'Goat island' is the largest in a rocky archipelago lying 20km off the south coast. Pliny claimed it as the birthplace of Hannibal and during the Napoleonic Wars it became a notorious prison camp. Since 1916 it has been a military base and since 1991 a protected national park as well. You can only get there on a day trip by boat, with time to walk up to the 14th-century castle above the harbour. Look out for seabirds nesting on the craggy cliffs.
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On the slopes of Puig de Galatzo near the village of Puigpunyent, this nature reserve describes itself as 'Mallorca's paradise' A 3-km trail of waymarked paths leads you through Mallorca's mountain scenery in less than two hours, past waterfalls and springs, olive trees and charcoal stoves A series of boards provides background information on wildlife and mountain industries. Well laid out and interesting, the reserve gives you a feeling for the area it will seem a bit sterile if you have been out in the mountains on your own but it might help you to make sense of what you have already seen.
The Llevant Peninsula was declared a National Park in 2002 and is reknowned for its remote and unspoilt beaches, and its colonies of Mediterranean tortoises. It is also a popular destination for bird watching. Some of the land is privately owned, and there are a number of walks for hikers and a campsite.
The Mondragó Natural Park is situated in the South of Mallorca close to Santanyí. The park is famous for its fine white sand beaches, large dunes, and the wetlands Ses Fonts de n'Alis with its migratory birds. Stunning cliffs reaching down to crystal clear waters complete this natural beauty spot. Several paths meander around the coastline and there are a number of very beautiful beaches within the park (Mondrago beach & S'Aramador beach). Agricultural lands and low hills surround the area. Free parking is available.
Just off the coast road 5km south of Port d'Alcudia, the S'Albufera wetlands make a welcome relief from long stretches of crowded beach. Birdwatchers come from all over Europe to see rare migrants like Montagu's harriers and Eleanora's falcons; species breeding here include stonechats, moustached warblers and the long-eared owl. Ospreys leave their breeding sites on the cliffs to come here to fish; peregrines and hoopoes live here all year round.
The name derives from the Arabic for 'lagoon', but the site has been exploited since Roman times. Pliny writes of night herons, probably from S'Albufera, being sent to Rome as a gastronomic delicacy. The wetlands were drained for agriculture in the l9th century by a British company which subsequently went bankrupt; the network of canals dates from this time. Rice was introduced in the early 20th century, paper was manufactured from the reeds and sedge, and it is only since 1985, following fears that tourist development was damaging the area's fragile ecology, that S'Albufera has been a protected nature reserve. There are footpaths, cycle trails, birdwatching hides and a visitors centre (about 20 min walk from the car park) with an audio visual display room where you can listen birdsong.
S'Albufereta de Pollensa is a wetland nature Reserve in the north of the island, however, it is largely private property. Visitors can drive along the main road from Pollenca to Alcudia to view the habitats.
This uninhabited island off Mallorca's western tip was the focus for a turning point in Mallorcan history in 1977, when it was occupied by environmentalists protesting against a planned tourist development. The campaigners won, the island became a nature reserve instead, the seabirds survived, and for the first time the authorities realised that mass tourism had reached its limit.
Six kilometres long and crowned by an ancient watchtower, Sa Dragonera takes its name from its shape, said to resemble a dragon. You can visit in summer by boat from Sant Elm; in winter you have to make do with views of the dragon from the beach at Sant Elm or from the climb to Sa Trapa.
