How To Easily Explore Stunning Mallorca On A Palma Weekend Break

The island of Mallorca is perhaps best known for sun, sand and sangria. It’s a place where young adults decamp in their thousands to drink themselves stupid, frolic in the sun and party all night. It’s perhaps less known for quaint villages and picturesque coves fringed by shimmering azure waters. If you have come to Mallorca for a Palma weekend break, it can be tempting to simply indulge in the city atmosphere. But if you’d really like to get a taste for what Mallorca has to offer, here’s how you can easily discover the hidden beauty of Mallorca on a Palma weekend break.

The best of Mallorca tour: Soller and La Calobra

The Best of Mallorca tour takes in the famous Soller tram, a boat trip along the Tramuntana’s coastline, a visit to the delightful cove of Sa Calobra, and some incredible views of Mallorca. This tour offers a chance to discover the rugged beauty of the island even if you are only here for a Palma weekend break.

I booked with Click Mallorca at a cost of €65 per adult and €32 per child. My pick up was directly opposite my hotel and other pickups are available from convenient locations throughout the Palma area. This trip is superb value as you depart around 9 am and return around 6.30pm. Be warned, the day feels a lot longer when you party until 8 am the night before!!

The best of Mallorca highlights

Bus journey

The three-part tour starts with a bus ride through peaceful countryside surrounded by olive groves. Lines of orange and lemon trees, standing like sentinels under the blazing sun straddle the road as it snakes its way up into the mountains. It gradually climbs offering stunning views of the verdant valleys below and the occasional glimpse of a rural village.

We stop to take pictures of the Gorg Blau, a reservoir which feels a million miles away from the bustling party towns on the coast. Rocky barren slopes rise from the emerald waters and we take in the solitude as a fresh breeze tickles our faces. We move on to the piece de resistance. The descent through the stunning Tramuntana range into Sa Calobra is simply breathtaking.

This region of Mallorca was made famous by Bradley Wiggins who spent time climbing the numerous switchbacks in preparation for the Tour de France. Now legions of cyclists follow in his footsteps (or wheel revolutions should I say?) and labour up the hillside. It’s hard to establish what is more impressive. The engineering of the road, the bus drivers’ ability to navigate tight turns like this, or the determination of amateur cyclists intent on summiting.

Sa Calobra

We eventually come to a halt in the hamlet of Sa Calobra which is the departure point for our boat trip to Port de Soller. It’s utterly delicious with a scattering of tavernas hugging the cliff side. There’s a scenic cliff side walk through tunnels hewn into the mountainside which offers tantalising views of the gorge made by the Torrent de Pareis. It leads to a pebbly beach at the entrance to the gorge but the joy is in the walk.

Boat trip to Port de Soller

From Sa Calobra, we hop on a boat for the 40-minute ride to Port de Soller. Wow, what can I say? If I’d known Mallorca was this beautiful it would not have taken me almost thirty years to return! The boat hugs the spectacular west coast and offers stunning views that can only be seen from the water. Rocky escarpments rise dramatically from shimmering, clean waters and the occasional yacht basks in tiny coves. It’s pristine with not a high rise in sight. Staff serve sangria and other drinks and guests bask in the sunshine whilst keeping an eye out for dolphins.

Before long, we edge into Port de Soller dotted with sailing boats and colourful housing decorating the hillsides. We dock by a scattering of restaurants and arrange to meet at the tram stop a short while later. As I wander along the boardwalk admiring the boats, I catch my first sight of a tram trundling into the village. Tourists hang out of the windows trying to capture photos.

This quaint passenger vehicle was the island’s first electric tram built in 1912. It was built to connect the port with the town of Soller. From there, a connecting service transports passengers through stunning scenery back to the outskirts of Palma.

Soller tram

The tram hugs the mountainside giving spectacular views of valleys and churches below and passes through 13 tunnels on its journey. In a bygone era, it also used to carry fish and supplies, but now it’s primarily tourists that make the trip. Note tram cars fill quickly but Click Mallorca reserves a carriage for your group, which means you don’t have to worry about being stranded on the far side of the island.

Click Mallorca

Click Mallorca offers a hassle-free way for you to see Mallorca’s most spectacular landscapes.

I was really impressed with the company for many reasons. They are Mallorcan specialists and offer a large selection of trips from the best suppliers on the island. They were incredibly responsive, booking was quick (just 3 steps online) and you do not need to print a voucher. Is there anything more annoying than trying to find a shop or hotel reception who will print a tour voucher in this connected day and age? Their company also offers several other benefits for clients.

Click Mallorca best price guarantee

They offer a best price guarantee whereby they regularly analyse competitor prices to ensure that they offer the cheapest price. There’s no need for you to scour lots of companies to find the best deal. However, if you find a lower price online for the exact same trip within 72 hours, they will refund the price difference.

Easy cancellation

Furthermore, they offer a reasonable cancellation policy to account for the unforeseen. If you cancel more than a week in advance, there is no charge. Cancellations within a week have varying penalties but only if you cancel within 24 hours do you lose 100% of your booking fee. This is impressive as many companies simply do not offer a refund option at all!

Discounts on future Click Mallorca bookings

Once you book a tour with Click Mallorca you will receive a 5% discount for any further trips you book via the site. This is a great incentive if you plan to indulge in several different trips.

Discounts on key attractions

And finally, not only do they offer discounts on the trips they market, but they also offer discounts for other major attractions on the island. Book tickets through the site to receive a discount of up to 10% off the door price.

This company offers a very simple booking process with many additional inclusive benefits.

Verdict

Note, I travelled courtesy of Click Mallorca however all views are honest and unedited. The guide on our tour was utterly brilliant, speaking around 5 languages. I loved the combination of different modes of transport and the chance to see more of the island in a hassle free manor.