Majorca, the Spanish island located in the Balearic archipelago, is easily and comfortably visited by van. In this blog I would like to share with you the route I did recently, in which I enjoyed the wonderful landscapes of the island, not only its beautiful beaches with crystal clear water, but also the wonderful mountain landscapes and typical towns that still keep intact their traditional architecture.
BRIEF HISTORY OF MALLORCA
The island of Majorca was already colonized by the Romans during the Republic period from 121 BC, although it took them two more years to subdue its warlike population. Near the current Alumdaina Palace they founded a castro that gave rise to the creation of the later city, the current Palma de Mallorca. With the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the island was also dominated by the envoys of the Umayyad Caliphate, whose headquarters were located in Damascus. However, before and after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the islanders were attacked by Vandal pirates, a Germanic people, originally from the shores of the Baltic Sea.
The first attempt of the Christian conquest of the island was carried out in 1115, but soon after the Almohad pirates took over the island again, and finally, it was the Aragonese king Jaime I the Conqueror who conquered it in 1229, together with the other islands, Menorca and Ibiza. Majorca first remained in the Kingdom of Aragon, and later, after the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon, it passed as part of the territory inherited by their grandson: King Carlos I of Spain and V of Germany.
MY ROUTE IN A VAN
Together with my partner I arrived at Majorca airport on Friday night, where the owner of the van that we have rented for the weekend picked us up. There is the possibility of bringing your own vehicle on a ferry from the Peninsula, but it requires more time, which we did not have at that time.
Since it was very late, we decided to spend the first night near Ciudad Jardin Beach and start our route the next day early in the morning. It is very important to know that in Majorca you cannot camp with your van, but nothing prevents you from parking it on the street. You must be careful with this, since you could get a fine.
FIRST DAY: FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE SIERRA DE TRAMONTANA
On Saturday after having breakfast some very good ensaimadas, some typical Majorcan sweets, we set off on the road.
VALLDEMOSA
Our first stop was the picturesque mountain town of Valldemosa, located just 17km from Palma de Mallorca. Among the precious buildings that still remain in the town, the Real Cartuja stands out, the former residence of King Sancho I of Majorca, and which in 1399 was given as a gift to the Carthusian monks. After 400 years, the building, already in private hands, became a guest house, where famous writers stayed, such as Rubén Darío or Miguel de Unamuno, as well as the Polish pianist Chopin, who stayed in the town between 1838 and 1839. Near La Caruja there are the Royal Gardens that are also worth visiting. Another beautiful building in the town is the church of St Bartomeu, in which, among the twelve chapels, stands out that of St Catalina, the young pious born in Valldemosa. In fact, if you look closely, there are commemorative plaques in honor of the Saint on different buildings. On the other hand, you should simply get lost in the narrow streets of the town and enter the local businesses, where they sell tasty products, traditional to the island, such as potato cakes.
PORT OF SOLLER
At noon we made a stop at Port of Soller. We parked near the Cap Gros Lighthouse, where I understand you can also spend the night with the van, although we have simply taken the opportunity to contemplate the views, eat something and rest a bit before continuing with our route. The lighthouse was inaugurated in 1859 and the first fixed light used an olive oil lamp.
FORNALUTX
It is another Majorcan town of great beauty, located in the Sierra Tramontana. I would recommend starting the visit in its main square, Plaza de España and from there strolling through the beautiful streets that give the town such a charming character. In the Plaza de España there is a small church from the 13th century. Personally, I liked to climb up the stairs to the elevated part of the town, from where there are also beautiful views of the valley.
HIKING IN CUBER
The Cuber reservoir area is a recreational area to spend the day with family and friends. It has a parking area, where you can leave the car and access this natural area on foot, but I think that in the high season it could be insufficient. We did not spend the day there, but we take a hiking route around the reservoir that is very well organized and can be perfectly done even with children. It is a beautiful walk that lasts an hour or so, and in which you will have the opportunity to see the goats and sheep grazing free. It is a lovely experience and I recommend you visit this area.
THE NIGHT IN COLL BAIX REFUGE
We were recommended to spend the night at the Coll Baix refuge. The road to the refuge is quite irregular, but it is possible to get there perfectly, perhaps I would not recommend it with a lot of rain due to the mud that could appear, which could make it difficult for the vehicle to move forward. You have to get to the refuge car park, where you can park the van and spend the night. It is in the middle of the forest and the experience is phenomenal. I also recommend you visit this place, even if you don’t travel by van, since it is spectacular. From it you can access a small cove and several hiking routes also start there, for example, to the Ermita de la Victoria. By the way, don’t be surprised if you are woken up in the morning by wild goats, as there are many of them living in the area. They are funny.
SECOND DAY: VISITING BEACHES IN MAJORCA
FORMENTOR LIGHTHOUSE
The next day we decided to start our visit by driving to Fomentor Lighthouse. Although the area is really incredible, I have to warn you that driving has been quite difficult due to the tremendous traffic that had been formed. Normally, in high season they do not allow cars, and there is a shuttle bus, but when we visited we could not take that option. We also didn’t know it was such a popular cycling site as there were hundreds of cyclists everywhere. I think you have to go very early in the morning or better not go at all, as huge queues form and you will spend a lot of time there. At least the views are worth it, as they are extraordinary.
NECROPOLIS SON REAL
At noon we stop at the Son Real Necropolis. It is an old cemetery with buildings dating back to the 7th century BC. Those that move away from the sea are better preserved, since the others are heavily eroded. We enjoyed a lunch in the parking area, which is in the middle of the field.
AFTERNOON ON THE BEACH AND NIGHT IN SANTUARIO DE CURA
Near the town of Capdepera there are different and beautiful coves. The island of Majorca is precisely famous for its small coves with crystal clear blue waters. I personally really liked Cala de Agulla, which also has a large private car park, and in fact, there were numerous caravans and vans parked in it. You could spend the night there, but we decided to spend the night in the parking lot of the Santuario de Cura, an old sanctuary from where there are beautiful views of the entire island and the sunset is unique. According to tradition, the origin of the Sanctuary is due to Ramón de Llul, a layman very close to the Franciscan order, who had an altar built on the Puig de Randa in 1275. By the way, in the morning the sheep that were grazing woke us up.
THIRD DAY: PALMA DE MALLORCA AND THE RETURN HOME
Since our plane was leaving in the afternoon on Monday, we have taken advantage of the long weekend to the visit the island, we decided to visit the city of Palma quickly in the morning. To do this, we parked at Ciudad Jardín Beach again and walked to the city center along the promenade. But I will tell you about this view later.
TIPS:
- In addition to touring the island by van, another good option would be by motorcycle.
- Remember that in Majorca you can’t camp, but you can spend the night without problem, as long as you keep your things inside the van.
- I think it is much better to visit the island in low or mid-season, because it is quieter and you will enjoy the landscapes better.
- I recommend you try local gastronomy, especially the sweets that are delicious.
all about eve`s journeys 