Hiking the Serra Tramuntana on Majorca – The long distance hike GR221 on Majorca – Spain

Hiking the Serra Tramuntana in Majorca, I had never heard of it or thought about it until recently but sometimes necessity breaks laws. Nothing wrong with that because that’s how I ended up in Majorca and say it yourself, there are worse things! I saw online the long-distance hike GR221 on Majorca and a fine challenge is something I don’t turn down easily. So now I am on the Serra Tramuntana, I had never heard of it before. It is the mountain range in the south-west of Majorca, when you come to Majorca by plane those are the first mountains you see.

Hiking the Serra Tramuntana on Majorca – Spain

I really only knew Majorca from its beaches and from holidays that don’t really make me happy. Now I do know that outside the tourist part of such a destination, there is always plenty to find. A few years ago, for instance, I also discovered neighbouring island Ibiza in a different way. My first plan was also to go to the Costa Brava and hike the GR92 there. That coast too is touristy but also great for hiking. When I saw that I could get to Mallorca very easily from Barcelona, I decided to fly to Majorca first and then take the ferry to the mainland after I finished hiking here. A ticket back is always easy to book and I’ll see from where I fly back.

Once I was on the island of Majorca, the prices of the hotels along the way on GR221 did surprise me a bit. So it may be for that reason that I won’t quite finish this long-distance GR221 hike on the Serra Tramuntana. I am now spending just under 200 euros for 2 nights. I still have 3 weeks to go and I’m not that rich after all…. So for alsngo today I started the first stage on the long-distance hike GR221 on Majorca, hiking on the Serra Tramuntana!

Day 1 Port Andratx – Sant Elm

To save money, I slept in Pequera and went this morning by bus to Port Andratx where I got off the bus at the port.

The long distance hike GR221 on Majorca – Spain

I saw that I was pretty much on the route and started walking right away. Along the harbour and at the end turned right up the mountain. Soon I got hot and after a while the route took me off the tarmac road and walk into a nice path. Meanwhile, I had had a nice viewpoint back across the harbour and spoke to an English gentleman walking his 3 dogs. He actually asked me if I was walking the long-distance walk GR221. How nice!

I was already walking in the beautiful nature of Majorca, stone paths that were nice and wide but tricky. Nice curves and gradually higher and higher, though therefore also increasingly beautiful views of the sea, sometimes inland and sometimes both. I love it!

There is no way to follow the trail other than I was able to get the GPX from a German website. If I didn’t have that I wouldn’t have been able to walk here. I read somewhere that from tomorrow there will be better markings along the way. Halfway through today, I did start to see some yellow/red paint. I had expected white/red from the GR but anything is better than nothing of course!

I met a mother and daughter at the highest point today, the El Pas Vermell. They also walk the route with a paper map. The rest of this day, down to Sant Elm, I would walk roughly with them.

The long distance hike GR221 on Majorca – Spain

I also met a woman walking in the opposite direction who I sat with on the bus this morning. Had a brief conversation and immediately hit it off for a nice chat. She was wearing the same Indian beaded necklace I got in Pushkar, India during my 200RYT Yoga course. She had gotten it at a meditation course that had left a big impression on her.

The view from the Pass El Vermell is really cool though! You can see the village of Sant Elm and the island off the coast ‘Isla Dragonera’. The walking is fine, I always have to get into it on such a first day. I feel some pains, left hip is always a bit irritated…. My feet also have to get used to the shoes, the heat but also the stones they keep slipping on.

But after 2.5 hours, I arrive at my hotel exactly on the path. I can walk right into reception and check in. It is a big hotel and I have the most perfect room overlooking the small bay of Sant Elm. The mother and daughter walk another stage. They also do 2 stages in 1 day a few times. I’m doing 2 tomorrow… + a small stretch.

I check in and wash out my clothes right away. It is my third day of travelling and I have plenty of time for it. Then I walk into the small village and find a nice terrace where I order a pizza. A pizza Siciliana, with deliciously salty anchovies and capers, delicious!

Hiking the Serra Tramuntana on Majorca – Spain

Length, altitude and duration – Port Andratx to Sant Elm

This route would only be about 8 km with 320 metres of climbing and descending. It would take over 2 hours I read somewhere. I started at 10 and was over by around 12.30 and so it took me 2.5 hours. Meanwhile, I didn’t sit still anywhere so I did keep walking.

Weather conditions end october

It is still lovely in Majorca at the end of October. I’ve been here 3 days now and it’s 20+ degrees and in the evening it drops to just below 20 degrees. Also still quite fine with a jumper or thin jacket. So for hiking it is ideal weather.

Stay in Sant Elm

I booked my overnight stay at Universal Aparthotel Don Camilo where I paid €84.10 for one night. A huge (touristy) hotel where I got room 3007, with great views of the bay. The room is nice and the bathroom is lovely.

Check for your options in Sant Elm – Majorca

That was a lovely day on the Serra Tramuntana and I’m glad I’m going to do at least a few more days. Hopefully I’ll have time and energy to share a blog every day, well nice to write it down as soon as possible. Fresh off the press so to speak and therefore a bit more spontaneous 🙂

Tomorrow I’ll walk from Sant Elm to Ses Fontanelles (12.3km) and on to Estellences (11.9km) and then half a stage on to Banyalbafur. Hopefully I can walk it all and otherwise I’ll hitchhike or catch a bus if it runs 🙂

Want to read more hiking inspiration?

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Wandering how I navigate while solo hiking abroad and keep feeling safe?

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I hope you enjoy this beautiful world as much as I do