Palma de Mallorca, 10th Nov 11

48 HOURS IN MALLORCA'S MOUNTAINS

Mallorca’s stunning Sierra Tramuntana Mountains have this year been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for those visitors who want to escape the cold winter and enjoy inspiring scenery and outdoor pursuits, Mallorca’s Mountains make the perfect short getaway location.We hope these guidelines will help you plan your break.

Accommodation in the Sierra Tramuntana Mountains

The visitor can stay in a variety of accommodation from simple hostals, authentic agroturismos to luxury rural hotels:

Mountain refuges & sanctuaries

One of the most economical ways of experiencing the mountains is to stay in the refuges or sanctuaries around the island. Mallorca’s Sanctuaries, once occupied by monks, often occupy the highest points in the area and can make spectacular places to stay and the majority have restaurant facilities. Over eight are listed around the island they range from the largest at the Lluc Monastery to the smallest the Bonany Hermitage at Petra.

In the refuges, there is a choice of private rooms and dorms. The refuges are equipped with toilets, showers and warm water, among other services.

A total of 6 refuges (5 are currently available) are listed which offer a choice of private rooms or dormitories. These are run by the local interior government and these are open year round. Please note that reservations should be made at least five days in advance. Prices start at 11€ per person, per night plus a supplement of 3€ for bed linen and 1€ for a towel. Meals are available from 4.50€ for breakfast to 10.50€ for lunch. Information and online reservation system please go to: www.conselldemallorca.net/mediambient/senderisme

Agro turismo

Many agro turismo properties are located near the Sierra Tramuntana mountains and there’s a choice of over 100 members in the island’s Agroturismo Association. The latest brochure features accommodation ranging in size and quality from bed and breakfast on a farm or country estate, classified as an agroturismo, to rural hotels. Prices range from 53 € per night upwards to 898€ for a luxury rural hotel. Information: www.topfincas.com

Winter Offers

Here with a sample of some of accommodation offers available in the mountains this winter:

*Hotel Mirabo - overlooking Valldemossa and surrounded by mountains, it makes an ideal base for walkers/cyclists and is open most of the year. Offer of 140€ for a double room, per night based on two people sharing and includes breakfast and local tax. www.mirabó.com

Es Petit Hotel- historic townhouse hotel located in the centre of Valldemossa. Offering, from December – February, special rate of 102€ per night based on two people sharing a double room to include full breakfast and local tax. www.espetithotel-valldemossa.com

Gran Hotel Son Net, Puigpunyent - surrounded by the Sierra Tramuntana, this 16th century rural hotel will be open all winter and is offering a special “Discover the Sierra Tramuntana Package” to include limo transfers, 3 nights’ accommodation, 2 days car hire, dinner for two, breakfast plus extras. Rates start from 142.50€. per night, per person based on 2 people sharing. www.sonnet.es

L’Avenida, Soller – elegant boutique hotel in the centre of Soller which makes a great base to explore the west of Mallorca. The hotel is open all winter and offering various packages from outdoor activities in the mountains to local Mediterranean gastronomy. Their lead- in offer features 3 nights accommodation, breakfast in bed and a 3 course dinner from 130€ per person, per night: www.avenida-hotel.com

*La Residencia, Deia - emblematic rural hotel in fashionable Deia. Offering a double room for 340€ per night to include breakfast and dinner plus use of the award winning hotel spa. www.hotel-laresidencia.com

*Son Brull, Pollensa - historic rural hotel in the northern part of the Sierra Tramuntana. Offering a Nature Package with 3 nights’ accommodation including two days of excursions (choose from hiking, kayaking, coasteering, abseiling, mountain biking or caving with a local guide – picnic included), breakfast, 2 dinners, 3 days car hire plus extras, from 1338.06€ for two people in a double room. www.sonbrull.com

*This hotel will close for a certain period, please check website.

Outdoor Pursuits

Hiking- the ongoing restoration of dry stone walls, paths and refuges offering shelter to hikers and is called the “Ruta de Pedra en Sec” (Dry Stone Wall Route) and runs along the entire length of the mountain range. The route is divided in eight stages, and each stage offers accommodation nearby. http://www.conselldemallorca.net/?id_section=3198&id_lang=2

Cycling - Mallorca is the number one cycling destination in the Mediterranean and provides plenty of challenging rides which is why so many international cycling teams train in Mallorca including Sir Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Alberto Contador come to the island.

The local government has created over 260 kms of special dedicated cycling routes and a cycling route map is available featuring 10 different cycle routes with information and suggestions of hotels on each route with cyclists’ facilities. Further information: www.illesbalears.es or www.inestur.es

Classic Car Tours
The Mallorca Driving Association has now launched Classic Car Excursions. Visitors can experience driving around the island’s mountains in style in one of 12 classic cars. The average cost of hiring a car for the day is around 500€ to include a choice of routes. If several visitors participate in the excursion then they can swop cars throughout the day and vary their classic car experience. Information: www.mallorcadriving.com

Heli Tours - Sloane Helicopters is offering a “heli picnic” from 450€ to include a Robinson R44 helicopter with capacity for three people and pilot plus taxes and fees. The standard picnic hamper starts at 50€ to include a bottle of champagne. Further information: www.sloanemallorca.com

Culture

The Miramar Estate & Museum, Valldemossa - is open to the public throughout the year from 10.00 – 16.45, Monday-Saturday. Entrance is 4€ per person (children go free). Information: info@sonmarroig.com

Coll Bardolet Art Foundation, Valldemossa - recently opened with a permanent exhibition of Bardolet’s classic paintings of Mallorcan life. Temporary exhibitions and activities are featured throughout the year: www.http://fccollbardolet.org

Robert Graves Museum, Deia - the museum is located in the Ca N’Alluny finca that Graves built in 1932 and where he wrote famous works including; “I Claudius”. Admission costs 5€ per person. Check opening times on website: www.fundaciorobertgraves.org

Pollensa - Textil Museum Martí Vicenç. Calle Calvari, 10. Pollença. A typical historic family house has been turned into a textile museum opened by the local Vicenc family who has been involved in textiles for generations. Apart from a large collection of traditional textiles, the museum also features various artifacts and works of art by the family. Entrance is free check website for opening hours: www.illesbalears.es/ing/.../museums2.jsp

Bodegas – the revival of boutique bodegas has been a success story in Mallorca, especially in the mountain villages of the Sierra Tramuntana. Mallorca’s Association of Petit Cellars has over 30 members of small (normally) family operated bodegas many of which are located within the mountains. Many of these bodegas are producing excellent wine and have won national awards. Some visitors like to combine a hike or a cycle ride with a wine tasting at the end. For more information please go to their website: www.petitcellars.es

Historic Olive Oil Press, Soller Ca’n Det is one of the few original fincas still dedicated to growing oranges and olives in this area and has one of the oldest working olive oil presses in Mallorca which dates back to the 16th century. Visits can be arranged & English spoken: Tel: + 34 971 630303 or email: candet@eresmas.net

Traditional Mallorcan Restaurants in the Mountains – some suggestions:

Restaurant Es Guix is located between the mountain village of Caimari and the Lluc Monastery and is approximately 30 minutes drive from Pollensa. The restaurant is a traditional stone faced building surrounded by rock outcrops and almost hidden among the oak trees and wild vegetation. It serves traditional Mallorcan cuisine; including snails, goat and “arroz brut”. In winter the restaurant is only open at weekends. Further information: www.esguix.com

Es Verger, Alaró. This traditional mountain restaurant is perched below the Castillo de Alaró and a popular stopping place for hikers. The restaurant is basic with open wood burning fires but serves legendary lamb cooked in an ancient wood burning oven that is kept stoked throughout the year. The restaurant is run by owner Antonia and her family and the first serving of lamb normally comes out of the oven just before 13.00. Closed Mondays. Tel: + 34 971 182126 (look up its position on Google maps).

Es Port Restaurant, Port de Valldemossa. Worthy of a mention as it is a firm favourite with hikers walking down from the mountains, this restaurant doesn’t just serve some of the best fish and seafood in the area, it also offers a range of activities from climbing and trekking, to canoeing and scuba fishing. Open most of the year and closed for a few days in winter, so please check the restaurant’s website for opening times: www.restaurantesport.es

For more suggestions pick up a copy of “Walk & Eat Mallorca” by Valerie Green: www.sunflowerbooks.co.uk

For further information, please contact:
Mallorca Tourist Board, Dominique Carroll / Anna Skidmore,
Tel:(+34) 971 725 396 Fax: (+34) 971 713 540
E-Mail: info@fomentmallorca.org

Further Press Releases:

GOOD NEWS FOR MALLORCA IN 2012 (09th Feb 12)

THREE KINGS - THE FESTIVITIES CONTINUE! (05th Jan 12)

FESTIVE SWEETS CAN BE HEAVENLY (05th Jan 12)