National park · Spain
Cabrera Archipelago National ParkParque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre del Archipiélago de Cabrera
Go only by the Mar Cabrera boat from Colònia de Sant Jordi (about 1 h each way, 3 summer sailings a day); land at Es Port, walk the signed trails to the castle and the lighthouse, and be back at the jetty for the return sailing — there is no camping, no ATM and no other landing point.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
100 km² (39 sq mi)39 sq mi (100 km²)
approximate
Established
1991
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Iberia ↗Plan meals on the Iberian clock: Spanish kitchens serve lunch from about 13:30–14:00 and dinner from 20:30–21:00; Portugal eats an hour or so earlier. Early evenings are for tapas or petiscos, not full meals.
- Iberia ↗Inland Spain and Portugal (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid, the Alentejo) pass 40 °C in heatwaves from late June to August: sightsee before 11:00 and after 18:00, and keep July–August for the coasts and the green north.
- Iberia ↗Andorra and Gibraltar have their own border and customs rules and are reached only through Spain (or France for Andorra); read their pages before adding them, especially if you hold a limited Schengen visa.
- Spain ↗Spain is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- Spain ↗High-speed trains have airport-style baggage screening at the station and boarding gates that close a few minutes before departure: arrive early.
- Spain ↗Carry your passport or ID: police may ask for it, and hotels must register every guest's document.
- Spain ↗The Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona sell timed tickets that sell out weeks ahead in season; book on the official sites before you fix your dates.
At a glance
- Country
- Spain
- Area
- 100 km² (39 sq mi)39 sq mi (100 km²)
- The park covers the whole archipelago plus a wide band of surrounding sea; the land area is only about 13 km², so most of the protected zone is water (check).
- Established
- 1991
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Palma de Mallorca
Cabrera is the only national park in the Balearics and the only island in it you can land on: 15 km south of Mallorca, reached in about an hour by the Mar Cabrera boat from Colònia de Sant Jordi, with up to three summer sailings a day. The whole archipelago plus a wide band of surrounding sea is protected — land is only about 13 km² of the roughly 100 km² park, so most of what you are visiting is water. There is no ticket gate, no camping, no ATM and no permanent population; a few dozen rangers, coastguards and support staff live at Es Port, the single permitted landing point, where the trails, the information point, the toilets and the cantina are clustered. Everything else — the 14th-century castle bastion above the inlet, the walk to the lighthouse at the east end, the Blue Cave and the reef dives — is reached on foot on firm ranger vehicle trails or by boat, and you must be back at the jetty for the return sailing.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1991.
Size and age
100 km² (39 sq mi)39 sq mi (100 km²) · national park since 1991
The park covers the whole archipelago plus a wide band of surrounding sea; the land area is only about 13 km², so most of the protected zone is water (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Palma de Mallorca.
Why go
- The only national park in the Balearics, and the only island in it you can land on.
- A 14th-century castle bastion above Es Port, reached on foot in about 30 minutes.
- Clear Mediterranean water over seagrass and rock — the reason dive boats come here from Colònia.
- No cars, no hotels and no permanent residents: a few dozen staff, rangers and coastguards.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanBoat trips generally do not run; rough sea
- FebBoat trips generally do not run
- MarSeason may start late in the month (check)
- AprMild, green, few walkers
- MayWarm, dry, sea swimmable
- JunLong days; book the boat ahead
- JulHot and busy; midday sun on open trails
- AugBusiest; sailings fill days ahead
- SepWarm sea, thinner crowds
- OctClear, calm, quiet
- NovSeason winds down; check sailings
- DecBoat trips generally do not run
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eleonora's falcon and other seabirdsApr–Sep · Cliff-nesting; keep to the trails. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Lizards and land birds in the maquisMar–Jun, Sep–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Seagrass beds and reef fishMay–Oct · Best seen on dive or snorkel trips. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Migrating birdsMar–Apr, Sep–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Colònia de Sant Jordi
Mar Cabrera scheduled boat to Es Port; about 1 h each way, up to 3 sailings a day in summer.
1 h
From Palma de Mallorca
Drive or bus to Colònia de Sant Jordi, then the boat; allow time for parking in summer.
1.5–2 h to the port
Open the page →
From Dive centres in Colònia
Dive boats run their own trips to the park's dive sites; no shore access along the cliffs.
Half or full day
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Es Port | The only permitted landing point: ranger station, information point, toilets, cantina and the start of every trail. | Open to day visitors arriving by boat. |
| Castle and southern hills | The bastion above Es Port and the limestone ridge that ends in sea-cliffs. | On foot on the signed vehicle trails. |
| Lighthouse and east end | The far end of the island, with the lighthouse and open sea views. | On foot; no shade for much of the route. |
| Surrounding sea | The marine part of the park: seagrass beds, rocky reefs and dive sites including the Blue Cave. | By boat only; no shore access. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
4 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Island coordinates from Wikidata; the castle, lighthouse and Colònia points are approximate, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No separate park ticket; you pay for the boat crossing (check). |
| Return boat, Colònia de Sant Jordi – Es Port | EUR 40–60 (≈ US$50–70) | person | 2026 estimate; varies by season and operator. |
| Guided walk or dive trip | EUR 60–120 (≈ US$70–140) | person | 2026 estimate; dive boats bring their own vessels from Colònia. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Landing on Cabrera permit or guide
Private vessel entry permit or guide
Overnight anchorage permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- €40–60≈ US$50–70
- €60–120≈ US$70–140
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Mar Cabrera — boat trips to Cabrera before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on the trails
- Firm vehicle trails fan out from Es Port; walking off them causes erosion and is not allowed.
- Smoking
- Only in the Es Port area; cigarettes start wildfires and the butts are toxic to wildlife.
- Camping and lodging
- No camping and no lodging anywhere on the island.
- Landing
- Es Port is the only permitted landing point in the archipelago.
- Vessels
- Only registered vessels may enter the park, with passports of all aboard submitted in advance; boats offload at the jetty then move away.
Where to stay
Near the park
Colònia de Sant Jordi
Hotels, hostels and apartments on Mallorca's south coast, a short walk from the boat departure point.
In the park
Overnight anchorage at Es Port
Registered vessels only; there is no other berthing and no lodging ashore.
Safety
Rough sea and cancelled sailings medium
Falls on rocky ground medium
Heat and no shade medium
Missing the return boat high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Es Port area, information point and cantina are close to the jetty on level ground.
- The castle trail and the lighthouse route are rough and unshaded; not suitable for limited mobility.
- Boarding the boat involves steps and, in swell, a moving deck.
Visiting lightly
- Take all rubbish back to Mallorca; there is no waste collection on the island.
- Do not anchor on seagrass; use the permitted anchorage at Es Port.
- Keep distance from nesting seabirds on the cliffs and stay on the marked trails.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Cabrera?
There is no separate park ticket (check). The cost is the boat: a return crossing from Colònia de Sant Jordi runs about €40–60 per person in 2026, and guided walks or dive trips about €60–120. Bring cash — there is no ATM on the island.
What are the best hikes in Cabrera?
Two walks cover the island. The short one climbs from Es Port to the 14th-century castle bastion in about 30 minutes each way. The long one follows the vehicle trails to the lighthouse at the east end, roughly 3–4 hours return with little shade. Both start at the jetty and you must stay on the trails.
When is the best time to visit Cabrera?
May, June, September and October: warm sea, dry trails and fewer people. July and August are hot and the sailings fill days ahead. From November to February the boat generally does not run.
Can I stay overnight on Cabrera?
No. There is no camping and no lodging on the island. Registered vessels may anchor overnight at Es Port, but day visitors return to Colònia de Sant Jordi on the same boat.
How do I get to Cabrera?
Take the Mar Cabrera boat from Colònia de Sant Jordi on Mallorca's south coast, about 1 hour each way with up to 3 sailings a day in summer. Private vessels must be registered and submit the passports of everyone aboard in advance.
Can I swim or dive at Cabrera?
Yes — swimming and snorkelling off Es Port are easy, and dive boats from Colònia run trips to the Blue Cave and the reef sites. There is no shore access along the cliffs, so the dive sites are boat-only.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go