Not many archipelagos have a genre of music named after them, but the Balearic beat has evolved from this Spanish archipelago’s music scene, embracing an eclectic, melodic and electronic beat. Although this genre of music is associated mostly with the club scene in Ibiza, it reflects the blissful Balearic vibe that you get on all the islands, making you want to dance until the sun rises, and recover on a beautiful beach until sunset. Whether you’re cycling or walking in the Balearics, you can feel the rhythm in a way that works for you, appreciating sunrise from a monastery in the heart of Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana, or the vast skies along the Camí de Cavalls coastal trail in Menorca. There are also plenty of opportunities to tune into the Balearic beat on our cycling holidays. Whatever adventure mode you choose, here are some of our top tips on where and when to go.
Where are the Balearic Islands?
The archipelago is made up of four main islands, namely Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, located in the Balearic Sea, the name given to the part of the Mediterranean that separates the Balearics from the Spanish mainland. Think a few hours east of Valencia or south of Barcelona, and you come to one of these island idylls. The Balearics are not to be confused with the Canary Islands which, unlike the Balearics, are volcanic and a few thousand kilometres further west and south, just 100km off the coast of Morocco. For walking adventures in the Balearics, our tours take you to the islands of Menorca and Mallorca, and Ibiza is for cycling fans. No matter which one you choose, all three proffer a mega-mix of mountain and coastal trails, dunes and wetlands.
Highlights of cycling and walking in Mallorca
Mallorca (also known as Majorca) is not only the largest of the Balearics, at 3,640km², it’s also the most mountainous, with the Serra de Tramuntana range creating a strong spine along its north coast. This beautiful belt is studded with natural and cultural heritage gems and is the focal point for our walking and cycling trails in Mallorca. The city of Palma is not only the island’s capital, and a fine one too overlooking the Mediterranean, with a Gothic cathedral standing proudly amidst all the beauty, but it is also the capital of all the Balearics. For more information, read our blog, Full disclosure (and exposure) on walking in Mallorca.
Serra de Tramuntana
Mallorca’s mountain range is called the Serra de Tramuntana and, unlike its neighbouring much flatter islands, it’s home to at least eleven peaks over 1,000m. It stretches for 90km along the coast from Andratx in the southwest to Cap de Formentor in the far north and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site Cultural Landscape in 2011. UNESCO celebrates the age-old traditions of remote, elevated farming on an island with few resources, in particular for its creative use of dry stone walls, footpaths, canals and water mills. Many of these can be seen on the island’s GR221 trail, locally known as La Ruta de Pedra en Sec, or dry stone route. As well as along our array of cycling trails. The Serra de Tramuntana are also home to a wide array of birdlife, including Bonelli’s eagle, osprey and griffon vultures. Mallorca is also the last island home in the world to black vultures.
Cúber Lake to Lluc Monastery trek
The fact that it’s almost heart shaped is apt, given that Cúber Lake is heart stoppingly beautiful, in the heart of Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana’s highest peaks. It’s the starting point for a trek to the 13th-century Lluc Monastery, Santuari de Lluc, considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites on the island. And it really is a spectacular walk amongst high peaks with views across the range’s rich valleys, on the waymarked GR221 trail, and just one of many highlights on our walking holiday in the Serra Tramuntana. The good news is that you get to slumber at this ethereal retreat not only for the night after the trek, but for one other too. You also get to visit Lluc Monastery on all of our cycling holidays, although you don’t get to sleep there.
Archduke’s Trail
The Archduke’s Trail, or Camí de s’Arxiduc, is named after the Austrian aristocrat who mapped out this route in the 19th century and then kindly created a trail here. It follows a route through the Serra Tramuntana from the hillside town and oak forests of Valldemossa to Deià, a former artists’ colony perched on a cliff. It’s considered to be one of the most magnificent dry stone paths on the island where highlights include the ancient forest of Pla des Pouet which leads up to Pico El Teix (1,263m). Explore parts of the Archduke’s Trail on both our eight day and six day walking holidays in Mallorca.
Highlights of cycling and walking in Menorca
If you’re a worshipper of coastal walking or cycling holidays, Menorca is like manna from adventure heaven. It’s also the greenest of the Balearics, thanks to its north-eastern location which brings more rain and wind, but also no shortage of sunshine. Stretching for 53km east to west, its most elevated point is El Toro, at 358m. So, the Balearic beat here is most definitely the sound of the waves, made obvious by the word cala or bay appearing just about every day on our Menorca holidays. For more information, see our blog on Walking the Camí de Cavalls.
Camí de Cavalls
This is a 185km trail that encircles the island’s coast, and was built in the 14th century by King James II and his occupying forces, to give access for his knights and horses to protect the island. Which is why it’s also called the Horseman’s Trail. The local community have strived to turn this into something a lot more positive, and worked together to create a public right of way for walkers. Highlights along the way include S’Albufera des Grau Nature Park, the rugged Cap de Favàritx and lighthouse and a magnificent collection of ravines, interspersed with traditional beach villages such as Cala Galdana.
S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park
A heavenly hangout not just for adventurers on our walking and cycling holidays, but also migratory birds, turtles and tortoises, meaning that S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park and the whole island were declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993. Located in the north-east, near the town of Es Grau, you get to walk through its wetlands, marshes, sand dunes and, as already mentioned, the Camí de Cavalls coastal trail. You definitely want to put your binoculars in your backpack for this one, and keep an eye out for herons, flamingos, ospreys, coots and cormorants.
Mahón
Our walking and cycling holidays in Menorca start in the island’s capital of Mahón (known locally as Maó), a natural harbour and ancient walled port, where migratory species range from yachties to foodies, art collectors to beach bar hipsters. The city’s architecture reveals the many international influences over the years, ranging from the elegant Georgian houses and public buildings from 18th-century British rule to the Arch de San Roque, the only remains of the city’s ancient city walls.
Ciutadella
On our walking and cycling holidays in Menorca, you spend one and two nights respectively in Ciutadella, located on the island’s westernmost point. This is an ancient port town with no shortage of elegant architecture, as it was the former capital before British rule. It has also retained some of its ancient heritage, such as the Taula and Talaiot megaliths, as well as the medieval streets in Plaza de Es Born, with the Born obelisk taking centre stage at 22m high. It marks the resistance of local people to the Turks who went on to destroy the city in 1558. Today, thankfully, it’s a Menorcan marvel, proud of its own culture and beauty. No better place to start exploring this culture than at the daily market in Plaza del Mercat, or the Friday and Saturday markets in Plaza de Es Born.
Highlights of cycling in Ibiza
At present we only have a cycling holiday in Ibiza, no walking adventures, but watch this space, as we have plans. Ibiza is idyllic for cycling, however, and in fact it ticks lots of boxes for Balearic beauty all round, so it’s definitely worth adding on an extra day here and there to our adventure to take in its chilled beats big time. Known traditionally as the White Island, thanks to its white houses, white traditional dress and, of course, white sandy beaches, it’s not whiter than white when it comes to its party island reputation. However, our adventures take you far away from clubbing and straight into your cleats.
Santa Eulària des Riu
This is your base for a week on our cycling holiday, located on the east coast of the island where you can swim before or after your cycle rides. It has a small traditional port and, although it was very much a local people’s secret for a long time, it is now a sought after boutique-style bit of the Balearics. Santa Eulària des Riu is the third-largest town on the island, and still boasts plenty of traditional architecture, such as Puig de Missa, a 16th-century hilltop church. Or the nearby Can Ros Ethnological Museum, an ancient farmhouse which is now home to a collection of traditional artefacts. There is no shortage of restaurants at the end of the day on the foodie street of Fressgasse, and for a coastal stroll for sunset, follow the Paseo de s’Alamera down to the sea.
Es Canar
Also known as Es Caná, this small town, on the east coast of Ibiza, is both eccentric and exquisite. The former because it’s home to the famous Hippy Market (yes, that’s its real name), where 500 stalls and often thousands of visitors, create a world of leather bags, sarongs, jewelry and ceramics. And no shortage of incense. The market is an Ibizan institution and has been for decades. You’ll either love it or hate it, but it’s only every Wednesday so you can choose to embrace it or avoid it. You can swap market buzz for maritime beauty easily here when you arrive by bike, as Es Canar has three beaches. Cycle just beyond the main one to Cala Nova for a more wild feel, or Es Niu Blau beach, which is nestled among pine trees.
Port de Sant Miquel
Located on the north side of the island, this is one of the busier resorts, but it also has one of the most sheltered beaches on the island and is a gem in quieter seasons. It’s the route here that’s the winner though. Leaving Santa Eulària des Riu, you cycle along rural roads, with an ascent to the traditional hilltop village of Sant Miquel de Balansat, with the obligatory church with a view. As you descend to Port de Sant Miquel, there’s a highly-recommended option to visit Can Marçà Cave (payable locally) which, as well as having an impressive collection of stalactites and stalagmites, was once a smugglers’ spot.
White Villages
We save one of the most traditional and terrific trails for the last day on our cycling holiday, which takes you on a 59km circular journey through a collection of some of the island’s traditional whitewashed villages. You need your sunglasses for this one, as the reflection off these brilliant white, cube-shaped homes is something else. Starting and ending at your hotel, head inland to the likes of Sant Mateu, with a trail of vineyards and almond trees leading you there. There is no shortage of almond trees en route to Santa Agnès de Corona either, as well as carob, olive and citrus trees sprinkled throughout this rural idyll. You can stop at any of these for a coffee or lunch, but Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera is irresistible with its artisan shops and local foodie hangouts. The island’s famous clubbers don’t do this route, but they are missing out on some serious vélo vibes.
Best time to go to the Balearics
Best time to go to Mallorca
The best time for walking or cycling in Mallorca is, basically, when it’s not too hot, as Mallorcan temperatures are the highest of all the islands, with average maximum temperatures of 31.5C in August, which is why many of our holidays don’t run during that time. Our Mallorca holidays are available as early as February, however, and as late as October. In February, average temperatures top at 15.5C and, in October they head as high as 23.9C. So you can ward off those winter blues with some Mallorcan blue skies and seas. In March and April, wild flowers start to open up along the Tramuntana trails, such as the delicate Balearic cyclamen, foxgloves and the scarlet pimpernel, a delicate orange flower that closes up when rain is expected. Which isn’t often.
We do have one walking holiday in Mallorca that is available all the way through from February to November, but the others take a break in July and August due to the extreme heat. Autumn is also divine for taking on the Tramuntana, with an average temperature of 27C in September, dipping to a sultry 19C in November, although you may get more rain showers, but it’s drier than in Menorca and you get five hours of sunshine per day in November, compared with eight hours in September on both islands.
You can combine sunshine and vines in September at the Festa des Vermar, or grape harvest festival in Mallorca, which takes place over two weeks in Binissalem during the last two weeks of September. Although you don’t walk through it on our walking holidays, you might want to time your trip to go there for a day trip at the end, as it’s only 28km from Palma.
Best time to go to Menorca
The best time for walking in Menorca is between April and June, and then throughout September and October, avoiding peak season and peak temperatures. Our cycling holiday has a longer season, however, running from March to November, but with no trips in July or August. In March and November, temperatures average around 14C with chances of rain. Moving on to April, average maximum temperatures are 18C, going up to 26C in September and dipping to 22C in October. As it’s a smaller island, there are fewer accommodations that work perfectly with our carefully-crafted itineraries, and also it does get more rainfall than Mallorca in spring and autumn, although this is still minimal. We also don’t have holidays available over the midsummer period of 23 and 24 June, when the island celebrates the Fiestas of Sant Joan de Ciutadella and everything is booked out. Nature has its own festivities in spring, however, so if you travel in April and May, the coastal trails will be peppered with daisies, marigolds, wild roses and flowering garlic.
Best time to go to Ibiza
Our cycling holiday in Ibiza runs from the beginning of April until mid-October. April is actually perfect for cycling here, as the temperatures are still cooler (between 12-20C) and when the Easter celebrations have calmed, the island is calm and balmy. If you love to swim, the water is warming up in May with average temperatures of 19C, and you’ll still have many of the beaches to yourself. June to September is when the clubs start to open, and the nightlife kicks in, although this is more in Ibiza town, Playa d’en Bossa and San Antonio, which are not on our cycling itinerary. It can also get very hot in Ibiza in summer months, with temperatures ranging between 25-35C, cooling down to an average of 23C in September and 20C in October.
The Festes de Maig, in early May takes place in Santa Eulària des Riu, where you’re based, and it’s a delight to witness this traditional spring celebration of pilgrims and local music. For a different sort of music, that’s neither religious or revelling, check out the Eivissa Jazz Festival, in early September which takes place inside the walls of Ibiza Town.
Easter in the Balearics
As with all of Spain, Easter is taken pretty seriously in the Balearics and so, if it falls when we have availability, be prepared to join the festivities. Semana Santa or Holy Week, is a time for processions, libations and plenty of passion all over the islands. It’s worth noting that Menorca is still very quiet at Easter, with most people not arriving on the island until the beginning of May. Meaning the Camí de Cavalls is still very quiet for some Easter reflections.
How do I get to the Balearic Islands?
There are international airports on Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza but Mallorca has many more airlines serving it as it’s the largest Balearic island. If you want to travel by ferry from mainland Spain, and combine one of our Catalonia walking holidays with a Balearic one, there are ferries to Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza from Barcelona. You can also get a ferry from Valencia, although there aren’t as many services. The quickest ferry to Ibiza from mainland Spain is actually from Dénia, in Alicante, which takes only 2h 15mins, and which also features on this cycling holiday, between Alicante and Valencia. If you want a colossal cycling duo. If you want to combine a walking holiday in Menorca with one in Mallorca, you can take a ferry between the two and it takes just over an hour.
If islands are your thing, we have many more adventures on offer, as you can see in our blog Island walking holidays or our Ultimate guide to walking in Spain’s Canary Islands. As well as our in-house travel writer’s experience of hiking in Mallorca and walking the Camí de Cavalls. For more archipelagic joy, check out Reasons to go walking in Madeira.
