Cabrera island trip: boats, prices and what to see in the national park

The Cabrera island trip is the most special boat outing you can do from Mallorca: a combined land and sea national park of 19 islands and islets, where you can only land on the largest, Cabrera Gran. There are no hotels, cars or shops, and access is limited and shared between four authorised companies.

What hardly anyone tells you before you book: the boat does not leave from Palma, the castle cannot be visited inside and the famous Cova Blava (Blue Cave) is seen from the boat, and only if the sea allows. With that clear, it is still an excellent day. Here is which boat to take and how to make the most of your hours on the island.

What Cabrera is: the national park

The Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre del Archipiélago de Cabrera was created in 1991. In 2019 it was enlarged from about 10,000 to almost 91,000 hectares, nearly all of it sea, and today it is the largest marine park in the western Mediterranean. It lies 10 nautical miles from Colònia de Sant Jordi, in the south of Mallorca.

For visitors this means strict rules: no fishing, no leaving the marked paths and no taking anything away. And a setting unlike the rest of Mallorca: a natural harbour, dirt tracks and almost no buildings.

How to get to Cabrera from Palma

By car or bus to Colònia de Sant Jordi

All the authorised companies leave from Colònia de Sant Jordi (municipality of ses Salines). By car:

Colònia has no blue-zone paid parking, but in July and August finding a space is hard. Leave plenty of time: Excursions a Cabrera asks you to be there 30 minutes early and Mar Cabrera 40 minutes early to collect tickets. By bus, TIB line 517 runs from Palma to Colònia de Sant Jordi; check the timetable on tib.org before matching it to the boat.

Without a car: Life & Sea from the Bay of Palma

Life & Sea is the only company that goes to Cabrera from the Bay of Palma. It leaves Can Pastilla at 10:00 and S'Arenal at 10:15, and returns around 18:15–18:30. It costs €90 (children aged 3 to 12, €70). On the way it passes Cap Rocat, Cabo Blanco, Cala Pi and Es Trenc, lands on Cabrera and stops at the Cova Blava. More details in our Life & Sea review and on its website: https://www.lifeandsea.com/en/arenal/cabrera-excursion-arenal/

If you are staying in Playa de Palma or the centre and do not want to hire a car, it is the logical option, even though it is the most expensive. Note: in S'Arenal you board from the beach, and it is not adapted for wheelchairs.

Cabrera boat trip: prices and times

Direct prices from the authorised companies (adult / child):

Mar Cabrera's child prices are for ages 3 to 12. The official websites: https://www.excursionsacabrera.es/en/ and https://www.marcabrera.com/en/excursions

The operators do not publish season dates; their calendars point to spring through to October. Outside summer, confirm there is a departure on the day you want.

GetYourGuide3 - 6 hours

Sea· Rest of the island

Colonia Sant Jordi: Classic & Express Boat Tour to Cabrera

4.6 (364)

from €45Check availability

GetYourGuide3 - 6 hours

Sea· Rest of the island

Colonia Sant Jordi: Premium & Fast Boat Tour around Cabrera

4.6 (154)

from €56Check availability

See everything on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 6 October 2026

Classic boat or fast boat: which to choose

The real decision is how much time you want on the island, not how fast the boat goes.

My choice: a long one, first thing in the morning. The path to the castle has no shade and at midday in summer it is hard going. If you prefer fewer people, the afternoon departures (Golden at 15:30, or Mar Cabrera's at 15:30 and 18:30) are the least crowded.

The two options on GetYourGuide

1

The classic or express trip with easy booking

Classic and express from €45 on the platform, very well rated with hundreds of reviews. Check on the listing how many hours you get ashore.

GetYourGuide3 - 6 hours

Sea· Rest of the island

Colonia Sant Jordi: Classic & Express Boat Tour to Cabrera

4.6 (364)

from €45Check availability

2

A fast boat and the archipelago seen from the water

Fast boat from €56; the point is circling the islands, not the time ashore.

GetYourGuide3 - 6 hours

Sea· Rest of the island

Colonia Sant Jordi: Premium & Fast Boat Tour around Cabrera

4.6 (154)

from €56Check availability

What to see on Cabrera island

With three and a half hours there is time for all this, without rushing:

• The castle: a path climbs from the harbour and the views from the top repay the walk. The building is closed inside for safety, so do not expect to go in.
• Museu Es Celler: a small ethnographic museum, free.
• Sa Platgeta: a beach with archaeological remains and a picnic area behind it.
• Molí de Sang: the park's interpretation room.
• N'Ensiola lighthouse: only on a guided visit with park staff, because the vegetation is being restored.
• Swimming and snorkelling in the permitted areas.

There are toilets at the harbour and at the Mollet de Cas Pagès, a first-aid post and a canteen at the harbour. The Rosa dels Vents refuge is closed, so you cannot stay overnight on the island unless you have your own boat.

The Cova Blava: the Blue Cave

Sa Cova Blava is the trip's best-known swim stop. You swim from the boat, without landing, and only if sea conditions allow. Excursions a Cabrera stops there on every trip when possible; Mar Cabrera on the way back.

Do not book just for the cave: if there is a swell, the boat sails past. Bring your own snorkelling gear or hire it before boarding; only Life & Sea's Visit Cabrera includes it.

Park rules and what to bring

It is forbidden to bring dogs or other animals, fly drones, camp, light fires, smoke, leave the marked paths, cycle, or take away plants, stones or remains. It is allowed to swim, snorkel, kayak and paddleboard, walk the signposted trails and take photos. Scuba diving needs written authorisation: I explain it in the diving guide.

What to pack:

• Plenty of water: there are no drinking fountains.
• Cash for the harbour canteen; do not count on a restaurant.
• A picnic, a cap and sun cream.
• Shoes for dirt paths.
• A snorkel mask.

Mobile coverage is patchy. As for accessibility, the paths are unpaved forest tracks. Folding pushchairs are allowed, and Mar Cabrera's boat is adapted for people with reduced mobility, but on the island only the harbour is wheelchair accessible. Mar Cabrera suggests asking for Red Cross volunteers to come along as helpers. More ideas in accessible Palma.

With your own boat: permit and mooring buoys

If you sail there yourself, you need prior online authorisation from the park. The navigation permit is free and valid for 12 months, but it does not cover overnight stays. To stay, you must book a buoy in Cabrera harbour: maximum 50 boats a day.

The maximum stay is 2 nights in July and August and 7 the rest of the year. Buoys sell out in summer. Everything is handled at https://www.caib.es/sites/espaisnaturalsprotegits/es/10_at_navegar_fondear_o_bucear_pnmta_cabrera_/

Remember that since 1 October 2026 you need a nautical qualification to rent a motor boat; if you do not have one, see the alternatives in boat rental.

Booking: direct or on a platform

• Mar Cabrera gives 7% off if you book online on its website. It allows changes or cancellation up to 48 h before; if you miss the boat, there is no refund or change of date.
• Excursions a Cabrera sells its six trips on its website, from €45 to €69.
• GetYourGuide sells the classic and express trips from €45, the same as the direct Express price, and a fast boat from €56. If you use "reserve now, pay later", bear in mind your card is charged before the date of the trip. Read our GetYourGuide review.

If you combine Cabrera with a beach day, Colònia de Sant Jordi is right next to Es Trenc. For other boat trips closer to the city, see boat trips from Palma and day trips from Palma.

Frequently asked questions

See times for the Cabrera boat tripfrom €45Affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.