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Latest update: 20 July 2023
In Mallorca, you go on a ton of cool walks. There are a lot of walking routes, from very challenging to just a short hike. If you want to get moving during your holiday, but it doesn’t have to be too active, I have a few nice short hikes for you in Mallorca. They are all roundtrip hikes in Mallorca, so you start and finish in the same place.
Short sunrise hike at Puig de Bonany
Puig de Bonany (near Petra and Villafranca de Bonany) is a popular destination for cyclists. The mountain is only 317 meters high, but climbing is tough on your legs. But you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view. But of course, you can also discover the mountain on foot. You can find routes at Komoot, for example.
I’ll admit right off the bat that I didn’t climb the mountain. Instead, I drove to Puig de Bonany early in the morning with my best friend because we wanted to see the sunrise. And it’s worth getting up early! We even see a hot air balloon sail past, which must be a fantastic experience.
You can visit the chapel of the church. Just follow the imposing driveway, and in the church, you will find the Virgin of Bonany. Bonany means something like ‘good year’. That’s why people pray to the Virgin for a good harvest. There are several hiking trails behind the church, but make sure you plan a route before you start walking. And bring good shoes! It is pretty steep in some places, and there are many loose stones.
Dozens of cats are walking around the church. They appear to be well looked after though. There are picnic tables that especially the locals like to use. Take all you want to eat or drink with you because there is no café or restaurant. It’s pretty quiet. In the early morning, you have the realm to yourself – and the cats. Very serene.
Google Maps location Puig de Bonany
Slightly longer – but interceptable – walking trail Finca Son Quint
The walking trail in the Finca Son Quint area is about 9 kilometers long. It is a beautiful foresty area just outside Palma. It is a challenging walk. Firstly, we regularly get lost with the Wikiloc route, and secondly, because there is a lot of height difference. But luckily for the last bigger climb, you can cut this Mallorca hike short and follow the flat forest trail.
You park the car in the nearby neighborhood and then walk into the nature reserve. I must say it’s a bit confusing because of the signs everywhere saying I’m on private property. However, the hiking trail is open to hikers and dogs on a lead.
Hiking and sunbathing in Parc Natural de Mondragó
Five short hiking trails have been set out in Mondragó National Park. You walk between secluded beaches, along high cliffs, and through foresty areas. Very varied, and you can bring your dog if you want. That sometimes gets challenging because dogs are officially not allowed on the beach. But to walk from one route to the other, you must quickly cross the beach. Nobody tells us off when we do, so I assume that such a quick crossing with the dog is fine.
Parc Natural de Mondragó is in the south of Mallorca, near Santanyí. It is a huge area: almost 800 hectares. Only a part (about 96 hectares) is accessible to visitors and it’s perfect for walking. There are signs along the walking routes with information about the area. You will learn about flora and fauna and the history of the park. The park has three beaches: Cala Mondragó (also known as Caló de sa Font de n’Alis), S’Amarador, and Caló des Burgit. The latter is my favorite. It is a narrow bay surrounded by lots of greenery. You can walk a long way up the rocks for a nice view.
The five walking routes are very easy to do. You’d better wear sneakers instead of flip-flops, but the trails are generally well-maintained. The walks are clearly marked, including the expected walking time. We finish them all quicker than the indicated time. Strangely enough, only four hiking trails are mentioned on the park’s website, but there are really five! You can easily string the walks because they are all short:
- Mirador de ses Fonts de n’Allis (580 meters)
- Volta a sa Guardia d’en Garrot (950 meters)
- Punta de ses Gatoves (660 meters)
- S’Amarador (1100 meters)
- Surprise! 🙂
There are two parking spaces: the Cala Mondragó parking lot and the S’Amarador parking lot. They both cost five euros per day, to be paid in cash! In the late season, you do not have to pay for parking.
Get more tips for a perfect Mallorca holiday!
The coastline of S’Estany d’en Mas (Cala Romantica)
S’Estany d’en Mas, also known as Cala Romantica. That is promising. 😉 But I’m not here for a game of romance, but for a walk. The bay of S’Estany d’en Mas is hugged on both sides by cliffs with pine trees. It is deserted on a cloudy day at the end of the year. On the beach, the umbrellas are neatly lined up but lonely.
I follow this Mallorca walking trail along the east coast; pretty straightforward. You would think because it goes wrong at the start already. We have to climb quite a bit to get to the beginning of the route, and there are gates. But eventually, we find it. So: yes, facing the sea, you have to go up the cliff on the right. You start with a scramble.
This is an easy walk in terms of directions. You follow the coastline for about 2.5 kilometers, and the way back is a stone’s throw from the original path. At about 2 kilometers, you have to step over a small fence, and on the way back, you will come across a larger fence that you can just go around. Apart from the first meters, it is pretty flat, but there are many stones on the route. As a result, you must constantly pay attention to where you put your feet.
This part of Mallorca is known for impressive covas: coves. You’ll take beautiful pictures along the rugged coast. While you still see many pine trees at Cala Romantica, you will mainly see shrubs during your walk and goats if you pay attention. That is why you must put your dog on a leash. Because it is such an open area, I advise you not to do this Mallorca hike in full sun!
Walking trail around Ermita de Sant Honorat
What looks like an easy walking trail on paper turns out to be quite challenging in practice. The village of Randa is at the foot of the mountain, but you can drive all the way to the chapel and park there. You have a beautiful view over the rural area at the top of the hill. And this is where your hiking route starts (route on Kamoot).
Follow the path down next to the wall. Then decide if you want to do the trail clockwise or anti-clockwise. You’re basically walking a circle around the mountain. Because it is windy, my fear of heights kicks in at a part where you have to walk on the cliff’s edge. We think we see a smart detour on the map, but that turns out not to be such a good choice: a lot of clambering. The 1.5-hour walk quickly becomes two hours and longer. But, it is stunning. The view is fantastic, the nature is varied, and the cup of coffee afterward at Bar Celler Randa tastes extra delicious.
Short walking route water reservoir Cúber
The Cúber and Gorg Blau water reservoirs supply water to Palma de Mallorca and the surrounding area. I make my way via mountain roads with many sharp bends. Even as a driver, I almost get car sick of all the corners. After a short stop at the lookout point (Google Maps location), I park the car almost directly at the starting point of the hiking route. Here.
From the parking lot, you can start different walking trails. I go for the simplest: a circle around the water reservoir. This is the route, but you can’t really get lost. The walk around the artificial mountain lake Cúber is about four kilometers long. The walk is pretty much flat, and the trails are well-maintained. You can bring your dog but keep him or her on a lead.
It is a beautiful setting: the turquoise water contrasts beautifully with the gray mountains. But there is also plenty of vegetation and a herd of sheep grazes. So it’s that I know I’m in Mallorca, but if you had told me Austria, I would have believed it too.
Hike in Sa Comuna de Lloret
Sa Comuna de Lloret is a recreational area where you mainly encounter the local population. A large part has been set aside for a pleasant family day: for picnicking and playing football. But you can also go for a short walk. Two walking routes each take 30 to 45 minutes. So you can string them together just fine.
The area also contains the middle point of the island. This is indicated by a large stone slightly next to the footpath. It’s definitely not a tourist highlight, but it’s worth a quick photo nonetheless. If you’re there anyway… why not? The nature reserve is fenced off. Small ladders have been placed in various places you can climb to start your walk. This is one of the starting points: Google Maps location.
More Mallorca inspiration?
Useful links for your Mallorca trip
- Accommodation. All-time favorite: Booking.com. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. You could also check out WithLocals. Book ‘free’ walking tours at Freetour.com or GuruWalk, and for bike tours, try Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. Get a 5% discount on museums and attractions with the coupon code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Boat. You can get to Mallorca by boat from Barcelona and other places on the Spanish mainland. Book your boat trip at Balearia. Balearia also sails between the other Balearic islands. But be sure to compare prices at Direct Ferries!
- Car rental. Compare prices at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.
- Flights. Be sure to check out Vueling, but do compare all your options! Definitely check out Skyscanner and Kiwi.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Maybe Expedia or CheapOair have got a good deal for you.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Travel guides. I love the practical travel guides from Lonely Planet, buy them at Amazon. And I love this guidebook: 111 Places in Mallorca that you shouldn’t miss. Buy it at Amazon.
- Yoga retreat. Or, what about a yoga retreat on the island?
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