Serra de Tramuntana

The Serra de Tramuntana is the mountain chain that runs along the north-west coast of Mallorca, reaching from Andratx to the Cap Formentor.

• 🌍 Magaluf is a raucous party-town just beyond Palma city limits.
• 🌍 Calvià includes the resorts of Santa Ponsa, El Toro and Peguera.
• 🌍 Andratx is the main village of the quieter cape further west.
• 🌍 Valldemossa has the 14th century Royal Charterhouse.
• 🌍 Deià has a landscape of orange and olive groves on cliffs above the Med.
• 🌍 Sóller is a very touristy old town reached by train.
• 🌍 Lluc is a pilgrimage centre and base for hiking.
• 🌍 Pollença has an old centre with the Calvary Steps and chapel.
• 🌍 Port de Pollença is a beach resort, with Cap Formentor beyond it.

The Serra de Tramuntana runs along the north-western coast of Mallorca. From Andratx in the west to Cap Formentor in the north-east it has a length of about 50 km and a width of about 7 km. It elevates up to 1,445 m at Puig Major (which is not accessible for the public). The scenery is characterized by bizarre shaped limestone rocks, pine woods and grass, with some partly abandoned fincas in between. The most stunning feature is the many kilometers of dry stone walling, and the gnarled old olive trees some of which may be over 1,000 years old. The coastline is steep and has very few beaches. Limestone walls fall directly into the sea from a height of about 300 to 500 metres. The Serra de Tramuntana was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape in 2011.

🌍 Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI ^IATA) is just east of Palma city. Bus A11 runs direct from the airport to Portals Nous, Magaluf and Peguera.

Highways fan out from Palma: take Ma-1 for the west including Magaluf, Ma-11 for Sóller, and Ma-13 for further east. Ma-10 twists and turns the length of the mountain chain from Andratx to Pollença.

TIB buses from Palma run to all the main settlements, and Bus 231 crosses the northeast of the island from Alcúdia via Pollença and Lluc to Port de Sóller.

With your own vehicle is much the quickest way to reach the region and get around: the distances, gradient and heat are deterrents to cycling.

A crowded tourist train runs several times a day between Palma and Sóller, where you change to the even-more-touristy and crowded tram down to Port de Sóller.

As public transport is rare a car will be the best option. Car rental is available at nearly every town and prices are relatively cheap.

Take a scenic drive along the R710 with some wonderful views of the rough mountain scenery and the coast. Sa Calobra is probably the island's, if not Spain's, most famous road; do the drive and find out why they built it.

Visit the Monastir de Lluc, and don't forget a visit to Pollenca for a break at the nice market. Puig de Pollenca is religious site from the 14th century, accessed on a wooded hill path with lookout points.

La Granja, near Esporles in the vicinity of Valldemossa, is a 18th-century finca in the mountain. The interior is filled with a beautiful collection of artefacts which recreate the life of the farm at the end of the 19th-century. And eat at the excellent restaurant if you have time.

• Hiking: Ruta de Pedra (GR221) is an eight day hiking trail through the coastal mountains from Andratx to Port de Pollença. Individual town pages describe local sections.
• Beaches: most of the coastline is rugged, with small stony coves okay for snorkelling and paddle-boarding but less fun for kiddy-bathing. The sandy, family-friendly beaches are around the southwest tip (Magaluf, Calviá and Andratx) and have attracted the package hotels.
• Scuba diving centres are found in Magaluf and Calviá.
• Fiestas traditionally had a religious basis, with the church's Madonna paraded through town on the local saint's day. Over the years these became secularised, such as Sóller's Correfoc or fire run, and their Es Firo commemorating a pirate attack. Fiesta de Verano in Calviá is an entirely modern music festival, with pop blaring out into the small hours.

• Stop for a coffee at the nice market in Soller.

Many restaurants offer their services in Andratx, Soller, Valldemossa and Pollenca but cater mostly for the tourists.

Don't forget to stop for a drink in one of the many cafes at Pollenca's and Soller's market places.

Crime is no problem but the weather is! Keep in mind that weather changes may occur every time so take a jacket and warm clothings with you. The hiking trail along the Torrent de Pareis is especially dangerous after rainfalls so inform yourself about the weather. And don't forget to take something to drink.

Leave no valuables in your car at popular sites such as the view points (Miradors) near Formentor or elsewhere.

• Raiguer east has lower hills. Alcúdia on its north coast is the main resort.
• Palma de Mallorca the island's capital needs a couple of days to explore.