Rural getaways to Mallorca
Although in January and February Mallorca’s higher areas are tinged white with blooming almond trees and the occasional snowfall, March and April are filled with green. With the days growing longer and a very laid-back lifestyle, Mallorca invites us to kick back and explore its natural settings, whether in the Serra de Tramuntana, the island’s practically deserted coves, or while enjoying agritourism in inland areas.
-
1 Active tourism in Tramuntana
Extending 100 kilometres, the Serra de Tramuntana is the highest area on Mallorca (its highest point, Puig Mayor, reaches 1,445 metres). With abundant canyons, chasms and ravines, it’s a favourite spot for lovers of adventure tourism, who come to enjoy climbing, canyoning and caving along with its very popular hiking routes. March and April – filled with abundant rainfall – are the ideal months to explore these ravines and canyons. The Sa Fosca canyon – not suitable for beginners – connects the Gorge Blau reservoir with the Torrent de Pareis, declared a Natural Monument and featuring 300-metre vertical walls.
Getty Images -
2 Savouring its wines at a wine tasting
Mallorca has not stopped producing wines since grape-growing was introduced on the island during the Roman period. Its wines are highly appreciated for their distinctive earthy notes and the originality of some of its native grapes. In addition to two Designations of Origin (Binissalem and Pla i Llevant), Mallorca has more than 70 wineries, some of which can be toured on a comprehensive Wine Route.
-
3 Practically deserted coves
Anyone who knows Mallorca well knows that spring is ideal for getting away in its coves. Though overflowing in summer, they are practically empty during these months. In the south of the island, in Mondragó Natural Park (with cliffs and lush Mediterranean pine vegetation), you’ll find S’Amarador and Cala Mondragó, two idyllic coves where the turquoise of the sea contrasts with the white of the sailboats that frequently anchor here. In the northwest of the island, in the municipality of Calvià, there is another little cove where the sea’s colour also hypnotises visitors: Portals Vells. The space with sand is limited, so we recommend sitting back to enjoy the landscape of the jagged rocks separating Portals Vells from the nearby Cala del Mago.
Getty images -
4 Discovering agritourism
Traditionally linked to farming and raising livestock, the island’s inland areas have seen a proliferation of agritourism-related businesses in recent years. This kind of rural tourism offers visitors contact with traditional farming culture and activities, such as growing grapes, citrus fruits and making olive oil. To find out more about making olive oil, Finca Comassema – located in Serra Tramuntana – offers guided tours showing how their oil is made. And further east, in Manacor, is Son Amoixa Vell. This stately 16th-century farm has been restored to offer sybaritic visitors a refined reinterpretation of local cuisine right in the middle of Mallorca’s countryside.
