Heading along the coast to the south east corner of the island isn't often on the Mallorca itinerary - but if you're visiting for a week (and have the Tramontana routes nailed) it really is a must do. The municipality of Arta hosts a quiet pace of life away from the busier tourist hubs, and with ancient groves of fig, olive and carob trees as far as the eye can see - you'll certainly enjoy the views. Looking back across the bay to Port Alcudia, and climbing into cave bigger than a double decker bus?... We've got this!
The 30km road south is rolling and fast, bringing you straight into Arta town from where you'll visit Ermita de Betlam in the north & Cove de Arta in the east. From there it's a turn west for some of the most enjoyable countryside hills on the island. It's a long day in the saddle with all of the climbing up front, so make sure you carry plenty of water and sunblock. You'll pass through Arta 3 times, so make sure you stock up on fuel and water.
Approaching Arta unveals the towering church of Santuari de Sant Salvador, described by one of our members as 'something like being in Lord of the Rings'. From there the climbing over the mountains and back to Arta is a climbers delight, and running alongside the range as you head to Cover de Arta is epic to say the least. Then the rolling breezey hills to the West is the perfect way to wind down on the way back to Alcudia.
Perfect for a paceline
This ride really starts as you approach Arta, so you need to get the first 30km under your belt before the magic happens. Good news is that it's one long very fast road with dedicated space for cyclists. So if you're with a group of friends it's a perfect chance to chain-gang or pace-line all the way in, and get those legs warmed up for the climbs.
An amazing descent to
The first climb from Arta takes you up Coll des Pescadors and down the mountain side to the beautiful Ermita de Bedlam. Take extra care because the descent is fast with sharp/tight hairpins, and don't forget that you'll need to climb back up again to get back to Arta. With good road surface and amazing views throughout the north side and peak, this climb really is a delight. If you ahve time to visit inside you'll be rewarded with the incredible frescos of Francesc Parietti in 1805.
Plenty of steps to climb at
Now this is a real surprise - tucked away in a small and seemingly insiginficant village (amongst the million euro mansions) is this incredible natral cave formation. There is a handy cafe at the entrance, and if you climb up the huge carved stairs you can venture deep inside and follow the lights to belly of the island. if you're looking for something new to see in Mallorca, this will tick the box.
An ancient and beautiful town wrapped around the monastary of Santuari de Sant Salvador, Arta boasts beautiful traditional architecture and a variety of boutique shops and restaurants. When cycling through keep in mind that they love a one-way system, and some of the corners as you come into town are extremely tight!
Open up the legs with
Now you could take the direct route back the way you came out in the morning, but the rolling hills to the west are just too good to miss. We've found some of the quite ways through with some rolling fast stretches so you can enjoy some social kilometres before turning north back to camp.
As always with Mallorca you'll find some amazing photo opportunities throughout the day - but if we had to choose 2 for you..
➊ Coming back into Arta from Betlam, you get the sun on the orange walls just right - and it's a great chance to get some of the traditional architecture in the background of team shots. If you send someone ahead we got some great shots coming around the corner here.
➋ Bit of an unusual choice, but we've gone with the Coll des Pescadors for this one. Its the perfect place to regroup before the descent, and the unque view over the bay means you can get a backdrop of pure grass and sea. Something a little different.
The perfect
If you're feeling peckish at Cove de Arta then there is a handy cafe you can hit whilst having a peek inside the cave. but as you then go back to Arta for the 3rd and final time, there are several good options for a proper sit down lunch. Our members favour the Cafè Almudaina, which is also often right on the route of the Mallorca 312. We've added this stop onto the route with a waypoint, but next time we go we're actually oing to try the Cafeteria de Teatre in the centre of town, or Sa Gripia. The later is more of a restaurant but has a courtyard entry with plenty of room for bikes, and it looks much more comfortable than some of the typical Mallorcan cafes! (All 3 are included in the route for you as waypoints)
We must have ridden this route 50 times since we arrives on the island, and speaking with the locals who have ridden it for many years we have compiled the most important nuggets of advice for you ...
The Cap Formentor route is closed to buses & cars for the summer: In 2023 the restrictions ran from 1st June through to 30th September, everyday from 10am to 10:30pm. This is great for cyclists who still have full access!
The Cap Formentor route is closed to buses & cars for the summer: In 2023 the restrictions ran from 1st June through to 30th September, everyday from 10am to 10:30pm. This is great for cyclists who still have full access!
Ok so they're not exactly terrifying, but they don't follow traffic rules and they are found all along the route from Formentor to the lighthouse... Se keep an eye out at all times.
This one is hard to describe - but trust us, the full moon rising over the sea from Cap Formentor really is something to behold. Of course the route is winding & steep so you'll need lights, and be careful on the descents. But it's something you'll never forget.
Playa de Sa Cànova
“A tough day in a headwind, but crikey - i feel like I've explored a whole new piece of the island"
"The way out is a great warm up - chain-gang all the way, go go goooo!"
“Approaching Arta is like something form Lord of the Rings”
“Last time i took the main road back, this scenic route is way better - as long as you do it before dark!”
Everything we review, and the tips we provide are learnt through experience (often found the hard way)! We are not sponsored and we aren't briefed. We write about the things that help us, and we hope that they help you too!
