Cap de Formentor (Mallorca): road, beaches, lighthouse…

Why visit the Formentor Peninsula in Mallorca?

What is Cap de Formentor?

Cap de Formentor is the northernmost point of Mallorca.
The name is often used to refer to the entire peninsula with its viewpoints, lighthouse, cliffs and beaches.
It is famous for its high vertical cliffs dropping into the sea, some reaching 384m (1260ft) above sea level.

Is Cap de Formentor worth visiting?

Yes, Cap de Formentor is worth a visit, as well as the entire peninsula.
The wild area offers impressive views with jaw-dropping cliffs and dreamy beaches. Don't forget it on your itinerary!
However, to enjoy the experience to the fullest, there are a few things you should know. See my planning tips further in the article.

5 best things to do at Formentor Cape

If your time is limited, this is my top 5 of the best things to do at Formentor:

1. Enjoy the view at Es Colomer
2. Go off the beaten path to enjoy the 380° panorama at the Albercutx tower
3. Drive the main road through the peninsula to the lighthouse (or take the bus in Summer)
4. Stroll on the fine sand of Playa de Formentor
5. Take a boat tour to see the cliffs from the water - see options & book

Formentor peninsula - facts and numbers

• 3 to 12km wide
• Highest point is Puig Fumat at 384m (1260ft)
• Formentor means "wheat". But there is no explanation for it.
• Another name for it is the meeting point of the winds. 
• The Formentor lighthouse was opened in 1863
• The 17.5 km road (Ma-2210) from Port de Pollença to the cape was built in 1925
• It is one of the most visited places in Mallorca

More photos after the planning tips.

Planning Tips & Map - Cap de Formentor, Mallorca

All my favorite locations are included (with GPS coordinates, maps and tips) in my travel Guide eBook that helps you easily plan your Mallorca road trip:

Visiting Cap de Formentor by car

Pros

• You can go anywhere that is open
• You can stop at all locations that interest you
• You can take the side road to Albercutx tower

Cons

• The parking areas near beaches get full quickly in Summer
• The parking areas near viewpoints are small - difficult to park during the day, even during shoulder seasons.

Visiting Cap de Formentor by bus

Pros

• No parking issues
• Low cost

Cons

• Limited stopping points
• Limited time when you can visit

Good to know

• Here is the link to the bus network website
• Several bus routes allow you to reach Port de Pollença
• And then during the Summer (at least 15th June to 15th September) there are shuttles all the way to the lighthouse (333 stops at the beach 334 goes to the cape - numbers can change). 334 normally runs every hour starting at 9:15am - dates and timetable can change every year

Cycling Cap de Formentor

Pros

• Access is never closed to bikes
• You can easily stop for the views
• In Summer, the second part of the road is closed to private cars and you can better enjoy the ride

Cons

• At least the first part of the road is shared with cars on narrow roads
• It is not flat! It goes up and down with harsh sunlight - only for fit riders.

Good to know

• from Port de Pollença 17km in each direction - 960m in elevation gain
• Bring plenty of water
• Wear colorful clothes for cars to see you well
• Don't stop in the middle of the road!

Visiting Cap de Formentor by organized tours

Pros

• Everything is organized for you

Cons

• you can't choose where to stop and for how long
• the tours I have found stop at Formentor beach but don't go all the way to the lighthouse

Good to know

• Tours include Es Colomer viewpoint, Formentor beach and boat tour back to Port de Pollença. These tours include some great views, but know it does not go all the way to the lighthouse.
• See tour details

By boat

You can also discover the cape and peninsula by Boat.
Most tours include a stop at Formentor Beach. 
The smaller speed boat can go all the way to the cape for you to see the cliffs and lighthouse from below.
See complete section about it towards the end of this article.
Or see boat tour options or check the one all the way to the cape.

Best viewpoints along the Formentor Road - by car or bike

Mirador Es Colomer

The first viewpoint on the peninsula is the most famous, and the most photographed: Es Colomer.
You can miss it.
There is a small carpark with a food/bar truck.

From there, you can climb the stairs to reach several viewing platforms and views towards the east and the West. It takes a few minutes.
But if you can't walk the path, you can still view part of it from the side of the road.

The most famous view is the last one. It is facing the East.
So for sunrise, the sun is in front of you.
The view includes:

• Punta Nau in the foreground
• Cuina del Moro, the bay
• The small islet Es Colomer (island of Pigeon) where pigeons nest on the cliffs

Plan at least 15 minutes to enjoy this place.

If you can't walk up to the viewpoint, past the carpark, there is a curve in the rocks and you can have a nice view of the island too.

Albercutx Tower

From Es Colomer is the side road to Albercutx tower. This is one of my favorite place on the peninsula.
You will see an entire section dedicated to it, further down in the article.

Small spaces on the side of the road

As you drive towards the lighthouse, the road is narrow and there are not many places to stop.
But there are a few areas where a couple of cars can park. If free, do stop and climb up some rocks for beautiful views of the lighthouse and the cape.

But be careful when it is windy!

View over Cala Figuera

Near the tunnel under El Fumat summit, there is also a splendid view over Cala Figuera, one of the hidden beaches of Formentor.

View over Pollença Bay

And as you drive back from the peninsula, you will also enjoy some splendid views of Pollença bay with the town of Port de Pollença.

Playa de Formentor - beach

One of the most famous places on the peninsula is the Formentor beach.
It is known as Playa de Formentor (in Spanish) or Platja de Formentor (in Catalan).
And this beach is considered one of the most beautiful in Mallorca.

Sorry about some of the pictures, I had water on my lense and did not realize.

It is a long beach with mostly sand and transparent water.
It is surrounded by smaller mountains and lots of greenery.

Parking

• There are several parking areas near the beach. 
• They are all gated for you to take a ticket and pay upon exit
• Price depends on how close you are to the beach
• Fees by the minutes, up to 20 euros per day

Facilities

• Areas have lifeguards on duty
• Lots of trees where you can find some shade
• Sunbeds and umbrellas for hire
• Private section with showers and toilets
• Public toilets in the middle of the beach near the restaurant
• Pedal boat, kayak and more for hire.
• Restaurant in the middle of the beach with salads and fast food type service - normally open from 11am to 3pm

The Formentor Calas

Formentor is also home to beautiful hidden coves.
The 2 more famous are Cala Figuera (not to be mixed up with a village at the opposite end of the island) and Cala Murta (not to be mixed up with Cala Murta PC).
There is a bus stop for both calas, so you can visit even without a car. Walk South for Murta and North for Figuera.
Note - there used to be a clear parking area, but it was closed. There is a little bit of place along the road, but no obvious information on where it is allowed to park.

Cala Figuera

This is one of the most beautiful coves in Mallorca.
Access is via a small hiking path - 15 to 25min to walk down, depending on your level of comfort.
The walk is short but quite steep. Avoid if it has been raining.
Wear good walking shoes. No flip-flops.
Good place for snorkeling. 
No facilities. No sand.
Wild goats and donkeys. Do not approach.

Cala Murta

On the other side of the road, you can walk down to Cala Murta. 
The walking path is easier.
Don’t leave the trail, it is private property.
15 to 25 min down to the beach and the same to go back up.
No facilities. No sand.
Excellent for snorkeling.
Wild goats and donkeys. Do not approach.

The Formentor lighthouse (Far de Formentor)

At the end of the road is the famous lighthouse of Formentor.
It was opened in 1863. Building it was quite a fate, because at the time there were no roads leading to it. 
Access was only by sea or via a mule track!

Today the lighthouse is still active. It stands at 210m (689ft) above sea level making it the highest in the Balearic islands.
The tower is 22m high. And the light has a range of 44km.

Facilities

• Small carpark
• Snack bar in Summer
• Some stairs to walk around it for all the views

Side road to Albercutx tower

One of my favorite places on the peninsula is off the beaten path (see my top Mallorca hidden gems). Most people just drive by not knowing about it: Albercutx tower.
It is not really for the tower itself, but for the views!

Side road

From Mirador Es Colomer, a small road leads uphill (perpendicular to the main road).
The road is a little narrow but only 2km long.
At the top you can find a few parking spots (5 to 10 cars maybe) - so visit early or late to have a chance to park.
Another option is to stay parked at Es Colomer and watch the 2km to the parking spaces. The views are great, it is a nice walk.

Need to rent a car in Mallorca?
My tips:

• Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated comparison sites!
• Choose your car and company (prefer a smaller car for the narrow roads)
• Consider their full coverage option (I recommend it because of the narrow roads)
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See my 36 tips about renting a car in Mallorca

Path to the tower

From there, you can enjoy the rest of the "road" on foot. It heads East before going back West.
The slope is regular and not too steep.
And from that path, the views over Pollença Bay and then over the peninsula are magnificent!!!! Some of my favorites on the island.

The Albercutx Tower

And then you can climb a few steps on rocks to reach the watchtower, which was part of the defensive network on the island.
The tower stands at 380m (1247ft) above sea level.
From this position you have a 360° views. You can still see the Pollença bay and the part of the peninsula.
But you can also look West and admire the Tramuntana mountains of the North-West coast!

Formentor cape by boat

Another way to appreciate the cliffs of Formentor is by sea.
There are several options leaving from Port d'Alcudia or Port de Pollença.

• The glass-bottom boats that take you to Formentor beach with beautiful views along the way. You can spend some time at the beach before sailing back.
• The sailing tours on beautiful boats to enjoy the views and go snorkeling in some bays but without landing at Formentor
• The speedboat tours - with snrokeling stops, a visit to Formentor beach (and some time to enjoy it) but a ride all the way to the cape to see the cliffs and lighthouse from the water.

See all boat tour options or check the speedboat tour all the way to the cape.

And here are a few pictures taken from the speedboat:

Answers to your FAQs

Can I drive to Formentor lighthouse?

It depends on the time of the year.
In Summer (dates changed yearly, at least 15th June to 15th September and from 10am to 7pm), the second part of the road from Formentor beach is closed to private cars so you can't drive all the way to the lighthouse. The rest of the time you normally can, unless the road is closed for roadwork.

Is the road to Formentor lighthouse difficult?

This road is of average to high difficulty. There are narrow sections, steep drop offs and hilly sections.
However, you can cross path with other cars (no single lane) and it is well-protected on the side.

Is the road to Formentor Lighthouse open?

It depends on the time of year. Check with Mallorca government for the latest information on the road. Sadly, there is no official page with the latest info.
Just know that, even if you are outside the closure period, part of the road can still be closed for roadworks or other reasons. It is not always communicated

Where is the Seat Cupra advert filmed?

In the last section of the Seat Cupra ad, the driving scene was filmed driving away from the Formentor lighthouse.

Want to see more of Mallorca?

• 40 most beautiful landscapes in Mallorca (with pictures) - read article
• 7 Best Mallorca caves - read article
• 10 best calas in Mallorca (coves) - read article
• 12 Mallorca hidden gems, off the beaten path - read article
• 21 most beautiful views in Mallorca - read article
• Mallorca travel tips - read article
• Driving in Mallorca - read article
• 21 Most beautiful towns and villages in Mallorca - read article
• Things to do in Alcudia, Mallorca - see article

Planning a trip to Mallorca?

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

Inspired? Share it on your favorite platform!