Within 30 minutes of Mahón are dozens of beautiful rock coves. For long stretches of sand beaches there’s Santo Tomas or Cala Santo Galdana. Look for the secluded coves or calas with their small beaches. They are less crowded, and the coves form natural and deep swimming pools. Just pack a picnic lunch and when you’re tired of swimming just step back into the shadow of pine trees that are on the island and hover at the water’s edge. People linger till dusk at these beaches, as the Mediterranean summer evenings are long.