Llevant Peninsula Nature Reserve, Mallorca

The Llevant Peninsula is found on the north east of Mallorca. This hilly terrain could almost pass for the Scottish highlands (on a good day!), with its covering of heathers and shrubs at the higher altitudes.

With a protected surface area of 1671 hectares, the Peninsula de Llevant Natural Park covers much of Artà’s mountain range (Muntanyes d’Artà) and includes the highest peaks of the Serres de Llevant: Puig Morei which stands at 564 m; Puig des Porrassar at 491 m; and Puig de sa Tudossa, at 441 m.

This area was declared a National Park in 2002 and is renowned for its remote and unspoilt beaches, and its colonies of Mediterranean tortoises. You can drive through the reserve up a narrow road if you prefer not to walk, and the views from the top down on to the Bay of Alcudia are astounding. The road then drops down to a remote church, the Ermita de Betlem, just next to the coastline. A number of hiking trails start from here.

Llevant Nature Reserve is also a popular destination for bird watching. Some of the land is privately owned and there is a visitor centre, again with hiking trails, on the road from Arta to the Ermita. Read about our experience when we went Walking & Birdwatching in the Llevant Peninsula.

There are mountain huts in Llevant where you can stay overnight. Refugio de s'Alzina has six rooms and Refugio de s'Arenalet has 18 beds and there is a campsite at La Caseta des Oguers. Otherwise, the closest place to stay is Arta in the north east of Mallorca.