but in any case you don’t lie that far in. There are sometimes
visitor buoys which take up the best inshore anchoring spaces.
The old stone houses, called escars, are reminders of the days
when fi shermen worked here.
(^4) ISLAND OF CABRERA
Lying about six miles south-west of Cala Llombards, this
intriguing island has a sublimely peaceful cala on its north-west
side. It’s peaceful because Cabrera is a nature reserve controlled
by the Parque Nacional de Cabrera. Boat owners must have
written permission from Parque Nacional before visiting.
Cala Cabrera has 50 visitors’ moorings and no anchoring is
allowed, so only 50 boats can stay here at any given time, which
is itself a rare luxury. Although the whole business of getting
a permit sounds a bit of a fuss, it is certainly worth doing for
the privilege of lying in the wild surroundings of this impressive
natural harbour, literally isolated from the outside world.
No speed-boats or PWCs are allowed and the soothing
atmosphere is rigorously guarded. There’s a fi ve-knot speed
limit round the island and a two-knot limit in Cala Cabrera.
Visited mainly by locals,
Cala Llombards is refreshingly
unknown and feels
pleasantly un-touristy
Cala Cabrera is part of a
protected national park
in one of Mallorca’s most
beautiful areas
Cala Llombards’ rocky sides are patched with maquis and
indented with caves for snorkelling in the gloriously clear water