Betlem Mallorca: What to See on the Coast of the Municipality of Artà
Betlem is a quiet coastal settlement in the municipality of Artà, in northern Mallorca. No town beach, but a rocky coastline and access to the Llevant Natural Park just a few kilometres away.
Betlem is a small residential settlement on the northern coast of the municipality of Artà, at the foot of the Serra de Llevant. You will not find big hotels, a seafront promenade lined with restaurants or a long sandy beach. Its appeal lies precisely in the opposite: access to some of the quietest coves in northern Mallorca, with the mountains and the sea taking centre stage.
Most people who make it to Betlem come to discover its surroundings: Cala de na Clara, Platja des Caló, the Ermita de Betlem or the coastal walk to Colònia de Sant Pere. More than a destination in itself, Betlem is the starting point for exploring one of the quietest and least developed areas of northern Mallorca.
Where it is
Betlem lies on the northern coast of the municipality of Artà, in northeastern Mallorca.
Coordinates: 39°45'31" N, 3°21'35" E
| Colònia de Sant Pere | ~4 km (~7 min) |
| Artà | ~20 km (~25 min) |
| Can Picafort | ~30 km |
| Port of Alcúdia | ~35 km |
Quick facts
| Name | Betlem |
| Municipality | Artà |
| Type of settlement | Residential development, second homes |
| Beach | Pebble-and-posidonia cove next to the development; no facilities |
| Facilities available | One small restaurant/café. No supermarket or pharmacy |
| Main access | Ma-3333 road from Artà or Colònia de Sant Pere |
| Public transport | No regular service. The nearest is in Colònia de Sant Pere |
| Distance from Alcúdia | ~35 km |
| Best way to visit | By car, as a base for coves and hiking |
Is it worth visiting?
Betlem works well for anyone seeking peace and quiet, wanting to walk to unspoilt coves or preferring a base away from mass tourism. The coastal walk from Betlem to Colònia de Sant Pere is one of the most peaceful in the northeast, with sea and mountain views and hardly anyone around.
It is less suitable if you want a lively atmosphere, a seafront promenade with restaurants or a beach with facilities. Betlem has none of these. Basic services are in Colònia de Sant Pere, a 7-minute drive away.
What the place is like
Betlem consists mainly of detached houses and second homes, with no large tourist complexes. The only restaurant-café sits by the coast, reinforcing the quiet atmosphere that defines the settlement.
The settlement's beach is a pebble cove with posidonia: no sand, no shower, no lifeguard. Clear, shallow water. Good seabeds for snorkelling just off the shore.
The immediate surroundings are mountains and pine woodland.
What to do
Cala de na Clara: the best sandy cove in the area. A 5-minute drive from Betlem; park at the end of Avinguda Colom and walk 10 minutes. Fine sand, turquoise water, no facilities.
Platja des Caló: a small sandy cove at the Punta del Caló, about 30 minutes on foot from the settlement along an easy path. It has a small breakwater where shallow-draught boats can moor and is a good spot for a swim in very peaceful surroundings.
Cala Mata: opposite the Casablanca restaurant, within the settlement itself. Pebbles, good seabed for snorkelling.
Coastal walk to Colònia de Sant Pere: 3.8 km on foot, about 70 minutes. Follows the coast through the Es Canons estate. Sea and mountain views, stone coves along the way, no tarmac.
Ermita de Betlem: a 6 km outing, 1h40 min, easy difficulty. Reached by road from Artà or on foot. Panoramic views of the Bay of Alcúdia from the 13th-century monastery.
Snorkelling and kayaking: the waters off Betlem are calm and have a good seabed.
How it fits into an itinerary around the area
Betlem works well as the starting point for a day around the northeast.
Morning: Betlem to Cala de na Clara (5 min by car + 10 on foot) or to Platja des Caló (30 min on foot). Midday: lunch in Colònia de Sant Pere (7 min by car). Afternoon: Colònia's seafront promenade and exploring the nearby coves (S'Estret, Caló dels Ermitaños).
Alternatively: walk from Betlem to Colònia de Sant Pere along the coastal walk (70 min), have lunch in Colònia, return by car.
The Betlem coast from the sea
Betlem marks the point where the Bay of Alcúdia gives way to the unspoilt coast of the Llevant Natural Park. From land, the park's coves are reached on foot along the coastal walk. From the boat, the landscape changes visibly here: the pine woodland reaches the water, the cliffs begin to gain height and every building disappears for kilometres.
The Coves and Caves boat trip covers this stretch of coast just as the landscape begins to change unmistakably. From the sea you can see how the pines reach right down to the shore and how the coast becomes steadily more rugged before reaching the surroundings of Cap Farrutx. Our Private Boat Trips let you explore this sector with greater flexibility.
When to go
Betlem works well all year round for anyone after peace and quiet. In summer the settlement livens up a little, but nothing comparable to the busier resorts around the bay. In autumn and spring, walking conditions are at their best.
Practical tips
Access by car only. There is no regular public transport to Betlem. Free parking in the settlement's streets.
For Cala de na Clara and Platja des Caló, bring water, food and suitable footwear. No facilities at the coves.
Basic services (supermarket, pharmacy, a range of restaurants) are in Colònia de Sant Pere, 7 minutes away.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Betlem?
It mainly serves as a base for walking to Cala de na Clara and Platja des Caló, doing the coastal walk to Colònia de Sant Pere or heading up to the Ermita de Betlem.
Does it have a good beach?
The settlement's cove is pebbles and posidonia, with no facilities. For fine sand, Cala de na Clara is 10 minutes on foot from the car. Platja des Caló, a 30-minute walk from the settlement, is smaller but also sandy.
Is it a good starting point for visiting coves?
Yes. It is the closest access to Cala de na Clara and Platja des Caló, and the start of the coastal walk towards the Llevant Natural Park.
Are there restaurants or services?
One small restaurant/café in the settlement. For more options, Colònia de Sant Pere is 7 minutes away.
How do you get there?
By car along the Ma-3333 from Artà or Colònia de Sant Pere. No regular public transport.
Is it worth a dedicated visit?
As a destination in itself, it is a quiet residential settlement. As a base for coves and hiking, it works very well.
Son Serra de Marina is a small coastal settlement at the southern end of the Bay of Alcúdia, with a quiet, uncrowded beach. The Serra de Llevant and the Necropolis of Son Real are just a few kilometres away.
Colònia de Sant Pere is a quiet coastal village in the municipality of Artà with a residential character and no mass tourism. Its seafront promenade, views of Cap Pinar and proximity to the Llevant Natural Park make it an ideal base for exploring the northeast.
Can Picafort is the resort at the southern end of the Bay of Alcúdia, with 4 kilometres of fine sandy beach and a seafront promenade. The Alcanada Islet with the Aucanada Lighthouse can be made out from the shore on clear days.
Artà is a municipality in northeastern Mallorca with an inland old town and an unspoilt coastline. It is not a beach town but a gateway to the Llevant Natural Park and the wildest coves of the east coast.
The Necropolis of Son Real is one of Mallorca’s most important archaeological sites, with 143 Talayotic tombs on the coast of the Bay of Alcúdia. It sits just metres from the sea and can be seen from our boat trips.
The Llevant Natural Park protects the most unspoilt stretch of Mallorca’s northeastern coast, with cliffs over 200 metres high, sea caves and coves with no road access. It is the destination of our Coves and Caves boat trip.