Palma City Council is planning to install an adapted bathing area at Cala Estancia beach next summer, allowing elderly people, those with limited mobility and people who depend on assistance to enjoy the sea in greater comfort.
Beaches in Palma already offer special access points and buoyed-off zones, but this new initiative goes a step further: support walkways and a cluster of 24 shaded seats positioned directly in the water.
The project forms part of a request for public domain use that the council has submitted to the Coastal Authority, now open for public consultation. It is a necessary step before future beach concessions can be put out to tender. Cala Estancia will be the first beach to trial the adapted bathing scheme, which is already in place in other Spanish towns such as Malaga, Fuengirola and Almeria.
Cala Estancia was chosen because its breakwater helps calm the waves and currents, creating safer conditions. The new area will be buoyed off to guarantee protection and prevent intrusion, allowing users to remain in the water undisturbed.
The Balearic Association of People with Physical Disabilities (ASPROM) has welcomed the move. Its president, Joaquín Pérez, said such schemes encourage people with mobility issues to go to the beach, whereas many currently stay away because of the practical difficulties.
“Accessibility on beaches has improved enormously in recent years,” Pérez noted. ASPROM runs summer beach outings and is familiar with local facilities. Palma’s beaches already provide amphibious wheelchairs and support staff to help people into the sea. The drawback, he added, is that the process is often slow and queues build up.
“When someone goes on their own, they have to watch out in case there are too many people waiting. It can feel overwhelming, and many give up,” he said. Pérez hopes the Cala Estancia project will be extended to other beaches to avoid overcrowding.
Call for respect
ASPROM also urged other beachgoers to play their part in making the coast accessible. Respecting disabled parking bays is a basic act of civility, Pérez stressed: “If you want my space, take my disability too. Some people seem to think they’re VIP spots.”
He also called on drivers not to park too close to vehicles used by people with disabilities — who often need extra room to get out — and not to block ramps or access points. On the beach itself, he added, signposted areas must also be respected: “If users can’t reach a zone with a walkway, they simply won’t be able to go to the beach.”