If you call yourself a road cyclist and you haven’t been to Mallorca, don’t say it out loud in a café. You’d get stared at like you’re riding Shimano with a Campagnolo chain. Cycling Camp Mallorca isn’t just “another cycling destination” — it’s a ritual. I did it twice already — always in spring, when back home you’re still in gloves, while here you ride in short sleeves and a drenched jersey.
You don’t know what you’re in for… but you go all in.
My first time I came with a crew where nobody really knew what to expect. We had one plan: bike in the morning, beer in the evening. The island filled in the rest. Our camps were in Playa de Muro and right beneath the airport in Les Meravelles. Every night buffet tables were cleared, watt meters clicked, and Garmins beeped like slot machines.
By day? We rode everything: fast flats to Petra and Manacor, and the legendary Sa Calobra descent. Some descended like kamikazes; others treated it like an ego climb. Midway up I realized I’d forgotten my gel. Fantastic decision. Fries at the café after that climb were the best sports nutrition of the season.
Cycling and Cortado
Mallorca feels like someone grabbed a map, phoned three pro‑team mechanics, and said: “Guys, build me paradise.”
Roads are perfectly signposted. Traffic is minimal. Small groups of riders zip by like you’re standing still. The road-side hedges truly block wind — not a gimmick. We appreciated them more than anything after a headwind section.
A 30, 60 or 100‑km ride? It’s all at your fingertips — and every ride inevitably ends in beer and cortado.
(Cortado = espresso “cut” with a roughly equal amount of lightly steamed milk, no foam, served in a small glass. Balances the coffee’s acidity while preserving strength.)
Promenade Classic for Coffee Bikers
Palma → Es Trenc → back. This type of route is usually scheduled around the third “regeneration day.” Some die‑hard coffee lovers did it daily. We set off from the hotel along the sea — yes, the cycle path runs mere meters from the beach. Tourists greet you, locals give way, and you occasionally brake for selfie takers. And yet — it has magic.
Beyond the town the horizon opens, a mild wind kicks in, and you feel like in the finale of a Vuelta stage — only with many ice‑cream stops and no TV coverage. We also enjoyed some lovely female cyclists’ backsides, when a bike girl group paused near a roundabout for a cheeky rest.
Palma de Mallorca
The old town doesn’t reveal itself immediately. Forget straight avenues. It’s a labyrinth. Just when you think you know where you are, you stumble upon a tiny Gothic church or a courtyard with a fountain and a tree bursting through the roof. Pure aesthetic. 🙂
Getting lost = winning
We pedaled through the old town early, before the crowds flooded in. Wheels clicked on cobble, the scent of morning coffee rose from open‑door bistros — and suddenly La Seu cathedral appeared. Part Batman’s cavern, part Gaudí dreamflake. Monumental yet serene.
TIP: Head to Carrer de Can Serra — there’s a micro‑café in the arcades where an older gentleman makes cortados like it’s been 1973 every day. Maybe he started then.
Right next door? The royal palace La Almudaina — where history happened. Now it’s mainly ticket sales, cats, and curious cyclists. Its courtyards, arcades, silence… if I ever rode there, I’d do it on carbon only — out of respect. (Anyway, they don’t let bikes in.)
Cycling Camp Mallorca: Top Rides, Tips & Tales
Lluc & Sa Calobra
- Beautiful monastery; starting point for the pilgrim route.
- 26 serpentines, descent into hell, climb into heaven.
- A cave leading to the sea and hiketrail
- The ice‑cream at the bottom is worth the sweat — but not free.
- Read your last will before you plunge down.
Sollér via Coll de Sóller
- Old stone bridge, sweeping views, espresso that saves your day.
- A tram that licks foam off your beer.
- A gentle, nostalgic climb rising out of Palma.
Petra & Manacor
- Rural roads between almond groves.
- Stunning inland hill views.
- Petra: that place where you lock fifty bikes outside one café.
(“Your bike takes the best photo there,” as a friend said.)
Cap de Formentor
- The island’s grand finale. Lighthouse. The business card of Mallorca.
- Narrow road, sheer cliffs, wind, dramatic horizon.
- Camera ready, brakes in check — otherwise, stay home.
In Conclusion: Pack your jersey and go.
Bike camp or solo trip? If you’ve done the Cycling Camp Mallorca, you know the morning “who’s waiting?” and evening “who fell asleep over the beer?” are part of the deal. Performance comes in many forms.
Don’t drag an overly heavy bike. If you must bring your own, pack an extra cassette — a 34‑tooth saves knees.
Once upon a time, Air Berlin offered free bike transport for the first 100 passengers. That’s gone now. Only bring your own bike if you’re truly at home with it. Renting a carbon bike on site for the week often costs less than airline bike fees — and you get a top machine.
And if you’re unsure where to ride — follow the crowd. They already know why.
