Majorca East Tourism Guide - Cabrera Mallorca Island

Cabrera Nature Reserve

The environmental gifts that Majorca holds never cease to amaze. Take time to explore these gems, one of which is the island and islets of Cabrera off the southern tip of Majorca. You can take excursions to Cabrera from March to October only, unless you're a large group when they will make an exception.

Cabrera is sometimes called Goat Island and measures four by three miles (about 6.5 x 5 km). It's a charming rocky island, much frequented by priates in days of old. On a darker note, it also served as a prisoner-of-war camp during the Napoleonic Wars. Many died on this island during this period. Cabrera is beauty incarnate, rich in wildlife and plants, and the island has been a national park since 1991.

Daily excursions by boat run from Colonia de Sant Jordi. The boat leaves at 9:30 a.m. and arrives back on the mainland at 5:00 p.m. You can also visit with your own yacht, but you must get permission in advance, and only 50 boats are allowed in the harbor (the island's only legal mooring place) at one time.

The boat offers daily trips at 9:30 (Sundays 8:45) from Colonia St. Jordi to this beautiful island with its wide variety of flora and fauna, protected species of birds and reptiles and fascinating underwater scenery.

There's lots to do and see, and you can walk about the island observing it's beautiful wildlife and flaura and forna, and you can visit the 14th century Kosaren fortress. Why not take a picnic and swim in the stunningly clear sea waters. During the return journey the boat stops off at the "Blue Grotto", where you can swim again. For further information and reservations e telephone number 971 649 034. Pre-booking is absolutely essential, either by phone or at the harbourside booth.

Cabrera Visitor Information

As well as boat trips from Colonia de Sant Jordi harbour, you can also take a boat from the Porto Petro harbour (tel: 971 65 70 12). Boat trips will set you back about 30 euros. Boats from Porto Petor harbour leve at 9.30am on Sundays in June and at 9.30 am on Mondays to Fridays from July to September. You will need to pre-book here as well.

Once you arrive on Cabrera (the boat trip takes about an hour) you'll be greeted by a small information centre with a bar selling snacks and drinks, and there's a convenient covered picnic area. Best to bring your own lunch!

You can only walk on two short paths marked on the island. One path leads to the casle on a cliff where at the top you'll be rewarded with superb views across to the Bay of Palma. The castle was built in the late 14th century to ward off pirates, and later it held mostly French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars. Take time to look at some of the prisoners' graffiti on the side of the castle walls.

The other path leads to two idyllic beaches with different characters. One is sandy and the other has lots of rock pools. Both of course have clear, beautiful waters, perfect for swimming. Cabrera is famous for it's population of Balearic lizards, of which there are about 10 subspecies. You'll spot them as you walk along the paths! Now for the birds. Cabrera is a birdwatchers paradise and expectt to see both native and migratory species. Included are shearwaters, petrels, and the not so common Audouin's gull, as well as kestrels and falcons. Guests have about 4 hours on the island, which is time aplenty, with the boat droping you back at Sant Jordi, via a stop at Sa Cova Blava, around 5pm. The perfect day wouldn't you way!

Prisoners on Cabrera

For the horrific story of the treatment of French, Polish, Swiss and Italian conscripts, which included some women, on the island of Cabrera during the Nepoleonic wars is best told in Denis Smith's book 'The Prisoners of Cabrera: Napoleon's Forgotten Soldiers, 1809-1814'. It's an abysmal episode of cruelty, leaving men to literally starve on the island, refused repatriation to their own countries. Out of 1000s who were interned on the island, only around 75 survived.

There are some heroes in this story, who deserve celebrating in Majorcan history, like Don Antonio Desbrull, the liberal Spanish commissioner for Cabrera who did what he could for prisoners, risking death to himself, and there were some rescue attempts, and individuals who escaped.

Smith, Denis. The Prisoners of Cabrera: Napoleon's Forgotten Soldiers, 1809-1814. New York: Four Wall Eight Windows, 2001.