Cala Carbo is on the south-west coast, about ten minutes from Cala Vadella and a kilometre from Cala d'Hort. There is no village here and nothing built for visitors beyond one cove roughly fifty metres square, two family seafood restaurants, and villas scattered through the pines above.
The shortage of everything else is why it stays quiet in a month when the beaches either side do not.
The cove
Pebbles with some sand, and a rocky seabed, so bathing shoes make the difference between a good swim and a careful one. Sunbeds and parasols are available. There is no lifeguard.
The rock on both sides is worth a mask.
The restaurants
Two, both long-standing and both family-run, doing seafood and paella. Balneari Cala Carbo has been there since 1975. They are the reason a fair number of people drive down.
One thing to get right
Es Vedra is not visible from the beach. The drive in has the famous view, and people arrive expecting it from their towel. To see the rock from here you climb the rocks at the side of the cove.
Getting there
Car only, down a narrow road, with a small car park at the entrance to the cove and roadside spaces beyond it. Both fill on summer weekends. The nearest base with accommodation is Cala Vadella.
Quick answers
Is Cala Carbo sandy? Pebbles with some sand, and a rocky seabed.
Can you see Es Vedra from the beach? No, only from the rocks at the side.
Is there a village? No. Two restaurants and some villas.
Is there a lifeguard? No.
Is there parking? A small car park, which fills at weekends.
Do you need water shoes? They help a great deal.