Calo des Moltons & Cala des Bosc Beach Review

First up Caló Des Moltons. Only accessible by foot, this cove lays 200 metres along a dirt track around the coast to the left of the main beach. When you arrive, you’ll first be struck by the charming little 'chiringuito' restaurant that calls this cove home. With a sign proclaiming ‘Welcome to Utopia’ this place makes a great first impression: cheerful colourful tables cloths cover plain white tables, lights and baubles decorate the nearby trees, and painted signs, watering cans and flower baskets give this place a whimsical vibe. It’s not all airy-fairy though, their menu is great, featuring fresh seafood, elegant ingredients and reasonable prices; expect to spend €12 for a starter €18 for a main. Or just relax with a cocktail or signature Granita and enjoy the view out over the beach.

On the sand, several wooden sun loungers and straw parasols are available for rent by Utopia, and you might want one because the sand is mingled with pebbles making it uncomfortable to lie on. Alternatively, head around to the flat shelves of rocks either side of the beach or to the concrete roofs and slipways of the boathouses. Or just spend your day in the sea, the crystal clear water here is much nicer than on the main beach, crystalline, cool, calm and protected from the elements by the arms of the bay. The slightly rocky seabed plus the rocks either side of the beach afford abundant sea life and will keep snorkellers, crabbers and rock poolers happy for hours. The calm water and shallow sea entry make this also a great spot for beginner swimmers, but be aware that there is no lifeguard.

There are also no other activities on this undeveloped cove, no water sports or boat rental; there are toilets courtesy of Utopia but that’s it for facilities.

The second of our two beaches Cala des Bosc, is a little unusual. Lying just off the coast of the mainland is a privately owned island Illa des Bosc. This gated property is closed to the public but the ‘island’ is connected to the mainland by a strip of sand which is open to everyone and makes up our Cala des Bosc. The beach is still stony like Moltons but, with a higher sandy ratio, it’s much more comfortable to lie on although, again, there are sun beds available if you wish. The sea has a sandy, shallow bed, and the water is crystal clear, if possible even calmer than at Moltons and with just as much, if not more, to occupy snorkellers.

The joy of this beach is its unique location. When lying on the beach looking at the sea, you’re actually facing away from the ocean and looking back onto Port de San Miguel main beach. The spit of land closes off part of the mouth of this bay and when you’re on the beach you cannot see the channel out, so the expanse of sea before you looks like a saltwater lake.

That is until you turn around and realise the narrow strip of land you occupy is bordered on both sides by water: the calm and protected ‘lake’ on one side and the open ocean on the other. The sandy beach doesn’t stretch to the ocean side, instead, a wall of boulders and loose rocks lead to the water. Some people sunbathe amongst these for added privacy and snorkellers explore their rugged depths when they tire of the lakeside.

Open ocean snorkelling aside, relaxation is the name of the game here and there’s a bar shack set up to help you do just that. Unlike Utopia next door, this one has no pretensions to either whimsy or cuisine. The shack operates under no less than 3 flying Jolly Roger flags, serves beer from coolers and there's no more food involved than a bowl of olives. The vibe is chilled, the staff cool and it’s a great place to sit and decide what you’d do if the private island belonged to you.

You can access this beach by road from the town or walk to it from Moltons by following the dirt trail that begins behind the boathouses.

Visit either of these beaches, Moltons or Bosc, to escape the crowds and activity of the main beach and relax in beautiful and unusual settings.