 Mallorca is an island that boasts an incredible diversity of landscapes from the mountains, the coastline and across the plains giving anyone interested in hiking, trekking, or just walking, a wonderful opportunity to enjoy themselves.
The impressive Tramuntana Mountains to the west of the island having several peaks measuring up to 1450 metres high (Puig Major) and the Llevant Mountains to the east with a slightly lower profile, the highest point being a mere 561 metres high reflect some of the island's most rugged terrain.
There are a variety of different hikes, walks or treks, i.e. whatever you are looking for from a nice relaxed walk to a real trek across some rugged landscape.
A few are below:
This hike leaves from Cape Salines, passes by Es Caragol Beach and ends at Es Carbó Beach. This is a relatively easy hike which is approximately two kilometres and take around one hour to complete.
Cape Salines, is on the southernmost point of Mallorca, and lies beyond the village of Ses Salines. The excursion begins at the lighthouse, following a well-signposted detour on the Ses Salines-Santanyi road. The trail starts to the right of the lighthouse skirting the coastline the entire way. It is possible to see the National Maritime-Terrestrial Park of the Cabrera Archipelago at all times during this nice flat trail. It passes through several coves until it reaches Es Caragol, a beautiful long beach of white sand. The trail then crosses the beach and follows the coastal trail along to Es Carbó, which is the next beach along and the end of this particular trail.
Another relatively easy trail is the one from the village of Deià to Deià Cove and back to the village of Deià
The route begins in the village of Deià, descending to the lovely little cove of the same name. It follows a path along the coast to Llucalcari Cove and then returns to the village of Deià. It takes approximately three hours to cover around six kilometres. This excursion begins at the entrance to the village of Deià, at kilometre 29 on the C-710 road from Valldemossa to Deià. As well as by car Deià can easily be reached by bus. The trail descends to one of the village springs, where an old public washing trough can be found. The beginning of the Dels Ribassos trail is marked by an irrigation ditch and an old watermill running along the right-hand side of Torrent Major. This torrent needs to be crossed to reach a road that ends in steps leading directly down to the cove. On the right of the cove is the start of the Alconasser trail, which, thanks to its beautiful views, is also called the painters' trail and is a magnet for artists. This trail leads to Llucalcari Cove, the site of the Canyaret springs, which produces a type of clay that is highly prized by nature-lovers. Thereis another, more difficult trail which begins at this spring and clumbs to the small hamlet of LLucalcari. However for the easier trail it is now a matter of retracing the route taken to return to Deià.
The trail from Port of Andratx to Sant Elm is classed as of medium difficulty so if you are more into a hike than a walk then this might be just the one for you.
It begins at the recreational port of Andratx and ends in the coastal village of Sant Elm, passing close to the castle of the same name. It is approximately seven kilometres and takes around three hours to complete.The hike begins at the car park in the recreational port of Andratx, which can be reached via the Palma-Andratx motorway. From there it heads towards MonPort, where the trail climbs up to La Trapa. The trail continues upwards to Pas Vermell, 300 metres above sea level. The benefits of ascending to these heights are in the magnificent views of Mallorca's southwestern coast. The trail then descends to a road used by cars, passing close to Sant Elm Castle and leading directly to Sant Elm. If you are interested and still have enough energy this trail can be extended from Sant Elm to the Monastery of La Trapa.
A little further up the west coast is another trail of medium difficulty leaving from the lovely village of Esporles and ending in Banyalbufar. This trail is approximately four kilometres and takes around two hours. Named the Poat Traile it follows the old raod used by the post office connecting these two villages. It begins next to the church in Esporles, climbing a steep hill, the steepest stretch on the trail, following along flatter land until it reaches the final stretch, which descends to Banyalbufar. It is well signposted with milestones and wooden arrows, the trail crosses the main road between the two villages twice, it is important to watch out for traffic carefully on both counts, luckily most of the trail traverses a beautiful Holm Oak forest. Lime kilns, charcoal burners' huts and spectacular views of Port des Canonge and La Foradada can be seen along the way. Where the Holm Oak forest comes to an end the trail becomes an asphalted road descending directly into the centre of Banyalbufar.
The Balearic Islands are the ideal site for practising Nordic Walking because of both their climate and their beautiful landscapes. The district of Alcúdia, located on the northeast of the island of Mallorca, 54 km from Palma forms a peninsula between the bays of Alcúdia and Pollença, and has almost 30 km of coastline, featuring beautiful sandy beaches, quiet coves and cliffs. With both history and nature making Alcudia the perfect spot for walking, a project, spearheaded by the Tourism Council in conjunction with the Alcudia Town Hall, to lauch the first Nordic Walking park in the Balearics is being discussed.
If you decide to walk, hike or trek then there are a few things you really need to be aware of. However pretty the landscapes ,or however easy the trail may seem , it is always best to be prepared knowing that there lurk hidden dangers no matter where we venture unless we take precautions. Here are some reminders to help you prepare for your hiking adventures.
Safety precautions
1. Be careful not to travel alone; you never know what may happen. Don't rely solely on mobile phones as coverage may not be good, the battery may run down or you may not be able to use them. We recommend telling your acquaintances or the hotel reception staff which trail you plan on taking.
2. Be well informed about the degree of difficulty, distance and terrain of the trail you choose. We recommend hiking a trail accompanied by someone who has taken it before. Take the hours of daylight into consideration.
3. Wear clothing suited to the time of year. Bring a spare set of clothing, which will come in handy to replace sweaty clothing or for additional warmth if the weather gets chilly. When weather is changeable, bring a waterproof cape or raincoat.
4. Wearing suitable and comfortable footwear is very important. Several different types of footwear are sold according to the type of terrain; select the most suitable. Never wear normal street shoes.
5. Bring some type of light in case night falls; a torch, flashlight or gaslight.
6. Walk on the left side if you must walk on a road and wear reflective clothing.
7. Bring extra food and drink. High-energy food such as chocolate, dried fruit and bananas are recommended. Water is very important, especially in summer. Do not rely on the springs you find along the way on an excursion; they may be dry or contain water not suitable for drinking. Do not drink from water reservoirs as they may contain chemical products.
8. Be careful with the sun. Walking many hours in the sun may burn skin, even in winter. Use the protective sun cream best suited to your type of skin and wear a hat with a brim.
9. Take a small first-aid kit with you.
10. Respect the flora and fauna along the way. Close the doors or gates you pass through behind you. If trespassing is prohibited, do not continue. Be especially careful with fire, which is not allowed in most areas, especially in spring and summer.
For more information and books on walks in Mallorca take a look here.
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