Majorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain, is an adventure travel paradise for families. Beyond its sunny beaches, its incredible scenery, its wonderfully rugged mountains, it offers a feast of active holiday experiences for all ages. Ideal for families with young people of all ages and for multi-generational family trips, Mallorca promises an unforgettable vacation for everyone. The island’s top 3 adventure activities include hiking, biking and water sports of all kinds:
Hiking and Trekking in the Mountains of the Northwest of Mallorca
Dominated by the Tramuntana mountains, the northwest region is Mallorca at its most spectacular with its impressive scenery. It’s also a walker’s and rambler’s paradise with trails winding through pretty hilltop towns, dropping at intervals into rocky coves and home to some of the island’s most historic and picturesque towns.
Among the many walking tours in the area, an easy walk takes you from the town of Puerto Pollensa through the spectacular Boquer Valley to Boquer Bay, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. Or start with a visit to Lluc Monastery, Mallorca’s holiest site perched high in the mountains and home to a Baroque church built between 1622-24. A good time to arrive is when the children’s choir sings, every day at 11 am. From here, a 2-hour climb through scented pines and cypresses, spotting black eagles on the way to Puig de Tomir, rewards you with an incredible view of the island. There are many more hiking and hiking trails in the region for all levels.
Cycling
Family cycling holidays in the mountains, on the coast on the many bike paths of this paradise island offer the best of adventures. Cycling is very safe in Mallorca as most of the roads are practically free of traffic. A road trip through the Northwestern foothills will take you to some truly breathtaking views, amidst plant and animal life at its best.
A cycling trip between Valldemossa, a charming little town with pretty houses and cobbled streets high up in a picturesque valley, and Deià, with its stunning setting against the backdrop of lush green mountains, is an absolute must. A family bike trip is not complete without visiting bustling Palma, the capital of Mallorca. Around the city, you’ll pass through some stunning neighborhoods and interesting historical sights, including monuments from Roman, Byzantine, Italian, and Moorish times. Don’t miss the remains of the Moorish mosque under the Gothic-style La Seu Cathedral and Bellver Castle, a 14th-century royal fortress surrounded by scented pines.
Whether you’re looking to ride your bike close to the coast for spectacular ocean views or prefer to bike inland around small towns that offer a glimpse into Spanish culture and life, there are biking opportunities for everyone. ages and levels in Mallorca.
Water sports galore
The largest beach in Mallorca is in Alcudia, in the north. Stretching from the port of Alcudia for more than ten miles, the golden sand beaches provide an ideal location for aquatic adventures. Although there is a wide variety of water sports along the coast of the island: parasailing, canoeing, surfing, etc., this is the area for the greatest variety of water sports and includes windsurfing, sialing, kitesurfing, catsailing, kayaking, sea and diving Beyond the magnificent water sports and beaches here, the nearby Parc Natural de S’Albufera, the largest wetland Nature Reserve in the Balearics, is home to many rare species of wildlife, plants and birds. The walls of the old town of Alcudia still house old mansions from the Moorish and Roman times, and the ancient city of Pollenta is not far away.
If you’re looking for pure adventure, take the kids swimming at Formentor beach. Getting there is about as dramatic and hairy an adventure as any kid could wish for – driving almost upside down through a valley of holes and fissures! Getting there is well worth the effort: the sea is azure-purple and the beach is a wonderful place to swim and relax after a worthwhile struggle.
Mallorca offers many other adventure activities including horse riding, caving, climbing and even tennis, all of which can be experienced here!
