The transport accessibility of the rockclimbing sectors in Mallorca
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Despite the fact that the transport accessibility of most rockclimbing sectors in Mallorca is almost perfect, in this respect Mallorca cannot be compared with other popular rockclimbing destinations - Kalymnos in Greece, Tonsai beach in Thailand, Viñales in Cuba, with the famous for the post-soviet territory Crimea.
Any of these locations has its own specific features related to the number and relative position of the rockclimbing sectors. Regarding Mallorca, we can say that with a spread of sectors of 20-30 km from each other, one should not talk about the walking distance. It is also unlikely that the scooter or bicycle option will be as convenient as in more compact areas such as Kalymnos.
At the same time, the use of a car allows you to build a training schedule without difficulty and significant time, using the most valuable feature of Mallorca - an exceptional variety of sectors according to the nature of the terrain and the complexity of climbing routes.
There was a case when my friends, after several joint trips to Kalymnos and Tonsai Beach in Thailand, decided to organize independently their climbing holidays in Mallorca. It seems that everything was so simple - there is a guidebook with a description of all sectors for climbing, there are coordinates of points and many beautiful options for accommodation...
Returning after the trip, they shared their experience – they said that the island disappointed them with the lack of walking access to the rockclimbing sectors.
Well, my dears ... Nobody promised this in Mallorca. The tastes are different, as they say.
For me, for example, the spread of rockclimbing sectors in Mallorca, on the contrary, is an advantage. Moving 20-40 minutes by car does not burden and does not create problems. But in return, we get an absolute variety of terrain, nature and complexity of climbing routes. Plus an unlimited number of additional opportunities for sports or non-sports activities. The number of tourist infrastructure facilities, natural attractions of Mallorca is a huge advantage over more compact, but less diverse locations.
The transport infrastructure of Mallorca is a modern, well-developed network of highways, which allows you to move from one end of the island to the other with no problems. The longest trips from end to end of Mallorca usually take no more than 45 minutes. For example, the distance along the M-13 highway from Palma to Alcudia (extreme east / extreme west of the island) is 53 km, can be covered on an average of 34 minutes. The speed limit on the island is 130 km/h on highways and 90 km/h on public roads. The speed control is not hard, the cameras are only in the places marked with signs, the signs are clearly visible, as well as the cameras themselves.
When moving, you should, if possible, avoid the routes through the centers of small towns - it is narrow and difficult there with oncoming sidings. In most cases, there is always a detour - control your navigator, sometimes it builds the shortest way to the detriment of your driving comfort. In Mallorca, there are practically no difficulties in traffic, road repairs are rare and well organized, and there are no police traps or patrols.
The only part of Mallorca that may seem to be hard to access by car from other areas is the port of Soller. This is a separate location in the north of the island, in order to get there you need to cross the Sierra Tramontana mountain range (toll tunnel). I recommend organizing rockclimbing in the Port Soller area in such a way as to reduce or eliminate crossings through the central part of the island. The rest of the climbing sectors of Mallorca are accessible from anywhere.
The author of the text and photos - Alex Trubachev
Your guide on the rockclimbing and hiking trails of Spain and Mallorca
MCS EDIT 2023