ROUTE through the VILLAGES and VIEWPOINTS of TRAMONTANA

01.06.2021
740

Nail route through the villages and viewpoints of Tramontana, one of the star activities of the Balearic Islands.

In Mallorca you will find one of the most spectacular road routes that can be visited all over Spain. Converted into UNESCO World Heritage Site (such as Ibiza, also in the Balearic Islands), the Sierra de Tramontana it is the dream for every photographer in love with landscapes with great contrasts. Mountain and sea fight, ferocious, in a habitat where you can make a trekking of half mountain while enjoying the views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Route through the villages and viewpoints of Tramontana: from Andrach to Fornalutx

This route through the villages and viewpoints of Tramontana will start in Andratxon the southern edge of the sierra. The route will take us along the winding mountain road Ma-10, which runs along the coast, to Sóller passing through Estellencs, Valldemossa and Deyá. From Sóller we will go up, finally, to the village of Fornalutx, one of the most beautiful villages on the island.

This route, without stops, takes about two hours to travel so at the end we will spend practically all day if we want to dedicate ourselves to seeing in depth some of the villages and viewpoints we will cross.

Leaving Andrach, one of the most important towns in Mallorca, we will head north towards Estellencs. During this stretch we will approach the coast through the narrow valleys that form the Tramontana mountain range on its southern slope. After overcoming the first rocky massifs, we will finally have the first views of the sea, which will accompany us for almost the entire route.

Estellencs, the little one of the house

The first point of interest, Estellencs, we found it after half an hour of route. This is the town with the lowest population of the whole island, with just 300 inhabitants (in summer it increases). Near this, you will find the homonymous cove, of stone and rock, located on a cliff. The parking is quite small, so it is recommended to leave the car in the village and access on foot.

Torre des Verger and its viewpoint.

Continuing the route along the winding road we find one of the most spectacular viewpoints on the island, the Torre des Verger. This is a watchtower built in 1579 to warn of pirate attacks. The view of the coast that can be seen from the top of the tower is one of the widest that can be seen in the entire island.

Banyalbúfar and its terraces

Next to Verger we find Banyalbúfar, which means ” nestled in the sea«. The main peculiarity of the landscape of this village is its distribution in terraces, with the presence of numerous private vineyards. Close to the village is the narrow and elongated Cala Banyalbúfar, where you can park your car for free.

Valldemossa, Chopin’s home

Past Banyalbúfar, we have a longer stretch of travel to one of the great attractions of this route, the village of Valldemossa. To get to it we’ll have to deviate from the Ma-10.

This town is located in a valley in the middle of the Tramuntana. It is a small population of orange buildings where the parish church of San Bartomeu, from the thirteenth century, stands out above the rest thanks to its characteristic bell tower.

[su_note note_color=»#ffffff»]

ARE YOU GOING TO MALLORCA?

Would you like to know in depth Mallorca, Spainits history, its monuments? Click here to know more about your guided tours by bus. [/su_note]

Sa Foradada viewpoint, the best sunset

After returning to the Ma-10 and continuing towards Sóller, we find another of the most spectacular points of this route, the viewpoint of Sa Foradada. Because of your orientation this is, perhaps, one of the best places to watch the sunset.

Deyá the alternative

Shortly after Sa Foradada, Deyá appears, a small village built on a hill. Like Valldemossa, Deyá is a place of residence for artists from different branches from abroad, making the town a rather alternative space. Near Deyá is located the cove of Deyá, one of the most frequented by tourists in summer time.

Sóller, the king of the valley

The road continues and suddenly descends into a wide valley. We are in Soller, the cultural and commercial center of the Sierra de Tramontana. With its cobbled streets and orange stone walls, the highlight of Sóller is its Plaza de la Constitución, where the great church of San Bartomeu stands, majestic, visible from a distance. It is also noteworthy the presence of Can Prunera, an Art Nouveau building that keeps works of art by Kandinsky, Picasso or Warholamong others.
Another important tourist element is the Sóller marketwhich rides every Saturday.

Port of Sóller and lighthouse viewpoint Capgros

The port of Sóller is located in a ensenada 3 kilometers from the town. The highlight of this place is the viewpoint located next to the Capgro lighthouses, from which you can contemplate a wide panoramic view of the port and all the spectacular mountainous environment that surrounds the valley of Sóller

Fornalutx, the jewel of Tramontana

The route ends in Fornalutx, one of the considered ” most beautiful villages in Spain». A short distance from Sóller, located on a hill, between the Sóller valley and the Puig Mayor massif, is this village. Following the same trend as other villages in Tramontanta, its cobbled streets and orange stone houses are the main attraction for the thousands of tourists who come to Fornalutx every year.

After visiting Fornalutx, if there is still time, you can go a little further down the Ma-10, which is already away from the coast, to the area of Puig Mayor, where there are a couple of swamps. Further away, they are Escorca, the monastery of Lluc (one hour drive from Sóller) and Pollença, the real end of the Tramontana route. Due to the characteristic of the route, it is advisable to make it whole in two days, spending the night, for example, in Sóller or returning to Palma and restarting another day the route from where it was left.

Be route through the villages and viewpoints of Tramontana ends, therefore, in the village of Fornalutx, after which it only remains to take the motorway that leads directly from Sóller to Palma de Mallorca, being able to use the Sóller tunnel (a priori it was going to be free from September 1, 2017, but my friend Gonzalo has informed me from Palma that the process has stopped, so it is still paid, at a price of 5 euros for non-residents) or the ma-11a road that crosses the mountain pass.

Where to stay during the route through the villages and viewpoints of Tramontanta.

The most normal thing is that the base of operations is located in Palma , the place with more accommodation options. This they can vary a lot depending on the type of travelers: apartments (like those of AirBnb and its well-known controversy), hotels for families…

The accommodation options that exist in Booking are the following:

Accommodations in Valldemossa

Accommodation in Sóller and Puerto de Sóller.

Accommodations in Fornalutx

Accommodation in Palma de Mallorca

As for the cost, Mallorca is a place with prices somewhat higher than the peninsulaespecially in high season. During the mid and low seasons prices become much more affordable.