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Welcome to a new walking season!

September 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

walking in Mallorca

Let's walk...!

We recently uploaded our new schedule of walks for every Wednesday – do take a look at the Calendar on our website for more details.

Click on any Wednesday and you’ll see a summary walk description below the Calendar. Click on the title of the summary, and you get full details of the walk scheduled for that day.

We’ve scheduled a walk for every Wednesday until the end of November so do come and join us. In December we have something different in store for you, so watch this space! Even better, please become a fan of our Facebook page – don’t forget to click the “like” button, and then you’ll be kept well up to date with all our activities.

Please remember, Wednesday walks cost:

walking in Mjorca

The beautiful Sóller valley

  • 35 euros per person
  • 25 euros per person for Mallorca residents
  • 20 euros per person for members of the Mallorca Hiking Club

From November we’ll be offering additional walks at weekends and on other days of the week.

And if none of the hikes we’ve scheduled fit in with your plans, then contact us and we’ll arrange a tailor-made day out especially for you and your party. For more details check our website: www.mallorcahiking.com

Or join us on Facebook and Twitter…

We hope to see you all soon!

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The Moors and the Christians

April 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Moors & Christians1 Mallorca HikingThe second Monday in May (the 9th May in 2011) is a massive fiesta in the Sóller calendar. Much of the activity revolves around the annual re-enactment of the famous battle between the Moors and Christians originally fought on the beaches on 11th May 1561.

Celebrations commemorate a battle won by the bravery of the Pollença citizens who fought against 1,500 Moors led by the fearsome pirate Dragut. Probably the biggest pirate attack ever to be launched  on the island was thwarted primarily by the bravery of local hero, Joan Mas.  His warnings and  his heroic launch into battle, leading his local kinsmen to attack the pirates landing on the beaches, saved the day.

The initial “attack” comes by boats from the sea and onto the beach near the pier in Puerto de Sóller; the action then moves down the coast –  accompanied by Moors & Christians Mallorca Hikingtraditional Mallorquin music. The battles then move into the town centre, where historically both men and women rise up against the pirates.

The whole town of Sóller gets involved in some way in this fiesta. The two warring parties are easily identified as the Moorish troops wear dark make-up, but sometimes within the chaos and modern day enthusiasm for the fight it is hard to see who is actually winning. Needless to say lots of food and drink is consumed and everybody – both participants and spectators have a thoroughly good and very rowdy time!

As well as a huge street party, there is also an amazing fireworks display in the evening. From about 8 p.m. everyone who has taken part in the battle arrives at the Plaza. Here everybody joins in the biggest “fight” of the day and the noise is quite deafening – thick clouds of smoke fill the village square. Banks and houses are “robbed” by ladder-wielding pirates; bodies are strewn everywhere as the enactment mimics history with people hanging from trees, and blood-stained clothes adding to the dramatic effects. Finally victory is announced and the village joins as one singing La Balanguera – the hymn of Mallorca. Now all become friends again and the party really begins!

Moors & Christians Mallorca Hiking

Moors & Christians Mallorca Hiking

Music and festivities continue late into the night.

Es Firó is the biggest and most dramatic fiesta that takes place in Sóller. It is well worth experiencing, so if you can get to Mallorca in early May it’s a great time of year to combine a walking holiday as well as some serious partying!

If you can’t take time off, take a look at our tailor made walking holidays – we can organise a walking itinerary especially for you and your group, exactly when you want it…

We hope to see you soon…

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Mallorca Birds of Prey

April 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Birds of Prey with Mallorca HikingBirds of Prey are not necessarily what you’d expect to see in brochures about Mallorca, but just as many other mountainous regions of the world are famous for their giant birds, so too are the Sierra Tramuntana of Mallorca. Off the beaten track with Mallorca Hiking, we often see these graceful birds gliding high in the sky above mountain peaks -- graciously drifting up and down as they connect with warm thermals rising up from the lower valleys. Today we’re going to introduce you to some of the birds of prey you might see on one of our guided walking tours.

black vulture mallorca hikingThe most famous birds of prey resident in Mallorca are the Black Vulture. They were close to extinction in 1982 when only 20 birds survived as the only island vulture population in the world. However, thanks to a number of conservation initiatives introduced -- initially by the Balearic Natural History Society and Ornithological Group and then the Black Vulture Conservation Group (BVCG), the black vulture population now stands at 120 birds with 15 mating pairs. With a wingspan of nearly 3 metres and a brown and black plumage, they glide majestically over the peaks of the Tramuntana range -- make sure you have your binoculars ready for a closer look and if you’re lucky they may be close enough for some impressive photos.

Below is a video taken from a permanent nestcam positioned high above a vulture nest in the Tramuntana mountains. You can see more video footage here: BVCFMallorca

Other impressive birds of prey that you’ll see on Mallorca include the Griffon and the Egyptian Vulture, the Booted Eagle and Eleonora’s Falcon. A good place to see these fabulous birds is in the north of the island - the Boquer valley, the Albufeira reserve and Cap Formentor are all excellent spots, and are all within just a few miles of each other. The island of Dragonera in the southwestern tip of the island is a superb bird sanctuary and particularly popular for Eleanora’s falcons.griffon vulture mallorca hiking

Apparently in 2008 after some very heavy storms, around 100 Griffon Vultures landed in the Balearics. Most have since departed but quite a few settled here in the Cuber lake area. The Griffon vulture has a very white bald head, a broad wingspan of nearly 3 metres and short tail feathers. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. Vultures have a life span of between 50 and 70 years, with one reported case of 118 years!

Egyptian vulture Mallorca Hiking

The Egyptian Vulture is a rare sight in Mallorca. It is very distinctive with an underwing black and white pattern and wedge-shaped tail. Like other vultures it soars on the thermals. It has been seen to use stones to break the eggs of other birds, making it one of the few birds that makes use of tools.


Booted Eagle Mallorca Hiking

The Booted Eagle is another predator that lives in the mountains of Mallorca. It is a medium-sized bird of prey of about 47 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of 120 cm. It hunts small mammals, reptiles and birds.

eleanora's falcon mallorca hiking

Eleanora’s Falcon is a large and slender falcon, with long, narrow wings and a relatively long, rounded tail. This species comes in two quite different colours, a light and a dark plumage. It has a wing span of about 1 metre and can be seen throughout the Mediterranean islands -- particularly in Greece.

If you want to see some of these wonderful creatures up close, and get a better idea of what you’re looking for in the wild, there is a fantastic Falconry show at La Reserva in Puigpunyent. You can view first hand the elegance of these wonderful birds with an impressive flight demonstration.  The falconer also demonstrates some training techniques and tells you all about the various different types of birds -- well worth a trip..

Mallorca has a wide and rich range of interesting bird-life (and is a popular destination for birding holidays) and here we have introduced you to only 5 of our most majestic inhabitants. Watch this space for more bird-related articles, and why not come along on one of our Tailor Made holidays and see how many different species you can spot -- don’t forget to bring your binoculars!

(click on an images  for the enlarged slide-show)

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Sunday April 17th MHC Walk – Soller

April 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

fornalutx-to-soller-walk-mallorca hiking

Hello Mallorca Hikers!

If you are not already enrolled in Mallorca Hiking’s residents’ walking Club and would like to join, there is still the opportunity to sign-up with a special 50% discount (call Fiona – details below)

The next MHC walk is scheduled for Sunday 17th April. One of our members John Ballard has very kindly offered to lead this lovely circular walk -

Soller and surrounding villages

John is an experienced walker himself and has led many groups of walkers in the past. Please read the walk description carefully, consider the grade we’ve given it (moderate in this case) and make sure you are happy that it is a level you can cope with.

We’ll meet at 10.30 am at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens on the road to the Port of Sóller and we should be finished by about 4.30pm.

The programme for the day is slightly different to last time. In total we will walk about 3.5 to 4 hours (excluding stops): 2.5+ hours before lunch and then 1+ hours after lunch depending on the speed of the group. But you’ll be pleased to hear that the walk after lunch is easy and downhill all the way!

We’ve organised a delicious set lunch at the Es Turó restaurant in Fornalutx, which has a fabulous terrace (with even more fabulous views) where we’ll eat provided the weather is still good. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy some apres-hike fun and relaxation. Please note that for the main course there is a choice between roast pork and vegetables and fish with vegetables – please let us know when you sign up for the walk, which one you’d prefer.

The price for the day is:
* 5 euros contribution to Mallorca Hiking for organising everything
* 15 euros + service to the restaurant for 3-course lunch including wine
* If you’re getting a lift from another member please offer to contribute to their petrol and the toll for the Soller tunnel.

We’ll be limiting the number of people in the group to 20 + 2 guides, so if you’d like to join us please let us know as soon as possible! Friends and family are very welcome to join us if there are still places, but Club members are given priority. We’ve posted the walk on Facebook, and will post a reminder during the week, so if you can please respond via a comment on these posts. We need final numbers by latest 5pm Thursday 14th April please.

This time don’t forget to bring your cameras and take lots of snaps as we’ll be running a photo competition during the week following the walk. The winner gets to come on next month’s MHC walk for free (excluding lunch).

We’ll be posting the winner of last month’s quiz over the next day or so. Watch that space!

We look forward to seeing you on the 17th. Until then happy hiking!

Best wishes, Fiona
–
Fiona McLean
+34 635 393 402

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Made in Mallorca

March 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

made in mallorca hikingThere isn’t nearly enough information produced about the variety of products that are made and sold in, and exported from Mallorca. Mallorca has a history of producing a variety of products, which are all available here on the island for you to discover. Exploring the real Mallorca can start with sampling some of these products. They all contain an essence of the island, whether it’s liquer made from local herbs or perfume made from the flowers of the almond blossom…. Tempted? Then read on:

Many of the island’s products are known only in Spain, however some of them, such as Camper shoes, are now a global brand!

Here’s a sample of some of the ‘home-produced’ items you can buy in Mallorca.

Sobrassada and Botifarró

Pork products form a large part of the Spanish diet and these two delicacies are produced throughout the Balearics. They are well-known and well-loved across the whole of Spain. Essentially, Sobrassada is “sausage meat” made from good quality minced pork combined with spices like paprika, salt and red pepper (which gives it a lovely red colour), which you normally spread on bread. Every producer makes it slightly differently…

Botifarró is the name given to a sausage filled with coarsely ground pork, including liver, and spiced with salt, pepper, herbs and aniseed, which gives it its distinctive flavour. They are delicious, large chunky sausages and perfect for BBQ’s!

Ensaimada

You may have noticed Spanish holiday-makers walking around the airport with large hexagonal boxes. These are used to carry home the ensaimada which is a light, quite sweet pastry usually eaten for breakfast. The dough is made of flour, water, sugar, eggs, mother dough and reduced pork lard called saïm, and shaped into a spiral – it is quite unlike anything you will have tried elsewhere.

Sometimes ensaimadas are filled with angel’s hair (squash jam), custard cream, almond puré, chocolate, sobrassada, apricots, but normally they just have a light dusting of icing sugar – perfect for “dunking” in coffee at breakfast or a mid-morning snack.

Olive Oil

Excellent quality olive oils are produced from the olive farms on the island. Extra virgin olive oils with designation of origin are made from majorquine, arbequina and picual olives and have a wonderful, and very distinctive flavour. Olives and olive oil production will be the subject of a future article, so why not register to follow this blog…?

Wine and Liquers

There are two areas in Mallorca with D.O. – Binissalem (where a festival is held to celebrate the grape harvest every year) and Pla i Llevant. Wine produced in the island has consistenly improved over the decades and can now quite rightfully hold its own alongside the more well known Spanish names. See also our earlier article on Wines of Mallorca.

Two liquers are made on the island: Palo and Hierbas. Palo is a very dark (almost black), dense, thick liquid and made from infusing cinchona bark (quinine) and gentian roots, and caramelised sugar. It has been made in Mallorca since the 19th century. Hierbas, an aniseed drink, is made from infusing and distilling herbs gathered from the island. This is by far the most popular digestive on the island and comes in sweet, dry and medium varieties. Restaurants will often offer you a “chupito” when you’ve finished your meal and order the bill – and this is invariably Hierbas!

Don’t forget that liquids can’t be transported in your hand luggage so either buy your bottles after going through security or get them wrapped carefully in the shop and pack them in your main luggage.

camper shoes mallorcaShoes

The island’s shoe-making industry is based in Inca, Selva and Lluchmajor. These days some of the brands such as Camper and Patricia are well known across Europe. Modern, funky and traditional designs are all produced on the island and the quality of the leather used is well known.

Also made on the island are the canvas “rope” shoes or Espadrilles. Worn over the years by the locals and available in wonderful bright colours, they became popular across Europe in the ’60′s.

There is also another type of Mallorcan open sandal – ever popular with the locals – made from leather and recycled motor tyres! These also now come in funky colours, and with a number of variations on the theme…

Pearls

The imitation pearls made in Mallorca are famous the world over for their close similarity to natural pearls, which cost considerably more! The factory, established over 100 years ago and now producing over 50 million artificial pearls a year, is in the town of Manacor.Mallorca_Pearl_Bracelet

Mother of pearl and ocean substances are used to make the artificial pearl and the process is absolutely fascinating. Enjoy a visit to the factory where you can watch how the pearls are produced, and also take advantage of lower prices in the factory shop.

Don’t expect a bargain though – artificial pearls, such as those cultivated in Manacor, are almost indistinguishable from the real thing so they can be quite pricey.

Pottery and Glass

Pottery and ceramics have been synonymous with Mallorca for centuries. One of the cutest examples of the tradition for pottery is the ‘siurells’. These are little clay whistles produced as far back as the Arab times. Adored by children, they come painted in bright eye-catching colours and can still be bought on the island today. All over the island you will see many examples of Majorcan pottery for sale.

Glassblowing, which originated in Syria and was brought to the Balearics by the Romans, is a craft that still exists on the island to this present day. In places like Lafiore in Valldemossa you can still watch master craftsmen. In Palma there are many small Art Galleries where exquisite examples of this craft can be seen and bought.

Perfume

The perfume Flor d’Ametler (‘almond flower’) is made in Mallorca. The main ingredient is the almond flower, which gives it a distinctive scent. Make sure you look for the flower inside the bottle. Only the authentic perfume has that, copies won’t!

flor de sal mallorcaSalt

Salt is a relatively new product now being produced from salt “farms” mainly around Ses Salines in the southeast of Mallorca. There are 2 excellent producers – Flor de Sal and Llum de Sal - which use high quality sea salt in their products, as well as extracts and essences from Mediterranean plants such as mandarin orange, rosemary, rose and lavender, wine… As the most natural sea salt available, this is a very sought after product and is now exported worldwide.

From the earth..

Natural products like oranges from Soller and Almonds island-wide,  Olives & Olive Oil as well as growing Wine production have all been covered in previous posts, and these describe many diverse products made from these locally grown fruits.

Suffice to say there are some great shopping opportunities when visiting Mallorca – take some of these fabulous products home as presents, souvenirs or just treat yourself to a little Mallorquin luxury. So…. see you in Mallorca soon?

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The Sierra de Tramuntana nominated as “Cultural Landscape” by UNESCO

February 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range of Mallorca has been nominated to receive UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

The Consell de Mallorca has earmarked €8 million for improving the natural and historical heritage and landscape, according to Mallorca President Grancesc Antich and Consell President Francina Armengol. This includes €2.6 million for renovating the roads and recovering the shelters and lodgings in the Sierra de Tramuntana in a bid to promote hiking tourism – all very good news for our clients at Mallorca Hiking.

The first traces of human presence on the landscape of the Tramuntana Sierra date back some five thousand years, with new settlers leaving their Talayotic, Roman, Moorish and Christian marks.

The road connecting its 19 municipalities offers extraordinary views of the northern coast of Mallorca, and several historical remains can be seen along its route: medieval defence towers, farm buildings, monasteries, churches, Talayotic villages, castles and a palace of the Kingdom of Mallorca.

The immense intangible wealth of this region – such as the oral traditions surviving in place names, verses and legends, the popular wisdom kept alive through local arts and crafts, the gastronomy, traditions and festivals – constitutes knowledge and skills which are susceptible to being lost, and which are key to understanding the cultural heritage of the towns that existed here. With a view to preserving this cultural ensemble and its natural landscape, the Consell de Mallorca registered the Tramuntana Sierra as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the category of “cultural landscape” and this has now been officially accepted.

Below is a beautiful selection of photographs depicting the stunning scenery of this region and a sample of what you will experience when taking your walking holiday with Mallorca Hiking:

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Our Facebook Round-Up

February 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Mallorca is a much misunderstood and often maligned Mediterranean island. It is so much more than a package holiday resort for low cost summer holidays in the sun – away from the high-rise hotels and manicured beaches of the mass tourist resorts (which incidentally cover only a tiny proportion of the island), there is another Mallorca – a far more alluring, varied and totally different world. Thankfully, not all Mallorca’s beaches and…
The sun is shining in Mallorca & the mountains are calling – who fancies leaving the office & getting some fresh air?

Mallorca hiking is launching a Residents Hiking club very soon – are you interested in joining – leave us a comment below
It’s hard to say what single item would come to one’s mind when one would try to associate things typical of Spain. Flamenco would perhaps rank in the forefront, or paella, or lemon trees, or sangría, or bullfights; what do you think? Come to think of it, maybe tapas are the most typical invention of today’s Spain. There are various theories as to how tapas came about….Source: Mallorca Daily Photo Blog

Good morning Hikers – what are your plans for the weekend – have a look at all these great walks for inspiration:

VISIT ES BALUARD MUSEUM FREE Sunday’s for the month of February from 10am to 8pm. The Museum is located at Plaza Porta de Santa Catalin
Do you like Almonds? Check out our latest post for all the best things you can do with the alluring almond: http://ow.ly/3UAuX

Almonds are one of Mallorca’s main crops and cover a surface of over 60,000 hectares in the Balearics, of which 90% are in Mallorca and produce around 14,000 tons of this precious dried fruit.

Saturday 12th – MARMALADE DAY: at Sa Taronja (C/Andalucia, 23) in Andratx. Picking, squeezing and cutting them, from 11am cooking the marmalade 3.30pm to 4.30pm filling the jars.5 euros. Children are free. Helpers go home with two pots of “bio” marmalade. All ages welcome. Bring pots. http://ow.ly/3UtXX

Historically Almonds became popular in Mallorca in the 18th century at the expense of the vineyards. Almond trees were planted in their thousands to replace the grape vines that had been devastated by the outbreak of phylloxera. Today Mallorca has close to five million almond trees and the island’s landscape is at its finest when the almond trees blossom….Source: http://www.mallorcahiking.com/blog/feed
Mallorca Planetarium Costitx Thu, Fri, Sat. A relaxing trip across night sky discover the key stars & constellations 20:00 Tel: 971 513 344.

What a perfect day’s hiking in Soller – it doesn’t get better!

Today we revisit the importance of for a hiking or walking holiday. Following these simple, commonsense tips will help ensure you don’t have wasted days because you’ve taken on too much, or because you didn’t realise what is involved – especially if you are not a regular walker. Read on… Regardless if you are a professional or a novice on a walking holiday, it is still really important to go on a…

another fabulous day in the Sóller valley – this is Biniaraix

Thursday, 17 February 2011 at 10:00
Es Capdella
15 Hours and Counting to the release details for Mallorca Hiking Residents’ Club . Twelve noon Sunday 13th February http://ow.ly/3Vi1Y

Specialised guided walking tours for people of all ages and abilities on the Balearic island of Mallorca. Outdoor activities hiking, sailing, diving and specialised Gourmet, Food, Wine and Cultural packages

Introducing Mallorca Hiking’s new residents* walking club (Be sure to see the Special Introductory Offer at the end of this article – but read the article first!) You may have been living in Mallorca for a short time or have had a home here for many years – but the reality is that you probably still haven’t seen even a small proportion of this beautiful island that we live on. It is also true…

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Introducing the Mallorca Hiking Club – our new residents walking club

February 12, 2011 By 2 Comments

Mallorca ResidentsHiking Club Introducing Mallorca Hiking’s new residents* walking club

(Be sure to see the Special Introductory Offer at the end of this article – but read the article first!)

You may have been living in Mallorca for a short time or have had a home here for many years – but the reality is that you probably still haven’t seen even a small proportion of this beautiful island that we live on.

It is also true for many of us that we get very tied up in our work and family lives and we neglect the opportunity to switch off, relax and make the effort to explore the island on our door step, and just enjoy our surroundings. Well here is your opportunity to do just that, and at the same time to meet like-minded people, make new friends, and much more by joining our newly formed Mallorca Hiking Club.

Mallorca Hiking has been an established Guided Walking and Tailor Made Holiday provider in Mallorca for more than ten years. We’ve had many locals using our services and joining our walks through the years, and we know how much you enjoy “getting out there”. We now want to develop this into a local hiking community; a walking club that enjoys the social aspects of walking as well as the obvious benefits of discovering new places – and of course the physical and health benefits of a good walk.

The Mallorca Hiking Club will consist of walkers of all ages and levels of ability, so if you’re a beginner, you won’t feel like the odd-one-out as there are bound to be other beginners walking with you. Likewise, there will also be experienced walkers who can offer advice and useful tips. In due course, we’ll also have separate walks to suit different levels of ability.

Why  Join the Mallorca Hiking Club

  • Get outdoors, enjoy nature and discover more of our beautiful island – away from the madding crowd!
  • Meet a whole variety of new people with a common interest – gone will be the Sundays you would have liked to go hiking, but all your friends were busy or didn’t want to go with you…
  • If you don’t have your own transport, there’ll always be someone who can give you a lift to the start of a walk and back again…
  • If you’re a beginner, you won’t be the only one, and even if you are you will benefit from the support and experience of more seasoned walkers;
  • Share your knowledge and experiences of the island, and benefit from other member’s knowledge and experience – whether it’s places to walk, the best places to buy gear, great restaurants….
  • Experience something new and different, and meet someone new every time you come along for a walk
  • Discover fabulous hostels, country restaurants, bars and cafes where you’ll often benefit from club discounts
  • It’s a healthy activity that doesn’t require expensive memberships, equipment and a lot of time commitment to maintain your position
  • Bring along visiting friends and relatives – it’s an easy way to show them parts of Mallorca they would not have discovered (and you may not have known yourself!)
  • Enjoy lots of other fun events, outings and Mallorcan discoveries…

There will be a small annual fee to join the Mallorca Hiking Club and members will enjoy the following benefits:

  1. At least one guided walk per month – on a Saturday or Sunday or fiesta
  2. We’ll organise transport among members so that those without cars get a lift with other members to the start of a walk (and back)
  3. A varied schedule of walks in all parts of the island exploring mountains, flatlands, countryside, coves, historical landmarks…
  4. Club discounts from selected hiking/walking shops in Mallorca
  5. Hints, tips and advice on all aspects of walking
  6. Introductions to, and Club discounts at some of the best kept secrets around the island – restaurants, Agroturismo’s…
  7. We’ll organise regular, special outings such as hiking/boating combo days, wine tours, dinners…. as well as walking weekends away, for Club members and their friends and families
  8. Friends and Family Discounts for Mallorca Hiking’s walks and holidays, whether scheduled or tailor-made
  9. A fun, social element for those who want to join in Après Hike activities (why should skiers and golfers have all the fun?)

And the fee for joining the Mallorca Hiking Club? The good news is that this will be a very low annual joining fee (how low will surprise you!).

There will be a 5€ contribution payable to Mallorca Hiking for each monthly walk to cover the cost of organising the day, many ‘phone calls, logistics…

For members without a car, there is a 5€ contribution towards petrol etc. payable directly to the member giving you a lift. For members who have their own car and choose to share transport with other members, or “take it in turns” to drive, can sort out contributions (if any) between themselves!

The actual joining fee will be announced on the 20th of February – but for this week only you can get free membership to the Club by doing the following:

  • Publish the link for this article on your Facebook Wall (just hover your mouse over the Launch Offer image to the left and click Share)
  • Invite and join at least two friends to our Facebook Page
  • Leave a Comment on our Facebook Page letting us know you would like to be a “Founding Member of the MHC” (Mallorca Hiking Club)

Of course we would be even more excited if you actually shared our Facebook Page with all your friends – but to get free membership (just for this week) hop over to Facebook and complete those 3 simple tasks.

Following us on Facebook will keep you updated on all our activities; news; hints; tips; discounts and more – so if you haven’t already become a Fan here’s the link.

Imagine the fresh air in your lungs; the incredible changing scenery of each monthly excursion; lively conversation with new friends; magical historical and cultural discoveries; quaint restaurants and hillside inns for a local speciality lunch; views from the tops of Mallorca’s incredible mountains; learning about all the best equipment and techniques for all levels of hiking and most important of all a fit, energetic, healthy body and mind looking forward to the next outing…..

Mallorca Hiking Club – be a Pioneer Member – Join now!!

*Living on the island permanently or for a large part of the year is the only criteria needed to join the club. Official Spanish residency is not required.

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Tailor Made Walking Holidays in Mallorca

January 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Tailor Made Holidays in MallorcaWe appreciate your holiday time is a precious part of your year and it needs to deliver the fullest satisfaction for your break away from everyday life. Give yourself what YOU want in your holiday – don’t allow yourself to be herded into what a tour operator or hotel group wants to serve up. Here at Mallorca Hiking we give you a holiday, which is 100% tailor made for you – we start each trip with a blank sheet of paper. We match your dreams, your budget and your dates to our knowledge, our contacts on the ground, and our creative thinking.

Everything is planned around you – from dates, to hotels, to walking routes, to restaurants, to any other activities YOU want to include. Your Tailor Made Holiday.

Mallorca has a little known range of terrain: from mountains, to valleys, to beaches & coves, to wide open spaces. The variety is plentiful in this island paradise and there is something for everyone.

Our walking routes vary so we advise you and choose walks to suit your pace, your level and your experience. Our guides are seasoned professionals who live on the island and have a wealth of knowledge, experience, and contacts. They care about making your holiday special, and their experience and knowledge is focussed on delivering your every requirement.

We’ll help and advise you when choosing somewhere to stay – and we’ll book it for you too. We have a number of fabulous hotels that we like to work with – see our accommodation list – and they are all small, boutique hotels with a special Mallorcan charm. They will enhance your holiday experience.

Each Tailor Made holiday is a unique programme that includes the walks, excursions, additional activities and special interests that you choose. Tell us what you’re interested in and we’ll organise an itinerary to match. For example, some of our popular themes include:

-       Mallorca’s cuisine, it’s home-grown food products, and the seasonal fiestas that celebrate each, e.g. the olive fair and the honey fair, both in November

-       The history and culture of the island – see our Excursions, for example Palma’s Art & Architecture

-       The island’s wild flowers – particularly in the spring

-       Mallorca’s wines, including vineyard tours and wine tastings

Some of the additional activities that you can include in your holiday itinerary are biking, boating, diving, ballooning, helicopter tours and much more.

Alternatively if you’re traveling on your own or as a couple and you’d like to join other like-minded walkers for one of our fabulous walking holiday itineraries, we have a number of scheduled group holidays that you can sign up for. These holidays are for small groups of 8 people and are already designed with dates set, so please check our calendar for details.

Your holiday is very precious time and we understand how to get it right for you. Our guides and organisers are available all day, every day you are here in Mallorca – making sure you have everything, as you want it, when you want it. And because the people we work with know what we expect, they go that extra mile for our clients – after all, it’s often the special touches which count. Your only requirement is to relax and enjoy…

Make your holiday in 2011 one to remember with Mallorca Hiking. Contact us now to start arranging your Tailor Made Holiday.

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Christmas in Mallorca

December 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Christmas turrones MallorcaAs we are posting lots of information about how our guided walking tours and tailor made holidays are not just a great escape but good for your health and fitness, we do not feel too guilty about telling you about all the great traditional Christmas treats you can find in Mallorca.

The month of December features all the Christmas fayres with hundreds of little stalls set up for the many shops and hand made gifts on sale. The Plaza Mayor and Plaza España in Palma city centre are always a great place to visit.

Another Christmas tradition (and only for sale throughout Spain in December) is Turrones – chocolate, marzipan and mousse style bars, sweets, candies and thousands of different varieties. From the 1st of December shops start clearing the shelves surrounding their tills to fill them ceiling-high with Turron – who knows where they go in January!

Carol singing is also very popular in Mallorca and the place to find these singing spectaculars are La Lonja and the Plaza Cort, again in Palma centre. The tradition here is for local schools to bring along their choirs, of all ages, to serenade the crowds that gather to listen. This really sets the Christmas mood!

Traditional Christmas decorations MallorcaThe Belen or Nativity scenes are prolific throughout Mallorca with many church halls, interior patios, shop windows and schools displaying impressive scenes depicting the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the three wise men. Palma’s Town Hall at the Plaza Cort has a particularly impressive Nativity scene, and has a queue of people waiting to see it, snaking in and out of the building right through to January.

As the main Christmas celebrations in Spain were traditionally for the arrival of the Three Kings on the 5th of January – the children in Spain are now really happy that the internet and commercial pressures have given them Papa Noel, or Father Christmas on the 25th of December as well. In reality though, nowadays their presents are probably just divided between the 25th of December and 5th of January. However, on the 5th of January there is an added bonus when thousands of sweets are thrown to the children on over-crowded streets,  straining to see the processions working their way from the port of Palma where the Kings arrive, to their destination in the centre of the city.

On the 24th of December, Christmas Eve, everyone stays at home and enjoys the evening with close family. Some go out for a late night drink while many others go to the magnificent cathedral (or their own village’s church) for Midnight Mass, also known in Spain as the Misa del Gallo.

The 25th, Christmas day, a big lunch at home used to be the norm, but eating out is also very popular now, so we recommend booking early if you’re planning to go to a restaurant.

While December the 26th is a normal day throughout Spain, this is not the case in Mallorca – here the Segona Festa de Nadal (Second Christmas day) will be in full swing. This is an ancient local custom, and as in the UK, it is a bank holiday.

December the 28th is the Spanish equivalent of April Fools day, so be on your guard for crazy newspaper articles or practical jokes.

New Year’s Eve is celebrated in much the same way as in other countries – by welcoming in the New Year.  Plaza Cort (Palma Town Hall) is the centre of the festivities with thousands gathering to see in the New Year in traditional Spanish style – by eating twelve grapes, one on every chime of midnight. You can even buy tins of grapes that contain the exact number required for your midnight munch!

The Christmas lights and various festivities carry on until Three Kings is celebrated on the 5th of January, and after that the shops start their New Year’s sales bonanzas, or rebajas.

So, there’s lots to do and see over the prolonged festivities if you’re visiting Mallorca. If you hanker after a white Christmas you can usually find it on the hilltops and the mountains around Lluc and the rest of the Tramuntana – so there’s something for everybody on our Christmas island.

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