direction)
→ Past Port Adriano (~3 NM E) · the bay opens to the N.
→ The cross is the most visible landmark from the E approach too.
→ Approach the cove from the bay side · entrance opens on the southern shore.
Inside the marina
→ Narrow entrance · reduce speed · less than 50 m between the rocky headlands.
→ Fuel station on the inner outer pier (starboard hand on entry).
→ Sheltered inlet surrounded by gardens and pine forest.
→ Reception berth at marina entrance.
→ ⚠ Visitor berths limited · only ~12 guest berths · larger guest groups should book ahead
External anchorage NE of harbour
→ Up to 50 yachts in summer use the wider bay · sand + Posidonia bottom · find sandy patches
→ Sheltered from N only · open to W, SW, S
→ Useful as a free overnight when the marina is full
→ Day-tripper boats and beach swimmers in the inner bay · be careful
CNSP Marina Services
CNSP is one of the most-certified marinas on the SW coast of Mallorca:
→ Lloyd’s Register certified
→ ISO 14001 environmental certification (Bureau Veritas)
→ “Q” for Quality certification (Balearic Tourism Ministry)
→ 50-ton travel lift for haul-out
→ Dry dock + winter storage + custody
→ Antifouling, rigging shops, technical support
→ Gas station on inner outer pier
→ Boatyard + nautical shop + sailmaker on site
→ Bars, restaurants, laundry, supermarket within walking distance
Office hours: 9:00-18:00 (9:00-21:00 summer) · Monday to Saturday
The Conquest Site & Local History
King James I & the conquest of Mallorca (1229)
On 11 September 1229, King James I of Aragon (“the Conqueror”) chose this natural cove to disembark his troops at the start of the campaign that ended Moorish rule on Mallorca. The Christian fleet anchored in the wider Santa Ponça bay; the troops landed at La Caleta. The campaign ended with the fall of Madina Mayurqa (Palma) in December 1229. A stone cross at the entrance to the marina commemorates the landing · visible from across the bay.
Puig de Sa Morisca archaeological site
A short walk inland from the marina · the remains of a Talayotic settlement (Bronze Age – Iron Age) on the small hill overlooking the bay · the site documents 2,000+ years of trading and habitation here · open archaeological park · interpretation panels.
The wider Santa Ponça village
⚠ Heavily developed resort area · the wider village around the marina has gone significantly tourism-heavy · big resort hotels, beach clubs, family restaurants. The marina itself has retained the gardens and pine setting, but the village around it is not undeveloped. If you want a quieter dinner, consider the tender to the western shore of the bay · or rent a car to Andratx.
⛵ Day Sails from Santa Ponça
→ Port Adriano: ~3 NM E · luxury Philippe Starck-designed marina · 482 berths up to 80 m
→ Es Toro islet (lighthouse): ~5 NM W · navigation reference + day stop
→ Port d’Andratx: ~5 NM W · natural harbour · 475 berths
→ Sa Dragonera island: ~10 NM W · nature reserve · day visit only
→ Puerto Portals: ~7 NM E · the “millionaires’ marina” · 639 berths up to 60 m
→ Palma de Mallorca: ~15 NM E · for the major service marinas
→ Tramuntana coast N: ~30 NM N to Port de Sóller
Emergency & Practical Contacts
Club Nàutic Santa Ponsa (CNSP): +34 971 694 950
Email: [email protected]
VHF: Ch. 9 + 77 working · Ch. 16 distress
Emergency: 112 (national)
Maritime SAR (Salvamento Marítimo): 900 202 202
Hospital Son Llàtzer Palma: +34 871 202 000 (~25 km)
Guardia Civil Calvià: +34 971 670 200
⛵ Continue Exploring Mallorca
→ Port d’Andratx — 5 NM W · natural harbour · CVPA
→ Port de Sóller — 30 NM N · the only safe NW coast harbour
→ La Rapita (Es Trenc) — 40 NM E · gateway to Cabrera
→ Cabrera National Park — 50 NM SE · permit required
“Cala de Santa Ponça combines a sheltered marina inside the natural cove La Caleta with one of the most used summer anchorages on Mallorca’s southwest coast · Club Nàutic Santa Ponsa CNSP at thirty nine thirty point eight north and zero two twenty eight east · five hundred twenty two berths from seven to twenty meters with max draft eight meters which is unusually deep for Mallorca · founded nineteen seventy five in the natural cove that has been used for trading for over two thousand years with archaeological remains at Puig de Sa Morisca documenting Talayotic times · on the eleventh of September twelve hundred twenty nine King James I of Aragon the Conqueror chose this cove to disembark his troops and begin the conquest of Mallorca with the campaign ending in the fall of Madina Mayurqa Palma in December and the stone cross at the entrance to the marina commemorates the landing visible from across the bay · Lloyd’s Register and ISO fourteen thousand one and the Q for Quality certifications · fifty ton travel lift dry dock antifouling rigging shops technical support gas station boatyard and nautical shop · approach is dangerous in strong southwest to west gales because the natural cove faces partly west and the entrance gets surge and chop · narrow entrance less than fifty meters wide reduce speed · external anchorage northeast of harbour holds up to fifty yachts in summer on sand and Posidonia bottom find sandy patches sheltered from north only and open to west southwest south · the wider Santa Ponça village is heavily developed resort area but the marina itself retains the gardens and pine setting · Port Adriano three miles east the luxury Philippe Starck designed marina and Puerto Portals seven miles east the millionaires’ marina · this is the marina you choose for the historical resonance and the deep water berths and the location twenty five kilometers from Palma airport for crew changeover.”
— SeaTV · Mallorca · Cala de Santa Ponça · CNSP
