Latest news with #CalódesMoro
Daily Mail
03-08-2025
- Daily Mail
The 'secret' Spanish paradise beach ruined by influencers: Videos show piles of rubbish and tourists queuing to reach sand at Majorca beauty spot lauded by Instagrammers
A 'secret' paradise beach in Mallorca has become a crowded hotspot after influencers promoted it online. Caló des Moro, once a secluded cove, turned into a tourist-choked destination after Instagrammers posted striking shots of its crystal clear waters and beautiful scenery. Last summer, tourism officials encouraged content creators to visit lesser-known areas like Caló des Moro in a bid to ease pressure on busier island hotspots. But, the strategy backfired, with viral posts luring swarms of holidaymakers to the once remote beach. Footage shows sunseekers queueing just to access the sand, while piles of rubbish now litter the once-pristine shoreline. In some clips, the beach is so packed that the ground is barely visible. Many are blaming influencers for ruining Caló des Moro. More than 1,300 TikToks about the beach have been posted, racking up an estimated 10 million views. Meanwhile, Instagram currently has 30 associated hashtags. Mayor Maria Pons last year revealed that up to 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles were descending on the cove every day. In response, local authorities removed all pictures promoting Calo des Moro from its official website. Frustrated locals voiced their outrage, with hundreds of campaigners storming the stunning spot and vowing to 'reclaim' it from holidaymakers. More than 300 protesters descended on the cove last June as they unfurled a huge banner stretching across the beach which read: 'Let's occupy out beaches.' Others stayed in a nearby car park and distributed leaflets in English and German informing tourists about the mobilisation - forcing tourists to turn back and leave the cove. Footage from the demonstration shows a woman sitting across a path leading down to the popular Caló des Moro while a local shouted at would-be tourists to 'go, go, go!' Another man sporting long hair and tattoos is seen explaining to disgruntled holidaymakers that 'tourists have taken over the beach... for one day, we're going to enjoy it', before gesturing at them to leave. Ukrainian Kristina Vashchenko, 20, was forced to retreat along the craggy rocks leading down to the stunning bay after locals alerted each other to her presence by whistling. Kristina, originally from Mariupol but now living in Germany, said: 'I saw pictures on TikTok and wanted to come but we just realised that there are protests by people who live here. @jack_varabei10 CALA DES MORO 🇪🇸 Așa Ambuteiaje 1 data Văd ) #mallorca #paradise #moldova🇲🇩 #spain #voyage #cr7cristianoronaldo #trip #crasate #caladesmoro #viral #españa ♬ sunet original - Viorel Gutu 'So now we're looking for another beach to go to.'It is a shame but I appreciate that we are guests on their island and they live here. 'It will not be difficult to find another beautiful beach to go to.' The impact of mass tourism on Caló des Moro sees six tonnes of sand disappear from the cove every three months - with 70kg disappearing in towels and footwear every day. Locals say the cove, accessible by traversing down rocks and passing 120 steep steps, is used as a dumping ground by tourists who are too lazy to make the return journey with their possessions. Spain was rocked by anti-tourism protests last summer, which saw tens of thousands of fed up locals filling streets across the country. Anti-tourism campaigners have long been contesting the current tourism model, claiming that many locals have been priced out by holidaymakers, expats and foreign buyers. Last year, Spain saw a record-breaking number of tourists, with over 15 million visitors flocking to the island of Mallorca alone. In response, protestors took to the streets across Spain, leaving countless visitors fuming after paying hundreds of pounds to enjoy their holidays abroad. Actions included marches on the street with protesters chanting 'tourists go home', as well as demonstrations on beaches which saw locals boo and jeer at sun-soaked tourists. In one particular instance, up to 50,000 locals descended onto the streets of the Mallorca capital Palma. Meanwhile in Barcelona, some 2,800 people marched along a waterfront district of Barcelona to demand a new economic model that would reduce the millions of tourists that visit every year. Protesters carried signs reading 'Barcelona is not for sale,' and, 'Tourists go home,' before some used water guns on tourists eating outdoors at restaurants in popular tourist hotspots. Chants of 'Tourists out of our neighbourhood' rang out as some stopped in front of the entrances to hotels.
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Telegraph
How a disastrous tourism strategy ruined one of Mallorca's last unspoilt corners
Last summer as many as 4,000 visitors and 1,200 cars descended daily on Caló des Moro in the south-east of Mallorca. A tiny cove which at best, can only accommodate about 100 people. Unlike Es Trenc – a 25-minute drive away, with its two-kilometres of fine white sand, safe swimming, facilities and ample parking – Caló des Moro is cramped and rocky and reaching it requires a long schlep along rough tracks. Yet hordes of people attempted to navigate this descent, often turning back due to the long wait and extreme heat. There are no amenities and only a tiny strip of sand, meaning most visitors have to perch on uncomfortable rocks – if they can find a space at all. Mallorca has more than 260 lush beaches, many of which are far more bewitching than diminutive Caló des Moro. So how on earth did this disaster unfold? Last summer, in an attempt to direct tourists away from island hotspots such as Cala de Deià in the north-west (mobbed from June to October), social media influencers were encouraged by some island tourism entities to visit this petite cove and other lesser-known spots. The well-meant strategy backfired, however, and before long influencers had turned Caló des Moro into a chaotic jam of tourists, with the social media set's beguiling images and videos of Mallorca's 'best kept secret' luring their followers to the beach in droves. To date, 1,300 videos of the cove have been uploaded to the TikTok platform, receiving an estimated 10 million views globally. Instagram currently has 30 associated hashtags. @handluggageonly This is my favourite beach on the Island of Mallorca! Caló des Moro is a totally beautiful cove. The beach is gorgeous, especially for the crystal-clear turquoise waters, white sand, and dramatic cliffs (which you have to ramble across to get here. Yeah, you will get sweaty but it's worth it). Best of all, the beach is located only about 5 kilometers from the town of Santanyí, which we loved and can be reached in your car or by a short hike from the nearby Cala Llombards beach. In fact, do both at once. It's such a great thing to do in Mallorca when you visit on holiday. ♬ original sound - Hand Luggage Only Frustrated locals voiced their outrage, prompting the citizen movement, Mallorca Platja Tour, to stage a protest attended by more than 300 people. Bewildered tourists were pressured to leave the area, while victorious locals occupied every inch of space on the rocks and sand. Martí Picornell, Head of Communications at the local Santanyi Town Council, responded by saying: 'The Santanyí Tourism Department hasn't used the image of Caló des Moro for publicity purposes in years. Local residents are exhausted by the situation, which is why the decision was taken. This unwanted social media coverage is the worst. People go to the cove just to take selfies and nothing more.' Environmental impact The repercussions go far beyond disgruntled locals, with heavy footfall in areas of such natural beauty having a troubling environmental impact. Sergio Ruiz Halpern, a marine biologist at Save the Med, comments: 'Caló des Moro is a paradise, not just for humans. It harbours rich and biodiverse ecosystems. The sheer volume of visitors in peak season crushes native land and sea ecosystems alike. We simply cannot sustain this level of pressure.' Meanwhile, Isabel Moreno Castillo, also a marine biologist, and former Head of Biology at the University of the Balearics (UIB) says: 'Beaches are constantly shifting ecosystems – they change every single day, shaped by the wind and the waves. 'When beach-goers step on the fragile, endemic plants that hold the sand in place, that stability is lost and even a gentle breeze can begin to erode the beach.' Jaume Bauzá, Minister of Tourism in the Balearic Regional Government, is keen to avoid a repeat of last year's fiasco. 'We have taken the decision not to actively promote the cove or other highly frequented areas in international campaigns,' he says. 'Our mission is to de-seasonalise and spread visitation throughout the calendar year, rather than have tourism arrivals concentrated during the summer months.' Further curbs Meanwhile, the other Balearic islands – Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera – are also taking steps to manage tourism sustainably during the summer season. These include seasonal vehicle quotas in Formentera, while Menorcan authorities have prohibited boats from anchoring over Posidonia oceanica (seagrass) meadows, and limited car access to many beaches. From June 1 to September 30, Ibiza will set a daily cap of approximately 20,000 tourist and rental vehicles, as well as setting daily visitor limits, and restricting beach access. Isabel Moreno remains upbeat. 'Preserving our beaches doesn't mean closing them. We just need to manage them wisely, guiding people with information, limiting visitor numbers when necessary, and making small changes such as the creation of elevated paths and boardwalks that help reduce ecological impact.' Such strategies have been implemented in Cala Deià, for example, where an automatic electronic barrier closes when the car park reaches full capacity, and local police monitor traffic flow during peak times. But perhaps the real solution is even more obvious – minimising chaos by simply publicising enclaves that can cope with large visitor numbers, such as Playa de Formentor, a kilometre-long Blue Flag beach in the north, or the likes of Es Caragol on the southern tip of Mallorca, with its 500 metres of fine white sand and turquoise waters. Locals and tourists have long shared the island's beautiful corners, and – though they might not all be trending on social media – there are still plenty to go around.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- The Independent
Spanish islands beg tour operators not to promote secluded cove
The Balearic Islands local authority is asking that media outlets and tour operators stop promoting Caló des Moro, a small cove in Mallorca. The small cove saw 4,000 visitors daily last summer after being featured in influencer content. Its capacity is only around 100 people. The influencer campaign, initially intended to divert tourists to less-known areas, backfired by causing overcrowding in remote and protected locations. The local authority has removed images of the cove from its website and will stop using social media influencers to promote tourism.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- The Independent
Spain's Balearic Islands to cut ties with influencers in bid to stop ‘selfie tourism'
Spain has said it will stop using social media influencers to promote popular Balearic Islands destinations in a bid to control overwhelming ' selfie tourism'. The Balearic government backtracked on the use of influencer marketing campaigns after a cove in Mallorca was swarmed by 4,000 visitors a day last summer. Caló des Moro only has the space to welcome around 100 beachgoers each day. Influencer content showcasing the small cove prompted tourists to travel for pictures of the golden sands and clear waters. The local mayor of Mallorca's Santanyí, Maria Pons, said at a press conference last June that 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles were descending on Caló des Moro daily. In June 2024, hundreds of activists descended on the once secluded cove to demand sunbathers leave the beach with a giant banner that declared, ' Ocupem les nostres platges ' – 'We will occupy our beaches'. Previously, the Balearics had hoped that the use of influencer content would redirect tourist flow to more remote parts of the popular holiday islands and highlight hidden gems. However, following a push on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, the tourism marketing strategy has seen remote and protected parts of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza overrun with holidaymakers looking to snap a selfie. Last weekend, a spokesman for the Balearic tourism department said selfie tourism had 'had the completely opposite effect to what was intended and runs contrary to government policy on containing tourism', reported the Guardian. The local authority has since removed all images of the cove from its website and pleaded with journalists and tour operators to stop promoting the location altogether. Similarly, in March, residents in Ibiza vowed to continue anti-tourism protests this summer, barricading a famous viewpoint with boulders and 'no entry' warnings. Angry locals in Cala d'Hort de Sant Josep blocked tourist access to the Es Vedra lookout and its car parks in a bid to curb overtourism and 'wild parties' in the area. Ibiza 's southwest coast each day in summer, using unofficial car parks on private land to watch the sunset.
