Son Maties Beach Guide: Palmanova’s Widest Family Beach
Guide
Son Maties is the widest and most open of Palmanova’s three beaches, a long, level sweep of fine white sand at the western end of the bay. With calm shallow water, lifeguards, a playground and easy access for all, it is one of the most comfortable family beaches a short drive from Palma.
🏖️ Son Maties at a glance
Son Maties sits at the western end of Palmanova bay in Calvia, one of the resort’s trio of beaches alongside Na Nadala and Es Carregador. It is the widest and most open of the three, with almost half a kilometre of fine white sand, big-sky views and a straight shoreline backed by a promenade. The sand slopes gently into clear, calm water, and with lifeguards and a children’s area it is set up to make family beach days as easy as possible.
| Son Maties | Detail |
| Where | Western end of Palmanova bay, Calvia, southwest Mallorca |
| From Palma | around 20 to 25 minutes |
| Size | almost 0.5 km of fine white sand, wide and level |
| Sea | calm, shallow, gentle slope |
| Best for | families, accessibility, space, easy beach days |
| Facilities | lifeguards, showers, sunbeds, walkways, playground, pedalos |
📌 Quick answer: is Son Maties right for you?
Choose Son Maties if you want a spacious, easy family beach with calm water, full facilities and excellent accessibility, close to Palma. It is less suited to anyone after a quiet natural cove, since it is a wide, developed resort beach.
- Best for: families, wheelchair and stroller access, space to spread out, first-time swimmers.
- Good to know: it is a busy resort beach in peak summer, but its width and length keep it feeling open.
- Do not miss: the easy promenade walk linking Palmanova’s three beaches.
🌊 The beach and the water
Son Maties is built for relaxed, safe beach days. The fine white sand is wide and level, sloping gently into calm, clear water that suits children and less confident swimmers, with lifeguards on duty in season. Its size means it rarely feels crowded even when busy, and there is hundreds of sunbeds and parasols available through the summer. Easy walkways and accessible access make it one of the most welcoming beaches around Palma for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs.
👪 Family extras and the promenade
This is a beach that keeps everyone happy. There is a children’s area and park, ping pong tables and pedalos, plus watersports and boat excursions in season. Behind the sand runs a flat, pushchair-friendly promenade lined with shops, bars and restaurants, linking Son Maties with Na Nadala and Es Carregador and on toward Magaluf, so there is always somewhere to wander for an ice cream or an evening meal.
🚌 Getting to Son Maties
Palmanova is one of the easiest resorts to reach from the city, around 20 to 25 minutes west of Palma by car with parking nearby, and well connected by bus from Palma and the airport. For routes and fares see our guides to buses in Mallorca and taxis in Mallorca.
🛏️ Where to stay near Son Maties
Palmanova is a top family resort for accommodation, with a wide choice of hotels and apartments, many a short walk from Son Maties and the promenade. See our Palmanova guide and best areas to stay guide to compare, and the best time to visit Mallorca guide for the busiest weeks.
🏝️ Nearby beaches
Son Maties sits beside Palmanova’s other beaches, Na Nadala and Es Carregador, all linked along the bay. The big resort beach of Magaluf is a little further along the coast, while the smart coves around Portals and Illetes are a short drive away.
Where is Son Maties beach?
Son Maties is at the western end of Palmanova bay, in the Calvia area on Mallorca’s southwest coast, around 20 to 25 minutes from Palma. It is one of Palmanova’s three beaches, alongside Na Nadala and Es Carregador.
Is Son Maties good for families?
Yes, it is one of the best family beaches near Palma. It is wide and open with fine white sand, a gentle slope into calm water, lifeguards, a children’s area and easy wheelchair and stroller access, with everything just a few steps away.
How big is Son Maties beach?
It is almost half a kilometre long, the widest and most open of Palmanova’s beaches, with long level sands and a straight shoreline backed by a promenade, so there is plenty of room even in peak summer.
What facilities does Son Maties have?
The beach has lifeguards, showers, walkways, hundreds of sunbeds and parasols, a children’s area and park, ping pong tables, pedalos and watersports, plus easy accessibility for wheelchair users and limited mobility.
How do you get to Son Maties?
Palmanova is around 20 to 25 minutes west of Palma by car, with parking nearby, and it is well connected by bus from Palma and the airport.
