An abundance of hilly roads, mountain paths, forested walkways and beachward trails are scattered all over the north of Mallorca. It’s easy to join a well-trodden walk and get out into the fresh air. Here are some of the most popular walks of the North for you to enjoy.
The Puig de Maria, Pollensa
A trip to Pollensa is not complete without a trek to the top of Puig de Maria. The slow and steady incline to the top of the Puig (pronounced pooge) is a great way to get out and stretch those legs. As you leave the Old Town the signposted road is on the left side. Park in town and walk up (only residents can drive up) or join the hardcore regulars who jog, run, cycle (seriously) their way up.
It’s a steady walk uphill – 2.2km long with a climb of 330m – but with many twists and turns and viewpoints (and benches) it’s totally doable. The route zigzags to the top taking you along a tree-lined road where you can stop a few times to take in the breath-taking view. The last part is a cobbled path that can take its toll; good sturdy shoes are essential. When you reach the top, the Santuari houses a monastery with a beautiful chapel.
Normally, this is part of the GR221 chain of Refugis and walkers can stay overnight in the basic accommodation. At the moment, management is undergoing some changes. Until then, just enjoy the morning or afternoon walk.
Puerto Pollensa - Cala Sant Vicente
Park up at Duva (the sport hotel complex in Puerto Pollensa) and follow the sign to Siller on the right. Once you see the iron Siller sign, 500m later, you turn left. Take in the views and the hill coming up ahead of you. You will be up there very soon. Along the way you will come to a gate with a padlock, but don’t worry, this is mere gesture probably to ward off roaming cars. You can walk through, no problem.
Now you are really on your way – up. The path is a bit rough but always marked with stones. The walk up is a steady climb, not too taxing but if you need to catch your breath, stand back and admire the view that has been gathering behind you. And once you get to the top, prepare yourself for another one of those breathtaking moments as Cala Sant Vicent appears before you. 100m on, there is a narrow path on the left. It might not seem like a path but look for the rocks and red dots to be sure. Keep going, before you know it, the beach will appear and you can enjoy a café con leche at the bottom.
Boquer Valley
The Boquer Valley is a perfect walk with paths that spread across the breadth of the valley; it means that every time you walk it, you can make your own path. Goats and birds will keep you company and the scramble down to the beach at the bottom is a doable challenge. It’s quite a scramble so perhaps not for very young children. Head off with the older gang and enjoy a good flask of tea at the end.
To find the Cami de Cala Boquer look for the second roundabout on the main road at the back of Puerto Pollensa town, just after the sports centre. There you’ll find a bumpy stony carpark, park up and head up the path, go through the gate, past the old house (a once grand Posesión) and you’re on your way.
Ses Fonts Ufanes
A real family favourite, a walk in the woods at Ses Font Ufanes is great for kids and escaping the sun with shade-a-plenty. Bring a picnic and take your time but be careful after any heavy rain. A geological phenomenon lurks beneath and when the water tables are high enough the water literally springs out of the ground. A superb sight that you should try and see if you can. Park by the Coves de Campanet and walk round to the finca. Follow the signs and you will enter the woods after crossing a little bridge.
Bacares
It sounds simple but this stunning stretch of the bay is often overlooked. Parallel to the main road between Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa, this coastline is hidden by the urbanization of Bacares. However, turn off the main road just after (or before, if coming from Alcudia) the kitesurf shops and park up where you can. You are no more than 25m from the shore. Once there you will be rewarded with a beautiful seascape of the bay of Pollensa. The shoreline goes on and on and you’ll take in not just the sea views but some stunning properties that will leave you searching the property pages for prices and availability.
Es Pixarells
This lovely two-hour walk at the Es Pixarells picnic site has everything to offer. It’s pretty with views and two amazing features along the way. You can park free and leave your picnic in the car, so you don’t need to carry it and there is shade and toilets at the picnic site. There are also barbeque facilities. It’s a great one for a family as it’s short and sweet with lots of interest. Remember to take suntan lotion, some drinking water, insect spray and a torch.
Driving along the Ma-10 from Pollença to Lluc, after about 25 minutes you will find a 17 kilometre sign. Turn right here onto a track which rises steeply to reach the car park at the Es Pixarells campsite.
Just before the picnic area, a wide stony track descends to the left. Take this to begin the walk. You will pass through what is referred to as “the enchanted forest”. As well as lovely trees and dappled sunlight, there are gorgeous limestone rock formations. Continue along the zig-zag path, climbing again to a stone bench where you can rest and admire the view. Continue along the path which then curves to the left and when you reach a junction, where there is a wooden refuse bin, take a turn to the right towards Lluc. After a few hundred yards you will see a sign to the left where there is an amazing rock formation called the Camel – for obvious reasons!
Retrace your steps back to the junction and then carry on to the right until you see a sign to the left for the Cova dels Morts, an ancient burial site. It’s really spooky and you can go right inside! Be careful because it can be slippery after rain and you’ll need a torch to see your way around. Afterwards the path continues to rise zig-zagging upwards to the main road. Turn left at the main road to return to the picnic area.
Son Real
Typical school-trip fodder, the public finca of Son Real is probably quite familiar to the children in your life. But a beauty of ‘Balears Natura’, Son Real should not be kept exclusively for begrudging school children with clipboards. A day out in Son Real will reward you with animals, woodland, picnic areas, beach, rock pools, a refuge, a seemingly natural swimming pool and, if that wasn’t enough, a pre-talayotic town, megalithic sepulchres, and a talayotic necropolis to boot.
As you arrive at the finca, which is located halfway between Can Picafort and Son Serra de Marina, the estate—with its Manor House, workers’ cottages, a courtyard and more—dates back to the middle ages.
The museum inside the Manor House is the display case for archaeological remains that were found on the estate, while new houses built in the last century are used for the information centre.
On the farm, there are native breeds of animals including sheep, black pigs, chickens, turkeys, donkeys, which are raised and cared for. The agriculture is totally ecological, with crops of almonds, carob and figs among others.
The wealth and variety of the landscape is magnificent and pine tree groves, holm oaks, sand dunes, cultivated lands and low hills as well as the diverse flora and fauna add to the finca’s beauty.
The population of Mediterranean turtles is of particular interest. In the reserved hunting areas, only traditional “filats” (hunting nets) can be placed in the narrow passage between trees. That said, Son Real still preserves some elements of human intervention on the landscape. Sandstone and sand quarries, old paths and a bunker are among the sights as well as the towers along the bay of Alcúdia, which were used in submarine exercises to help find the position lines, during the post-war period.
It is the access to the beach, that is the jewel in the crown. A 2km walk along a well-trodden path takes you through the dunes and woodland to reach the refuge and a beach that has enough rockpools to keep the children entertained all afternoon, before the walk back again.
Remember to take hats, suncream and enough water.
Organised Community Walks: Pujada a Lluc
Every year in September, Mallorca bears witness to a mass pilgrimage from towns all across the island up to the sanctuary of Lluc. The hikes start in the early hours of the morning from most towns and many gather in Inca and leave from Plaza del Bestiar. The walk has a very long history in Mallorca, it’s a tradition that goes back more than 800 years, although this organised version of the walk began in the 1990s, and still the number of participants increases each year.
See more here.
Organised Community Walks: Güell a Lluc a Peu
If the overnight hike to Lluc piques your interest then the annual Güell a Lluc a Peu is a big one. The story goes, one night in 1974 when a group of friends were together in Tolo’s Bar Güell, in Palma. Six-year-old Rita, Tolo’s daughter was running between tables, topping up friends’ drinks from a syphon bottle. Suddenly the girl stumbled and fell on top of the bottle, which exploded on her chest. Everybody feared the worst, but miraculously, the girl was unharmed. With that, a client called out “It’s a miracle; we have to give thanks to the Virgin of Lluc and go on a pilgrimage to praise her!”
The next morning 30 friends got together to start walking the 48km from Bar Güell to the monastery of Lluc, six of them actually reached the sacred destination. The group decided to walk the path every year. At first it was only the original group of friends, it all started from that one comment. However, since 1980 when the official Group Güell was formed, the annual Güell a Lluc a Peu has grown year on year.
These days, around 7,000 people register for the walk and the event has become a huge logistical operation. At first, the route follows 38km along country roads, which are all closed to traffic through the night and on to Sunday morning. The final steep ascent from Caimari to Llluc is via the Pilgrim’s Path. Not only are the country roads closed off, there is always a police and ambulance presence.
Regular water and fruit supplies are available as walkers pass through Marratxi, Santa Maria, Binnisalem, Consell, Llosetta, Biniamar until Selva and Caimari where there are also treatment tents for blisters before the big climb to Lluc. The walk is held on the first Saturday of August every year.
For more information and pictures of the latest walk, visit the organiser’s Facebook Page.