Why Serra de Tramuntana Should Be On Your Bucket List
There’s a lot to love about Mallorca. The amazing range of culture or the crystal-clear turquoise seas, there really is something for everyone here. But one of our favourite places (and one of our client’s favourites too), is Serra de Tramuntana. If you have adventure and nature in your heart, then this one has to be on your bucket list when you visit!
What Is Serra de Tramuntana?
Serra de Tramuntana is a gorgeously rugged and wild section of mountain range nestled away in the northwest of Mallorca. It’s made predominantly of limestone, which creates some stunning cracks, crags, canyons and caves to explore. The full range stretches the length of the northwest coast of the island, so it’s a good way to pass a day exploring.
But this chain of mountains is more than just a mountain or two. In 2011 UNESCO added Serra de Tramuntana to the list of World Natural Heritage, thanks to its scenic diversity, cultural and heritage sites, and the unique variety of nature that calls it home. Serra de Tramuntana is a protected space, home to species ranging from the tiny Mallorcan midwife toad to the soaring Balearic holm-oak woodlands. So much protection makes it one of the few places you can find true untouched natural beauty, and you can’t put a price on that.
Cycle And Hike In True Beauty
If you’re quite active and like hiking or cycling, then Mallorca has to be on your bucket list. One of the most famous and beautiful routes is the ‘dry stone route’, running 135 kilometres from Port D’Andratx in the southwest to Pollensa in the northwest, running all through the Serra de Tramuntana mountain ranges. Based on a network of ancient pathways with eight stages, it’s the perfect place to test yourself in an idyllic location. And if cycling is more your thing, you can tackle the infamous routes of Serra de Tramuntana, including the Sa Calobra, or the ride to Cap de Formentor. Make sure you pack some comfy shoes, you’re going to need them!
Sample The Wine
We know, the mountains don’t exactly seem like the ideal place to produce wine, right? Especially when you consider the vast flats of Napa Valley and how productive they are! But the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is actually home to a number of wineries producing some of the most delicious wine in the region. In fact, the famous terraces around Banyalbufar were traditionally used for growing vines, and still are to this day! The most common grape variety you’ll find is the Malvasia, which was brought over from Italy in the 15th Century and has been cultivated ever since. Not every winery will offer tours to the public, but bodegas like Son Puig and Son Vives are well known for their tours and tastings, so you can get truly immersed in the taste of Mallorca.
Perfect For History Buffs
If you like your history, it’s worth a trip to Serra de Tramuntana. Hidden inside deep canyons within the chain are small mountain villages, each with its own unique history and culture. In the Valldemossa mountain village, you’ll find an old Carthusian monastery, or if you’re up for a hike then the 13th Century monastery Santuari de Lluc is built on a high plateau within the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. This monastery is visited by pilgrims every year, looking to pray to the black Madonna statue (the patron saint of the region) for intercession. Stray a little further and you’ll find defence towers, rocky castles and even get to explore the hydraulic heritage of the area when water was a much more highly-prized resource.
But it’s not just the tourist spots you’ll want to visit. As you trek through the mountain chain you’ll come across a variety of beautiful cobbled footpaths dotted with agricultural terraces built from stone, fincas and hamlets with traditional architecture and all-around a real feel for the Mallorca spirit. The mountain range will have you walking through deep pine forests, past bountiful olive groves and breathing in the intoxicating scent of citrus trees – all without leaving Serra de Tramuntana! That’s one of the many reasons it was added to the World Heritage List – it’s a huge hub of both cultural and biological diversity, which experts are looking to preserve and improve.
At Balearic Retreats, we adore everything to do with Mallorca. The places you can visit are truly inspiring and calming, which makes it a perfect venue for our yoga retreats. Serra de Tramuntana is just one of the places you can visit while on a yoga retreat from us and soaking in the beauty of nature and the local heritage. To find out more, just get in touch with the team today.