Spain continues to be one of Pure Adventures’ most popular cycling destinations, with tours offering  flat to rolling countryside, charming villages, vineyards, castles, Roman history, and museums. Majorca (Mallorca in Spanish) is the largest of the Balearic Islands, its 310 mile long coastline a draw for millions of sun worshipers every year. But there’s more to Majorca than beaches.

Ensaimadas

Traditionally filled with ‘cabello de ángel’ (pumpkin strands in syrup), ensaimadas are a sweet and airy pastry made with eggs, flour, butter and sugar. Travelers can find ensaimadas in virtually every cafe on Majorca, with fillings and toppings ranging from a dusting of powdered sugar to sinfully sweet apricot preserves and whipping cream.

Caves

Chamber of Purgatory. Chamber of Hell. We wonder if it’s true that Jules Verne was inspired by the Cuevas de Artà to write Journey to the Center of the Earth. Occupying a stretch of land closing Canyamel Bay to the north, these ancient caves were formed by seawater erosion with some interior chambers rising nearly 151 feet. A unique feature of the caves is the Chamber of Flags, where three towering columns each emit a different tone when struck by your tour guide.

Mountains

The Sierra de Tramontana forms the northern backbone of the Majorca. In 2011, this mountain range was awarded World Heritage Status by UNESCO. Summiting Puig de Massanella, the mountain’s second highest peak, is a popular excursion – are you up for the challenge of climbing 4,475 feet?

Museums and monuments

Majorca’s seafaring history and ecological significance lends itself to rich cultural experiences. While on Majorca, visit the Museo de Mallorca, housed in a 16th-century mansion popularly known as “Casa de la Gran Cristiana”  and the Balearic Museum of Natural Sciences and Botanical Garden, surrounded by hundreds of plant species from the Balearic and Canary Islands.

Wine

You can’t visit Spain without enjoying the wine, but did you know that until recently, most of the wine drunk on Majorca was imported from the mainland? The island’s abundant almond crops left little room for vineyards, but a group of winemakers came together in the 1990s and dedicated themselves to better growing methods, new varieties and improvements in wine production. Today, those vineyards throughout Majorca open their doors to wine enthusiasts to enjoy reds, whites and sparkling wines that cannot be found elsewhere in the world.

Pure Adventures offers two unique cycling tours in Majorca – a challenging self-guided road cycling trip ideal for bike clubs and triathletes and a more leisurely hybrid self-guided cycling vacation package that takes in Majorca’s postcard perfect countryside. Contact us for a quote or request our free destination guide.

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Enjoy a self guided circular route around the famous island of Mallorca, riding in the area of “North and Raiguer” as well as a southern part of the island. The itinerary will take you through wonderful vineyards, countryside and pastures, with its exceptional rural Majorcan houses with their typical characteristics. The route is mostly flat and pleasant, and each stage ends in a small typical village so you can submerse yourself in the local lifestyle.

Pure Adventures’ 7 night/8 day self-guided cycling tour in Mallorca, Spain is rated moderate difficulty, and covers approximately 40 kilometers per day. It is offered year round, with the best months for travel being May-June and September. Starting at € 1088 Euros – contact us for details.

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