The Spanish archipelago of the Balearic Islands is an incredible destination for a sailing trip, even in late summer. Just off the coast of mainland Spain, the islands boast a collection of stunning sandy beaches tucked into sheltered bays, charming coastal towns with a rich Mediterranean atmosphere, and well-preserved marine parks. The best time to sail these waters is from June to mid-September, while April and May are ideal months for exploring nature and visiting towns and cities.

On this route, we focus on two islands: Mallorca and Menorca. Mallorca is the largest island in the archipelago, with a history as a major maritime center reflected in its magnificent palaces, impressive churches and monasteries, and elegant villages. Menorca, in contrast, offers wild, unspoiled nature, with small coves, pristine beaches, and numerous welcoming ports.

Read also: Here’s why one should organize a sailing cruise in Spain

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Day 1: Palma de Mallorca – Boarding

We begin our cruise in the capital of the Balearic Islands, the beautiful and historic Palma de Mallorca. Located less than five miles from the airport, the marina is right on the city’s waterfront. Once you’ve checked in on the boat, you can spend the day exploring the historic center with its winding cobblestone streets lined with tapas bars, restaurants, cafés, and stunning Gothic buildings—starting with the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria. Other highlights include the Arab Baths, a testament to Mallorca’s glorious past under Arab rule, and the Sobrasada Museum, dedicated to one of the island’s culinary specialties: a soft, highly spiced sausage similar to anduja. Art lovers will enjoy the Fundació Joan Miró, housed in a traditional finca where the artist himself worked, and the Es Baluard Museum, showcasing works by Picasso, Magritte, and Cézanne.

Sailing between Palma de Mallorca and Menorca offers the chance to enjoy the Balearic gems. If you’d like to spend a few hours on the beach, S’Arenal is Palma’s largest beach, with fine white sand surrounded by Mediterranean scrub, popular with windsurfing and kiteboarding enthusiasts. Alternatively, you can explore Cala Pastilla to the east of the city or Cala Estancia just outside Palma, both of which serve as starting points for numerous hiking and cycling trails.

Day 2: Palma de Mallorca – Cabrera, 28 Nautical Miles

About an hour’s sail south of Mallorca lies the Cabrera Archipelago, one of the best-preserved marine areas along the Spanish coast and a prime example of Mediterranean marine life. The park is lush with juniper, mastic, and Aleppo pine, and is made up of 19 islets and islands. Among these, Cabrera stands out as the largest, featuring hidden coves, cliffs, and a few small beaches along turquoise waters rich with Posidonia. These waters create stunning luminous effects in the various sea caves and rock caverns along the coast, such as the Laguna Azul, one of the park’s main attractions, and Sa Cova Blava.

To explore Cabrera, you can dock at the island’s harbor, provided you have obtained prior authorization. Once ashore, visitors can follow eight self-guided trails, offering the chance to see the old lighthouse or the beautiful Cabrera Castle, built in the 16th century, which has always served as the island’s best vantage point.

Day 3: Cabrera – Mahón, 75 Nautical Miles

We cast off for Mahón, the main city of Menorca, which stretches around the largest natural harbor in the Mediterranean. The city offers a fascinating blend of ancient and modern architecture, traces of a past dating back to the Carthaginians, and a lively atmosphere felt in its many waterfront cafés, shops, and restaurants. The historic center is connected to the harbor by a long staircase leading to the Passeig de Baixamar, a pedestrian promenade overlooking the docks filled with yachts.

Strolling through the narrow streets of the old town, you’ll encounter historic churches such as Santa Maria in Plaza España, which is also home to the city hall and is the largest church on the island. Also worth visiting are Iglesia del Carme, whose convent cloister now hosts a charming daily market in the former nuns’ cells, and Iglesia San Francisco de Asís, built in the 18th century on the ruins of a Gothic temple.

Sailing between Palma de Mallorca and Menorca showcases the Balearic gems. To better understand the history of Mahón and Menorca, a visit to the Museu de Menorca, housed in a 17th-century Franciscan convent, is a must. Another highlight is the imposing Pont de Sant Roc, a Gothic-style gateway built in 1359 along what were once the city’s medieval walls.

Day 4: Mahón – Fornells, 20 Nautical Miles

It’s time to sail along the northern coast of Menorca to Fornells, a peaceful and picturesque fishing village whose bay is one of the largest natural harbors on the island. Around the bay, you’ll find several small beaches and Sargantanes Island, home to a fort built during the British occupation. The streets surrounding the harbor are filled with both tourists and local fishermen, and numerous restaurants serve the village’s traditional specialty, “caldereta de langosta”, a delicious lobster stew.

Sailing between Palma de Mallorca and Menorca reveals the gems of the Balearic Islands. A source of inspiration for many artists, Fornells still retains traces of its past as a strategic defensive point for Menorca. Notable landmarks include the Talaia de la Mola, an impressive military fortification, and the Castell de Sant Antoni, a 17th-century defense built following the devastating pirate attack of 1558 to monitor harbor access. Of particular interest are the funerary megaliths known as Navetas, Bronze and Iron Age tombs shaped like inverted boats.

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Day 5: Fornells – Ciutadella, 25 Nautical Miles

Our next stop is Ciutadella, Menorca’s second-largest city, full of charm, historic buildings, archaeological sites, and beautiful beaches. Located on the island’s western coast, it offers several berths for visiting boats. The old town, easily accessible from the harbor, features a network of narrow streets lined with palaces, churches, and shops. The heart of the city is Plaça Es Born, the medieval former parade ground, which houses an obelisk commemorating the victims of the 1558 Turkish invasion. The square also hosts the City Hall, built in the 13th century on the site of an old Arab alcázar. Nearby stands the Ciutadella Cathedral, a 14th-century Gothic-Catalan structure whose original minaret was later converted into a bell tower.

Also worth visiting is the Municipal Museum, located in the Bastió de Sa Font, built in 1677 as part of the city’s defensive system. Perched on a cliff near the harbor, the museum provides insight not only into the history of Ciutadella but of the entire island of Menorca.

Beyond its historical sites, Ciutadella is home to some of Menorca’s most beautiful beaches. Cala en Bosc is the city beach, known for its fine sand and gently sloping seabed. Cala Santandria is a white sandy cove nestled between high cliffs with crystal-clear waters, while Son Saura, surrounded by dense pine forest, offers a more secluded and tranquil setting.

Day 6: Ciutadella – Porto Colom, 42 Nautical Miles

We set sail for Porto Colom on the southeastern coast of Mallorca. The bay of Porto Colom, deeply indented with a narrow entrance, forms a fantastic natural harbor, providing broad and safe shelter from almost all winds, except strong sirocco. Approaching from the north, the entrance to the bay becomes visible only at the last moment, easily recognized by the prominent Punta de ses Crestes Lighthouse, with its distinctive black and white horizontal stripes. While the entrance itself is hazard-free, the bay’s interior has shallow areas, so it’s essential to follow the well-marked channel with red and green buoys. Other nearby anchorages include Cala Marsal (just 900 meters from the port), Cala Mandrago, Cala Barca, Porto Petro, Cala Egos, and Cala d’Or—all stunning spots with crystal-clear waters and fine sand.

Sailing between Palma de Mallorca and Menorca highlights the Balearic treasures. Porto Colom faces directly onto the bay and remains an authentic village in a well-preserved natural environment, unlike the urbanized area of Palma. The village offers numerous seafood restaurants and artisan shops where you can find the world-famous Manacor pearls, as well as traditional glass and ceramic crafts, and objects made of wrought iron, copper, and olive wood.

Day 7: Porto Colom – Es Carbó – Palma de Mallorca, 45 Nautical Miles

The final stop before returning to our base in Palma de Mallorca is the pristine beach of Es Carbó. Stretching over a kilometer along the southern coast of the island, it is surrounded by stunning dunes of fine sand, pine trees, and low, desert-like shrubs. This renowned yet completely wild spot offers the perfect setting to relax, swim, or snorkel. Just a few hundred meters offshore, the Isla Moltona rises from the crystal-clear waters, an exciting destination for more experienced swimmers. The waters here are generally shallow with only occasional waves. From the beach, you can also enjoy a beautiful view of Cabrera Island.

Sailing between Palma de Mallorca and Menorca showcases the gems of the Balearic Islands. The nearest town to Es Carbó is Colonia Sant Jordi, the largest town on Mallorca’s southern coast, yet it maintains a pleasantly slow and relaxed pace of life. The town spreads around a wide bay and features a charming waterfront lined with shops, restaurants, and opportunities for water sports. From Colonia Sant Jordi, it is also possible to access the other beaches along the coast, as well as the Cap de Ses Salines Lighthouse, a picturesque village with a few restaurants, boutiques, and a lovely playground for children.

All in all, another full day enjoying the Spanish sun before returning to the splendid Port de Mallorca and saying farewell to the Balearic Islands.

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