Cala d'Albarca is not a beach in the ordinary sense. It is an inlet on the north coast, in the municipality of San Antonio, where the shore is large boulders under high cliffs and there is no sand at all. Nobody brings a towel here.
What it has instead is water. The inlet is deep, clear and cold, the rock continues under the surface, and it is one of the better places on the island to snorkel or dive from the shore.
Getting there
This is the part to plan. The approach is by unsurfaced track from the Santa Agnes direction, and the last stretch is on foot down to the shore. It is rough ground, there is no marked path in places, and it is not somewhere to arrive in the dark or in sandals.
Allow far longer than the distance suggests, and take water. There is nothing here at all.
What it is like
High cliffs on both sides, boulders at the waterline and deep water within a few metres. The cliffs mean shade comes early on one side and late on the other, and the enclosed shape keeps the water calm in most conditions.
In any northerly swell it is not a place to be in the water, and the boulders make getting out difficult if conditions change while you are swimming.
Who it suits
Confident swimmers, snorkellers and walkers. It is not suitable for children, it is not suitable for anyone unsure on rough ground, and it is a poor choice for a beach day.
Quick answers
Is there sand at Cala d'Albarca? No. Boulders and rock.
How do you get there? Unsurfaced track and then a walk down. Sturdy shoes.
Are there facilities? None whatsoever.
Can you snorkel? Yes, and it is the reason most people make the effort.
Is it good for children? No.
Is it busy? Almost never, which is the other reason people go.
Nearby
Benirras is the nearest beach with facilities, about twenty minutes east along the coast road. The walking country around Santa Agnes is some of the best on the island.