Mallorca is a privileged land. A true paradise in many ways, including the landscape. The majestic Serra de Tramuntana, the backbone that supports the island, extends along the entire north coast of Mallorca, extending for more than 80 kilometers, from Sa Dragonera to Cap de Formentor.
This natural setting of incomparable beauty is ideal for hiking. Be careful, don’t think that all the routes here are of easy difficulty, far from it. The Sierra de Tramuntana is a world dominated by rock, with technical and rocky paths that will test your skills and your resistance. And if you want to do a multi-stage trek, it is also possible in Mallorca: I am talking about the GR-221 trail.
Before starting, a note: this selection of the best hiking routes in Mallorca is something totally subjective and personal, based, yes, on the two years that I lived in Mallorca, in which I went out to practice trekking on countless occasions and arrived to know the mountains much better than some locals…
Will you accompany me to discover the best hiking trails in Mallorca? I know this wonderful island in depth and I am going to show you the 5 Excursions that I describe as essential.
1. Puig de Galatzó
- Medium-high difficulty
- Circular / 11 km +700 m.
The Puig de Galatzó and the town of Galilea.
Within the impressive Serra de Tramuntana, Puig de Galatzó is a mountain that stands out on its own merits, dominating the west of Mallorca. At 1,027 meters high, it is the highest peak in the western sector of the Majorcan 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 meters of accumulated difference in level, 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 slope of about 500 meters, the route being just under 5 km long.
For me, the Galatzó is the Mallorcan equivalent of the Puig Campana in Alicante. There is a substantial difference in height between the two, but their appearance and strong character make them very similar. In addition, due to its strategic location in Galatzó, it is one of the most favorable peaks for observing the distant mountains of Alicante, always on days of extreme visibility.
You can read more details about the route on the Senderos de Mallorca website, click on the link below:
2. Puig des Teix (Valldemossa)
- Medium-high difficulty
- Circular / 18 km +1100 m.
Views from Camí de s’Arxiduc going up to Puig des Teix
The ascent 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 cobblestone paths in the mountains: El Camí de s’Arxiduc, which defiantly looks out over the north coast of Majorca, with views towards the emblematic Sa Foradada.
Personally, I like to climb past the fabulous Mirador de Ses Puntes. This variant makes the Teix climb a longer and more demanding route, but also very varied and with more attractions. To do this, you must request permission, since it is a restricted area.
Here is the track on wikiloc and a detailed description on the Senderos de Mallorca website:
3. Barranc de Biniaraix (Sóller)
- Low difficulty. Moderate slope.
- 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 surprisingly, it was the cultural aspect that made the Majorcan mountains declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011.
Stone margins and cobbled paths reach their maximum exponent in the bridle path that climbs laboriously through 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 (there and back), although the road is so beautiful that this is not a real impediment. The route is signposted, therefore, and has no loss.
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 savoring. One last recommendation: after episodes of abundant rains, the ravine looks especially beautiful.
4. The Three Thousand-meter Peaks
- Medium difficulty
- Circular / 12 km +600 m.
This is one of the most classic routes of the Serra de Tramuntana. In 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.). In other words, three peaks that are just over a thousand meters high and hence the name of the route.
It is a circular route of about 12 km in length and 600 meters of accumulated positive difference in altitude. One of its main attractions are the fantastic 360º views that we can enjoy: 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.
5. Puig de Massanella
- 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 meters high. The Massanella has, yes, 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 climb to its summit, but my favorite is the one that starts from Lluc and climbs up les Voltes d’en Galileu, a cobbled bridle path with fantastic views and which coincides with the path of the GR-221 trail. After overcoming the Coll des Telègraf and the Coll des Prat, we face the most complicated part of the climb, through a pass that separates the Massanella from the 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 the 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.
Keep in mind that you will surely have to pay the entrance fee when leaving the Massanella private estate (€6).
