March in Mallorca

March is quite early to visit the Balearic Islands and we had mixed weather but it was perfect for sightseeing and we certainly saw a lot in 4 days. The island is popular for biking at this time of year- the empty, winding roads and mild but sunny weather makes perfect conditions for cyclists. There is blossom everywhere in March so the countryside is beautiful.

We hired a car and spent the first day driving from our base near Palma to the south coast and the pretty bay of Canyamel, where I spent my holidays as a child. En route we stopped at Canyamel Castle, built in by the Moors in 1250 which was worth a short visit- the restaurant next door also houses some amazing artefacts from days gone by and serves great food.

The south of Mallorca’s coast is riddled with caves to visit but my favourite and undoubtedly Mallorca’s most impressive caves are the Caves of Drach-, or ‘Dragon’s Caves’. The stalactites are growing at a rate of around 1 cm per 100 years, and some of them are as tall and thick as large tree trunks- staggering how old they are, dating back to the Miocene era up to 20 million years ago!

The route through the caves ends with a crystal clear lake, where you take a seat and watch as small boats, lit with fairy lights and filled with musicians perform a classical recital which is breathtakingly beautiful and sounds amazing. You then have a short boat ride on the underground lake before emerging from the 80% humidity up hundreds of steps to fresh air!

The wooden train that rumbles slowly through the mountain between Palma and Soller was our next adventure. It’s a very slow journey and the temptation to pick a ripe orange or lemon straight from the tree as we meandered past lush groves dripping with fruit was strong! The views of the mountains on this journey are incredible and the train goes over viaducts and through tunnels on its route to Soller town. At Soller we headed straight to the ice cream shop and manufacturers ‘Sa Fàbrica de Gelats’ which supplies much of Mallorca with its great ice cream in a bewildering variety of different flavours.

A tram runs from Soller to the coastal town of Port Soller, so we jumped on and enjoyed watching the sea get closer. The beach was empty (except for the ducks!) despite the sunshine so we built sandcastles and dipped our feet. There is a great view of the coast if you wander uphill to the museum at the east end of the town, and we were greeted by friendly ‘Hola’s’ everywhere we went. The seafood here is deliciously fresh and no visit would be complete without a plate of fresh fish enjoyed overlooking the marina. It was easy to jump on a bus to take us back to Palma, where we marvelled at the giant cathedral and wandered past fountains and statues.

Mallorca is known for its beach life but there is so much more to do besides, it’s the perfect break for the whole family whether you’re looking for relaxation, adventure, or both! Call me plan your perfect Mallorca break.