Select the wind named in the forecast, the direction it blows from.
ShelteredChoppyExposed
Tramuntana
Cool and dry, clear skies, often strong in winter.
Rough water on the north and north-west coast. The south, the Bay of Palma and the south-east calas lie in the lee.
Sheltered today
Choppy
Exposed
How the finder decides
Every beach in the finder has a direction in which it faces the open sea. When the wind blows from roughly that direction, waves build up and roll straight in: the beach is exposed. When the wind comes from the side, the water turns choppy. When it blows from the land, the beach lies in the lee and the water stays flat.
Deep bays such as the harbours of Sóller and Pollença soften the effect, and a light breeze rarely matters at all. Swell can also arrive a day after the wind has dropped, so treat the result as a first guide and look at the water before you swim. The guide to the eight winds explains each wind in more detail.
Wind names follow the Catalan rose used on the island: Tramuntana from the north, Gregal north-east, Llevant east, Xaloc south-east, Migjorn south, Garbí south-west, Ponent west and Mestral north-west. Forecasts from AEMET and most sailing apps give the direction the wind blows from.
Questions
Which side of Mallorca is calm in a Tramuntana?
A north wind leaves the south coast, the Bay of Palma and the south-east calas in the lee. Es Trenc, Caló des Moro and the beaches around Palma are usually calm, while Formentor and the Tramuntana coast see heavy seas.
What is the embat?
The embat is the summer sea breeze of the Bay of Palma. It usually rises around midday from the south-west and drops again towards evening, bringing a light chop to the beaches around Palma and a welcome breeze to the city.
Is it safe to swim when a beach is marked sheltered?
Sheltered means the wind does not push waves onto that beach. It does not replace the flags and the advice of lifeguards, and swell from a distant storm can still arrive. Always look at the water and follow local warnings.
Where do the beach directions come from?
They are our own reading of the coastline, rounded to the nearest few degrees and checked against the map. Small coves can behave differently in detail, especially where rocks or islets break the waves.
Keep exploring
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Choose a base and see how far every place on the island really is.
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Air and sea temperature, sunshine, rain and crowds for every month, with the fiestas.
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Every weekly market on the island by weekday, with today's markets first.
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