Boat trips in Alcúdia and Pollença: Formentor, dolphins and catamarans

The most searched-for boat trip from Alcúdia is the one to Formentor, and it makes sense: in season the road to the lighthouse is closed to private cars, the beach car park fills up and the sea is the easiest way in. The two northern bays work almost like two separate harbours. Port de Pollença has short boat trips and the ferry to Formentor beach. Port d'Alcúdia and Playa de Muro have the full-day catamaran, the underwater-viewing boats and, further south at Can Picafort, the dolphin-watching departures.

Here is what leaves from each harbour, at what direct price, and the small print worth reading before you pay: the time of the last boat back, what "glass-bottom" really means on this coast and why a legal boat does not chase dolphins.

The ferry from Port de Pollença to Formentor beach

It is run by Lanchas La Gaviota, which trades as Pollensa Boat Trips, based in Port de Pollença harbour. The booking platforms put boarding at the Moll Nou (new quay), behind the Stay restaurant; check your ticket. It is the simplest way to spend the day on Formentor beach without a car.

• Price: €18 adult, €9.50 child, babies free.
• Crossing: about 25 minutes each way.
• Ticket: open return; come back on any scheduled departure the same day.
• On board: toilet, bar, shade and a ramp for reduced mobility. Bicycles allowed.

The same ferry is sold on GetYourGuide from €19; on the operator's website it costs €18. Check times and buy direct at puertopollensaboattrips.com.

Formentor road closed: bus 334 and alternatives

At present, from 15 May to 18 October between 10:00 and 22:00, the Ma-2210 road has controlled access; the DGT (Spain's traffic authority) sets the dates each season. There are two sections:

• To Formentor beach (km 2–8): cars get in only while there is space in the beach car park. There is a barrier at km 2.
• From the beach to the lighthouse (km 8–19.6): authorised vehicles only. Barrier at km 8.7.

The TIB 334 bus, residents, bicycles, taxis and ride-hailing cars, excursion coaches and vehicles with a disability badge may pass the barriers. There are fines for driving in or parking on the verges. If you need authorisation, apply to the DGT at least 3 working days ahead; if you want to drive up to the lighthouse, you must pass km 8.6 before 09:58. Current status on the DGT website.

The TIB 334 bus

Line 334 runs Alcúdia – Port de Pollença – Mirador del Colomer – Formentor beach – Formentor lighthouse. On the current timetable, from 7 September to 18 October, it leaves Port de Pollença at 09:45 and then every 35–40 minutes until 20:05. The last departure from the lighthouse is at 21:05, and in October at 20:25.

• Port de Pollença to Formentor: €1.80 by bank card, €3 in cash.
• From Alcúdia: €2.70 by card, €4.50 in cash.

Pay by contactless card and you save 40%. The 334 only carries passengers to or from Formentor: for getting around Port de Pollença there is line 322. Full timetable at tib.org.

Boat trips from Port de Pollença

As well as the ferry, La Gaviota has three trips with published prices:

The Cap de Formentor trip gives you a lot of scenery for €29: you see the lighthouse and cliffs from below, and you do not depend on the road barrier. If you want to spend the afternoon on the beach, get off at Formentor and come back on the ferry.

Boat trips from Alcúdia: catamaran, Formentor and Coll Baix

In Port d'Alcúdia, the big operator with published prices is Alcudia Sea Trips (Transportes Marítimos Brisa), with an office on the Passeig Marítim (seafront promenade).

You can book up to an hour before departure. GetYourGuide has equivalent trips at similar prices: catamaran with meal from €68, Formentor from €39 and Coll Baix from €29.

Pick-up in Playa de Muro

The Formentor boat picks up at the hotel jetties around the bay: Pins (Playa de Muro) at 10:30, Las Gaviotas at 10:45, Ciudad Blanca at 10:55, Sunwing at 11:05 and Port d'Alcúdia at 11:15. Choose the stop closest to your hotel.

What Coll Baix and Alcanada lighthouse are

Alcanada lighthouse and the cove of Coll Baix are the two names you will see on the harbour signs, and both are seen from the sea on Alcudia Sea Trips' 2-hour underwater-viewing trip. It is a short, cheap outing, good with young children; do not expect a day of coves.

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What "glass-bottom" means in Alcúdia and Pollença

Read carefully here. In Alcúdia, people who have been say the underwater-viewing boat has side windows below the waterline, not a glass floor. In Port de Pollença, La Gaviota says all its boats have underwater windows, but admits the seabed is only clearly visible on the Cap de Formentor and Cala Sant Vicenç – Colomer routes; elsewhere the sea is too deep.

If seeing the seabed is what you want, pick one of those two routes. We compare boats across the island in glass-bottom boats.

Dolphin watching from Alcúdia and Can Picafort

There are three departure areas with real options in the north:

• Port d'Alcúdia: sunrise and dolphin-watching tour, 3 h, from €59 (4.6 out of 5 in more than 2,300 reviews). The agency click-mallorca, based in Port d'Alcúdia, sells its dolphin trips from Alcúdia only, at €56 and €66.
• Can Picafort: two 3-hour trips from €70, one with caves and one with a swim stop, both rated 4.8 out of 5.
• Port de Pollença: La Gaviota, at sunrise, €55 adult and €45 child, with breakfast.

Nobody can guarantee you will see dolphins, and it cannot be done any old way either. Royal Decree 1727/2007 bans getting closer than 60 metres, limits boats between 60 and 300 metres to two, sets a maximum of 4 knots and bans circling, chasing or cutting across the animals. Swimming or diving within those 60 metres is not allowed either. If your boat chases them, it is breaking the law. Everything else is in dolphin watching in Mallorca.

Sailing, kayaks, speedboats and the Drach caves from the north

• Half-day sailing boat from Alcúdia: 4 h, from €100, 4.9 out of 5. For couples or groups who want to sail without music or a bar; more options in sailing trips.
• Kayak with snorkelling and sea cave: 2 h, from €57.02.
• Speedboat to the Pirate's Cave with snorkelling: 3 h, from €70. Another speedboat trip with sea caves, from €63.75.
• Guided jet ski around Alcúdia bay: 30 min, from €99. As it is guided you do not need a licence; rules in jet skis and water toys.
• Drach caves from the north with a cruise: 5 h, from €54. Cave entry prices and times in day trips from Palma.

If you want a private boat, Alcudia Sea Trips runs private trips, price on request. Remember that since 1 October 2026 motorboats are no longer hired out without a licence: compare options in private boat with skipper.

Getting there from Palma and how long it takes

Port d'Alcúdia is about 43 minutes from Palma by car (55 km) without traffic, Port de Pollença about 50, and Formentor beach a little over an hour, if you find a space in the car park. From Cala Millor, Port d'Alcúdia is about 52 minutes away.

For the bus from Palma to Alcúdia, check the day's lines and timetables at tib.org. If you are doing the trip from Palma, consider staying the night in the north: boat departures start at 10:30–11:00 and the Formentor ferry comes back at 16:30 at the latest. For an overview of every departure by area, see the boat trip comparison.

Wind matters here too. The summer sea breeze comes into the northern bays from the north-east, straight onto the coast, so mornings are usually calmer if you get seasick. Month by month, in best time for a boat trip.

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