Discover the more authentic and wilder side of Mallorca by cycling along secret paths, hidden routes between mountains and secluded coves that will make you forget that this paradise is also one of the most visited destinations in the Mediterranean.
Mallorca on two wheels: an island for cyclists of every kind
There’s much more to Mallorca than the sun, picturesque coves and rows of beach umbrellas. For those who love cycling, whether road warriors, gravel fanatics or trail adventurers, this island has a whole world of surprising routes well away from the crowds. Here, among almond fields, solitary lighthouses and mountains reaching up to the sky, hides an authentic Mallorca, only to be discovered at pedalling pace.
Get ready to lose yourself on dirt tracks lined with dry-stone walls, ride into villages where you seem to step back in time, and breathe in the salty air as the sea accompanies you from afar. Because you don’t just tour Mallorca; you live it, feel it and pedal it.
From Pollença to Lluc: the spiritual heart of the Tramuntana mountains
- Type of bike: Road or gravel
- Difficulty: Intermediate – hard
- Distance: 26km (one way)
- When to go: Spring and autumn, when the sun is warm but not overbearing
- How to get there: Pollença is easy to get to by car or bus from Palma
This route is one of those gems that combines mysticism with an epic ride. It starts from the charming town of Pollença, with its El Calvari steps and its houses made of golden stone, and winds up to the Lluc monastery, one of the island’s holiest sites.
The narrow but well asphalted road runs through pine forests, crags and countless curves that give you many opportunities to reflect (and to make more than one photo stop). Whilst the climb is not extreme, it is, however, constant. When you reach Lluc, the silence of the sanctuary, surrounded by the mountains, is the best reward you could wish for.
Insider tip: hire your bike in Pollença and get there early to avoid the heat. And you can stay overnight in the monastery itself if you like; it’s cheap, peaceful and steeped in history.
The secret fields of Pla: the rural side of Mallorca not found in the guidebooks
- Type of bike: Gravel or trekking
- Difficulty: Easy – medium
- Distance: Circular routes between 30km and 60km
- When to go: All year round, although in the summer it’s best to set off at dawn
- How to get there: Best to stay in towns such as Montuïri, Sineu or Algaida
Would you like to feel as if you’re travelling back in time? The Pla de Mallorca, that silent plain in the heart of the island, is a paradise for anyone wanting to cycle at leisure along country paths, away from the crowds.
Here, between wheat fields and ancient windmills, the gravel paths are crossed by small roads that see hardly any traffic. Every pedal push is a whisper among almond trees, every village a real find: artisan markets, sleepy squares, freshly baked bread.
Insider tip: make a stop in Sineu on a Wednesday, when it’s market day, and try the artisan sobrasada. And don’t forget to use GPS: the routes are not well signposted, but getting lost here is all part of the experience.
Cala Tuent via Sa Calobra: a reward at the end of a challenging ride
- Type of bike: Road (advanced level)
- Difficulty: Hard
- Distance: 24km from the Coll dels Reis (one way)
- When to go: Spring or early autumn, to avoid the heat and traffic
- How to get there: From Sóller by car or bike (with lots of hills)
Sa Calobra is legendary among cyclists: an asphalt snake spiralling down to the sea. But it’s not widely known that you can continue down as far as Cala Tuent, one of the island’s wildest coves and one of the least visited.
After the vertiginous descent along the “tie knot”, a narrower and quieter path takes you to Cala Tuent. Surrounded by mountains and with its turquoise waters, it looks like a scene from a movie. There are no beach bars or loungers here, just rocks, pine trees and the sea.
Insider tip: take food and water with you because there are no facilities at the cove. And if you want to avoid the cars, set out very early… or be bold and do it in the winter.
Artà – Ermita de Betlem: mysticism by the sea
- Type of bike: Gravel or mountain
- Difficulty: Medium
- Distance: 10km there and back
- When to go: Any time of year, ideally in spring because of the blossom
- How to get there: Artà can be reached by bus from Palma; you can also take your bike on your car
This is one of those routes that’s short but full of soul. You set off from the pretty town of Artà and climb a dirt track to the Ermita de Betlem hermitage, a simple and solitary building with views of the sea and the inland countryside, as far as the eye can see.
The route runs through holm oak and olive groves, and the feeling of isolation grows with every push of the pedal. The hermitage is usually empty and the silence here has something sacred about it. Ideal for those wanting to connect with nature without having to ride long distances.
Insider tip: Go up at sunset and stay for a while, watching the horizon. You can sometimes spot wild goats along the way.
Tracks in the Serra de Llevant: the quiet mountain
- Type of bike: Trail mountain bike
- Difficulty: Medium – hard
- Distance: Variable, between 10km and 40km
- When to go: Autumn and spring
- How to get there: From Artà or Son Servera
The Serra de Llevant is the less well-known sister of the Serra de Tramuntana, but with beautiful routes for mountain bikers. Here, in the east of the island, the paths forge their way between rounded hills, Mediterranean forests and unexpected viewpoints.
The Península de Llevant Nature Park has various signposted paths suitable for different levels, all with views of the sea and away from the crowds.
Insider tip: Visit the Es Oguers refuge. You can stay overnight there and carry on exploring the next day. It’s an ideal base for discovering this unspoiled area.
Pedal away from the noise and discover a different Mallorca
Mallorca continues to be one of Europe’s most popular destinations for cycling tourism, but away from the well-beaten tracks there’s an invisible map that unfolds only for those who venture off the marked path. Routes across olive groves, paths between cliffs, coves where there’s no one else but you and the sound of the sea.
Are you ready to lose yourself on two wheels?
