# Boat trips in Mallorca: what there is and where they leave from > Planning a boat trip in Mallorca: catamaran, excursion boat or kayak, plus the departure points from Palma and Port de Sóller to Colònia de Sant Jordi. Canonical: https://mallorcaplaner.com/boat-trips/ Updated on: 2026-10-02 A boat trip shows the side of Mallorca that stays hidden from the road: cliffs, coves with no access and offshore islands. Which trip suits you depends mainly on the port. ## In short Choose a boat trip in Mallorca by its departure point. From Palma, catamarans and sailing boats head out into the bay. From Port de Sóller boats follow the north-west coast to Sa Calobra, and from Sant Elm they cross to the island of Sa Dragonera. From Colònia de Sant Jordi in the south, excursion boats go to the Cabrera National Park. ## Key points - From Port de Sóller, excursion boats run along the north-west coast, including to Sa Calobra and Cala Tuent. - The Cabrera National Park dates from 1991, comprises 19 islands and islets according to Wikipedia and lies ten kilometres off the southern tip of Mallorca. - Sa Dragonera is uninhabited, car-free and has been a natural park since 1995. Boats leave from Sant Elm. - From the landing stage at Sa Calobra a 600 metre footpath leads to the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis. - July brings an average of only 0.7 rainy days in Palma, October 6.7. ## The types of boat trip in Mallorca - Catamaran and sailing boat: half days with a swimming stop, often with food on board. A common format from Palma and in the large bays. - Excursion boat: fixed routes between two ports or to a cove, for example from Port de Sóller to Sa Calobra. Good when you want to reach a place that is hard work by land. - Island crossing: trips to the protected areas of Cabrera and Sa Dragonera, with time to walk ashore. - Wildlife watching: our selection includes, for example, dolphin watching at sunrise from Alcúdia. - Kayak and snorkelling: guided tours along the rocky coast to sea caves, for those who want to paddle themselves. - Sunset: shorter evening trips, mostly on catamarans. Bookable options are under [day trips and activities](https://mallorcaplaner.com/day-trips-and-activities/). Prices are deliberately not given here. The current price is shown with each offer. ## From Palma: a catamaran in the bay The port of Palma is on the western side of the Bay of Palma. Besides the ferry terminal and the cruise quays it has a dedicated pier for excursion boats and the marina. Catamaran and sailing trips around the bay start here, with a view of the cathedral from the water. The advantage is that you need no car. If you are staying in [Palma](https://mallorcaplaner.com/palma/), you can reach the port on foot or by bus. ## From Port de Sóller: the north-west coast and Sa Calobra Port de Sóller is the starting point for excursion boats along the north-west coast, including to Cala de sa Calobra, Cala Tuent and Cala de Deià. From the water you see the cliffs of the [Serra de Tramuntana](https://mallorcaplaner.com/tramuntana/). Sa Calobra can be reached in only two ways: by a road of hairpin bends or by boat. From the landing stage a 600 metre footpath leads to the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis gorge. The trip combines well with the historic train from Palma to Sóller and the tram to the port. ## From Colònia de Sant Jordi: Cabrera National Park According to Wikipedia, the Cabrera archipelago lies ten kilometres off Cap de ses Salines, the southern tip of Mallorca. It consists of 19 islands and islets and has been a national park since 29 April 1991. The park covers about 90,800 hectares, by far the largest part of it at sea. Excursion boats to Cabrera leave from Colònia de Sant Jordi in the [south](https://mallorcaplaner.com/south/). The national park information centre is there too. The main island is car-free and crossed by walking trails. According to Wikipedia, the excursion boats run to a timetable between 1 April and 30 October. The operator gives the exact departures. ## From Sant Elm: Sa Dragonera Sa Dragonera lies off the western tip of Mallorca and belongs to the municipality of Andratx. The island is uninhabited and car-free. The island council bought it in 1987, and since 1995 it has been a natural park together with two small neighbouring islets. The highest point is Na Pòpia at 353 metres, topped by an old lighthouse. The boats leave from the small coastal village of Sant Elm. The crossing is short, and the appeal lies in walking on the island. The area is described on the page for [Calvià and Andratx](https://mallorcaplaner.com/calvia-andratx/). ## In the north and east In the north, trips start in the bays of Alcúdia and Pollença. In our selection these include dolphin watching from Alcúdia and tours to the Formentor peninsula with a boat ride. On the east coast, Cala d'Or has a marina with 563 berths in the bay of Cala Llonga, which is also used by charter boats. ## The best time and what to settle before booking For boat trips the weather matters twice over. According to AEMET, July is the driest month in Palma, with 6 mm of rain and an average of 0.7 rainy days. June has 11 mm over 1.7 rainy days and August 22 mm over 1.9 rainy days. In October the figures are 69 mm over 6.7 rainy days. These statistics say nothing about wind and waves. - Ask about the terms if the trip is cancelled because of the weather. - Confirm the exact departure point and where you can park. - Check what is included on board: drinks, food, snorkelling gear. - Take sun protection and water, as there is little shade on the water. More on the months is under [best time to visit](https://mallorcaplaner.com/best-time-to-visit/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Where do boat trips leave from in Mallorca? The main departure points are the port of Palma for catamarans in the bay, Port de Sóller for the north-west coast and Sa Calobra, Colònia de Sant Jordi for the Cabrera National Park and Sant Elm for the island of Sa Dragonera. In the north, trips start in the bays of Alcúdia and Pollença. ### How do you get from Mallorca to Cabrera? Excursion boats to Cabrera leave from Colònia de Sant Jordi in the south of Mallorca. The archipelago lies ten kilometres off Cap de ses Salines and has been a national park since 1991. The park information centre is also in Colònia de Sant Jordi. According to Wikipedia the boats run between 1 April and 30 October, and the operator in question gives the departures. ### How do you get from Mallorca to the island of Sa Dragonera? Boats to Sa Dragonera leave from Sant Elm, a small coastal village in the municipality of Andratx in the far west of Mallorca. The island is uninhabited, car-free and has been a natural park since 1995. Ashore, paths lead to places such as the old lighthouse on Na Pòpia, 353 metres high. ### Can you reach Sa Calobra in Mallorca by boat? Yes. Sa Calobra can be reached by a road of hairpin bends or by boat. Excursion boats run there from Port de Sóller along the north-west coast. From the landing stage a 600 metre footpath leads to the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis gorge. ### When is the best time for a boat trip in Mallorca? June, July and August are the most reliable. According to AEMET, Palma gets only 6 mm of rain in July over an average of 0.7 rainy days. In October it is 69 mm over 6.7 days. These statistics say nothing about wind and waves, so ask about the terms in case of cancellation. ### Which boat trip can you take from Palma de Mallorca? From Palma, catamarans and sailing boats head out for half a day around the Bay of Palma, often with a swimming stop. The port has a dedicated pier for excursion boats. For Cabrera, Sa Dragonera or Sa Calobra you need to travel to a different port. ### Are boat trips in Mallorca suitable for children? Many are, especially shorter trips on calm water. Look at the duration, the shade on board and whether life jackets are available in children's sizes. For small children a trip of two to three hours is usually better than a whole day on the water. ## Sources - [Wikipedia (de): Hafen von Palma](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafen_von_Palma), checked on 2026-10-02 - [Wikipedia (de): Port de Sóller](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_de_Sóller), checked on 2026-10-02 - [Wikipedia (de): Sa Calobra](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa_Calobra), checked on 2026-10-02 - [Wikipedia (de): Torrent de Pareis](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrent_de_Pareis), checked on 2026-10-02 - [Wikipedia (de): Nationalpark Archipiélago de Cabrera](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalpark_Archipiélago_de_Cabrera), checked on 2026-10-02 - [Wikipedia (de): Sa Dragonera](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa_Dragonera), checked on 2026-10-02 - [Wikipedia (de): Sant Elm](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Elm), checked on 2026-10-02 - [Wikipedia (en): Cala d'Or](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cala_d'Or), checked on 2026-10-02 - [Wikipedia (de): Ferrocarril de Sóller](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrocarril_de_Sóller), checked on 2026-10-02 - [AEMET, Valores climatológicos normales: Palma, Puerto (1981-2010)](https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=B228&k=bal), checked on 2026-10-02