Suggestions for a budget conscious cruise around the Balearics please

[SlowlyButSurely]

Last time we cruised round the Balearics was over 20 years ago and from my research I can see that a lot has changed; eg. anchoring appears to be banned in Espalmador, which was one of our favourite spots, and many other places seem to have gone the same way. So can anyone please suggest an itinerary for a 4-6 week cruise around the islands in July/August/September making maximum use of free anchorages and reasonable marinas? Thanks.

 

[GSL]

Porto Petro on the East side of Majorca is a must stay.

20 Euros a night last summer for a mooring buoy, absolutely stunning harbour and surrounds.

Graham

 

[TonyMS]

Good free, secure anchorages:

Ibiza San Antonio
Mallorca Santa Ponsa, Soller, Puerto de Pollensa
Minorca Addaia, Cala Teulera, and possibly Cala Fornells S of the Posidonia buoyed area

plus dozens of free small calas in nice weather

Pay less than 30 euros on Posidonia buoys, also buoys in Andratx, Porto Colom and Porto Petro

Quite a lot of info on my web site.

Enjoy!

Tony MS

 

[jonic]

Another vote for Porto Petro

 

[sailorman]

How about Cala Pi

 

[charles_reed]

budget, cruise, Balearics - IMHO an oxymoron.

The whole of Western and Central Med (including the Adriatic) is probably the most crowded and overpriced cruising area in Europe. Though, as SailingAboutVic will point out, there are still some available Croatian anchorages.
To the OP, suggest you retain your memories, don't spoil them by revisiting.

 

[Matelot Joe]

Puerto de Pollensa - boats anchor in the bay year round and some then go onto the town key for short stays. As long as you're out of the path of the amphibious aeroplanes who take off
and land there, you won't get any problems.

 

[vyv_cox]

Tony MS' information is a lot more up to date than mine, which is from 2005. However, we spent three months in the Balearics then and only five nights were in marinas, mainly for laundry purposes. We found anchorages everywhere, sometimes in unexpected places, e.g. immediately outside Portals Nous marina, a most upmarket place where the king and prince of Spain were competing in a regatta. There is an excellent sheltered anchorage in the lee of their breakwater, where my son moored his boat on a heavy anchor for several months. Don't rely on the pilots, use the charts and you will find plenty.

 

[Tengy]

We've been cruising the Balearics each summer, usually for a couple of months at a time, but a few years ago we did 4 months cruise and didn't have to go into one marina! There are still plenty of free anchorages...