The beautiful region surrounding Pollenca (or Pollença/Pollensa) located in the northern part of Mallorca boasts lush scenery combined with stunning landscapes and breathtaking views that many tourists have fallen in love with.
Apart from the alluring narrow streets and the appealing architecture of the town itself, tourists who decide to stay there for longer or those who simply wish to explore its beauty can take advantage of the various walks from Pollenca town.
However, a few of these hiking trails truly stand out in terms of sheer beauty. So, we’ve compiled a list of our favourites that are easy to reach and don't require any special equipment or exceptional hiking skills.
The 4 best walking trails in Pollenca
Hiking near Pollenca is definitely one of the highlights in the region and most of the hikes that we've handpicked aren't overly challenging or too lengthy. Spring and Autumn is an especially lovely time to walk, cycle and hike in the Mallorca. We hope you enjoy our recommendations:
1. Puig de Maria
Coordinates: 07460 Pollença, Balearic Islands, Spain (Google Maps Link) Difficulty: Easy Distance from Pollenca: 2.7 kilometers Hiking time: 40-45 minutes Parking: 07460 Pollença, Balearic Islands, Spain (Google Maps Link) TripAdvisor link – Click here
Puig de Maria (or Santuari de la Mare de Deu del Puig) is one of the less challenging hiking trails located in northern Mallorca, near Pollenca. It's located right beside the old town of Pollenca, sitting on a 330-meter hill that offers spectacular views across Pollenca town and beyond.
Getting to the top isn't very challenging, however, it should be noted that only around 50% of the path leading to the summit is cemented. As you approach the top, the road starts to become considerably narrower and paved with asphalt – so be careful in rainy weather, because the surface can become slippery.
When you do get to the peak, you will be greeted by a picturesque chapel and a monastery, dating back to the 14th century. Also, there's a unique museum full of antiques and relics showing off the historic lifestyle of the natives throughout the centuries.
The view from Puig de Maria is breathtaking, to say the least. You'll be able to see both Port de Pollenca and Puerto de Alcudia. You can also dine at the traditional restaurant called Refugi del Puig de Maria (their Facebook page) at the top that not only offers paella but local cuisine like pa amb oli (Mallorca’s variation of regular sandwiches) as well.
2. Puig de Santuiri
Coordinates: 07460 Pollença, Balearic Islands, Spain (Google Maps Link) Difficulty: Easy Distance from Pollenca: 2.8 kilometers Hiking time: 40-45 minutes Parking: 07460 Pollença, Balearic Islands, Spain (Google Maps Link) TripAdvisor link – Click here
Puig de Santuiri is somewhat similar to Puig de Maria, as it also overlooks the town and provides an incredible view of the surrounding area. However, it's much quieter as it's not as popular as it's historic sanctuary counterpart.
The hiking towards Satuiri starts by following the MA-2202 road from Pollenca until you reach an area with signposts - follow the one leading to Puig de Saturi. Walking to the peak of Santuiri takes you through stunning panoramic views, a variety of plant life and potentially even animals, such as the black vulture.
When you eventually arrive at the top of Puig de Santuiri, you'll not only be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery present there, but the place is also ideal for picnics.
3. Castell del Rei
Coordinates: 07460 Pollença, Illes Balears, Spain [Google Maps Link] Difficulty: Moderate-Advanced Distance from Pollenca: 8 kilometers Hiking time: 4 hours Parking: Ctra. Palma a Puerto Pollença, 4, 07460 Pollença, Illes Balears, Spain (Google Maps Link)
Castell del Rei is where you'll find the ruins of a once impressive castle, now providing a stunning view to its visitors. The location offers a stunning view of pretty much the whole west coast - from Soller all the way up to Cap de Formentor.
The only significant difference between this and the other hiking trails on this list is that in order to get to Castell del Rei, you require permission from the Pollenca town hall. And you have to keep in mind that it might take up to four days for the town hall to grant you that permission.
Here’s link to the downloadable version of the permission form – click here. Note that it’s all in Spanish (there’s no English version), but most of it can be translated by using Google Translate.
You don't have other options since the whole area is private and there's a gate located at the entrance. Overall, this hiking route is rather relaxing, with only the last two kilometers being slightly more challenging.
4. Santuari de Lluc
Coordinates: Plaza Peregrins, 1, 07315 Lluc, Islas Baleares, Spain (Google Maps Link) Difficulty: Moderate Distance from Pollenca: 17 kilometers Hiking time: 5 hours Parking: Carrer de la Mare Alberta, 73, 07460 Pollença, Illes Balears, Spain (Google Maps Link) TripAdvisor link – Click here
If you’re looking for something more challenging. Situated in the Tramuntana mountains, walking from Pollenca to this monastery is undoubtedly much longer than our other recommendations. The path that leads to the monastery is the GR221 one (the Tramuntana trail) and that's the road that you have to follow.
The whole excursion, back and forth, takes approximately 10 hours, although the route itself is rather linear so the primary challenge would be how much time it takes. Probably the most logical option would be to opt for starting the hike in the morning as this hiking trip would most likely require a whole day.
The path leading to the Lluc monastery is nicely shaded thanks to the oak and pine forest that it goes through and that makes it ideal for hiking during summer. And the route is actually adequately signposted so the chances of getting lost are slim.
The monastery itself is captivating, with its authentic and appealing architecture. It should be noted that there are plenty of tourists and tour buses there throughout the day.
There's a chance to spend the night there if you arrive before 5 PM and there's another advantage to that - you may get to hear the choir boys of the monastery. Also, you can grab something to eat or drink at the restaurant inside the monastery (Sa Fonda De Lluc) or the mediterranean one (s’Amitger), located right in front of the monastery.
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Our villa is only a short walk from the magnificent town of Pollenca and a 10-minute drive from Port de Polleca and the surrounding beaches.
For more information or if you'd like to make a booking, simply head over to our Contact Us page.