Hiking the GR221 in Mallorca: Everything You Need to Know

Running along the north-western side of Mallorca are the Serra Tramuntana, which freely translates as 'the mountains of the north'. The mountain range has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, meaning it has great scenic and cultural value. Mallorca's highest peak, the 1,445-metre-high Puig Major, is also part of the Serra Tramuntana. A notable fact is that about 90% of Serra Tramuntana is owned privately, therefore not the whole area is freely accessible; the GR221 route, of course, is. The mountain range is composed mostly of limestone, where rugged plants grow among rocky walls. Along the way, you will encounter a varied landscape including olive, citrus and walnut trees. The charming villages in the Serra Tramuntana are great places to stay and relax after a day of hiking.

Perhaps the names create some confusion, all three refer to the 140-kilometre long walk, in which you explore the Serra Tramuntana in ten stages. Ruta de Pedra en Sec translates as Drystone Route, while GR221 is the 'official' name. The route stretches from Port d'Andratx to Pollença, with alternative start and finish locations possible, in addition to the standard stages. In the route description for each stage, we will explain these stages in detail.

GR stands for Grande Randonnée and is a collective name for long-distance routes across Europe. Hiking a whole route can turn into a life project, while the shorter circuits make for great hiking holidays.

Hiking the GR221 is a wonderful experience, with various highlights. Apart from the natural surroundings where you encounter highlights each day, other beautiful things can be seen. Along the way, you regularly come across (remnants of) snow pits, charcoal circles, and lime kilns in the landscape, all of which had their own function. Many of Mallorca's trails were created by people who worked within one of these areas.

Snow Pits

It occasionally snows on Mallorca, because of the temperature, snow does not last long. Snow pits were dug to store snow and ice, these were then covered with ashes, branches, and grass. Blocks of ice were transported by mules to towns and villages to use, both for cooling food and drink and also for medical purposes. The last use of a snow pit was in 1925; modern cooling techniques made its use unnecessary.

Charcoal Circles

Charcoal production was common until the 1920s. Charcoal burners stayed in the forests with their families during the summer months to produce charcoal. Remains of the huts and houses they lived in can be seen along the way on the GR221, as well as the ovens charcoal burners used to bake bread. The circular hearths on which charcoal was burned are still visible in the landscape, too.

Lime Kilns

The Serra Tramuntana are largely composed of limestone, which is why you will also come across old lime kilns while hiking. To produce lime, fires were lit that had to be kept burning for two weeks, which meant huge amounts of forest were cut down. The lime produced was mainly used for the whitewashing of houses and to make mortar.

Flora & Fauna

Mallorca's landscape is diverse, with many animal and plant species that are resistant to the hot and dry climate. While on the GR221 you pass countless olive trees, some of which are more than 1,000 years old. Citrus and almond trees are also abundant and, depending on the season, spread a wonderful scent.

You will also spot small plants and flowers among the rocks, always doing their best to enjoy the sun. You will frequently find them together with tall grasses along much of the route, be careful not to get caught in these with your foot.

In addition, Mallorca is home to many wild goats, which you can hear bleating from the forests. These animals may be hunted subject to conditions, hence you may come across 'Big Game Hunting' signs along the way and, exceptionally, a hunter himself. Apart from the wild goats, you will encounter sheep and some cows on the GR221, grazing among orchards and in forests. In the sky, you can spot various birds, with the black vulture being the highlight if you are lucky!

The GR221 is divided into ten stages of varying lengths. Further below you can find an overview of the stages, the number of kilometres and the metres you will ascend and descend during a day. While officially the route is divided into eight stages, Bookatrekking.com really recommends completing the route in ten stages. This way, you build in more of a break and the day-to-day distances are not excessively long. In total, you cover over 140 kilometres and ascend and descend 6,140 and 6,150 metres respectively.

The route has no technical difficulties and is suitable for anyone with a decent fitness level. That leaves plenty of time for breaks at the orchards, enjoying the beautiful views from the mountain trails and a drink on a terrace at the end of the day. Is it something for you?

Mallorca's climate has hot, dry summers and relatively wet winters. In the summer months, the average temperature is around 30 degrees, though often with a slight breeze. Since Mallorca is an island, the weather can sometimes be unpredictable. A sunny start to the day with a rainy follow-up is possible. Generally, the weather is sunny and warm.

Bookatrekking.com therefore recommends hiking the route in spring or autumn and not in July or August. The trails are easily passable then and the weather is not excessively hot. This way, you can hike comfortably and enjoy the GR221 at its best.

During your trek, you will stay in small mountain villages, where you can find a variety of accommodation. Refuges and hotels are most common, there is also one campsite along the route and you can go wild camping. Most accommodation is open all year round, sometimes hotels are closed during winter. To ensure an overnight stay, it is wise to contact a hotel or refuge in advance and fix the desired date. Especially during high season, it can get busy along the route.

Refuges

Local authorities have created a number of refuges as special places to stay during your route. These are restored old buildings, where you can come for a meal and a place to sleep after a long day of hiking. On the refuge's terrace you can look out over beautiful surroundings and toast to another beautiful day! Often you can also reserve bedding and a towel - that saves on packing. Bookatrekking.com does recommend bringing your own travel sheet.

Refuges can be crowded in the summer months, especially on weekends when many locals are out and about. It is advisable to book your stay in a refuge in advance including options (dinner, breakfast, lunch if desired, etc.).

Food

There is no need to go hungry during your trip, you will encounter restaurants and bars in all towns along the way. Mallorca is a Spanish island, which means you can enjoy seafood and, of course, tapas. Furthermore, be surprised by the 'cuina Mallorquiana' with its soups, salads and sausages. End your dinner (or start your day) with the much-loved and protected 'Ensaimada', a light pastry containing a special ingredient. What's that? Time to head to Mallorca to find out!

Tap water in Mallorca is fine and bottled water is available along the way. During the stages, you won't encounter much running water, though springs can sometimes be found. On the map, these are marked with the word 'font'. The springs sometimes contain a lot of water, sometimes a little and it is not always drinkable. Bookatrekking.com therefore recommends taking plenty of drinking water (at least two litres per person) with you on the road, this way you can make sure there are no surprises. During your stay at your accommodation, you can top up your water or buy new bottles in a shop.

Mallorca is a tourist island, served by many European airports. The airport is located near Palma de Mallorca. Do you have all the time for your trip? Then you might like to arrive in Mallorca by ferry. Several ferries dock from the Spanish mainland.

Getting to the GR221

From the airport, you can take a bus towards the centre of Palma, and get off at Plaça d'Espanya. The Estació Intermodal bus station is located at this square, take bus 101 from here, which will take you to the route's starting point, Port d'Andratx. Alternative starting points for the GR221 are also available, namely es Capdellà and Calvià. Starting your route here? Then take bus 107 from Estació Intermodal to get to your starting point.

Departing From the GR221

The moment you have (hopefully) completed the route and want to travel back from Pollença towards Palma, you can return by bus 301. From Palma, you can continue to the airport or another Mallorca destination. Returning to Palma partly by train is also possible, take a bus to Inca or Sa Pobla and continue from there by train to Palma.

The GR221 is marked with signs, which also show the estimated times it takes you to cover a distance. Not all of the route is well marked, partially because 90% of the terrain is owned privately. Particularly the stages in the middle part of the route are not always clearly marked. Besides Spanish and Catalan, the local Mallorquí dialect is spoken in Mallorca. It now has the same status as Spanish, which has led to most street signs and signage being in Mallorquí rather than Spanish. This can create confusion if you have orientated yourself in Spanish before your trip, bear this in mind when looking up town names et cetera.

At Bookatrekking.com, you can book self-guided GR221 treks and walks in Mallorca. Generally, the stages are clearly marked, although orientation can be tricky in poor weather. The mountains are full of surprises and the weather on an island can be unpredictable.

We will arrange accommodation for you and make sure you receive all relevant information well in advance. We also share via the Komoot app the routes of the stages, so you have all the information you need digitally and on paper.