Torrent de Pareis Hike
Highlight tour through the Grand Canyon Mallorcas to the beautiful beach of Sa Calobra
The hike through the impressive Torrent de Pareis gorge to Sa Calobra beach is the highlight for all advanced hikers on Mallorca.
I love this hike so much that I have done it twice already. When I wanted to hike through this fascinating gorge a third time, it had rained a lot the days before and the that would have been too dangerous.
Read on to learn about my personal experience hiking through the Grand Canyon of Mallorca. I will also tell you everything you need to know about the fantastic Torrent de Pareis.
No time to deal with the details of the Torrent de Pareis hike?
No problem, here my recommendation for a guided hike through the beautiful gorge.
Torrent de Pareis Hike with Guide
Hike safely through the challenging terrain of the fantastic gorge with a local hiking guide.
(approx. 5-6 hours / half-day tour)
Hiking description Torrent de Pareis gorge
The starting point of the Torrent de Pareis hike is the parking lot at the Escorca restaurant. During the summer, you will find here information on the current situation in the canyon.
Next to the info board, the trail begins to descend. Through two gates and along dry stone walls, you will come to a large stone pyramid that points the way to the left.
I descend on a partly paved path with lovely views of Puig Roig ahead. Along a rocky slope, I walk through high grass, always downhill in countless hairpin bends. After almost an hour, I finally reach the bed of the Torrent de Lluc stream.
This is where the fun begins! I turn left and from now on the “path” leads over, under, past or over large, washed-out stones. You have to keep looking for the best way. Cairns and red markings will help you.
Not much later, I find myself at the S’Entreforc fork. This is where the Torrent de Pareis actually begins, as the Torrent des Gorg Blau and the Torrent de Lluc meet.
If you wish, you can make a short detour to the left into the side gorge of the Torrent des Gorg Blau at this point. There, at Sa Fosca (meaning “the dark one”), you will find a place where no ray of sunlight ever reaches.
Turn right towards the exit of the gorge, to the beach of Sa Calobra. Above me, the rock faces rise up to 300 m into the sky and I can see the Cova des Soldat Pelut cave! Absolutely impressive!
This is followed by several climbing sections within the dry stream bed, which you can bypass either to the left or right.
Along the way, there are ponds and pools that have to be avoided or climbed around. Sometimes I have to squeeze through an opening or jump off high rocks. The canyon is sometimes wider, and then it gets narrower and darker again.
It’s a lot of fun, but also very exhausting!
Eventually the Torrent de Pareis widens and I cross large areas of gravel. I am approaching the exit to the beach where the waters of the gorge flow into the Mediterranean.
There are as well more and more people who want to find a nice place by the water, away from the crowded beach.
In front of me is the beautiful sandy beach of Sa Calobra, framed by high cliffs. What a picture postcard. I knew how popular this beautiful place is, but when you suddenly see so many people in front of you, it’s something else.
To the left of the beach starts the promenade that leads to the parking area. I cross two more tunnels dug into the rock before reaching the small port. This is where the boats to Port de Sóller leave from.
A little further up the road is the bus stop for the L355, which takes me back to the starting point in the afternoon.
Trail details Torrent de Pareis hike
| Torrent de Pareis Hike | |
|---|---|
| Start | Restaurant Escorca at MA-10 (Coordinates to the free parking area) |
| End | Strand von Sa Calobra |
| Length | 7km / 4,3 miles |
| Altitude meter | ↑ 30 / ↓ 620 |
| Difficulty | difficult |
| GPS treks recorded with Komoot |
Important hiking information
The gorge hike is NOT a walk in the park! Sure-footedness and sturdy footwear are essential for this outstanding canyon tour, a really challenging outdoor adventure even for experienced hikers like me.
There are no signposts. The best and safest way to get thought and out of the canyon is marked with small rocks, piles of stones and arrows. However, these are often overgrown or faded.
!There is little to no telephone network and internet connection in Torrent de Pareis!
When is the best hiking time for the Torrent de Pareis?
The tour is generally only accessible between April and October. During the Mallorcan winter there is too much water in the gorge. You have to wait until early summer when the river dries up and becomes safe to enter.
IMPORTANT: Under no circumstances should you attempt to hike this trail after heavy rain or when it has just rained. The many stones you have to overcome are very slippery and dangerous! Also, your exit to the beach may be blocked by water.
Guided tour through the Torrent de Pareis
This hike is definitely challenging. I was totally exhausted when I arrived at the beach! If you are alone on the island or feel safer on a guided hike, you should join the Mon d’Aventura tour.
In small groups of no more than 10 people, local guides who know the canyon very well will lead you through and over the difficult sections of this outstanding hike.
If you are unable to book the hike, wait until early summer, as this is a seasonal activity.
What is Torrent de Pareis?
The Torrent de Pareis is a river in the mountain range of the Tramuntana mountains, on the northwest coast of Mallorca, Spain. The stream, which is only 3,3km (2 miles) long, begins at the confluence of the Torrent de Lluc and the Torrent des Gorg Blau.
Over the millennia, it has formed an impressive gorge that reaches the sea at Sa Calobra. The “walk” through the high cliffs is the most exciting and challenging hike in Mallorca.
Along the way, the Torrent de Pareis gorge narrows to just a few meters in some places, and the walls rise up to 300meters (984 feet) into the sky in places.
Things to know about the Torrent de Pareis in Mallorca
The impressive gorge of Torrent de Pareis is the second-largest gorge in the Mediterranean after the Samaria Gorge in Crete.
Little sun and a lot of humidity have created a unique microclimate in the deep gorge. To protect the flora and fauna, the valley was declared a natural monument in 2003.
Of the 300 species of plants found in this protected area, about 10 percent are endemic, meaning that they only grow in the Balearic Islands.
A large part of the beautiful landscape around the gorge is also a bird sanctuary.
How to reach Torrent de Pareis?
Since the Torrent de Pareis hike has different starting and finishing points, you will need to take a public bus, boat or taxi to get back to your accommodation or car.
From Port de Sóller / Soller or the other direction Alcudia Bus 231 takes you to the starting point at the Escorca restaurant. From Sa Calobra beach, there is a bus in the afternoon returning to Escora and Alcudia.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Escorca-Lluc. Phone number: 608 631 707.
If you make a reservation in advance, you could also take the boat from the Sa Calobra jetty to Port de Sóller which runs several times a day in the summer.
Where to stay close to the Gorge
You could stay in Palma but an excellent and authentic accommodation close to the Torrent de Pareis is the beautiful Lluc Monastery.
The location of the Santuari de Lluc is simply unique! It is particularly idyllic when the day tourists have left in the evening and peace and quiet returns.
From the rooms you have a wonderful view of the mountains or the pilgrimage site itself. There is also an outdoor pool, 2 bars and 1 café. The bus stop is on the doorstep.
The hiking route from Lluc Monastery through the Torrent de Pareis to Sa Calobra beach takes an hour longer. From the monastery, do not follow the famous GR221 trail but use the trail behind the parking.
It will take you to the main road which you have to follow to reach the official starting point at the Escorca restaurant. This road is usually not very busy in the morning.
For the return, you would take the bus back from Sa Calobra in the afternoon, which drops you off directly at the monastery.
FAQ’s
How do you get to Torrent de Pareis?
Every morning, a bus leaves from the Port of Sóller and Alcudia to Escorca, the start of the gorge hike. For the return trip you ca take a boat back to Sóller or a bus to Alcudia.
How long is the gorge Torrent de Pareis?
Mallorcas Grand Canyon has a length of 7km (4,3miles)
How to best visit Torrent de Pareis?
The best way to explore the Torrent de Pareis gorge is with a local hiking guide as the path is not really well-marked, and a guide can also help with difficult passages.
Is Cala Tuent close by the gorge?
Cala Tuent is just around the corner of Sa Caloba. That alternative beach is overlooking the Puig Majorand an ideal alternative if you want to sunbathe or snorcle in peace.
Final thoughts on the best hike in Mallorca
Whether you’re only on the island for 4 days or taking a week-long road trip, the Torrent de Pareis hike should be on your to-do list.
This hike is simply amazing, but also very challenging. If you are unsure whether you are physically fit enough, join a guided tour and ask your questions in advance.
If you already know in advance that this gorge walk is too difficult for you, visit the beach of Sa Calobra and hike from this side as far as you want or can into the Torrent de Pareis.
So even if you don’t do the complete hike through the gorge, you will get a very good impression of this impressive natural phenomenon if you hike a little from Sa Calobra.
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