Mallorca is famous for sun, sea and beautiful beaches, and conjures up images of holidays lazing beside a pool or bathing in crystal clear waters… but the island has a lot more to offer to those who like activities and the outdoors. There are tonnes of water sports, of course – canoeing, kayaking, SUP… all great for families with older kids. Move away from the crowds and the beaches, however, and you will find cycle routes, hiking trails, and mountain climbing aplenty. If you want to go hiking with the kids, Mallorca is the place to go!
For those who love getting out into nature and have kids, either babe-in-arms, toddlers or older kids, there are also many options to chose from. I've asked the team in Palma for their recommendations, from short walks little legs could do, to longer hikes and here's some of their favourite picks...
If you want to bring the kids and let them walk too, try Bernard's Recommendation: Puig de Maria, Pollenca
"This is a marked trail, it is mountainous but child friendly. It's not suitable for a child's pushchair, but I have seen many small children walking along this trail with their parents. It takes about 45 minutes to one hour, depending on your pace and there are benches along the route if little legs need a break! There's a cafe at the summit, with a church and toilet facilities."
You can expect to see beautiful views of Pollenca's old town, the port of Pollenca and Alcudia.
Hiking website, Alltrails says "It's a 2.7km trail in a great forest setting." They have graded the walk as easy. If you have the time, it is well worth visiting Pollenca too and making a day out of it!
Another similar option is Temi's Recommendation, Fornalutx
"Ideal for younger children, it's only takes about 45 minutes, at its shortest. The walk begins not far from the lovely village of Soller and leads to the sleepy village Fornalutx. Fornaltux itself is very beautiful; all cobbled streets and terraced stone cottages. Along the route, the odd goat or chicken that might say hello as you are passing by! There are lots of cafes and restaurants to choose for a stop before heading home."
This route can be made longer, to a 'moderate' 7.6kms by continuing on to Biniaraix. It's a loop trail so you end up back where you started. Soller is also the starting point for the Soller to Deia route, which is about 10kms.
Looking for something a little more challenging, but you have your baby in a sling so you don't want to venture too far off the beaten track? Try Levi's recommendation, Alaro Castle.
Set in the Sierra Tramuntana, a Unesco World Heritage site, and a haven for walkers. Described by Alltrails as a moderate 2 hour hike, you would need a car to get to the start of the trail. There is a restaurant Es Verga, at the car park / start of the trail, which is well worth a stop but the main attraction - the views from the top are amazing. You can see both coastlines. It's a popular path, so there will be plenty of people about.
The
Alltrails website has some great information on trails all over the island, and includes information such as distance of hike and length of time it takes and a difficulty rating. There are 449 trails to chose from, so I cheated and asked the team there which were their favorouites!
And of course, before I hand over to the team, the excellent
LittleLife Carriers are available for hire at Palma airport with suncovers or raincovers!