Excursions recommended by Scott's guests …
Some of the outings and day trips our guests seem to have liked over the years. Please add your favourites to this list, using the form below.
A Boat Excursion to the Island of Cabrera
You don't need to own or charter a yacht to spend a stimulating day out at the National Park on Cabrera. A boat offers daily trips at 9:30 a.m. (Sundays 8:45) from Colonia St. Jordi to this protected island with its wide variety of local flora and fauna, species of birds and reptiles, and some fascinating underwater scenery. Walk through nature as unspoilt as tourist considerations allow, visit the 14th century Kosaren fortress and perhaps stop for a picnic and a spot of bathing in the clear sea. During the return journey the boat stops off at the "Blue Grotto", where you can take a last dip in the aquamarine water.
Information and reservations under the telephone number 971 649 034 or ask your hotel for help.
A Mallorcan Wine Route – Short Version
You don't always have to drink Chateau Rothschild; Mallorca also offers a selection of excellent wines.
Here's a small tour suggestion for wine fans taken from the comments of guests who’ve stayed at Scott’s Townhouse Hotel.
Start in Binissalem. Scott’s guests may have already visited smaller bodegas in the town, Mallorca’s wine capital, but for those coming from elsewhere, start at the Bodega "Franja Roja" on the main road, a big shoebox of a building at the Palma-side entrance to the town. Jose Ferrer is the largest wine producer in Mallorca. They don’t have formal wine tours, as such, but there’s often a nice man available who will squire you about. There’s a shop attached to the bodega and the Jose Ferrer “reserva” reds are a worthwhile purchase. Their “Rosado”, too, is easy on the palate, the head and the pocket.
Moving less than two miles up the road to Consell, the best bodega to visit is "Hereus de Ribas", situated just behind the church. If you have a problem finding it, just ask anyone you see on the street and they’ll point. A feature of the underground cellars is the battery of century old maturing casks of American oak. People tell me their bottled white wines are good, and you can also choose to fill up any empty bottle you bring with you from the huge wooden casks that line the cellar.
Moving along another three or so miles in the direction of Palma, you’ll see the Macia Batle bodega on your right as you approach Santa Maria. One of their white wines was recently chosen among Spain’s Top Ten whites. And in Santa Maria itself, we can recommend a visit to "Jaume de Puntero" in the Plaza Nova.
After your purchases and wine tastings, you might bear in mind that the alcohol limit in Mallorca is 0.5 for drivers.
A Car Trip Around the Tramuntana Mountains
This is a day trip – a big day’s trip – through some of the best of Mallorca's scenery. Regardless of where you start, you first want to head towards and through Bunyola (the home of the distillery of “Tunel” a famous local aperitif) and over the winding mountain range to the idyllic village of Orient (one of the smallest on the island, with fewer than forty houses), which lies at the top of a pretty apple valley. Then enjoy the road that winds down through two tall “puiges” – giant igneous extrusions with semi-rounded plateaus on top -- as you travel towards the historic village of Alaro. From here take the narrow lanes to the north, passing Binissalem, Lloseta, Biniamar, Selva and further along to the monastery at Lluc. This is a good place to take a break.
From Lluc, carry on to the bay at Sa Calobra, which leads through to an adventurous serpentine road. The route back can take you through Fornalutx (twice winner of the award as Spain’s most beautiful village). From there you can head to Soller, where you can park your car in the town and use the old-fashioned tram to visit the port.
I don’t know about you, but this excursion wore me out by the time I hit the North Coast, so this is an outing you may wish to break into two parts over two days.
Whatever you do, I’d suggest heading back down from Soller using the toll tunnel rather than doing another hour of curvy driving down the old mountain roads.
Lots to be enjoyed here, and I’m going to put a number of other drives on another page on this site, but this one covers a lot of the main scenery high points of inland Mallorca.
Take the Train from Palma to Sóller
One of the most popular of tourist attractions on the island is the train excursion from Palma (Plaza España) to Sóller. This electric railway was opened in 1912 and the wooden coaches still retain their original charm (and hard wooden seats!). The trip lasts around 50 minutes and takes you through the Tramuntana area, with some breathtaking -- depending on the day and the angle of the sun – views, and passing through twelve tunnels and over numerous valley bridges before arriving in the valley of oranges. The 10:40 a.m. train even makes a short stop before entering Sóller, to allow passengers to enjoy the views and take photographs. As I’ve said elsewhere on this site, the sightseeing train isn’t always to be recommended since a) the vistas from the stop aren’t the best on the journey, and b) because you arrive in the town at midday, which means you have to either catch an early afternoon train back down, or wait an additional four hours for the next one, a total of six hours just for one town, two if you count the port.
On arriving in the main town of Sóller, you can take the antiquated tram down to the picturesque harbour of the Port de Sóller, where you can find some decent restaurants to help you while away the long wait until the train goes back.
Detailed information regarding timetables and prices can be obtained from "Sóller Railway" in Palma (tel: 971 752 051) or Sóller (tel: 971 630 130) or ask in your hotel.
Finca Museum Els Calderers
If you’d like to see how the Mallorquins lived in previous centuries, the Finca "Els Calderers" is worth a visit. The estate was listed in public records as far back as 1229 and the present main building dates from 1750.
Wander through the historical set-ups and dioramas to see the lifestyles of the Mallorcan landowners and their workers. All the rooms in the main house and outbuildings are decorated and furnished down to the last detail in the style of the 18th and 19th centuries. The atmosphere is well recreated. There are also indigenous farm animals and home-made food products.
"Els Calderers" is on the Palma to Manacor road at the 37 Km marker between Montuiri and Villafranca. Open daily Tel: 971 526 069 or just go; no need to book.
An Excursion to La Reserva Nature Park
This tip comes from our Scott’s Galilea guests, since La Reserva is only a seven minute drive or a half hour walk from our mountain place.
The park is at the base of the Puig de Galatzó and offers a 3 Km long walkway, well maintained and easy to navigate. You pass by waterfalls and cascades, bizarre stone formations and some authentic remnants of ancient cultures. The varieties of fauna are explained on signs and because hunting is not allowed there is a wide variety of local animals who seem to have figured out that they are safe there.
Near the entrance to the nature park, safely separated from visitors, you can see three Goldilocks-type bears, from the North Spain branch of the bear family. They’re the biggest animals you’re likely to see, but other smaller ones abound.
The complete hike takes about two hours and is both a good look at how Mallorca’s wild forests were before all the hunters killed everything that moved, and also a good family outing if you’re travelling with children.
Check with your hotel for opening hours and prices.
Randa, a Mountain with Three Monasteries
Actually, to call it a mountain is a gross exaggeration – I’m just quoting what a local guide calls it. To me it’s simply a picturesque lump in the middle of the Lluchmayor plain, but a lump which nevertheless makes for a nice half day journey (with lunch if you’re smart).
The route starts in the pretty village of Randa and guides you to the first monastery "Santuario de Garcia", based right at the bottom of the craggy rock face. Continuing up past the "Santuario Sant Honorat" you reach at the peak the pilgrimage monastery of "Nuestra Senora de la Cura", built in the 13th century. From its terrace you have spaciously impressive views across the island.
Combine this excursion with a visit to the restaurant at the top, which also has rooms, though I’m reliably informed the beds are uncomfortable. Can’t fault the food though.
Don’t miss Fornalutx
I mentioned this village in passing previously, in the context of that long drive across the island, but truly Fornalutx is worth several hours of your time. I mentioned it had won the “Most Beautiful Village in Spain” title twice, and it really is postcard pretty no matter what direction you look in. Just stroll its natural stone steps and through the winding alleyways and enjoy the tastefully decorated houses of this quaint mountain village. I have no idea if the decorations are authentic, probably not, but they certainly are consistently beguiling.
Finish your walk at the Bar Bellavista at sit on the flowery terrace, which offers lovely views over the orange groves of the Valley of Soller.
A Night Out at Son Amar
Pure tourist entertainment, professionally presented and great fun, especially if you’re travelling with children.
Son Amar is a huge 18th century country mansion on the Soller road, a ten or so Km out from Palma, and the 2,000-seat theatre offers Las Vegas-type dinner shows, with surprisingly palatable food – choice of chicken or steak, but both nicely done – and a show with something for all tastes: leggy dancers for Dad, singers and comedy routines for Mum (I know this all sounds terribly sexist, but that’s the way they bill it) and jugglers and acrobats and magic shows for the kids.
They also recycle famous old bands from yesteryear – the kind you haven’t heard of in years and assumed long since disbanded or dead, whichever came first – and so if you’re old enough you’ll hear songs from your youth performed by citizens senior enough to have bus passes.
Really, I seem to be taking the mickey out the whole show, but in the end it’s all hugely fun and entertaining and a most satisfying night out.
After the tour buses have taken away all the groups from the big hotels on the coasts, if you came in a car you can round the evening off by dancing under a starlit sky on the romantic terrace.
Many hotels and travel agencies offer you a night there or you can call and reserve directly at: Son Amar Tel: 971 753 614.
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