Island Mallorca - Hidden treasures

Tobias Heller
7. Juli 2017
7 Min. Lesezeit

Majorca or also Mallorca is the largest Island in the Balearic Islands archipelago. Palma de Mallorca is the main capital of the Island, and is - especially amongst germans and british people - a very popular tourist destination, though happily we arrive there during low season. The Island is quite large, with an area of more than 3.600 square kilometers and a well elaborated infrastructure. Other Islands of the Balearic area are Formentera, Menorca and Ibiza.

City Trip & Sightseeing

Mallorca - Palmas City Center

I wake up startled from my sleep, immediately knowing there is something wrong. Assuming that we overslept and missed our flight, I run to my phone checking the time: 5 o clock in the morning! We should have left the house already one hour ago. Hurriedly I wake Gianfranco, thank god we already packed the previous night. We can still make it if we are able to catch a taxi immediately, and luckily after calling the local taxi number a yellow taxi sprints up the street 10 minutes later, collecting us and our belongings from the street. Flights give me a feeling of unease and inner unrest anyways, being late doesn't contribute positively to that feeling. Jumping out of the taxi once it arrives, we make the check in for my backpack and rush to the gate - in the end perfectly in time. With the cheap low-cost airline Vueling we cross over to one of the Balearic Islands Mallorca in only one hour.

We arrive in Palma early, taking the Bus to the Center of Mallorca. With an offline map we find our way to the Hostel we booked, which is located outside of the center, but the price is one of the lowest in Palma. My friend Jessica would arrive also later that evening, joining our duo making it a trio for the upcoming days. As we had only 2 hours of sleep last night, and the previous one also didn't end up to be a long rest, we arrive tired and worn out, lying down on the bed and immediately falling asleep for several hours, passing the day without doing anything. Before Jessica's arrival we go grocery shopping in order to be provided with a basic of supplies for the next days, sweeping this task down the list for the next days. When Jessica arrives I feel an overwhelming delight seeing her and we prepare dinner, drinking sangria and wine. Tonight we would go out and explore Palmas nightlife celebrating the reunion. The next hangover day, we go to the city center of Palma.

Sightseeing & Architecture

Palma - The Cathedral area

We arrive at the cathedral from the backside, the view to the seaside and the harbor opens up. The church itself is enormous and impressive, and sits enthroned on an upper level, sticking out highly over other buildings due to it's high built construction. We circle around the building and follow a cobble-stone pavement leading through nicely arranged garden areas with blooming flowers and bushes. Once down, a laid out little lake adds to the scene with the cathedral in the background and a fountain in the middle. We sit here enjoying the nearly cloudless sky and the warmth of the sun, having a snack.

The harbor of Palma is quite a scene for sunset, today the sky turns into a light blue-pink version, offering a harmonic view onto the horizon that is consisting of the ship's masts that stick out in different lengths into the sundown sky. A typical element of Mallorca, which is to be found in various places spread allover the island is the windmill, which we also find here in Palma situated on an uplifted platform, overviewing the harbor.

Beaches & Nature

The Beach of Palma - Sunshine guarantee

We beach is not far from the Center and in walking reach and as it is already late afternoon we stroll in that direction before it would get too late. The beach contains nice delicate clean sand and the water is similarly beautiful and sparkles in the afternoon sunlight. Even though the beach area is nice, it won't be one of my favorites, as I prefer the more secluded beaches with it's wild and untouched beauty, mostly difficult to reach, but unspoiled and without many tourists. Anyways we spend some time here, relaxing from the walking and enjoying the fresh salty water swirling around our feet.

Roadtrip & Nature

Mallorca by Car - The Island's Magic bays & coves

The following day we decide to rent a car, which wouldn't fit into my budget if I'd travel alone, but as we are able to split the costs between the three of us it seems legitimate to do so, and it would be around 25 Euro per person for today. It enables us to roam freely on the Island - whose size isn't small but summing up the length of the coastline it measures more than 550 km, and the north to south distance makes up for about 100 km. Not the smallest Island at all. And indeed, once going around by car on Mallorca on highways, broad and elaborated streets, I don't have the feeling of being on an Island anymore. Today's plan is to move to the east side of Mallorca, exploring it's coast all the way up to the north.

Once we are on the street, following the highway, the Island feeling - if ever present - is completely vanished on my behalf. Instead we could have all the time been on the mainland's coastal area. Our first stopover will be Cala Llombards, and on the go we will visit furthermore of those places. After getting parked, a long stone stairway leads downwards, the immensely pure azure blue water greeting us from upstairs. The bay is quiet and peaceful, only a few people are here, enjoying the atmosphere of the place, thereby it's natural, untouched appearance remains preserved to some extent. Thus, it is inviting for a stroll along the cliffs and passage ways.

At Cala Satanyi, another bay, a natural stone bridge awaits us, which is by no means mankind's work, but mother natures accomplishment. We've spotted the bizarre construction already from afar, while being at the other bay's cliffs which stab further into the sea.

Along our way up to the north we encounter several more bays, as well as small villages and harbors, like in Portopedro. Our final goal for today before returning to Palma to put back the rental car is Porto Cristo, where we stroll around for a while.

Day Trip & Beach

Port de Soller - The beautiful East Side of Mallorca

A new day, new places to see, trying our best to see a bunch of places during the time that is left for us to stay in Mallorca. We decide against taking the bikes to go to the west coast, as we are uncertain about how long it will take us as well as how demanding the cycling way would be - taking into account that Soller is nestled into the mountains. Instead we take the bus to go to Port de Soller, saving us time for the places themselves. And indeed, along the way we see many typical Mallorca cyclists, but anyways the final kilometers lead steep uphill and would overexert anyone who'd not have a certain level of fitness and cycling experience. Port de Soller is an open half circle shaped bay that opens up to a little passage way to let the seawater flow in - and with it the ships. Even though it is mid of April, Gianfranco and I dare to jump into the water, which is indeed fresh yet, but as long as we keep moving it is bearable.

Daytrip & Cities

Soller

From Port de Soller it is easy to walk back to Soller - if required it is also possible to get off the bus before Port de Soller. The distance anyhow is not far and leads along the old tram way line, which runs the distance from Palma to Port de Soller frequently, but is way more expensive compared to the public transport.

The way the three of us walk follows the road, the space to our left opens up to reveal several houses and farms that are imbedded into the flat meadowy surface which outlines are framed by mountains. The air is clean and fresh, and I got the feeling that we just stepped into the awakening spring, with flowers spreading out just in front of our eyes, writhing their way through the freshly grown buds.

As we arrive in Soller, we locate a supermarket to buy a snack. The central square is quite packed, tourists are having a hot coffee or refreshment, whilst others keep pushing their bikes through the crowd and then again there are those who stand in front of the cathedral, admiring the small church, which is so neatly placed in the little square. The whole scene is rounded up by the old wooden tram way which also is supposed to go directly through the main center, thereby adding to the vivid and animated feel of the place.

Villages

Valdemossa - A Village lost in the Wild

Before returning to our base in Palma, we hit another spot along the way, a village located higher above in the mountains, and while going there by bus we notice we would never have been able to do this tour in one day with the bikes, therefore being grateful for deciding to take the bus. The Bus goes all the way deep inside and passes another village called Deia, tiny but nice to see - for us at least just from inside the bus. Valdemossa itself is indeed of small size and thereby it proofs to be easy to get an overview quickly. At a certain point I feel like this could at the same time be an italian city, as the narrow walking streets which lead up and down within the village are similarly decorated with lots of flower pots, colorful ceramic tiles on the wall and besides that many windows are framed by those typical shutters.

Beach & Goodbyes

A piece of heaven - or heaven in peace

The day has come, we depart once more. Jessy, my dear love is taking the bus from our accommodation to go straight to the airport for the flight back home to Germany, thereas Gianfranco and me will stay the rest of the day in common kitchen of the Hostel until finally we'd have to leave as well to take a flight to Andalusia. With a deep hug we say goodbye, but while doing so I am certain that we'll see each other soon along the further journey. I take with me the various good memories I gathered here, wrap them in tightly into this cerebral photo album of mine, ready to be put out at any occasion.