Hiking GR221 in Mallorca
All you need to know about the long-distance hike and alternative day trips
Are you looking for information about the popular GR221 hiking path on the Balearic island of Mallorca?
Want to know how best to explore the dry-stone wall trail, if on official the long distance hiking trail or through different day trips? Then you’ve come to the right place!
The GR221 trek winds its way through the Tramuntana mountains for about 140 kilometers / 87 miles. It is not only a hiking highlight on the Mediterranean island because of its breathtaking landscapes, but also due to its traditional dry-stone walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I explored the GR221 in several day trips over the years instead of hiking it all in one. A great alternative if you don’t want to spend every night somewhere else.
Here you will find everything you need to know and tips about the trail as a multi-day tour as well as for day hikes, including my personal highlights.
GR221: Overview and map
The GR221, also known as the Dry Stone Route or “Ruta de Pedra en Sec”, is a long-distance hiking trail along the west coast of Mallorca.
It runs along the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, approx. 140km / 87 miles from Andratx in the southwest to Port de Pollença in the northeast of the island.
The famous route passes through beautiful landscapes, with the typical olive groves, almond and orange trees, mountain villages such as Valldemossa and Deià and almost always alongside the traditional dry stone walls.
Did you know: The path was originally built to connect the terraced fields in the Tramuntana mountains and to facilitate the transportation of goods.
GR221: Route & stages
Officially, there are 13 stages that lead from Port d’Andratx to Port de Pollenca. However, most hikers choose a route of 8 or 9 stages. Some stages can also be combined, depending on your fitness.
Here you will find the most popular stretches along the GR221:
Stage 1: Sant Elm – Ses Fontanelles
Walking time: 4,5h | Length: 13 km | Altitude meters: ↑ 580 & ↓ 310 |
Difficulty level: intermediate
Stage 2: Ses Fontanelles – Estellencs
Walking time: 5h | Length: 13 km | Altitude meters: ↑ 610 & ↓ 470 |
Difficulty level: intermediate
Stage 3: Estellencs – Esporles
Walking time: 5,5h | Length: 14 km | Altitude meters: ↑ 580 & ↓ 540 |
Difficulty level: intermediate
Stage 4: Esporles – Valldemossa
Walking time: 5h | Length: 9 km | Altitude meters: ↑ 620 & ↓ 410 |
Difficulty level: intermediate
Stage 5: Valldemossa – DeiÃ
Walking time: 5h | Length: 13 km | Altitude meters: ↑ 660 & ↓ 880 |
Difficulty level: easy – intermediate
Stage 6: Deià – Soller
Walking time: 6h | Length: 17 km | Altitude meters: ↑ 460 & ↓ 600 |
Difficulty level: intermediate – difficult
Stage 7: Soller – Tossals Verds
Walking time: 7h | Length: 17 km | Altitude meters: ↑ 1290 & ↓ 800 |
Difficulty level: difficult
Stage 8: Tossals Verds – Lluc Abbey
Walking time: 6h | Length: 14 km | Altitude meters: ↑ 820 & ↓ 860 |
Difficulty level: intermediate – difficult
Stage 9: Lluc Abbey РPollen̤a
Walking time: 6h | Length: 18 km | Altitude meters: ↑ 250 & ↓ 670 |
Difficulty level: intermediate – difficult
Highlights along the GR221 in Mallorca
There are countless natural highlights to admire along this fantastic long-distance trek. But here are my personal top 3:
Overlooking the dragon island “Sa Dragonera” (stage 2)
The trail high above the cliffs behind the village of Sant Elm is an absolutely scenic climb and one of the best hiking trails in Mallorca.
In the beginning, the path leads through a pine forest and old olive trees, but soon it winds its way steadily upwards, with incredible views of the small neighboring island.
The climb along this outstanding stretch of coastline is a bit exhausting, but the stunning views make it 100% up for it! A great place to stop, of course with views of Isla Dragonera, is the former monastery of La Trapa.
Hiking trail from Soller to Tossals Verds (stage 7)
First, the historic Camà des Barranc pilgrimage route crosses the valley of the Biniaraix stream and climbs up many steep steps to the Coll de l’Ofre. The shorter route takes you over the Coll de Sa Coma des Ases.
The beautiful descent from there runs parallel to the Torrent d’Almadra to Tossals Verds and is not only beautiful, but also offers small technical challenges, with a short passage secured by ropes.
Lluc Monastery (stage 8/9)
The Santuari de Lluc was founded in the early 13th century. The spiritual center of Mallorca is beautifully nestled in a valley in the Tramuntana mountains.
Hikers on the GR221 usually use the pilgrims’ shelter as a stopover. I have spent several nights here and taken the bus for hikes, including the popular climb down the Torrent de Pareis.
My tip: The sanctuary is very busy during the day. Only in the evening, when the day tourists have left, an incredibly beautiful silence falls over the place. Therefore, I strongly recommend staying at least one night ⇨ Check availability here
GR221 Mallorca
Travel tips and important information about the GR221
- Basically, you can hike the GR221 as you like, and you do not have to follow any stage specifications. The only restrictions are the Refugio de Ses Fontanelles and Tossals Verds, for which there are no alternatives.
Most of the official starting and finishing points are accessible by bus, allowing you to join or leave the trail at any time.
- There are many alternatives to the main route. However, the signage, which is not always present, does not differentiate between the options.
Prepare your hike by downloading the gps coordinates! I was often unsure which path or signpost was the right one for me and would have gotten lost without my offline navigation.
- For a beautiful, panoramic end to your multi-day hike, I recommend the easy and short climb to Puig de Maria in Pollenca. From the monastery you have a fantastic view of the north coast of Mallorca!
This variant of the GR221 is much better than the official last stage of the trail, which starts at the Refugi Pont Romà or your accommodation in Pollenca and follows the main road to Port de Pollenca.
If you really want to get to the sea, I recommend taking the bus for this section.
- I was a little disappointed with the stage between Deia and Soller, which is highly praised everywhere. I had expected plenty of extensive views of the Mediterranean. Instead, I was hiking quite some time through pine forests with no view at all.
At the end, be sure to make a detour to the Refugi Muleta at the Cap Gros lighthouse in Port de Soller. This view and the following hike through Soller’s citrus gardens make up for it.
- The GR221 is no longer an insider tip, but the most popular trail on the island. If you are on the trail during the main hiking season (spring & fall), you will definitely not be alone.
My tip is the off-season: I have hiked many sections of the GR221 in the Mallorcan winter and rarely met other hikers.
- Do not forget to bring drinking water when hiking on GR221, as there are few if any natural water sources along the way.
Day trips on the GR221
Thanks to the use of rental cars or buses, it is possible to see many parts of the GR221 on different day trips.
That’s how I explored I few stages when I only had 4 days in Mallorca during my last trip, as I didn’t want to spend every night in a different place.
If you’re planning on staying in Mallorca without a car, I would suggest avoiding accommodations on the east coast. The distances to the various starting points of the GR221 are quite long when relying on bus travel.
Day trip on GR221 stage 1
Stage 1 from Port d’Andratx to Sant Elm is perfect for a day trip. You can walk the entire, rather short route of the GR221 and then take the L121 bus back to the starting point.
Day trip on GR221 stage 2
One of my favorite day hikes on the GR221 this winter in Mallorca was the start of Stage 2: From Sant Elm to the monastery ruins of La Trapa and then back to the starting point on wide and easy forest paths.
You get great views of the Dragon’s Island on the way up! The way back, from the panoramic Coll de ses Animes, is a totally relaxing downhill stroll. This round trip hike is my recommendation for Day 1 of a one week Mallorca road trip itinereray.
Day trip on GR221 stage 3
Stage 3 can also be done by bus. The L202 bus line connects Estellencs with Palma, passing through Banyalbufar and Esporles. Perfect if you are staying in the island’s capital.
Day trip on GR221 stages 4-6
Stages 4-6 are particularly easy to reach by bus, as the villages of Valldemossa, Deia and Sóller are popular tourist spots.
Even in winter, the L203 bus line connects all the villages along the MA-10 main road from Port de Sóller to Valldemossa and then on to Palma almost every hour.
Day trip on GR221 stages 7&8
An amazing but challenging day hike, on the main trail and a variant of the GR221, circles the Puig des Tossals Verds.
There are parking areas for hikers at the Cuber reservoir, the starting point. Between mid-April and October, you can also take the L231 bus to the starting point.
The panoramic trail leads over Puig de sa Font and parallel to the Torrent d’Almedra gorge to the idyllic Tossals Verds refuge. The way back is a little easier, following the Torrent des Prat and the water channel of the reservoir.
Rother Walking Guide Mallorca
The Rother Walking Guide Mallorca is the fantastic resource where I find most of my walks, hikes or hiking ideas like those GR221 day trips.
✅70 coastal and mountain walks
✅Every route with GPS data to download
✅264 pages in pocketsize; ideal for backpacks
FAQ’s
How hard is the GR221?
In general the GR221 is considered a moderate to challenging trek. The difficulty varies depending on the section, with some parts being easier and suitable for less experienced hikers, while others are more strenuous and require good physical condition and hiking experience.
How long does it take to do the GR221?
The total length of the trail is 140km. Fast and experienced hikers will need 5-7 days to complete the distance. Those who can and want to take more time can hike the GR221 in 8-9 stages.
What is the best season for the GR221
The high season for hiking in Mallorca is spring and autumn. Summer is very hot and not ideal for hiking. Less crowded and my personal favorite time to hike the GR221 is the winter. But keep in mind that there may be less good weather and sometimes even snow in the mountains.
How Do I Get To Mallorca and to the GR221?
The spanish island of Mallorca is served by many European airports. PMI, the airport code, is locted not far from the capital, Palma de Mallorca. Take the bus to Plaça d’Espanya in the city center. From there the different buses leave to the trail stage start and finish points (⇨ Bus info).
Conclusion
Hiking on GR221 is one of my main reasons why Mallorca is worth visiting! The GR221 is a fantastic long distance hiking trek in Mallorca that can also be explored in individual, great day trips.
The trails offer a unique mix of beautiful natural scenery with impressive landscapes and cultural heritage in the traditional mountain villages along the way.
No matter how you choose to hike Mallorca’s famous GR221, whether it is the entire trail in one go from south to north, or by bus and rental car on individual day trips.
The main thing is that you use make time on your travel program in Mallorca to explore the beautiful mountain range of the Serra de Tramuntana.
More about Mallorca
