From Colònia de San Jordi : Catamaran Cruise to Es Trenc

The best part of this catamaran trip is the mix of coastal scenery and long swimming stops. You sail past Cap Salines, Es Caragol, and the famous Es Trenc area, then spend much of the day in the water or stretched out on deck. It feels more like a lazy day at sea than a rushed sightseeing run.

I like the fresh barbecue cooked on board and the friendly, upbeat crew. Music, sangria, salads, grilled chicken, skewers, sausages, cake, and plenty of soft drinks make the five-hour price of $69 reasonable. The main consideration is that the boat can feel busy in peak summer, and shade or deck space may be limited.

Key points at a glance

• Two proper swimming stops: You get time to swim and snorkel, not just a quick photo stop.
• A southeast Mallorca route: The boat passes Cap Salines, Es Caragol, Es Trenc, and possibly Cala Marmols.
• Barbecue lunch at sea: Expect chicken breast, skewers, sausages, salads, bread, and cake.
• Drinks are useful and mostly covered: Soft drinks and water are available throughout, with wine and sangria served with the meal.
• Good for mixed-age groups: Families, solo passengers, couples, and older visitors can all enjoy the relaxed format.
• Plan your own way to the pier: Boarding is beside Hotel Marqués del Palmer in Colònia de Sant Jordi, with no pickup or return transfer available through this booking.

Setting sail from Colònia de Sant Jordi

Your day begins at the pier beside Hotel Marqués del Palmer in Colònia de Sant Jordi. You can choose a morning sailing from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM or an afternoon run from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM. That choice matters more than it first appears.

The morning trip gives you a full afternoon afterward, useful if you want dinner in town or a quiet evening. The afternoon cruise finishes around sunset, which can make the return sail especially pleasant. It also lets you spend the morning on land before heading out.

The boat follows the southeast coast of Mallorca, where the water is often the main attraction. You’ll see pale beaches, low coastal cliffs, rocky inlets, and the open blue Mediterranean. The route is as much about slowing down as it is about reaching a particular beach.

The sailing itself takes up only part of the outing. Past feedback describes roughly 30 minutes of cruising before the first long stop, followed by another shorter cruise and a second swim. That balance is excellent for anyone who wants actual time in the water instead of five hours spent sitting while the boat moves from one bay to another.

Cap Salines and the beaches beyond

As the catamaran moves toward the southern tip of Mallorca, you’ll pass Cap Salines. The cape gives the trip a clear sense of place, with wide views along the coast and open water beyond the boat.

The route includes the area around Es Caragol and Es Trenc. Es Caragol is known for its beautiful, relatively open beach setting, while Es Trenc is one of Mallorca’s best-known sandy shores. Depending on sea conditions and the day’s operating plan, the boat may also anchor in Cala Marmols.

Do not expect the catamaran to put you ashore for a long beach visit in the usual sense. The main pleasure is anchoring offshore, swimming in clear water, and looking back at the coast from the sea. One limitation is that the exact anchorage can vary. Some people would prefer a sheltered cove with easy access to sand, while this trip may leave you swimming directly from the boat.

That is worth considering if you have young children, limited mobility, or simply want a traditional beach afternoon. The crew has helped older passengers on and off the boat, and families have found the trip manageable, but the swimming stops are still water-based rather than a full beach excursion.

The first swimming stop

The first stop is usually the strongest part of the day for snorkeling. The boat provides masks, with a €10 deposit required to borrow one. Bring your own mask if you have one, and pack fins if you like using them. One past passenger specifically suggested bringing swimming fins.

You can jump or climb into the water from the catamaran, then look for small marine life below. Conditions matter. Clear, calm water can make the snorkeling enjoyable, but wind, waves, and visibility can change the experience. One stop has been described as having plenty of fish, while the second had fewer.

That uneven quality is normal in a coastal trip. The value comes from having time to swim without being hurried, not from expecting a carefully managed snorkeling site. If you mainly want to float, paddle, and cool off, you’ll be happy. If snorkeling is your top reason for booking, bring realistic expectations.

The swimming time is generous. A past description put about two and a half hours across swimming, snorkeling, and lunch at the first main stop, with another swim later. That gives you room to do more than one activity. You can swim for 20 minutes, dry off, eat, return to the water, and still have time to sit in the sun.

Barbecue lunch on the catamaran

Lunch is prepared on board while you enjoy the stop. The standard buffet includes grilled chicken breast, chicken skewers, sausages, salad, bread, and cake. It is straightforward food, not a polished restaurant meal, but that is exactly right for a day on a boat.

The strongest praise goes to the amount of food and the fact that it is cooked during the cruise. You can eat after swimming rather than carrying your own picnic or waiting until you return to shore. The meal also gives the day a social rhythm: swim, dry off, fill a plate, listen to music, then settle back on deck.

The menu leans heavily toward meat. If you need a vegetarian meal, contact Magic Catamarans at least one day ahead by email or phone. A vegetarian option is not guaranteed unless it has been arranged in advance, so do not leave this request until boarding.

Drinks make the price easier to justify. Soft drinks and mineral water are available throughout the trip. Wine from Mallorca and sangria are served with the meal. Information about alcohol outside mealtime is less clear, and some past passengers paid for alcoholic drinks separately, so bring a bank card for onboard purchases. American Express is not accepted.

All onboard payments are by card, apart from the €10 cash deposit for a borrowed snorkeling mask. That small detail is easy to miss. Bring a little cash for the mask, but do not expect to pay onboard purchases with cash.

Music, crew, and the mood on board

Magic Catamarans aims for a relaxed party atmosphere rather than a quiet sailing school. Spanish music plays during the trip, and the tone can become lively around lunch. Past passengers have praised the playlist, with one family even describing dancing with the crew to YMCA.

The crew is a major part of the experience. They serve lunch, prepare the grill, explain the basic arrangements, help with equipment, and assist people getting on and off the boat. One crew member, Belen, even worked hard to help a passenger find a bus after a missed transfer, which gives you an idea of the practical help available when problems come up.

The listed guide languages are Spanish and English. Individual crew names are not provided consistently, so you should not book expecting a named guide or a formal historical commentary. This is a social boat outing with coastal views, not a lecture about Mallorca’s geology or maritime history.

The mood suits people who like music, conversation, and an easygoing holiday feel. Solo passengers can fit in, as can couples and large families. Children and teenagers have enjoyed it, and families with older relatives have found crew assistance useful.

Space, capacity, and comfort

The catamaran offers more room than the queue at the pier may suggest. Several people have arrived to find the boat comfortable once everyone was aboard, with enough space to move around. Still, July and August departures can be busy.

One account described around 65 people as acceptable but suggested that the boat should not carry many more. Other passengers found that there was not always enough room for both sun and shade. If you care strongly about your preferred seat, arrive in good time and expect to share the boat’s best areas.

The catamaran is not a private charter. You will have other people around you at lunch, during swimming, and on the deck. That shared setting helps keep the cost down and adds energy, but it also means this is not the right choice for complete peace and privacy.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a cover-up. A waterproof pouch for your phone is sensible, though it is not listed as provided. A hat can help on a sunny day, while a light layer may be useful for the return sail if the wind picks up.

Is $69 good value?

At $69 per person, this is strong value if you plan to use the full package. You are paying for five hours on the coast, a catamaran ride, two swimming opportunities, a barbecue meal, soft drinks, water, and some wine and sangria with lunch.

The meal alone is not the reason to book. The value comes from combining transport along the coast, time in attractive swimming water, equipment access, food, and a lively atmosphere in one half-day outing. You avoid arranging your own route to Es Trenc, carrying lunch, and finding parking near a busy beach.

The comparison changes if you dislike group activities or do not plan to swim. In that case, you may pay for parts of the package you will barely use. A private boat would offer more space and control, but it would cost far more than $69 per person.

The trip also works well for a family budget. Children can swim, adults can enjoy the views and drinks, and nobody has to plan a separate lunch stop. Food is plentiful, and soft drinks are included, which limits the extra spending that often appears on boat outings.

Who should book this cruise?

I would point this trip toward families, couples, solo visitors, and groups who want a simple day on the water. It is especially useful if you are staying near Colònia de Sant Jordi and want to see the southeast coast without arranging a car trip to several beaches.

It suits you if you enjoy swimming, casual snorkeling, music, grilled food, and meeting other people. It also works for mixed-age groups, since the crew has helped elderly passengers and young children, and the boat provides life jackets suitable for small children.

You may want a different outing if you need guaranteed access to a sandy beach, a quiet boat, extensive marine-life guidance, or a private setting. The stops are beautiful, but conditions can affect water clarity, and the boat can feel crowded in high season.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That helps if your Mallorca plans are still shifting, but it does not replace the need to arrange your own transport to the pier.

Final call: book it for an easy sea day

I would book this catamaran cruise if I wanted one low-effort day combining Mallorca’s coast, swimming, lunch, and music. The barbecue is basic but generous, the water stops are long enough to matter, and the $69 price covers the parts most people need.

Before booking, check three things: you can reach the pier beside Hotel Marqués del Palmer, you are happy with a shared boat, and you contact the operator in advance if you need vegetarian food. Bring €10 cash for a snorkeling-mask deposit, use a card for onboard purchases, and arrive ready to swim.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran depart from?

Boarding and disembarkation take place at the pier next to Hotel Marqués del Palmer in Colònia de Sant Jordi, Mallorca.

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts five hours. The morning sailing runs from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the afternoon sailing runs from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

What places does the boat visit?

The route passes Cap Salines and includes the coastal areas around Es Caragol and Es Trenc. The boat may also anchor in Cala Marmols.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The buffet includes chicken breast, skewers, sausages, salads, bread, and cake. A vegetarian meal must be requested at least one day in advance.

Are drinks included?

Soft drinks and mineral water are available throughout the trip. Mallorcan wine and sangria are served with the meal. You should bring a card for any onboard purchases, and American Express is not accepted.

Can I snorkel from the boat?

Yes. Snorkeling masks are available with a €10 deposit. Water conditions affect visibility, and bringing your own fins may be useful.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup and drop-off service cannot be booked through this activity. You need to make your own way to the departure pier and arrange your return.