Cala Santanyí pedestrian trail (Sa Cova des Vell Marí street parking lot).
10 to 15 minutes walk (approx. 1 km / 0.6 miles) from the primary parking area.
CTM TIB Line 516. Fast, cheap, cashless interurban transit network.
To keep our fragile coast free from exhaust fumes and engine noise, you can't drive right up to the cliff edge. The local council blocks cars, which is actually wonderful because it keeps the air clean and peaceful! Your little trek starts in the lovely coastal hamlet of Cala Santanyí. You'll want to head for the free public parking lot on Sa Cova des Vell Marí street.
Once you park, look directly opposite the houses near the corner of Sa Cova d'es Coloms street—that's where the dirt track begins. Just follow the simple wooden signs pointing toward "Es Pontàs". It's a sweet, easy 10 to 15 minutes stroll at a relaxed pace. If you're feeling energetic and walk all the way from the historic central square of Santanyí town, it'll take about 50 minutes to cover the 5 km (3.1 miles).
The trail starts nice and easy on a flat dirt path winding under fragrant pine trees. But as you get closer to the open sea, the ground changes fast. It turns into raw, jagged limestone with uneven steps and loose gravel. I'm going to be very direct here: please, do not try to walk this in flip-flops! You'll need sturdy trainers or closed-toe walking shoes if you want to avoid painful cuts and sprained ankles on these sharp rocks. Trust me, I've seen too many holidaymakers regret it.
As you wander along the dirt path toward the sea, you'll suddenly find yourself standing before a giant, imposing tower of rough-cut limestone blocks. It looks like an ancient megalith, but it's actually a modern monument called "Equilibrio Sur" (Southern Equilibrium), lovingly built between 1995 and 2009 by the late German sculptor Rolf Schaffner, who absolutely fell in love with our island.
Rolf didn't just build this randomly; it's one of five sibling stone structures he placed across the entire European continent. The other four are standing tall in Cologne (Germany), Volgograd (Russia), Trondheim (Norway), and Cork (Ireland). By connecting these far-flung places, his dream was to create a silent, symbolic network for global peace, human unity, and our shared responsibility to protect nature.
I always tell my friends to pause here for a moment. These massive stones have a peaceful energy. They ground you and prepare your mind for the ancient, raw power of the sea cliffs just a few steps ahead. It's a truly beautiful spot to stop and think.
The viewing platform at Mirador de Es Pontàs has absolutely no safety fences, guardrails, or commercial facilities. The local council decided to keep the clifftop completely raw to protect its natural beauty. However, this means you are fully responsible for your own safety.
If you're planning to drive, you can head to that free public parking lot on Sa Cova des Vell Marí in Cala Santanyí. But let me give you a heads-up: finding a spot can be a real headache. During June and the hot summer months, this little lot fills up completely by 12:00 PM. My advice? Arrive between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM. You'll get a peaceful morning walk and a guaranteed spot without the stress.
Whatever you do, please don't block private residential driveways or park on the yellow street lines. The local police have zero patience for this, and they'll happily hit you with a heavy fine or tow your rental car away. While cities like Palma have those blue paid parking zones (which we call ORA), out here in the rural southeastern coves, the challenge isn't paying for a ticket—it's finding a physical patch of empty ground!
And here's a massive insider tip on rental cars: I know it's tempting to hire a big, flashy SUV or a long luxury sedan for your holiday comfort. But our secondary country roads leading to local fincas and the tiny streets of Cala Santanyí are incredibly narrow, often lined with ancient stone walls. A compact car is a absolute lifesaver out here. It's so much easier to squeeze past oncoming traffic and slip into tight parking spots. Do yourself a huge favor and rent something small!
If you don't feel like driving, our red-and-yellow interurban buses (the TIB system) are fantastic. They're clean, air-conditioned, and link Palma directly to our southeastern coast. To keep things fast and green, the buses are 100% paperless now. You don't need to buy a ticket beforehand; the system runs entirely on **contactless bank cards or smart devices**.
It's super simple but you have to know the main rule: when you get on the bus, tap your card or phone on the reader near the driver. **And critically, you must tap the exact same card on the reader again at the door when you get off!**
To access the site, utilize TIB Line 516. This route runs Campos <-> Santanyí <-> Son Moja <-> Cala Santanyí <-> Cala Figuera. In May, buses depart approximately once every 3 to 4 hours. The earliest bus departs Campos at 7:35 AM, and the last return bus from the coast leaves around 10:00 PM. Reaching the coast from Campos takes 30 to 35 minutes, while the brief ride between Cala Santanyí and Cala Figuera takes only 10 minutes.
If you are staying in the tourist-heavy area of Cala d'Or or Portopetro, take TIB Line 515 to the Santanyí central transit station, and then transfer to the 516 bus to reach Es Pontàs.
Because the 516 bus only runs every 3-4 hours, taxis are highly useful for local coves. Hailing a taxi on the street is nearly impossible here. You must pre-book via telephone or WhatsApp. Radio Taxi de Campos uses WhatsApp for rapid dispatch, allowing you to drop a digital GPS pin for easy pickups in unmarked cove roads.
+34 971 657 058
The primary 24-hour municipal dispatch office servicing the coastal quadrant.
+34 649 958 489
Strong WhatsApp integration. Best for sharing live coordinates from the trails.
+34 611 16 46 43
Prominent private taxi operator for airport bookings and long island transits.
Fares operate strictly on meters. A short jump of 4 to 5 kilometres (2.5 to 3.1 miles) from Santanyí town center to the coves costs approximately €15 to €20 / $16 to $22. I highly recommend pre-booking airport transfers 24 hours in advance to guarantee availability.
Sa Cova des Vell Marí, Cala Santanyí, Mallorca, Spain. Use the map coordinate markers below to guide your GPS navigator.