While I was living and teaching English in Mallorca, Spain, hiking was one of my favorite weekend activities. It’s free, the scenery is beautiful, and apart from the heat of high summer, the climate is perfect for a hike almost year-round.
The island boasts a diverse landscape, from rugged coastlines with hidden calas, the Serra de Tramuntana mountains to the Northwest, and the pine forests and agricultural land in the interior, each hike is a new adventure. Additionally, many hikes are accessible by bus, and the island has a range of trails to satisfy novice to expert hikers.
Most hiking routes are well marked with posts and arrows (flechas) as Mallorca is home to the famous GR221, a route that spans 140 km along the northwest side of the island from Port d’Andratx to Pollença. However, I would still highly recommend using GPS; I love the AllTrails app, which has GPS tracking that allows you to track your progress along the route with the free version.
During my nine months, I hiked all over the island, both with friends and solo, and have curated a list of my can’t-miss hikes for your next Mallorcan adventure. (For more recommendations on what to do in Mallorca, check out my post here!)
1. Camí Bóquer
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 5.5 km
Elevation gain: 166 m
All Trails Map: Bóquer Valley
Camí Boquer was one of the first hikes I did in Mallorca, and it is well-suited to all ages and abilities. It is a stunning, short walk through a lush mountain valley that ends at a rocky beach, Cala Bóquer. The beach is quiet, secluded, and perfect for snorkeling. I highly recommend bringing a swimsuit if the weather is good, and water shoes or sandals as the beach stones are a bit sharp.
You may also meet some friendly (and hungry) goats who would love to share your snacks. This trail can get busy, so I recommend starting earlier and avoiding weekends in high season and festival days. There are two gates as you begin this hike, but neither is locked, pull on the handle, and you can pass through.
If you are arriving by car, you can park at the parking lot near the trailhead, or if you are coming by bus, the trailhead is a 10-minute walk from the Port de Pollença bus station.
2. Cúber Reservoir
Rating: Easy
Distance: 4.0 km
Elevation gain: 40 m
All Trails Map: Embalse de Cúber
Cúber is a beautiful and easy walk that follows the perimeter of the artificial lake. Because this serves as a drinking water reservoir that supplies Palma and the surrounding areas, no swimming is permitted in the lake.
Cúber is nestled within the Serra de Tramuntana, with magnificent mountain views on all sides of the lake. The tallest peak in Mallorca, Puig Major, can be seen from Cúber. It’s a beautiful location for an easy stroll and a picnic by the lake, where a few friendly donkeys may join you.
Parking for Cúber Reservoir is found off of Ma-10.
Unfortunately, there are no bus stops nearby, however, if you are very determined (as I was), you can start in Sóller, hike through the Barranc de Biniaraix, and arrive at the lake. This takes about 8 hours and is 20+ km long, but highly worth it. This way you see the charming towns of Sóller and Biniaraix, the picturesque gorge at Barrac de Biniaraix, and Cúber Reservoir rolled into one epic hike.
Alternate: Sóller/Biniaraix to Cúber
Rating: Difficult
Length: 18.8 km
Elevation gain: 1,066 m
All Trails Map: Biniaraix – Embassament de Cúber *
*By bus, first you will need to walk from Sóller to Biniaraix which adds an extra 3.6 km.
3. Penya des Migdia
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 4.2 km
Elevation gain: 319 m
All Trails Map: Penya des Migdia
This hike was recommended to me by one of the teachers at my school and it is one of my top hikes in Mallorca. The hike begins at Ermita de la Victoria on the north side of the island near Alcúdia.
From the parking lot, follow the wide trail uphill through a pine forest until it branches off as a wooden staircase into the foliage. This can be easy to miss so watch the GPS and look for the stairs. This trail narrows and you find yourself hiking on the exposed mountainside, enveloped in tall grass and palm fronds.
After passing through a section with large boulders, you will see a small doorway built into the mountainside, which is the passageway to the overlook. This is the most magical part of the hike, as you emerge from the tiny stone corridor you’re greeted with magnificent panoramic views of the Bay of Pollença and Cap des Pinar.
This overlook features several abandoned stone constructions, a cistern, shelter, and oven, remnants of its history as a military base. You may also encounter some of Mallorca’s wild goats here, however, these goats are much more skittish than those found at some beaches and will not try to take your food.
4. Deià to Sóller
Rating: Hard
Distance: 16.9 km
Elevation gain: 546 m
All Trails Map: Deiá to Sóller
This hike is a section of the popular GR221 route and is a point-to-point trail. This is important to consider if you are driving, as you will park in Deià but end in Sóller. There are frequent and inexpensive buses between the two villages, or you can take a taxi at the end.
This hike begins in the charming town of Deià, whose beautiful cobblestone streets and sandstone edifices lead downhill to the tranquil Cala Deià, a secluded craggy beach with crystal clear water. I recommend you check out the beach before taking off on the hike. This hike features Mallorca’s rugged, stunning coastline, magical olive groves, orange trees, and peaceful agricultural land.
Midway you’ll encounter the lighthouse, Far de Cap Gros, which provides lovely panoramic views of Port de Sóller, before concluding the hike at the main square in the village of Sóller in front of the historic church.
5. Camí de s’Arxiduc
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 13.6 km
Elevation gain: 795 m
Wikiloc Map: Camí de s’Arxiduc
This hike offers stunning views of the Serra de Tramuntana and the Mediterranean Sea as you traverse the mountainous ridgeline between the scenic towns of Valldemossa and Deià.
This hike begins in the gorgeous hilltop village of Valldemossa, a gorgeous place that warrants at least an afternoon of exploration of its own. The winding streets adorned with flower boxes will charm you, and it’s a fantastic spot to try one of Mallorca’s traditional pastries, coca de patata.
There are several variations of this hike, including taking an alternative route through the Muntanya del Voltor, a nature reserve. To access this part of the trail, a free permit must be booked a few days in advance, which can easily be done following the instructions on their website. This route offers additional lookouts and a stop at the Refugi de s’Arxiduc, a stone hut atop a hill.
6. Barranc de Biniaraix
Rating: Hard
Distance: 5.0 km
Elevation gain: 360 m
All Tails Map: Barranc de Biniaraix – GR 221 – Camí Vell
The Barranc de Biniaraix is a canyon located near the village of Sóller. This beautiful hike features peaceful olive groves, several small bridge crossings, and waterfalls.
In winter, this area is within the snowline of the mountains and you may see a bit of snow here during your hike. The best time to visit the Barranc is during spring when the snowmelt from the mountains causes the waterfalls to flow through the canyon.
7. La Trapa
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 9.5 km
Elevation gain: 497 m
All Trails Map: Sant Elm – La Trapa – Cala en Basset
La Trapa begins in the coastal town of Sant Elm, where I recommend you treat yourself to a paella after this hike at one of the many quaint seaside restaurants and stick around to catch a spectacular sunset. T
his hike features ruins of a Trappist monastery set into the hillside and offers dazzling views of the island and nature reserve, Sa Dragonera. I did this loop clockwise, as some scrambling over boulders is required, which I felt was easier to do going up.
8. Castell d’Alaró
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 5.5 km
Elevation gain: 291 m
All Trails Map: Castell d’Alaró
The medieval ruins of the Castle of Alaró are perched on a mountaintop, with panoramic overlooks of the sea, Serra de Tramuntana, and surrounding plains and fields. After exploring the ruins, the summit houses a small chapel, sanctuary, and a restaurant/bar.
You can begin this hike from the Es Verger Restaurant, although the final road is quite bendy and narrow. Alternatively, start from Alaró if you are coming by bus, which extends the hike a bit further but is still pleasant.
9. Torrent de Pareis
Rating: Hard
Distance: 7.0 km (one direction)
Elevation gain: -1,112 m (all downhill)
All Trails Map: Sant Pere – Torrent de Pareis – Cala Sa Calobra
This hike is amazing but challenging and should be done with a local guide or if you have experience with scrambling and rock climbing, and not alone. Once you are into the gorge, the trail isn’t marked (apart from some arrows scratched into the boulders and cairns) and many areas are steep and require ropes to descend safely.
The hike begins in Escorca, just opposite the dilapidated Restaurante Escorca. Following the trail signs into the valley, you will get breathtaking views of the gorge and the sea before beginning a zigzagging descent into the riverbed. It’s very steep, and this will be the easiest part of the hike.
Once you have arrived at the riverbed, look for cairns, arrows, and smooth/worn rocks to discern the path. You will encounter several scrambles, distinguished by worn rock, and may require ropes. Upon completing this hike, you will be greeted by the beautiful pebble beach, Sa Calobra, whose crystal, refreshing waters make the perfect place for a post-hike swim.
Ensure the weather is suitable when hiking the Torrent, rainfall makes the rocks slippery, and any standing water or flooding will make it unpassable. Additionally, the gorge gets little airflow, so it can get excessively hot during spring and summer. I recommend bringing at least 2L of water per person and snacks. Additionally, upon leaving the riverbed, you have to cross a section of the river just before the beach, so I recommend bringing sandals or water shoes to change into before crossing the stony river.