The west coast of Mallorca and the Sierra de Tramuntana offer some of the most spectacular view of the island. A rental vehicle is highly recommended if you want to explore the dramatic scenery and charming villages in this part of the island. The daytrip described below starts and ends in the capital of the island and is approximately 150 kilometers long.
From Palma de Mallorca we head west passing resorts like Palmanova, Magaluf and finally Santa Ponça. This stretch of our tour offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean and the mountains rising up almost from the sea. In this little fishing harbor we can admire a fortified gothic tower from the days the island was attacked by pirates. From the port in Santa Ponça it is possible to book a trip by boat to Sa Dragonera Natural Park, which takes about 5 hours.
Before we get to Es Camp de Mar we find plenty of other popular holiday resorts along the way like Paguera or Cala Fornells. In Es Camp de Mar we can do a detour to Port D'Antratx, a natural harbor on the coast of Mallorca where over the last few years the majority of the tourist developments have taken place. Traditionally a small fishing harbor nowadays the large new marina is the main attraction.
We can also choose to drive straight inland to Andratx, one of the most beautiful town on the island. Andratx was built slightly inland to protect the towns against the attacks of the pirates. The view back over the narrow streets of old town from the fortress-like Iglesia de Santa Maria and the remains of the fortifications is certainly splendid.
From Andratx we take the winding road of the west coast of Mallorca which offers beautiful views round every corner, like the Mirador Ricardo Roca viewpoint. The reason why this journey takes longer than most people think is that it is very hard to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and pay attention to the road at the same time, because the road is very narrow and winding.
Our journey continues along the narrow and curvy road towards Estallencs, one of the smallest towns on the island. This village with winding streets and steep slopes is surrounded by fruit orchards and pine forests.
The next stop is Banyalbufar, a little village perched on the cliffs only 26 kilometers from the starting point of our scenic drive. The panoramic views from the Mirador de Ses Animes are truly spectacular.
From Banyalbufar we continue towards Valldemossa on the c-710 road. Valldemossa, surrounded by lush countryside and hills with pine trees is famous worldwide, because the writer George Sand and her children spend here the winter of 1838-39 with the composer Chopin. It is a good moment to stretch your legs and walk through the charming narrow streets filled with bars and little shop of the old town of Valldemossa or visit the Carthusian monastery where Chopin and Sands lived.
After leaving Valldemossa we soon rich the limits of the city of Deià. This little village, home to the English writer Robert Graves, has attracted a lot of foreign artists and musicians and several art galleries can be visited. Take your time to stroll through the village and enjoy the panoramic views from different viewpoints, like the cemetery where Robert Graves is buried. In Deià we can find some of the best restaurants and hotels of Mallorca like La Residencia Spa, voted one of the four best spas in Europe.
The winding road along the coast, one of the most beautiful spots of the island takes us to Sóller, some 10 kilometers north of Deià. The village is surrounded by olive groves and fruit trees, like oranges and lemons. The center of the city offers several interesting monuments worthwhile visiting. Soller is also a popular daytrip amongst tourists who arrive on the vintage train (Soller Railway) from Palma the Mallorca. If by this time you feel like taking a dive and relax a bit the beach and Port de Sóller are only 5 kilometers away.
Although this scenic drive is less than 150 kilometers long, because of the narrow winding roads and the many worthwhile stops along the route, Sóller may be the location where you have to decide to continue the tour or to drive back to Palma on the MA-11.
It would be a real shame if you have to take this decision due to lack of time, because the most spectacular sceneries still lie ahead. Driving northeast in the direction of Cap Formentor our first stop is at the little village of Fornalutx some 8 kilometers from Sóller on the C-710. The village is surrounded by orchards, or oak- and olive groves and the ideal starting point for some of the most spectacular hikes through the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range.
Our drive continues along the C-710 road with scenic views everywhere you look. Approximately 30 kilometers north of Fornalutx we reach Lluc, a monastery from the 13-th century which is home to the patron saint of Mallorca, la Virgen de Lluc, known by the people of Mallorca as La Moreneta. The Monasterio de Lluc is our last stop on our scenic drive on Mallorca. From here we take the PM-213 to Inca and the MA-13 highway which brings us back to our starting point, Palma de Mallorca.
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