Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands, which are a part of Spain in the Mediterranean sea. The island is rich in European history because of its central location in the highly fought over Mediterranean sea. Some of the first inhabitants of Mallorca; the Talayotic people, they constructed stone watchtowers remains a great unsolved mystery for archaeologists. The island was later inhabited by the Romans, Muslims and finally Christian rule around 1256. The island runs deep in Mallorquin tradition and subsistence living but the the tourism boom in the 1960’s began to transform the island forever. The island is incredibly diverse with limestone cliffs, caves and sandy coves contrasted by wild flowers, olive groves and forests landscapes. The landscape outside of Palma is preserved well and the local Mallorquin people take great pride in showcasing the island’s natural beauty.
The island is rich in European history because of its central location in the highly fought over Mediterranean sea.
Mallorca is best known as a popular holiday destination, especially for tourists from the United Kingdom and Germany. The island has a population of just under one million people with its largest city, Palma, hosting nearly half of the population. The climate is a mild Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine to accompany its numerous beaches. Mallorca plays host to over 20 million visitors each year making the Palma de Mallorca airport one of the busiest airports in Spain. The majority of the tourists will not make it further than the beaches in Palma leaving the majority of the island untouched. A well kept secret was exposed by Team Sky when they made Mallorca their winter training destination for team camp. The cat is out of the bag but Mallorca has plenty to offer everyone, especially cyclists looking for a unique, authentic cycling experience.
We started sharing the magic of Mallorca 5 years ago and we can’t be more excited for our 6th year of running a cycling trip in Mallorca, Spain.
We started sharing the magic of Mallorca 5 years ago and we can’t be more excited for our 6th year of running a cycling trip in Mallorca, Spain. The camp is an all inclusive trip based out of a Spanish villa. All meals are prepared in house by our chef with the exception of two dinners out. Our lunches are prepared by a local Mallorca chef, this provides us with a taste of Mallorquin cuisine back at the villa each afternoon post ride. On two evenings we dine out at two of our local favorite restaurants in neighboring villages. The house model provides a relaxing home base with plenty of time to relax by the pool, enjoy some local wines and catch an afternoon nap. A vacation without a trip to the beach would not be complete, so we make sure to visit the beach as well. The Serra De Tramuntana mountains offers some excellent hiking, trail running and can provide some afternoon excursions. Mallorca has an amazing network of roads that are perfect for cycling, all but one of our rides will leave directly from the villa.
Tourism is the main source of revenue for Mallorca but as I said earlier most travelers do not stray very far from the island’s largest city, Palma. The majority of the island is relatively untouched leaving an abundance of quiet country roads for cyclists. Traffic will not be an issue but be prepared to see hundreds of other cyclists each day. A highlight is cycling to the Cap De Formentor, a lighthouse surrounded by cliffs diving into the Mediterranean on newly paved out and back road. It is hard not to mention Sa Calobra when talking about cycling in Mallorca. The ride descends from the Serra de Tramuntana mountains which traverse the entire island all the way down to the port de Sa Calobra. The ride is unique for a few reasons; hairpin turns, a hairpin turn that loops under itself (only 5 of these in all of Europe), and you descend down then climb up on the on the out and back road. The climb out is considered a classic climb of Europe and is well known amongst professional cyclists and those seeking the most prestigious Strava KOMs. Each ride has it’s own unique features but one thing remains the same, cafe stops with great espresso and pastries. On our rides we like to get in some good miles but also indulge in the local culture and spend some time at cafes and vistas. For those feeling extra hungry a Pa amb oli might be in order, this is a traditional dish of bread, olive oil and olives.