Cap Pinar Mallorca: Military Zone, Lighthouses and How to See It by Boat
Cap Pinar is the great wooded peninsula separating the Bay of Alcúdia from the Bay of Pollença. A military zone closed to the public, it can only be seen from the sea. Our boat trip to Formentor skirts its entire eastern coast.
Sailing from Alcúdia towards Formentor, there comes a moment when the landscape changes completely. The pine woodland of Cap Pinar reaches right to the edge of the cliffs and, for several kilometres, not a single building appears. It is an unusual sight in northern Mallorca, and there is a reason for it: this entire area has been under military use for decades.
The Ministry of Defence manages Cap Pinar and access is restricted by land and prohibited by sea within the buoyed coastal strip. To get to know this stretch of coast up close, you need to take a boat trip that passes through the area or join one of the occasional guided visits organised by the Ajuntament d'Alcúdia under an agreement with the Ministry of Defence.
That restricted access has allowed Cap Pinar to retain an appearance that is now hard to find elsewhere on Mallorca's northern coast.
Where it is
Cap Pinar is the northern tip of the La Victòria Peninsula, in the municipality of Alcúdia.
Coordinates: 39°53'10" N, 3°09'20" E
| Port d'Alcúdia | ~8 km by road to the edge of the military zone |
| Port de Pollença | ~10 km |
Quick facts
| Official name | Cap Pinar (Punta de Cap Pinar) |
| Municipality | Alcúdia |
| Type | Cape |
| Maximum height | ~320 m (upper part of the La Victòria massif) |
| Approximate length | ~4 km (tip of the La Victòria Peninsula) |
| Land access | Restricted. Authorised military guided visits only |
| Sea access | Anchoring and landing prohibited (buoyed zone) |
| Environmental protection | Zone of Interest for National Defence (in process, 2025); undeveloped pine woodland and garrigue |
| Best way to visit | From the sea (AST boat trips) or an authorised guided visit |
Is it worth visiting?
It is worthwhile if you want to see a wild, inaccessible part of northern Mallorca or are taking a boat trip through the area. From the water, Cap Pinar is one of the most striking stretches of coast in the north: pine woodland drops straight into the sea, there is not a building in sight, and the lighthouse appears among the cliffs.
Anyone who secures a place on one of the military guided visits gains access to the cape's central beach, an exterior visit to the lighthouse and a climb to a viewpoint overlooking both bays.
It is not suitable if you are looking for freely accessible signposted trails, a viewpoint with parking or any kind of visitor facilities. Cap Pinar has none of these.
Geography and character of the place
Cap Pinar belongs to the La Victòria massif: pine woods, holm oak groves and limestone cliffs. The cliffs drop into the sea with very little transition between pine woodland and water. From the boat you can spot some small coves, such as Ses Caletes, which appear on no tourist map and are only visible when sailing past.
The cape's orientation exposes it to easterly winds and wave action from the east, while offering relative shelter from the tramontana. The southern slopes and some interior points can be partly sheltered by the relief of La Victòria, but the northern coastline opens onto the Bay of Pollença and receives the tramontana directly. From the elevated points and viewpoints, both the Bay of Alcúdia and the Bay of Pollença can be seen at once. On clear days, the Formentor Peninsula to the north/northwest is also clearly visible.
Nature and wildlife
The pine woodland and garrigue of Cap Pinar have never been built on. This has allowed species that are in decline along the rest of the northern coast to survive here.
Common: Eleonora's falcon (nesting on the cliffs), shag cormorant, Mallorcan wild goat on the slopes.
Occasional: migratory birds of prey passing through in autumn and winter.
Restrictions and permits
Cap Pinar is a military zone managed by the Ministry of Defence. In 2025 the process began to declare it a Zone of Interest for National Defence, which will reinforce the restrictions.
By land: access completely prohibited without authorisation. There are no roads open to the public.
By sea: buoys mark the boundary of the military zone. Private boats may not anchor or land within the buoyed coastal strip. Sailing past at a respectful distance is allowed.
Guided visits: the Ajuntament d'Alcúdia and the Ministry of Defence have had an agreement since 2012 allowing occasional visits with very limited places. For information and applications, contact the Ajuntament d'Alcúdia. There is no public online booking system.
Drones: prohibited, as this is a military zone close to defence infrastructure.
How to get there and explore it
By land
Only through authorised guided visits. The usual format includes transport from the access point, a guided walk to the central beach, an exterior visit to the lighthouse and a climb to the viewpoint. You must present an ID card or passport.
For information on upcoming visits: Ajuntament d'Alcúdia.
By sea
The Glass Bottom Boat and our Boat Trip to Formentor skirt the cape's coastline at a safe distance. As the boat moves along, the cliffs come into view, then the pine woodland reaching down to the sea and, further on, the lighthouse. Our Private Boat Trips also cover this stretch of coast.
There are no stops or landings.
What it looks like from the sea
As you leave the Bay of Alcúdia behind, Cap Pinar begins to fill the entire horizon. As the boat draws closer, small coves hidden between the pines and the cliffs come into view, while the coast keeps a completely untouched appearance.
Shortly afterwards, the lighthouse appears perched on the rock. From the water it is easy to understand its role as a reference point for navigation and to enjoy a perspective that can scarcely be appreciated from land because of the access restrictions.
Early in the morning the light brings out the tones of the pines and the rock. On the way back from Formentor, the cape usually lies in shadow and offers a very different image of the same coast.
What to see
From the sea: the profile of the cape, the lighthouse, the small inner coves (Ses Caletes), the dense pine woodland above the cliffs.
On a guided visit: the central beach of Cap Pinar, the lighthouse from the outside, the viewpoint overlooking both bays.
When to go
For the boat trip, any time with good weather works. The Boat Trip to Formentor operates from April to October.
For the land guided visits: they are usually organised in spring and autumn. Places sell out quickly; contact the Ajuntament d'Alcúdia in advance.
Practical tips
Do not attempt to enter by road or approach by sea without authorisation. The restrictions are real and the buoys are actively enforced.
For guided visits: bring ID, comfortable footwear, water and sun protection. There are no facilities on the cape.
To photograph the lighthouse from the boat, a lens with some zoom (70-200 mm) makes up for the safe distance.
Frequently asked questions
Can you reach Cap Pinar by land?
Not freely. Only through authorised guided visits.
How do you book the guided visit?
By contacting the Ajuntament d'Alcúdia. There is no public online system.
Can you get there by boat?
Private boats may not anchor or land within the buoyed zone. Our boat trips pass at a safe distance.
What can you see from the boat?
The wooded mass of the cape, the lighthouse, the cliffs and the small inner coves unreachable by land.
Which of our boat trips offers the best views?
The two that cross the channel between Cap Pinar and Formentor: the Boat Trip to Formentor and the Glass Bottom Boat. On that stretch you see the cape's cliffs, the pines above the rocks and the lighthouse, all along a stretch of coast with no visible development.
Are there drone restrictions?
Yes. Drones are prohibited in this area because it is a military zone.
Is it worth seeing from the boat?
Yes. It is one of the stretches of coast that best preserves the look of northern Mallorca before tourist development. From the sea you can appreciate the unbroken pine woodland, the cliffs and the almost total absence of buildings, a perspective that is hard to get any other way.
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