The popular beach Es Calo des Moro in Mallorca is at risk of disappearing due to overtourism. Express says that the small cove—which was designed to hold 100 people—is now getting up to 4,000 visitors a day because of its popularity on social media. Erosion is the main problem now. Tourists unwittingly carry up to 70 kg of sand per day on their clothes and bags (about 6 tons per season). If you compare old photos from the last 12 years, you’ll see that the shoreline is getting smaller and smaller. Even with foot-cleaning brushes, the situation is still pretty bad because of all the litter and the strain on the ecosystem.
In Majorca, people are outraged over the condition of one of the island’s most famous beaches—the picturesque Caló des Moro—which, according to locals, is literally “disappearing” due to an excessive influx of tourists. Express says that this hidden gem of the Balearic Islands’ southeastern coast has become overrun with tourists, mostly because of social media and influencers.
The problem of beach erosion is becoming more and more obvious. The Friends of Caló des Moro-s’Almonia Foundation says that vacationers unknowingly carry up to 70 kilograms of sand away from the beach every day—on their shoes, towels, and bags. During the summer, they can lose as much as six tons of sand, and that’s just from the daily visitors — up to 4,000 people a day!
The cove has changed a lot over the years. If you look at pictures from 2011 and 2023, you’ll see that the beach is getting narrower and the sea is moving farther up the shore.
Local authorities have already tried to take measures to preserve the beach. They even put special brushes at the exit to clean sand off people’s feet. But that wasn’t enough. Residents also say that tourists often leave trash right on the beach because they’re too lazy to carry their things back along the narrow, steep, rocky path.
Caló des Moro is about six kilometers from Santanyí and can fit around 100 people. Es Trenc beach is really spacious. It’s got over a mile and a half of white sand, great infrastructure, and big parking lots. Caló des Moro is a small rocky cove. It’s only about 20 meters wide, and you’ve got to walk a bit to get there.