Activity Reviews in Mallorca

S’Albufera is the largest and most important wetlands in the Balearic Islands, a bird watchers paradise and a peaceful place to wander.

Many visitors to our part of the world come here for the walking, as the valley is surrounded on all sides by the rugged terrain of the Tramuntana mountains. The mountains are divided up into estates, 'olivares' and wild countryside and on any walk in the Tramuntana will find examples of all three.

If you're after sand-free sunbathing, with a refreshing sea breeze and cooling crystalline waters then Attraction Catamaran offers the perfect excursion for you. Far more economical than hiring a private vessel, the day outings deliver the tranquility of being at sea with just the right volume of music to keep you feeling upbeat and relaxed.

Winter Sundays are made for walking and Sollerics love to walk. The mountain paths and picnic areas are busy at weekends with local people enjoying the beautiful countryside on their doorstep. We set off on Sunday for one of the town’s favourite places, Ses Tres Creus ('the three crosses'). The site was created in a cave on the lower slopes of the mountains that dominate Soller. According to legend, it was a safe place, created to hide all the important artefacts from the churches when the town was under siege from pirates. The local people carried their treasures on this well trodden path, hid them deep in the cave and then returned to town via the grassy slopes . No hint of where the gold was held and no chance of a random pirate finding their way there. The three crosses is where the townspeople said 'bring it on' to the marauders secure in the knowledge that they had a great hiding place.

Rock climbing long multi-pitch routes in Mallorca in the middle of August isn’t most people’s idea of a holiday but I have had the Albahida Ridge on my tick list for a number of years.

Mallorca has so much to offer the intrepid and lethargic alike but there are few activities that can appease both at the same time. Flying over Cala Millor in a hot air balloon is one such activity and thankfully ballooning in Mallorca is readily available thanks to Jordi at IB Ballooning.

Fish spas have sprung up all over the place and seem to have stations at every resort town up and down the coast. They stand out with their large blue tanks of milling fish and the people up to their knees in water letting fish nibble on their feet.

The course at Alcanada is a real gem. The only course on the island which is on the coast, this Robert Trent Jones design perfectly exploits its magnificent setting. Tough in places though inviting for golfers of all levels, the course is a superb synergy of beauty and quality.

The east coast of Mallorca is well worth exploring with its blue flag beaches, Llevant Natural Park and hiking trails for all levels. There are several signposted walks which can be accessed from both Cala Mesquida and Cala Agulla.

Looking for an unusual and unique lunch experience on Mallorca? You might be interested to know that La Residencia Hotel in Deia has introduced a gourmet picnic high in the mountains above Deia, with views out to the sea. With donkeys.

The Sol Wave House Hotel in the Majorca beach resort of Magaluf is part of an plan to bring a bit more class to the resort. The main attraction at the hotel are the two wave machines that make learning to surf and even ride barrels a reality in the flat calm of Mallorca's beaches.

Take some time out from the beach resorts and tourist hubs and venture inland to Manacor, the birthplace of Rafael Nadal and the centre of the islands world-renowned pearl production industry.

Mallorca offers excellent hiking and walking opportunities, and the months between October and May provide the perfect weather conditions for hikers keen to explore Mallorca’s varied and spectacularly scenic terrain.

Es Fangar is a beautiful estate located just outside Felanitx which specialises in breeding and showing Hanoverian horses. It also produces some amazing wines, a range of natural products and is home to a wide range of local wildlife.

The Soller Vintage Train has been luring tourists for years. The beautiful wooden carriages first travelled from Palma to Sóller, in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, on 16th April 1912. It was no small feat, as the tracks had to cross the Alfàbia mountain range en route to the booming town, famous for its orange groves.

In a secret location, not far from Soller, I climbed like a crab, leapt like a salmon and swam like a dolphin to navigate the natural beauty of the Tramuntana coastline.

After hearing that mopeds are the best way to do it, some friends and I decided to rent three for the day and explore Cap Formentor in North Mallorca.

Cap de Formentor to give it its full name is nestled away in the north of the island at the end of a very pleasant journey through pine forests and mountain passes with stunning views and some hidden gems for seeing some spectacular bird species. Follow me on this trip as we start the climb from Puerto Pollensa to the Formentor Lighthouse at Cap de Formentor.