How to cycle Mallorca, Spain. A Terry CEO’s Guide…
March – April is great spring riding on quiet roads: daytime temps average 60-70 degrees. You’ll need a warm jacket at night. Lots of pro teams, lots of touring enthusiasts like me!
Swiss International Airlines: fly through Zurich to Palma de Mallorca (@$950-1200) Your bike (in a case) weighing 50 lbs or less and reserved in advance will cost you 100 Euro each way. Your bike will arrive in Palma with dozens of others on a separate carousel right next to the one that delivers your bag!
Enterprise: rent a car (or small van for multiple bikes) @300 Euro/week). The rental car pick-up and return is across the street from the terminal; so get an airport cart, load the bike and bag and roll 100 yds to get the car. The car gives you access to all corners of this spectacular island from one home base– all worth riding.
Calvia: A great place to stay just 20 minutes from the airport and in the foothills of the Tramuntara Mountains with oodles of bike paths and quiet roads that take you up switchback climbs to some of the epic cycling destinations (Es Capdella, Galilea, Puigpunyent, Esporles).
Can Estades: elegant, traditional countryside B&B. Christiana and Norbert are your wonderful hosts who speak perfect English. (@ 100 Euro per night per room).
C’an Torrat: THE best cycling farm to table: (@ 35 Euro for big dinner and wine).
The rides NOT to miss:
Alcudia to Cap Formentor; bring a headlight for the tunnel!
Betlem to Manacor (Ma-3322 ), Manacor to Betlem (through Sa Vall on Ma-3321); stay off Ma -15!
Llucmajor to the south coast (Cala Figuera, Porto Colom, Cala Pi) via Cami San Moranno, Cami Cala Pi and Cami St Aquila
The beer NOT to miss:
Galilea: Café Sa Placa
Port de Pollenca: beach bar piers
Colonia St Pere: any open beach bar
Memories: bring a SLR camera (Lowepro makes an amazing camera cycling pack that accommodates all your gear and a hydration blader) – the scenery deserves more than your iPhone.
Liz,
Thanks for the great write up on Mallorca, a place where we’ve shared vacations with cycling friends. Your photos remind me of the need to return! Although we’ve cycled Mallorca in March and April, when thousands of European racers show up for spring training. We’ve learned to prefer October, when the roads and resorts are quieter, and the weather is drier and warmer. By choosing fall instead of spring, instead of strugging through Mallorca’s hills to prepare for summer fitness, we spin the same roads as a season-ending reward.
If you haven’t yet been there, another Mediterranean islands with spectacular spring or fall cycling is Corsica, a less-touristy destination where the language is French and cuisine is Italian.
-Jan McCready