What you can see on the Cala Santanyí webcam
The main camera is a panorama that turns slowly on its mount above the beach. It starts on the western cliff, with a hotel among the pines, sweeps over the sand and the turquoise water at the head of the cove, and ends on the eastern side, where white houses sit above the rocks and small boats lie at anchor near the mouth. Each clip comes with the current temperature, and a 24-hour time-lapse of the same camera follows it. Use it to see how full the sand is, how clear the water looks and whether any swell is reaching the beach.
Cala Santanyí beach: the whole cove in one sweep
This panoramic camera is mounted above the back of the beach and turns slowly from one side of the cove to the other. On the left, a hotel stands among the pines on top of the western cliff; in the middle come the white sand, a lifeguard tower and the water shading from pale turquoise to deep blue; on the right, the eastern headland with its white houses and rocky ledges, and small boats anchored at the mouth of the inlet.
Each clip carries the current temperature and a short forecast. Look at it for how crowded the sand is, the clarity of the water and whether any swell is rolling into the cove; the morning light is the most brilliant. The Windy time-lapse of the same camera follows it.
Es Pontàs and the coves of Santanyí
Just south of the cove, along the cliffs, stands Es Pontàs, a limestone arch about 20 metres (66 ft) high rising out of the sea between Cala Santanyí and Cala Llombards. It can only be reached by boat or by swimming, but a viewpoint on the cliff top looks straight at it. This whole stretch of coast is cut into narrow inlets like Cala Santanyí: Cala Llombards to the south, the fishing harbour of Cala Figuera to the east and the protected coves of Mondragó further north-east.
When to watch Cala Santanyí
Majorca is one hour ahead of the UK and Ireland all year. The cove opens to the south-east, so the morning sun falls straight into it and the water is at its most brilliant before midday. It is sheltered from most winds, but a south-easterly can push waves right up to the sand. The sea is warmest, about 26 °C, in August, which is also when the beach is at its busiest.
Around Cala Santanyí
The town of Santanyí, about 2 miles (3 km) inland, is built of a honey-coloured local sandstone and has a lively market. Cala d'Or, to the north-east, adds a marina and a bigger choice of restaurants.
Visiting Cala Santanyí
Palma airport is about 34 miles (55 km) away by road. There is a car park beside the beach, which is easy to reach by car, and the hotels around the cove are a short walk from the sand.
