Here at Hotels VIVA we'd like to recommend that you visit the Blue Cave of Cabrera (Sa Cova Blava), a unique spot where you’ll be able to take a dip under a large stone arch and enjoy the unique natural lighting of the cave.
Cabrera: What you need to know before your visit
Visited by Phoenician, Carthaginian and Byzantine sailors, as well as merchants, pirates and corsairs, Cabrera is one of the most curious islands in the Mediterranean.
It stretches over an area of 17 kilometres, and is slightly larger than the famous island of Capri, located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the coast of the Gulf of Naples.
It belongs to the municipality of Palma and is made up of a small archipelago of 19 islets located barely ten kilometres off the southern coast of Mallorca.
Cabrera is the most important island, followed by Isla de la Conejera.
Defined by Pliny as "deserted and a pirate's lair", this place is a true paradise, and practically unspoilt.
The island has been completely uninhabited since 1991, when it was declared a Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, and, since then, it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Balearic Islands thanks to its marine flora and fauna. Almost 85% of this natural park is water.
The island is also full of legends and fascinating stories.
Inhabited for centuries by monks, it was given this name because of the large number of mountain goats that lived there (the Spanish for "goat" is "cabra").
During the French invasion, Napoleon's soldiers that were captured after the defeat at the Battle of Bailén were taken to Cabrera, where they spent more than five years in prolonged captivity (1809-1814). Most of them died of scurvy, diphtheria, tuberculosis, and starvation.
Here’s another curious fact for you: you may come across the sagartana, a small, bright green lizard, which is native and unique to this island.
The Blue Cave and other things to see on your trip to Cabrera
The island of Cabrera offers many appealing places for tourists.
Its beaches are exceptionally quiet and rugged, boasting beautiful crystal-clear waters.
On the island, you can choose between sandy, pebble, and gravel beaches.
Some of the most famous are Es Palmador (S'Espalmador), Sa Platgeta, Cas Pagés, Cala Donzell, Cala Ganduf and Cala Santa María.
The Blue Cave is a must-see on your visit. But what's so special about it?
The Blue Cave of Cabrera is one of the many caves to be found in Mallorca, Menorca, and Formentera.
It’s found in the northern part of the island, and you can see how the sea has carved out this spectacular formation from the limestone rock. Its main entrance is 6 metres high and the inner part of the cave is situated under a natural arch that's almost 20 metres high.
But what's really special about this cave is that it's home to a unique phenomenon. Thanks to its north-west orientation, from midday onwards, the rays strike the cave in such a way that its waters take on an intense electric, sapphire blue colour, creating some stunning natural lighting effects.
In addition, the lower waters appear in a gradient that runs through the whole spectrum of blues, creating such an intense effect that it seems almost artificial.
You can easily imagine a world of mermaids from times gone by, and why not take advantage of the area to snorkel in its completely clean, transparent waters?
How to get to the Blue Cave of Cabrera
The best way to reach the island of Cabrera is by boat from Colonia de Sant Jordi, located in Las Salinas (Ses Salines), in the south of Mallorca. The daily access by boat is limited.
To enter the Blue Cave, you have to sail around the cove at Donzell and reach the Santa María cove, where you'll find this beautiful marvel of nature.
Access to this sea cave is exclusively by boat, so visits are strictly controlled. You can usually only swim in and around the cave for between 15 and 30 minutes.
Finally, just to remind you that both the Blue Cave of Cabrera and the rest of the island are protected areas. We recommend that you bring your own bag to dispose of your rubbish during your time there.
