Excursion with the Captain: Calm Boat Tour on Mallorca's East Coast

Out with the captain — a day like few on the island

At 10:00 the small boat leaves the harbour of Cala Rajada. The sun is already warm, the sea is sparkling, and the scent of sea and sobrassada drifts in from the shore. On board there is a calm, almost friendly disorder: towels, flip-flops, a few bags with local oranges. Our guide for the day is Gaspar, a man with creased wrinkles and a broad smile who has fixed up his boat himself and gives every cove a nickname.

Less crowds, more space

The concept is simple and honest: a maximum of 45 guests, no loud entertainment, no mass processing. Those who come along are more likely to look for a conversation, a good piece of bread with cheese and a spot on the railing than a pool party racket. “I want people to hear the island, not just see it,” Gaspar says — and you believe him. As we chug along the east coast, he points out tiny coves that are hardly detectable from the land.

The first stop is a narrow bay reachable only on foot or by boat. Some jump straight into the water; others stay on board and read, doze or chatter with their neighbors — often people from all over Europe who happened to meet in the same café in Palma and now sit here, seven nautical miles away from everyday life.

Food, gossip and small surprises

For lunch there is a simple buffet: local bread, pickled peppers, olives, a bit of sobrasada and a plain paella that really tastes good. Two older ladies philosophize about the best bay on the island, a few English people swap tips for the next day. “89 euros?” someone asks later at the table. “Yes, and for that you get three swim stops, food, drinks and first-hand stories,” replies another and laughs.

The mood is relaxed, almost familial. No guide with a script, no flashy facts — just small anecdotes: where a fishing boat once lay, which farmer still has fig trees, why a bay shines especially in spring. These details stay in your head because they are linked to voices, not to PowerPoint.

Before the final stop at Cala Mesquida there is time for a beer on the sun deck. The boat glides back toward the harbour, and on the mole of Cala Rajada there is a brief round of applause — not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for a quiet day remembered fondly.

For people who don't want to experience Mallorca as an amusement park, a tour like this is a real find. Practical: sturdy shoes for the short landing, sun protection and a little cash for drinks. And a tip: those who book early often get the best spots on deck — and sometimes a second helping of paella for free if the cook is in a good mood.

Those who want to take their time and experience the island at a slower pace will find exactly the right excursion here.