What was once a secret beach, much loved by locals in Mallorca, has now become an overcrowded hotspot thanks to online influencers.
A secluded cove, Caló des Moro, has transformed into an Instagrammer’s paradise, as users post endless pictures of its serene scenery and turquoise waters. Tourism officials last year were keen to invite influencers to the island and help promote the lesser-known spots, but quite the opposite happened.
Instead, posts went viral of numerous online stars at the sun spot, luring even more holidaymakers to the once quiet beach cove. Videos show tourists queueing just to catch a glimpse of the beach and find a small spot on the sand, leaving behind piles of litter.
Many people are pointing the finger at influencers for spoiling the hidden gem. Over 1,300 TikToks appear about Caló des Moro online, racking up an impressive 10 million views. That doesn’t include the numerous hashtags floating around on Instagram as people pose on the cove.
In response to this huge influx of newfound interest in the area, local authorities have taken action and removed all pictures promoting Calo des Moro from its official website. This comes after the mayor reported last year that up to 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles were visiting the beach every single day.
Frustrated locals have voiced their outrage in a bid to reclaim their spot, as more than 300 protesters descended on the cove last June. Others placed themselves nearby to distribute leaflets informing the sunseekers about the movement.
Some took slightly more extreme actions, blocking paths and shouting at tourists to “go, go, go.” Footage shows one man explaining that “tourists have taken over the beach, and they were going to enjoy it for at least one day.”
Kristina, who lives in Germany, told The Daily Mail: “I saw pictures on TikTok and wanted to come, but we just realised that there are protests by people who live here. 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.”
As a result of the rise in tourism, Caló des Moro has seen a major loss of six tonnes of sand from the cove every three months. It’s predicted that around 70 kg are disappearing each day from the beach in towels and footwear.
What was a hidden paradise, locals are now feeling like it’s a dumping ground. The cove is accessible by making a steep journey of 120 steps, and so they’re finding that a number of tourists are ‘too lazy’ to return with all of their belongings.
Spain experienced a record-breaking number of tourists last year, with a total of 15 million visitors on the island of Mallorca alone. Locals made it clear how they feel about this, as protesters took to the streets of Spain, leaving countless visitors fuming because they wanted to enjoy a holiday they had paid hundreds for.
One particular protest saw around 50,000 locals descend onto the streets of Mallorca in the capital of Palma. Meanwhile, almost 3,000 people marched along the waterfront district in Barcelona to demand a new economic model that would work to reduce tourists in the area.