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Hiking in the Serra de Tramuntana

Villa Son Bisho is in Campanet, at the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana, the mountain range in north-west Mallorca listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. From the house it takes 20 to 70 minutes to reach the start of some of the island's best-known hikes. Here are seven, from the easiest to the most demanding.

Approximate driving times from Villa Son Bisho, according to Google Maps with typical traffic. Updated October 2026.

  1. Puig de Maria (Pollença)

    • 20 min by car
    • Out and back
    • 1 h 30
    • Ascent 333 m
    • Easy

    A short climb from the edge of Pollença (Ma-2200 road, km 51.8) to the Puig de Maria sanctuary on the summit. The tarmac lane ends in a steeper cobbled section of about 15 minutes. At the top there is a terrace with views over Pollença and the bay, and a bar-restaurant in the old sanctuary.

    Tip: A good plan for a morning or for sunset.

  2. Boquer Valley (Port de Pollença)

    • 25 min by car
    • Out and back
    • 6 km
    • About 2 h
    • Easy

    A narrow valley between mountains that starts at the northern edge of Port de Pollença and runs down to Cala Boquer, a pebble cove you can only reach on foot. It is about 3 km each way on a wide, gently sloping track. It is one of Mallorca's favourite birdwatching spots, especially during the spring and autumn migrations.

    Tip: Take water: there are no facilities on the way or at the cove.

  3. Barranc de Biniaraix (Sóller)

    • 1 h 10 by car
    • Out and back
    • 2 km uphill
    • 45 min to the spring
    • Moderate

    From the hamlet of Biniaraix, next to Sóller, an old cobbled path climbs a gorge between olive terraces and dry-stone walls, protected as a site of cultural interest since 1994. After about 45 minutes you reach a junction with a spring. If you want more, carry on towards l'Ofre and the Cúber reservoir on the GR 221.

    Tip: Combine it with a stroll around Fornalutx and Sóller.

  4. Camí de s'Arxiduc (Valldemossa)

    • 50 min by car
    • Loop
    • 11 km
    • 3 h 45
    • Ascent 590 m
    • Strenuous

    A bridle path that Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria had built in the 19th century along the ridge of the mountains around Valldemossa. The loop climbs from the village through the woods to Pla des Pouet and follows the Archduke's path, with the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, before heading back down.

    Tip: Some sections run next to sheer drops: avoid it in fog or strong wind.

  5. Puig Tomir (from Lluc)

    • 45 min by car
    • Loop
    • 14.5 km
    • 5 h 30
    • Ascent 810 m
    • Hard

    At 1,103 metres, Puig Tomir dominates the north of the range, and from the summit you can see the island's highest peaks. The usual route starts at the Lluc sanctuary on the GR 221. Near the top there is a short rocky section fitted with chains and metal rungs; the rest is mountain trail, with patches of loose stone.

    Tip: Wear hiking boots and pick a dry day. If the rock is wet, turn back.

  6. Puig de Massanella (from Lluc)

    • 45 min by car
    • Loop
    • 16 km
    • 6 h 30 to 7 h 30
    • Ascent 990 m
    • Hard

    The highest summit in Mallorca that you are allowed to climb (1,364 m): the higher Puig Major is a military area. The loop starts at Lluc and passes Coll des Prat, with some of the best views in the range, and old snow houses. The last stretch to the top is on rock, and parts of the descent have no marked path.

    Tip: The path crosses a private estate where a small fee is sometimes charged: bring some cash.

  7. Torrent de Pareis (Escorca to Sa Calobra)

    • 50 min by car
    • One way
    • 4 to 5 h
    • Very hard

    Mallorca's great gorge. You descend from Escorca, on the Ma-10 road, to the sea at Sa Calobra, along the dry riverbed between vertical rock walls, scrambling over large boulders and around pools. It is a technical route that requires experience and good fitness, and one of the most spectacular on the island.

    Tip: Only when the riverbed is dry: never after rain or with rain forecast. If it is your first time, go with a guide, and plan your return from Sa Calobra in advance (boat to Port de Sóller in season, taxi or two cars).

Before you set off

  • The best season is October to May. In July and August, start early and avoid the middle of the day.
  • Take water and food: outside Lluc and the villages there are hardly any springs or bars in the mountains.
  • Many of these routes follow the GR 221, the Dry Stone Route, waymarked in white and red.
  • Check the forecast: fog and rain make mountain routes much harder.
  • Apps such as Wikiloc or komoot have tracks for all of these routes, so you can follow them on your phone.