On this long and demanding route, we aim for the Puig del Sementer Gran (1,013 m), in the municipality of Escorca, bordering Bunyola and Sóller. A summit that often goes unnoticed, discreet, but which becomes a monumental balcony over the Lofra valley and a natural viewpoint towards the central sector of the Tramuntana mountain range. A pleasure for the senses and a real torment for the legs; nevertheless, the effort is worth it. We start from the Cúber barrier, located near milestone 34 of the Ma-10 road (Pollença-Andratx). Very close by, at the height of the recreational area of the Font del Noguer, the bus of line 354 of Mallorca's interurban public transport stops. On the website tib.org you will find all the information on timetables and availability of all lines.

L’Estufador is a coastal area located on the southern slope of La Mola, between El Ram and Punta Roja. The strict toponym, documented as early as 1712, refers to a cove at the foot of the cliff where there is a fishermen's pier, close to the outlet of the Torrent de la Talaia and Punta de les Pesqueretes. There is also the path of L’Estufador, which connects these landing places with the nucleus of El Pilar de La Mola, crossing the territories of the Talaiassa estate. Popular tradition associates the name L’Estufador with peculiar cavities in the rock that, when receiving waves on stormy days, expelled water vertically, creating a spring. These rock formations were removed by fishermen during the first half of the seventies, to prevent them from favoring the accumulation of posidonia. (source: eeif.es)

The route we present is a walk through part of the historic road network between Pollença and Lluc. An itinerary that starts from the Son Grua pine tree, a tree with its own name and a landmark in the territory, to climb up to the robust and monumental Muntanya fountain, following the old Lluc road (Ruta de Pedra en Sec/GR 221); while the descent follows the old road, the construction of which began in 1916. In between, between the old medieval road and the new road infrastructure of the early 20th century, numerous reconstructions of the old road to make it more passable, both for animals and for carts.

On this route we explore a part of the natural heritage that surrounds the sanctuary of Lluc. We are in the municipality of Escorca, one of the most extensive and at the same time least populated in Mallorca. It is home to the highest and also the most important and visited mountains on the island: Puig Major de Son Torrella (1436 m), Maçanella (1365 m), Puig Tomir (1104 m), Tossals Verds (1099 m), Puig de l’Ofra (1091 m) and Puig Roig (1003 m), among many others. The repopulation church of Sant Pere d’Escorca and the sanctuary of Lluc are the most important landmarks of the cultural landscape of the term. However, as a whole, from Andratx to Pollença, the Serra de Tramuntana must be understood as a mountain system of great geomorphological interest, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in the category of cultural landscape. It is a complex limestone relief, dominated by karst modeling, with strong contrasts between mountain and coast, and with an erosive dynamic marked by irregular water and Mediterranean processes.

On this route, we explore a part of the natural heritage surrounding the Lluc sanctuary. We are in the municipality of Escorca, one of the most extensive and at the same time least populated in Mallorca. The island's highest and also most important and visited mountains are concentrated here: Puig Major de Son Torrella (1436 m), Maçanella (1365 m), Puig Tomir (1104 m), Tossals Verds (1099 m), Puig de l'Ofra (1091 m), and Puig Roig (1003 m), among many others. The repopulation church of Sant Pere d'Escorca and the Lluc sanctuary are the most important landmarks of the cultural landscape of the term. But, as a whole, from Andratx to Pollença, the Serra de Tramuntana should be understood as a mountain system of great geomorphological interest, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the category of cultural landscape. It is a complex calcareous relief, dominated by karst modeling, with strong contrasts between mountain and coast, and with an erosive dynamic marked by irregular water and Mediterranean processes.

The following itinerary proposes the ascent to the moleta of Son Cabaspre, following a section of the GR 221 between Esporles and Valldemossa via the mola of Son Pacs. We cross lands and historical possessions such as Son Dameto and Son Cabaspre, which reveal the extensive and deep human footprint on the territory. A walk for the pace and the gaze to feel the aromas and smell the territory. The moleta of Son Cabaspre allows us to survey the hills and slopes surrounding Esporles and, also, to contemplate the mountains that make up the western sector of the Tramuntana mountain range-World Heritage. Consider that we have public transport to get us to the starting and ending point of our itinerary. The line 202 that connects Estellencs and Palma stops at the central promenade of Esporles. You can go to the website tib.org for any consultation of timetables and availability of the routes.

The Swiss writer Robert Walser (1878-1956), who wrote in German, said that every walk should be accompanied by the contemplation of nature. The proposal we want to share with you all embraces this from two perspectives: the natural, the Santa Eulària River; and the historical, the fortified church on Mount Misa. All of this in a short but intense itinerary. Because climbing to the top of Mount Misa in Santa Eulalia del Río is to enter the white light that Villangómez so aptly described: a vertical, vigilant, and silent Ibiza, where the church is both the house of God and the wall of the people. "From here, what you yearn for, beauty, / is offered to you, extended and expansive. / A thick forest that rises and falls slips down. / The field is sanded with green and ochre. / The orchard ends there and the sea begins. / White above blue, foam, ship in the (Santa Eulalia del Río. Mariano Villangómez Llobet. Mediterranean Poems –1943-1944–).

Biniparratx Beach is a small cove of sand and pebbles located between Binidalí and Binissafúller, on the southeast coast of Menorca, right on the border between the municipalities of Maó and Sant Lluís. The cove is very long with shallow, sheltered waters, surrounded by high, steep cliffs. To the right, towards the west, you can see a group of 11 artificial caves, dating from between the 6th and 5th centuries BC. The island's ancient inhabitants buried their dead in spaces excavated into the slopes of the ravines. During the walk, we will also have the opportunity to visit the Biniparratxet archaeological site, from the Late Talayotic period. Menorca has just over 700 km² with 1,586 archaeological sites. Not all of them are open to the public. However, UNESCO decided to include them (a good part of them) on the World Heritage list on September 18, 2023 under the Menorca Talayotic brand.

The Borges stream, at over 40 km long, is the longest watercourse in Mallorca. It collects the waters of one of the island's largest river basins, covering more than 330 km². It rises between Manacor and Felanitx, flows north, crosses the municipalities of Vilafranca de Bonany, Petra, and Santa Margalida, and empties into the sea near Son Serra de Marina. On its journey between Petra and Manacor, the Borges stream becomes the backbone of a long and fertile valley that we propose exploring, both on foot and by observing, to savor the rich cultural landscape and natural heritage of inland Mallorca.

A viewpoint is a scenic spot from which one can contemplate and view a vast expanse of land. Aware of this fact, as simple as it is profoundly complex, Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria designed paths around the great and immense Miramar, which he built from 1872 until his death in 1915, simultaneously establishing viewpoints. For the instructive and beautifully rendered landscape of the Tramuntana mountain range required spaces for its contemplation. These were the same land, sea, and sky that had captivated Ramon Llull six centuries before the arrival of the prince, scientist, and traveler, during his stay in 1276 while establishing the school for missionaries and Oriental languages in that very Miramar. We propose a walk "among the vineyards and the fennel," along the viewpoints below the Archduke's estate, at the foot of the Old Watchtower. A view projected around the Foradada.

This week we propose a route that's not very long, but intense. An itinerary that takes us along paths steeped in history and through mountains that draw our gaze to the most rugged slopes of the Serra de Tramuntana, a World Heritage Site. Our starting point is the parking area we find before passing through the Monnàber tunnel, below the Son Torrella mountain range. We are in the Sóller valley, within the municipality of Fornalutx and next to the municipality of Escorca. All of this is in the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana, at the foot of Puig Major.

This week's route takes us to the outskirts of Palma, to the northernmost limits of the municipality, where it meets the municipalities of Valldemossa and Bunyola. This short, flat itinerary between the hamlet of La Garriga and the Mestre Pere spring along the Passatemps path introduces us to a part of Palma's immense and fascinating hydraulic heritage. Since ancient times, three springs (the Villa spring, the Baster spring, and the Mestre Pere spring) supplied the city with water through very long irrigation channels. But that wasn't their only function. Along their course, parallel to the current Valldemossa road (Ma-1110), their significant flow filled public washhouses and powered flour mills. This variant offers a glimpse into the agricultural past of Palma's outskirts.

This week's route explores the dry, earthen hills of the municipality of Andratx. El Arracó is a hamlet within the municipality of Andratx, established during the 18th century, halfway between the town of Andratx and the port of Sant Elm, following the construction of the Church of Sant Crist in 1704. Inside, we find the image of the Virgin of La Trapa, from the lost world. It retains the charm of traditional inland village houses, although some Modernist-style buildings reveal the economic evolution of some families who migrated abroad, mostly to France. We find them on the main street, on Carrer de França (numbers 98 and 58), and on the corner of Plaça de Toledo, next to the church.

On this route, we explore the surroundings of Punta Xarracó, which rises to an altitude of 73 m. This is a prominent landmark of the inn of the same name, at the northernmost point of the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja. The inns are territorial organizations specific to the island of Ibiza that have long sought to group and coordinate a traditionally very dispersed population. The inn of Xarracó occupies an area of 622 hectares and is located at the northwestern end of the village of Sant Joan; it is bordered to the east by the inn of Niu dels Corbs and the inn of Xarraca; to the south by the inn of Cas Vidal; to the west by the inn of Benirràs in the village of Sant Miquel de Balansat, and to the north by the sea. Towards the eastern half of the inn, it formed part of the ancient medieval cavalry of Labritja. Later, it was included within the larger inn of Xarraca, until the latter was divided and the inn of Xarracó emerged. It is a rugged, uneven terrain, with no significant elevations, but it also has no notable plains. In this same area, we find the Jaumet Channel and Caves, coastal sites on the eastern slope of Punta Xarracó.

Puerto de Andratx is now the official starting point of the first stage of the GR 221. It marks the starting point of the Dry Stone Route, which, after nine stages and 150 km, ends at Puerto de Pollença. Last March, the Consell de Mallorca (Majorca Council) presented the signage for a 13-km section between the port and La Trapa. On this route, we propose reaching Puerto de Sant Elm, a place steeped in history and legend, all linked to the Catalan conquest of Mallorca in 1229.

Mount Nunó is a mountainous elevation located on the west coast of Ibiza, in the municipality of Sant Antoni de Portmany. It measures 258 meters in height and marks the beginning, on the western coast, of the northern mountain range known as Els Amunts. It forms high cliffs overlooking the sea that are an emblematic point on the coast, as they are visible from anywhere around the Bay of Portmany. At its summit is a geodesic vertex. The name derives from one of the Catalan lords who arrived in Ibiza in 1235, Nunó Sanç, who was awarded the quarter of Portmany; in fact, this mount served as a demarcation between this quarter and that of Balansat (Guillem de Montgrí). At the top of the mount, you can find remains of stones that bear signs of having served as milestones in different eras.

On this route, we explore the beginning of the future variant of the Dry Stone Route that will connect Valldemossa and Alaró Castle, after a long journey through Pastoritx, Raixa, and the commune of Bunyola to the Oriente Valley. The GR-221.5 is partially signposted, especially on the Bunyola-Orient section. All of this sets us on an intense itinerary, thanks to the beauty of the surroundings and the cultural significance of the landscape. Paths steeped in history where we can still hear the echo of the footsteps of muleteers and their shepherds, and the restless chatter of the galufas (a type of muleteer) on the way to the olive groves of Valldemossa and Bunyola. The excursion we propose is not circular, so the use of public transport is absolutely necessary: line 203 to go to Valldemossa and lines 204 and 303 to return from Bunyola (all service information on the website). tib.org).

The following proposed long and complex itinerary brings us closer to the reality of mountain agriculture, which, despite its history, was purely subsistence. Crops were grown on thin, stony soil, often connected by poorly tracked paths and trails. The main objective is Mount Feles, a spectacular and daring balcony overlooking the west of Mallorca.

The Civil Guard has rescued a 39-year-old Belgian woman who had an accident after falling down a ravine about 10 meters high in the Cala Deià area.

It's rare to find such a short itinerary that combines such a combination of elements to create a powerful cultural landscape and natural heritage. The route crosses the Cala Mesquida dune system, areas of accumulated sandy sediment that develop inland on most of the beaches of the Balearic Islands; it climbs to the Son Jaumell watchtower (273 m), a former 16th-century watchtower reused in the 19th century as another link in the optical telegraph linking Palma and Mahón, and continues to a second peak, Monte del Águila (234 m), where we find an archaeological site. The route starts and ends in the coastal town of Cala Mesquida, in the municipality of Capdepera, which until 1858 was part of Artà.