Mallorca is a privileged land. A true paradise in many ways, including the landscape. The majestic Serra de Tramuntana, the spine that supports “Sa Roqueta”, extends along the entire northern coast of Mallorca, extending for more than 80 kilometres, from Dragonera to Cap de Formentor.
It is in this fantastic setting that the first 9 hiking routes in this selection take place. But Mallorca is much more than Tramuntana. Route 10, in the Parc Natural de la Peninsula de Llevant, is a small proof of this.
Before starting, a note: this selection of the best hiking routes in Mallorca is something totally subjective and personal, based, of course, on the more than 50 excursions carried out throughout Mallorca.
1. Hike to Sa Foradada
Easy difficulty / 7 km. / +300 m.
This hiking route will allow you to go from the most iconic image of Mallorca to personally get to know the secret cove hidden by the large perforated rock.
It is an excursion that we can classify as easy difficulty since it runs entirely along a dirt track. It should be noted, however, that we will be descending about 300 metres from Son Marroig to the pier, at sea level. The way back will therefore be uphill.
2. Sa Costera (Sóller – Tuent)
Medium difficulty. Physically demanding. One way / 13 km +475m -900m
This is an excursion that can be somewhat complicated logistically, although it is certainly worth the effort. The proposal consists of a one-way route, which we will begin in the beautiful Cala Tuent. To get there, I recommend doing it by boat, setting sail from the picturesque Port de Sóller, which will be the end point of our excursion.
Walking from Cala Tuent, a first part of the route takes us along the sea, with fascinating views of the coast. Further on we enter the Bàlitx estate, with a notable change of scenery, now without sea, but equally beautiful. We finally arrive at the Ses Barques viewpoint, with views towards Port de Sóller, still far away.
From the viewpoint, we descend to Fornalutx, one of the most beautiful villages in Mallorca, and from there to Sóller, walking at all times following the signposted route of the GR-221 trail. To round off the route, we return to Port de Sóller taking the characteristic wooden tram, concluding a day that will not be forgotten.
More information about the route in our article on Sa Costera, click on the link below:
3. Puig de Galatzó
Medium-high difficulty. Circular / 11 km +700 m.
Within the impressive Serra de Tramuntana, Puig de Galatzó is a mountain that stands out on its own merits, dominating the west of Mallorca. With its 1,027 metres of height, it is the highest peak in the western sector of the Mallorcan mountain range.
There are 2 main routes to ascend to its summit:
a) Estellencs slope
The route begins next to the road that runs along the north coast, the Ma-10, near the town of Estellencs. It is a route of about 11 km and 800 metres of accumulated gradient, that is, of moderate-high physical demand. This option is the most interesting.
b) Normal Route
By the so-called “Normal Route” we ascend from the Puigpunyent slope. In this case we overcome a positive gradient of about 500 metres, the route being just under 5 km long.
For me, Galatzó is the Mallorcan equivalent of Puig Campana in Alicante. There is a substantial difference in height between the two, but their appearance and marked character make them very similar. In addition, due to the strategic location of Galatzó, it is one of the most favourable peaks for observing the distant Alicante mountain ranges, always on days of extreme visibility.
4. Puig des Teix from Valldemossa
Medium-high difficulty. Circular / 18 km +1100 m.
The climb to Puig des Teix from Valldemossa (one of the most beautiful villages in Tramuntana) was the first hiking route I did in the Serra de Tramuntana, and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised.
This demanding excursion will allow us to enjoy one of the most beautiful cobbled paths in the mountains: El Camí de s’Arxiduc, which looks out over the northern coast of Mallorca, with views towards the emblematic Sa Foradada.
Personally, I like to climb up passing first by the fabulous Mirador de Ses Puntes. This variant makes the climb to Teix a longer and more demanding route, but also very varied and with more attractions. To do so, you must request permission, since it is a restricted area.
5. Barranc de Biniaraix (Sóller)
Low difficulty. Moderate gradient. Partially circular / 6 km +450 m.
One of the elements that makes the Serra de Tramuntana so special is its cultural heritage, and in particular, that related to dry stone architecture. Not in vain, it was the cultural aspect that made the Mallorcan mountain range be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011.
Stone margins and cobbled paths reach their maximum exponent in the horseshoe path that laboriously ascends the Barranc de Biniaraix, very close to Sóller.
This excursion is part of one of the stages of the long-distance trail GR-221 “Ruta de la Piedra en Seco”, which runs through the entire Tramuntana. The drawback of this route, therefore, is its linear nature (round trip), although the path is so beautiful that this is not a real impediment. The route is therefore signposted and you cannot get lost.
My advice is to leave the car in Sóller and start the excursion from there. The path to the beautiful little town of Biniaraix is also worth savouring. One last recommendation: after episodes of heavy rain, the ravine looks especially beautiful.
Click on the link below to discover this magical route in Mallorca:
6. Els Tres Mils (the Three Thousand)
Medium difficulty. Circular / 12 km +600 m.
This is one of the most classic routes in the Serra de Tramuntana. On it, we ascend to 3 peaks that form a small mountain range within the Tramuntana: Sa Rateta (1,113 m.), Na Franquesa (1,067 m.) and Puig de l’Ofre (1,090 m.). That is, three peaks that are just over a thousand metres high, hence the name of the route.
It is a circular route of about 12 km in length and 600 metres of accumulated positive gradient. One of its main attractions is the fantastic views that we can enjoy in 360º: towards the Cúber Reservoir, towards Puig Major (the highest elevation in Mallorca, occupied by a military base on its summit), towards the west of Mallorca and also towards the south. In short, a varied route, not too difficult and one that is enjoyed to the fullest.
You can consult detailed information about this route on the website SerradeTramuntana.eu (a website that was one of my main sources of information for excursions in Mallorca).
As an anecdote, I would like to mention that in 2017 I was taking photographs of the runners participating in the trail-running event “Mallorca 5000” from Puig de Sa Rateta, just before dawn.
7. Puig de Massanella (2nd highest peak in Mallorca)
High difficulty. Circular / 18 km +1200 m.
Only surpassed by the Puig Major massif, Puig de Massanella is the second highest mountain in Mallorca, with its 1,364 metres of height. Massanella has, however, the advantage that its summit is not occupied by a military base. This emblematic mountain captivated me from the beginning, exerting a powerful attraction on me.
There are multiple options to ascend to its summit, but my favourite is the one that starts from Lluc and climbs up Les Voltes d’en Galileu, a cobbled horseshoe path with fantastic views and which coincides with the layout of the GR-221 trail. After overcoming the Coll des Telègraf and the Coll des Prat, we face the most difficult part of the climb, along a hill that separates Massanella from Bassetes. Here, before reaching the summit, we will have to face a section that I only recommend to people with experience. We descend through the Coll de sa Línia and from there to Coll de Sa Batalla (where there is a gas station and a restaurant), before passing through Son Amer and finally Lluc. The result is a very mountainous excursion, very complete and very enjoyable.
It should be noted that we will probably have to pay the entrance fee when leaving the private Massanella estate (6€).
8. Castell d’Alaró
Low-medium difficulty. Round trip / 4.1 km +370 m. (one way only, from Orient)
This relatively simple excursion takes us to a fortress worthy of the very Game of Thrones. An impregnable fortress, a rock castle located 800 meters high and with amazing views of the Pla de Mallorca. If I have not convinced you yet, I encourage you to watch the attached video. Words are superfluous.
You can find information about the routes to climb to this magical place in Mallorca on the Castell d’Alaró website.
9. Torrent de Pareis Hike
High difficulty. One way only / 7 km -650 m.
Can you imagine a deep and narrow canyon that descends directly from the highest peaks of Tramuntana and that after running through several kilometres of tortuous gorge ends in the sea, giving rise to a paradisiacal beach, as if taken from a Pirates of the Caribbean film? Well, that is the Torrent de Pareis, one of the natural wonders of Mallorca.
This surprising ravine can be traversed on foot, without the need to use climbing equipment, but having to make numerous descents and steps that require a certain skill and balance, so it goes beyond the usual hiking.
This is one of the most fascinating routes in Mallorca. A unique excursion, where logistics force us to have two cars or, what is even better, use a bus (only works in summer) and return to Sóller by boat.
Due to the technical difficulty, I recommend doing it accompanied by someone who knows it, or relying on a professional active tourism company to avoid scares.
10. Puig Roig Loop Trail
Medium difficulty. Physically demanding. Circular / 20 km +500 m.
The Puig Roig is the last lord of Tramuntana in its eastern sector: the last peak that exceeds a thousand meters in height on the way to the north. A mountain as fascinating as it is inaccessible and enigmatic.
If we talk about hiking routes in Mallorca, we can undoubtedly classify this excursion as essential. A circular route around the Puig Roig that takes us into the Lluc-Escorca marina, a remote landscape of rock and water, as hard and rough as it is beautiful. A hidden place, far from everything, where nature shows itself in all its splendor, without a trace of human intervention.
Of all the hiking routes in this selection, the Volta al Puig Roig would undoubtedly be one of my favorites.
We are looking at a walk of about 20 kilometres and 500 metres of elevation gain, which is only possible on Sunday, the only day that the Mossa estate allows access to its domains.
11. S’Arenalet d’Albarca
Medium Difficulty. Round Trip / 18 km +300 m.
To finish this selection of the best hiking routes in Mallorca (how difficult it is to choose only ten), we are going to move to the Parc Natural de la Península de Llevant.
The proposed excursion begins in Cala Mesquida, a beach of great beauty despite having been over-urbanised on one of its sides. From here we will walk parallel to the coast and with views of nearby Menorca, heading towards s’Arenalet d’Albarca. Halfway along we visit the Torre des Matzoc, a testimony of bygone times that still retains its haughty appearance. A little further on we reach our destination, s’Arenalet, a small beach with a special charm, sheltered by Ferrutx. The route is easy to follow, but you can guide yourself with this track on wikiloc if you need to (the track goes beyond s’Arenalet).
Back in Cala Mesquida, if you still have energy, I highly recommend the climb to the Talaia de Son Jaumell, this being a route that is part of our selection of easy excursions in Mallorca.
And that’s it, my selection of the best hiking routes in Mallorca. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! Thank you for taking care of the fantastic natural spaces of Mallorca!
