© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
© Anita Gait
Playa de Son Real Beach, North Mallorca
An almost deserted stretch of rugged coastline popular with nudists
There is a 5km patch of isolated coast between Playa Son Baulo and Son Serra de Marina in North Mallorca that is known as Playa de Son Real. It is a rough stretch of coastline that is mostly made up of pebbly inlets and rocky outcrops, but interspersed with them is a scattering of the holy grail of beaches – tiny perfect white sandy coves with easy access to the turquoise sea.
As a result of this the beach stays almost deserted through even the peak of summer, which gives a wonderful level of privacy to any one willing to walk for it, and as such most of the people who head there tend to be nudists. Nakedness aside, this area is perfectly designed for a tranquil day away from the mad crowds of the resort areas, busy hotel pools and sun lounger filled main beaches. Several kilometres of protected nature reserve separates the coast from the highway and there are no amenities to speak of, no lifeguards, toilets, shops, cafés or water sport rental stations. Serenity is the nature of this place.
That being the case you must remember to take with you everything you need for the day, but since you do have to carry it all on your own backs, try to pack light - leave the chairs and the windbreaks at home. Take a towel, a book, plenty of water and a picnic and you’ll be just fine. Maybe stretch to a snorkelling mask too as the craggy coastline and rocky seabed makes for some great fish watching.
Setting & Location
Apart from the sandy coves, the main draw of Playa de Son Real is it’s isolation, it's completely inaccessible by road and the only way to reach it is on the 6 km hiking trail which connects Son Baulo to Son Serra de Marina or by hiking through the Finca Publica de Son Real.
All this isolation does come at a price though; this area is almost inaccessible for anyone needing special assistance. Walkers and cyclists can access the hiking trail, which is easy enough, although the terrain is rough in places; mainly soft sand rather than firm ground. Some people do bring children on bikes and in carriers but I would advise against trying to bring a pushchair or wheelchair along here. If you come through Finca Publica de Son Real just off the main Ma12 highway, you can park there and hike or cycle through to the beach. This trail is gravelled and well maintained however to reach the beach you need to hike nearly an hour, and once you reach the coast the terrain is rough once more - this is not the easiest to get to or most family friendly area.
Water Safety & Clarity
The water there is more prone to seaweed and the beach is often covered in mounds of dried sea grass.
Beach Quality
The sandy little coves and rocky beaches are backed by dunes and indigenous plant life and trees. The Son Baulo end has most of the sandy coves whilst the Marina end has the longest stretch of beach.
Watersports Nearby
The entire hiking trail between the two towns takes 90 minutes, so you have plenty of time to wander along the full 5 km of Playa de Son Real and pick your favourite spot to set up camp. Head to Playa Son Real if you’re not afraid to put in a little bit of effort for a tranquil and deserted if slightly rugged beach.
Directions
If you want to give it a go, if you fancy connecting with your inner nudist (optional) and paying a visit, you can find Son Baulo or Son Serra de Marina easily by car, following the signs from Alcudia and there is free street parking in each town. Buses run to Ca’n Picafort from Alcudia regularly and Son Baulo is the last stop on their route also a small bus runs four times a day between Son Baulo and Son Serra de Marina.
