Cabrera by Boat: A Day Trip to Mallorca’s National Park

Cabrera is the reason many captains became captains. A small archipelago south of Mallorca, protected as a Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, with water so clear you can see the anchor chain on the sand far below. No hotels, no beach bars — just a harbour, a 14th-century castle on the hill and a handful of park rangers.

How long does it take?

Cabrera lies south of Mallorca’s southern tip. From Palma it is a proper open-water crossing: on a fast motor yacht like our Fairline Targa 52 plan roughly 1 to 1.5 hours each way on a calm day. That leaves several hours on the island in a full-day charter. It is not a half-day trip.

The permit

Because Cabrera is a national park, boats need an authorisation to navigate and moor in its waters, and anchoring is only allowed on the park’s mooring buoys. Places are limited, especially in July and August, so the authorisation has to be requested in advance through the national park’s official online system. Please apply as soon as your date is confirmed — we tell you exactly which boat details you need for the form.

What to do there

• Swim and snorkel in the harbour bay — fish life here is noticeably richer than around Palma.
• Walk up to the castle (about 20 minutes) for the view over the archipelago.
• Visit the small museum near the harbour.
• Lunch on board — there is almost nothing to buy on the island, so our tapas and drinks packages make sense here.

Some areas, including the famous Cova Blava (Blue Cave), may only be visited with park tours or under specific rules. Your captain knows what is allowed on the day.

Best months

June and September are ideal: warm water, calmer seas and more permit availability than August. Cabrera depends on the weather more than any other route — with strong wind the crossing is uncomfortable, and your captain may suggest Es Trenc or the Malgrats islands instead.

What it costs

Example for up to 11 guests on Cienfuegos in high season: full day €2,200 + fixed Cabrera fuel surcharge €950 = €3,150. Add the tapas and drinks packages (€25 each per person) and you are fully set for the day. See all prices or check dates for Cienfuegos.

What to bring

Good shoes for the castle walk, sunscreen that is kind to the reef, hats, a light jacket for the crossing back and your passport or ID. More in our boat day packing list.