Mallorca's diverse landscape with rugged mountains to the northwest, long sandy beaches to the north and south, spectacular cliffs to the west and a mountainous coastal landscape to the east make Mallorca an excellent destination for hikers and lovers of the great outdoors.
Wide sandy beaches and spectacular coastal regions are things every visitor to Mallorca takes away with them but those who choose to hike on the island see the full extent of its beauty. In the north, the 25 km long Bay of Alcúdia is great for long beach walks. You don't have to bring your own water or provisions as the majority of the beaches at Can Picafort and Port d'Alcúdia are lined with restaurants, beach bars, cafés and tapas bars.
If you hike from Cala Barca to Cala Figuera along the southeast coast you will pass seven picturesque bays. The easier route takes about three hours and there are many places where you can stop along the way. In western Mallorca there are really spectacular views on the coastal walk along the Sa Foradada peninsula. On the five-kilometre stretch between Deià and Valldemossa walkers pass steep cliffs and a beautiful bay, which is just perfect for a refreshing dip.
Spanning 90 km, the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range on the northwest coast of Mallorca has a wide network of hiking trails. Many hikers choose the monastery at Lluc, in the heart of the Tramuntana, as a starting point. The monastery has a number of guest rooms and there are trails leading into the dramatic gorge Torret de Pareis and the second highest mountain on the island. The whole beauty of the impressive mountain region opens up to you as part of a multi-day hike on the so-called "Dry Stone Route", which connects the mountain village of Valldemossa with Pollença. On this trail you pass shady holm oak forests, deep canyons and summits that rise more than 1,300 metres high.
Nature lovers should not miss a hike in one of Mallorca's nature parks. On the north coast of the island, S’Albufera Nature Reserve is a haven for more than 270 species of birds. The wetland is criss-crossed by numerous hiking trails. Several birdwatching towers have been erected at various locations. Information about the flora and fauna of the reserve can be obtained at the reception in Sa Roca. On the northwest coast of Mallorca is the Parc Natural de la Peninsula de Llevant. The protected area extends from just outside the small town of Artá on the coast. The hikes take you through small rocky coves and holm oak groves. With a bit of luck, you can see Booted Eagles and Eleonora Hawks circling the stony terrain on the way.
Inland Mallorca has old monasteries and fortifications galore and these are among the most popular hiking destinations. The Santuari de Nostra Senyora de Cura monastery on Puig de Randa is 543 metres. On a hike to the abbey you pass a medieval hermitage and another monastery, which is still inhabited by monks today. At Felantix on the southeast coast of Mallorca, the monastery of Santuari de Sant Salvador is a popular hiking destination. The complex is located on a 500 m high mountain in the Serres de Llevant and the path leads through a pine forest to the summit. On the neighbouring ridge you see the ruins of Castell de Santueri, a castle perched on top of a 408 m high table mountain. After the exhausting climb, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view over half the island.
