Mallorca, the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is one of Europe’s top summer holiday destinations. This sunny island boasts amazing beaches and secluded coves, surrounded by beautiful turquoise blue waters. It is no doubt that the island attracts hoards of tourists, year after year. There are countless travel guides out there, listing the so-called best things to do on the island; this is not that kind of guide. If you are looking for a list of popular tourist destinations, you have come to the wrong place.
The following is a guide to experiencing Mallorca in the best way, the Mallorquin way. Pictured above is my friend Juan; he loves to climb trees. This summer, I was lucky enough to be invited by Juan to stay in his family home in Palma. He told me that there are two sides to Mallorca, the one catered to tourists and the one reserved just for locals. I was eager to venture off the beaten track with one of the best guides on the island. I present to you Mallorca as seen through Juan’s eyes.
Skip the sandy beaches, jump right into the ocean
This one is not for the faint of heart. When Juan told me that we were going swimming, I pictured a sandy beach which I could ease into. Juan, however, had a very different idea. Growing up with man-made beaches in Singapore, the idea of jumping directly into the open ocean terrified me. There was an element of uncertainty and mysteriousness to the ocean. The idea of not knowing what was out there created a mental block in my head.
That was not going to stop me. I believe in doing the things which scare you the most; I believe in overcoming those fears. Juan likes to say that the ocean may seem dangerous, but if you treat it with respect, it will take care of you as well. With that in mind, I jumped and that fear was replaced by appreciation. Mallorca’s sandy beaches can get overrun with tourists so, if you are confident, I recommend skipping straight to the ocean. All you have to do is search for a good spot.
Searching for the best place to swim
Why waste your time on crowded beaches when you can have all this beauty to yourself? There are a plethora of secluded coves just like this all over the island. Getting to places like this, however, does require a bit of effort. Although, I suppose it would be crowded as well if it were easily reachable. This spot is located along the coast in the municipality of Llucmajor. Just imagine how good it must feel to cool off in that crystal clear water after trekking in the sun.
After overcoming that initial fear, the ocean seemed to beckon. It was like there was a whole other world out there, one I had not had the pleasure of exploring yet. Suddenly, I was fearless, jumping into the ocean and diving into underwater caves. A good pair of goggles and some water shoes seemed to do the trick. Time stood still underwater; it was peaceful there as if I left all my troubles at the surface. I got a taste of that tranquillity that Juan had been telling me so much about.
The ocean and I finally had a proper introduction thanks to Juan. There is much more beneath the surface that I hope to discover. My advice to you is to get out there and start exploring. No amount of maps or travel guides will show you the way to a good spot. You have to get out there and open your eyes. Who knows what you will find? I believe that a good pair of lungs and legs is all you need! So, get off the beaten track, don’t miss out on the unexpected!
Adventuring to the perfect spot
I had the honour of visiting Juan’s favourite spot on the island. We could have easily spent our days lazing around on one of the many beaches in Palma, where Juan lives, but that is not what real adventurers do. As adventurers, our goal is to get out there and see the world! We grab life by the balls, and we truly live! Juan and I set out early and caught a bus to Pollença, in the north of the island. We had packed all sorts of food and drinks to sustain ourselves.
Our bags, filled with supplies, weighed down on our shoulders. We perspired profusely under the scorching Mediterranean sun. The trek to the spot was a challenge, but I will let you in on a little secret: we love challenges, all great adventurers do! Victory is so much sweeter when you have to work for it. I am utterly uninterested in taking the easy route. It is my dream to travel great distances, exploring the world; I long for adventure!
Juan was an excellent adventurer as well. He knew the island of Mallorca like the back of his hand. Imagine our satisfaction when we exited the shrubbery, catching that first glimpse of a magnificent view. Adventuring is both challenging and rewarding. I go on adventures to see new and interesting things, to discover places that have yet to be explored. You never know what you might find—that is the joy of the adventure! I can’t promise you that the journey will be easy, but I can promise you that it will be worth it.
Life is sweet
Never had I encountered such a soft rock. It felt like a bed to me after the gruelling hike. It was at this point that the supplies we had brought made sense. We had watermelon, sandwiches, chilled water, champagne and homemade Paella, courtesy of Juan’s mom. I never bring this much stuff on an adventure (I liked to pack light), but that champagne sure tasted good. We enjoyed our cool beverages and delicious food as we basked under the sun like kings. Juan sure knew how to enjoy life.
This victory was particularly sweet, the first successful adventure of the summer! I had one of the best siestas ever at Juan’s spot. We sat there for hours, taking in the view and talking about life. The other beautiful thing about adventures is the people you share them with. You have the opportunity to create wonderful memories with amazing people. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there! Seek out adventure! Who knows what you will find.
I had been waiting for quite some time to write this piece so, I am glad that it is finally out, and I hope you enjoyed it! A huge thank you to Juan for showing me Mallorca’s true beauty. The next post will be about some of my favourite places on the island so, stay tuned. As always, thank you for your time and wishing you a great rest of the week!
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