Overview
Road cycling in Mallorca is top of the list for many serious cyclists, as many professionals train on this Balearic beauty, given its wide array of terrain. Mallorca 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 nine day circuit of the island takes you through a carefully-crafted mix of land and seascapes, and to some of the island’s cultural gems, such as Pollentia Roman ruins and 14th-century Castell de Capdepera. Categorised as moderate to strenuous, cycle daily distances between 40-118km, and e-bikes are also available to take the strain.
For a relaxed version of the tour, see this itinerary.
- C’an Pastilla
- Cuevas del Drac
- Pollentia Roman ruins
- Cap de Formentor lighthouse
- Serra de Tramuntana
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in C’an Pastilla
Arrive in C’an Pastilla; originally a small fishing village, this beach resort on the south coast of the island features a long sandy beach and cycle path leading to the city of Palma de Mallorca. Spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach or visiting the capital, Palma.
- Accommodation: Hotel THB El Cid or similar in C’an Pastilla
Day 2: C’an Pastilla – Colonia de Sant Jordi | 85km
Begin the day by heading south-east along Bahía de Palma, before turning inland to cycle through the Mallorcan countryside, peppered with windmills and almond trees. Ascend to Santuari de Cura, an ancient monastery with panoramic views. Continue on to Llucmajor and Porreres, before heading to the 13th-century Santuari de Monti-Sion. Return to the coast to end the day in Colonia de Sant Jordi.
- Accommodation: Universal Hotel Marqués or similar in Colonia Sant Jordi
- Cycling distance for the day: 85km, ↑1,194m ↓1,193m
Day 3: Colonia de Sant Jordi – Porto Cristo | 105km
Start the day by cycling through Ses Salines, a town famous for its historical connection with salt production. We recommend a short detour to visit the Far des Cap de ses Salines (lighthouse). Continue on to the village of Santanyí, with nearby Parc Natural de Mondragó or Cala Mondragó beach. Head inland to Felanitx, before climbing to Castell de Santueri and Santuari de la Mare de Déu de Sant Salvador, offering views across the southern and eastern coasts of the island. Arrive in Porto Cristo, a fishing town close to the Cuevas del Drac. We recommend visiting the caves on a guided tour complete with musical light show of the underground lake (payable locally).
- Accommodation: Hotel THB Felip or similar in Porto Cristo
- Cycling distance for the day: 105km, ↑1,247m ↓1,239m
Day 4: Porto Cristo – Cala Ratjada | 112km
Head inland on a circular route to Manacor, home to the famous Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy, before continuing along the coast to Artà, well-known for its caves with a fine array of stalactites and stalagmites. Alternatively, visit Castell de Capdepera built during the 14th century. Cycle to Cala Ratjada and spend time at Cala Agulla, or follow the road to Cala Gat to the Capdepera lighthouse with views of the island of Menorca.
- Accommodation: Hotel THB Cala or similar in Cala Ratjada
- Cycling distance for the day: 112km, ↑1,320m ↓1,309m
Day 5: Cala Ratjada – Port de Pollença | 98/118km
Leave Cala Ratjada and ride through the village of Artà, with its medieval streets, cafés, and castle. We recommend extending the ride slightly to take in the Ermita de Betlem monastery, offering views out towards Alcúdia and Formentor. Continue on to Alcúdia, known for its medieval walls and ancient roman ruins of Pollentia. End the day in Port de Pollença.
- Accommodation: Hotel Sis Pins or similar in Port de Pollença
- Cycling distance for the day: 98km, ↑819m ↓841m (optional route extension: 118km, ↑1,444m ↓1,467m)
Day 6: Port de Pollença circular loop | 40km
Today’s route is the shortest of the trip and heads to Cap de Formentor lighthouse, on one of the most famous routes on the island. Alternatively, cycle a brief distance to the village of Pollença and spend the day relaxing on the seafront.
- Accommodation: Hotel Sins Pins or similar in Port de Pollença
- Cycling distance for the day: 40km, ↑898m ↓898m
Day 7: Port de Pollença – Port de Sóller | 90km
The scenery of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is the focal point of today’s ride. The first ascent leads to the famous monastery, Santuari de Lluc. Continue on for the ascent and descent of Sa Calobra. If you would prefer to skip the steep descent, it’s possible to reduce the ride by 26km, leaving the Sa Calobra road mid-route, to then take a ferry with your bike from Port de Calobra to Port de Sóller (sea conditions permitting – pre-booking recommended). If the ferry isn’t running, you will need to order a taxi, with details in your pre-trip notes.
- Accommodation: Hotel Los Geranios or similar in Port de Sóller
- Cycling distance for the day: 90km, ↑2,229m ↓2,230m (optional to decrease cycle distance: 62km, ↑1,315m ↓1,317m)
Day 8: Port de Sóller – C’an Pastilla | 102km
Begin the day by heading through Deià, once home to the writer Robert Graves, and the village of Valldemossa, which was home to Chopin and the novelist George Sands. Continue inland cycling through Andratx and Calvià, towards the climb and descent of Coll de sa Creu. Finally arrive in Palma de Mallorca and continue along the coastal cycle path to return to C’an Pastilla for your final night on the island.
- Accommodation: Hotel THB El Cid or similar in C’an Pastilla
- Cycling distance for the day: 102km, ↑1,832m ↓1,833m
Day 9: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour is in coastal hotels, many with pools. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel THB El Cid (C’an Pastilla)
- Universal Hotel Marqués (Colonia Sant Jordi)
- Hotel THB Felip (Porto Cristo)
- Hotel THB Cala (Cala Ratjada)
- Hotel Sis Pins (Port de Pollença)
- Hotel Los Geranios (Port de Sóller)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included each day. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can enjoy the rest of the meals in the restaurants along the way.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is rated moderate to strenuous, with daily distances ranging from 40-118km, it is suitable for very active cyclists with an excellent level of fitness (read more about difficulty grades). The itinerary starts by following flat terrain, gradually transitioning into a more challenging cycle as you approach Port de Pollença. The last three days involve cycling steady inclines through mountainous terrain. We do also provide e-bikes on this tour, which take the strain on the tougher sections.
We will provide detailed route notes and maps (in digital format) and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
Please note: if you choose to shorten the route on day seven by taking a ferry from Sa Calobra to Port de Sóller, you can pre-book it at barcoscalobra.com. If it isn’t running due to bad weather, book a taxi with Barcos Azules on +34 971 63 01 70 . Your hotel can also help you organise this on the morning before you leave.
When to go
This trip is available from March to October, with arrivals each Saturday and departures each Sunday. This tour is available to depart on other days of the week for groups of four or more.
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, offering 300 days of sunshine. March to June offers pleasant spring weather with fewer crowds. July and August are peak summer months, which are more crowded. September and October provide a balance with warm temperatures and fewer tourists. See our blog posts Best time to go to Spain and Ultimate guide to the Balearics.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
Our recommended airport for this tour is Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI).
- Arrival at Palma de Mallorca: take the A2 bus line which runs directly from the airport to C’an Pastilla. For more information, visit EMT or use the Omio planner above
- It is also possible to reach Mallorca by ferry, from Barcelona with a ferry port in Palma de Mallorca. You can also get a ferry from Valencia, although there aren’t as many services. For more information visit Direct Ferries or use the Omio planner above
Inclusions
Included
- 8 nights accommodation
- 8 breakfasts
- Daily baggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure, and no printed documents are mailed or provided on-site
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entrance fees (payable locally)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Bike rental
- Extra nights available on request
Bike rental
In case you would like to rent a bike from us, we offer a variety of bikes. All bikes are equipped with a helmet (obligatory in Spain), odometer, pump, basic toolkit, 0.75-litre water bottle, and lock. Sample pictures attached below, note that the exact models may differ depending on the availability, but the standard will be the same.
E-bike
- Velo de Ville AEB800
- Ridley Elykx E-MTB
Trekking bike
- Velo de Ville
Carbon bike
- Ridley Fenix SL Disc
- Shimano Ultegra (34/50 front, 11-32 back)
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
