DK Travel : Mallorca : Outdoor

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Andratx Round Trip (Drive)

Take the main highway north of Andratx to the Mirador Ricardo Roca, Banyalbufar, then Mirador de ses Anímes (see Torre Verger) for stunning perspectives. Turn towards Sa Granja, then pass down through Puigpunyent, Puig de Galatzo, Galilea, Es Capdellà and back to Andratx.
Archduke’s Mulepath (Walk)

Only experienced walkers should attempt this day-long round trip from Valldemossa. Red markers take you up to a mirador and a high plateau before dropping back down through a wooded valley.
Banys Àrabs Gardens, Palma

To the Moors, who came from an arid land where the oasis was the symbol of life, water was the very essence of a garden. The cloistered gardens at the Banys Àrabs baths evoke that ideal – it was here that the wealthy owner would relax after his bath, and breathe in the fragrant, tranquil air.
Barranc de Biniaraix

Two pretty villages lie in a gorge opposite the towering presence of Puig Major, Mallorca’s highest mountain. So evocative is the silence of the gorge – broken only by sheep’s bells and the bleating of goats – that it has been sold as a record.
Bird-Watching

Nature reserves are best for bird sightings, especially those on the northeastern coast, S’Albufera and the Península de Formentor (see Areas of Natural Beauty). Spring and autumn are optimal times to visit, when migratory birds use Mallorca as a staging post between Europe and Africa. The isolated islands of Sa Dragonera and Cabrera (see Illa de Cabrera) are also excellent.
Birds of Prey

The island’s dashing Eleanora’s falcons constitute an important part of the world’s population – you can see them around the Formentor lighthouse (see Lighthouse). The peregrine falcon, too, breeds in these parts, and you can spot black vultures, red kite, eagles, Montagu’s harrier and long-eared owl.
Boating

You can hire sail boats or motor boats for yourself, or sign on for a full-day or sunset cruise, many of which also feature water-skiing and other activities, and buffet lunches. They are the only way to explore some of the island’s more inaccessible – and therefore virtually private – coves.
Botanicactus

Europe’s largest botanical garden has an amazing 12,000 cacti to admire, including a 300-year-old giant from Arizona. There are also the Balearics’ largest navigable lake, palms and bamboo groves. Mallorcan flora is showcased through olives, pomegranates, almonds, pines, oranges, carobs and cypresses.
Bunyola–Orient–Alaró (Drive)

Another extremely narrow road that threads its way along precipitous mountain ridges, but worth it for the unforgettable views. The town of Orient is a pretty eagle’s-nest of a place, and the glimpse of Castell d’Alaró will fire your imagination (see Alaró).
Cala d’Or

Actually a collection of eight coves, which, taken together, comprise the most upmarket enclave on the southeastern coast. Though sprawling, the developments are characterized by attractive low-rise, white structures abundantly swathed in greenery.