Mallorca's Lesser Known Cycling Routes

Following on from our review of the The Best Cycling Routes in Mallorca, we would like to offer a further ten great rides which explore lesser known parts of the island.

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10) Port des Canonge

Situated on the west coast, Port des Canonge is an isolated former fishing village which is home to a fantastic beach and the start of a couple of highly enjoyable coastal walks (including a superb hike along the Cami de Sa Volta des General to Banyalbufar).

From a cycling perspective, the winding road down to the village is a delight to ride. The turn off to Port des Canonge is situated on the MA-10 between the villages of Esporles and Banyalbufar and it is a 5km descent down to the coast from here. And what a five kilometres! The road is jam-packed with tight hairpin bends, which wind down through picturesque forest scenery. Near to the bottom of the climb is a rather incongruously situated polo field, before you continue to the beach and fine coastal area.

You then turn around and climb back the same way into the Tramuntana Mountains. The road is in excellent condition and almost completely empty, making for a really enjoyable shortish extension to a longer route.

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9) Cap des Salinas

Situated on the other side of the island to Port des Canonge, Cap des Salinas is the southern most point in Mallorca. A round trip from the nearby village of Ses Salines is 24km in length and the route is very gently downhill on the way there and slightly uphill on the way back; however, it is an easy ride and suitable for cyclists of all levels.

The road is lined by traditional Mallorca dry stone walls and delivers you to a beautiful rocky beach at Cap des Salinas, which is also home to a working lighthouse. From the beach you can see across to the picturesque island of Cabrera, which is also a National Park.

Cap des Salinas is a nice ride for an hour or two, although more ambitious cyclists can continue to Felanitx and tackle one of the two excellent climbs there - Castell de Santueri and San Salvador. Situated close to Ses Salines is Botanicactus - a botanical garden specializing in different types of cactuses from around the world.

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8) Ermita de Betlem

The Llevant Natural Park in the north-east of Mallorca is predominantly known for its hiking trails, but it is also home to some great cycling routes of relatively short length. The routes here are rolling with some sustained climbing (including short sections with gradients over 10%), and they are fantastic for riding, with almost no traffic and superb scenery throughout the routes.

The best in this region is the climb to Ermita de Betlem, a small chapel overlooking the coast and the village of Betlem. Starting from the historic town of Arta (which is also well worth visiting), the route is just over 9km in each direction. The first part is relatively flat, before kicking up towards the end with the climb to the Ermita. The road is extremely quiet and stunningly beautiful, with hairpin bends snaking up the mountain, occasionally breaking out of forest to offer incredible views of the coast.

If you wish to cycle further, you can return to Arta and follow the narrow roads to the fine beaches at Cala Mitjana and Cala Mesquida.

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7) Albufera Natural Park

Situated close to the very popular cycling town of Port d'Alcudia, the Albufera Natural Park is a good option for families and other cyclists that prefer to go on pleasant off-road rides. After checking-in at the visitor center, you can explore the various trails around this wetland area, with a nice range of lengths and difficulties.

The Albufera is a very pleasant and peaceful area, and is known throughout Europe for its bird-watching. The park is home to a wide number of both residential and migratory species, including the Moustached Warbler, Purple Gallinule and Crested Coot.

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6) Manacor to Arta Via Verde

This off road cycle route is a great choice for families, or for cyclists who want a very relaxing day in the saddle. Converted from an old railway line, the trail runs for nearly 30km between pleasant towns of Manacor (the home town of Rafael Nadal) and Arta.

It is largely flat and without traffic making it suitable for riders of all abilities. The surface is mostly dirt or light gravel and so is not really suitable for road bikes, but it is fine to ride on a hybrid (trekking) bike.

Being a former railway line, the route passes over interesting bridges and through tunnels as it carves through the picturesque countryside of eastern Mallorca.

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5) Mallorca's Wine Region

Like almost every region in Spain, Mallorca produces its own excellent wine. While it is not as famous or as widely exported as the likes of Rioja or Ribera del Duero, it remains a relatively important and proud local industry.

The cycling route, linked to above, rides around the wine region passes through picturesque vineyards and historic villages along quiet country lanes, making for an enjoyable day in the saddle. Centered around the villages of Binissalem and Santa María, there are various different routes you can take around this area. A nice shorter loop connects the villages of Costitx, Sencelles, Biniali and Santa María.

Another longer option is to visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed village of Orient in the foothills of the Tramuntana Mountains, before returning through the vineyards to the town Alaró.

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4) Cap d'Alcudia

Cap d'Alcudia is situated on the other side of Pollensa Bay from the legendary Cap de Formentor. It is not as long or hilly as its more famous cousin; however, it is also considerably quieter and with a considerable charm of its own - making it a nice option for riders who are slightly intimidated by the amount of climbing on Cap de Formentor.

Beginning in the town of Alcudia - home to a fantastic Roman site in the city center - the short route heads through the village of Mal-Pas along the peninsula. Here you pass by several enormous villas and hidden coves, before the route becomes increasingly rural and undulating. The views across the bay to the Cap de Formentor are spectacular and offer a unique perspective on this part of the island. The very tip of the Alcudia Peninsula is closed to the public as it is home to a military radar, but the ride is certainly still worth doing.

This route is entirely on paved roads. It also does a loop around the city walls of Alcudia and passes the Roman remains of Pollentia.

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3)Puig Major & Cala Tuent

Puig Major is the highest road climb in Mallorca and doesn't really belong on this list, as it is very well known by cyclists. However, while many riders continue along the undulating road to Sa Calobra, very few take the opportunity to explore the equally spectacular Cala Tuent.

The route begins in Soller and climbs Puig Major using the back road via Fornalutx. After joining up with the main MA-10 road the route continues past the beautiful lakes before turning left and descending the stunning hairpin bends down towards Sa Calobra.

However, 3km before the bottom of the descent, you take a deviation towards Cala Tuent. You will be amazed at how quiet the road quickly becomes, and the scenery here is really beautiful as you descend to a beautiful beach at the bottom. From here you can either catch the boat from Sa Calobra back to Port de Soller, or you can return the same way by bike via the Coll del Reis and Puig Major.

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2) Sobremunt & Es Verger

Many cyclists visiting Mallorca are under the impression that Sa Calobra is the most challenging climb on the island. It isn't - Sobremunt is. This quiet climb, hidden in the southern part of the Tramuntana mountains near to the towns of Esporles and Puigpunyent, is characterized by steep gradients over its 7km length. There are several sections at 20% and numerous long ramps in excess of 15%. The steep grades are compounded by the road surface, which deteriorates in the last 2km of the climb (although it remains perfectly fine to ride on a road bike).

Sobremunt is not an especially picturesque climb by Mallorca's standards; it is forested and with very few open views. However, it is very quiet and peaceful, allowing you to suffer in silence as you fight against the unrelenting slopes.

This route between the towns of Calvia and Esporles, begins with a rolling section before tackling Sobremunt. From the top you descend some steep hairpins down through Es Verger - before finishing with a beautiful descent into Esporles.

From Esporles you can return to Calvia either by the coastal road (see below), or on the much more gentle main road which skirts around the edge of Palma, but which does carry more traffic.

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1) Southern Tramuntana Inland

The southern part of the Tramuntana mountains are not undiscovered, but are certainly not as popular as the higher climbs in the northern part of the range. And nestled right at the heart of the southern slopes is this stunning route from Andratx to Esporles.

Number one on our list of The Best Cycling Routes in Mallorca took the coastal route between these two towns - and this is the inland route. The two can be combined to make the best circular ride in Mallorca, if not the whole of Spain.

Starting from Andratx, the route heads inland over a short winding climb to Es Capdella. From here, you head into the heart of the mountains, through the village of Galilea and into the Puigpunyent. The route then finishes by climbing the tight hairpins of Es Grau and descending down to Esporles.

The route has everything that you could wish for on a perfect cycling ride. The scenery is beautiful through the forested mountains and with the impressive Galatzo peak in the distance. The traditional villages that you pass through are incredibly picturesque and make for great coffee or lunch stops. And the terrain is varied, with superb ascents and descents that are really fun to ride, on roads which carry almost no traffic.

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More Great Routes

These are just a few examples of some of the many great rides you can do in Mallorca. But there are many more possibilities, some of which we have explored in other articles.

These are partly taken from the routes that we use on our cycling holidays on the island, which you can find more information about below. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you would like to book a holiday with us or for any other information.