Cabrera boat trip: boats from Colònia de Sant Jordi, how long it takes and what to see

The Cabrera archipelago, south of Mallorca, is a land-and-sea national park, which means both the land and the surrounding sea are protected. The result is very clear water, an undeveloped coastline and the feel of a remote island a short way from one of the busiest tourist areas in the Mediterranean.

The visit itself is simple: you arrive at the natural harbour, have free time to walk the marked paths or swim, and return on the boat. Do not expect shops or the services of a town; that absence is exactly what makes it special.

Excursions a Cabrera leaves Colònia de Sant Jordi with two formats: an express trip of about 3 hours with roughly an hour free on the island, and a classic trip of about 6 hours with several hours ashore. It is the most complete option if you want to walk. Our listing has no price in euros, so check the current one on the listing.

Life & Sea offers about 5 hours at sea and on the island, with a swim stop in park waters. One listing shows 60 euros per adult; what is included is not stated, so confirm before booking. Marcabrera uses 12-seat rigid inflatables with small groups, from 3-hour express tours with a swim at Es Burri and the Cova Blava to the full 6-hour version. According to our listing, some tickets are sold only at the harbour and there are no departures in July and August.

For a slower day, Click Mallorca advertises Cabrera by sailing boat with food and drinks, at 140 euros per adult and 98 per child aged 0 to 12 according to its website. When we checked it was marked as unavailable and pointed to WhatsApp, so ask before you count on it.

The express version, about 3 hours, gives you around an hour on the island. That is enough for a short walk around the harbour and a look at the bay, or for a swim. It is a good choice with young children or if you do not want to give up a full beach day.

The longer version, 5 to 6 hours, is the one we recommend if you enjoy walking: there is time to follow the paths, eat at a relaxed pace and swim. In high summer, though, the heat on the island is intense and shade is scarce. If you dislike the midday sun, an early express trip may be more pleasant.

Large scheduled boat: more stable, more comfortable for families and older travellers, and with more seats, which makes it easier to get a place in season. In return, the group is large and timings are tight. 12-seat rigid inflatable: a small group, more swim stops and access to spots such as the Cova Blava, but you feel the swell more and there is little shade on board.

Sailing boat: the journey is part of the day, with food on board and a relaxed pace, but it depends on the wind and availability is more limited. If you get seasick easily, choose the large boat and sit in the middle; for photos and swimming, the RIB; for a special occasion, the sailing boat.

Our listings all say the same thing: bring water and food. Services on the island are minimal, so do not count on buying anything there. Add sun cream, a hat, a snorkel mask if you have one, comfortable shoes for the paths and a bag to take your rubbish back with you.

Before booking, check what each boat includes: food, drinks, snorkel gear or swim stops. And remember it is a national park: do not take plants, stones or shells, and follow the instructions of park staff and the crew.

The trips in our listings run from April to October. May, June and September combine good weather, pleasant water and fewer people. In July and August demand is high (high crowd risk in our scoring), so book several days ahead. Note that Marcabrera does not run in those two months, according to our listing.

This trip is very weather-sensitive: with wind or a swell it is cancelled or rescheduled. Plan it early in your stay so you have room to move it, and confirm the departure the day before.

If you take the express trip in the morning, the afternoon is free for the Es Trenc coast. The Salines d'es Trenc, on the road from Campos to Colònia de Sant Jordi, run a short guided visit of about 45 minutes with a salt tasting; our listing shows 16 euros. From Club Nàutic Sa Ràpita, Rapita Charter sails a wooden llaut along Es Trenc with swim stops, in 2- and 4-hour versions.

Life & Sea also runs a snorkelling boat trip towards Es Trenc from Colònia de Sant Jordi, about 3 hours, departing at 15:00 from August to mid-October according to one listing. The price seen, 39 euros, is low for this kind of trip and worth confirming. For a full day of sand and water, GoFurgo runs paddleboard and snorkel days at Es Trenc with groups of up to 8.