GR-221, Serra de Tramuntana

Hiking on the GR-221 in Mallorca. I could not tell you now which stages we walked or in what order — only that it was the Ruta de Pedra en Sec, and that early March was a good time for it.

GR-221 Ruta de Pedra en Sec, Serra de Tramuntana / Port d'Andratx – Port de Pollença

Marked long-distance hiking trail, no fixed protection / 150.1 km main route in 9 stages, plus 111 km of variants / high point Coll de ses Cases de sa Neu, just over 1200 m / limestone, dry-stone paved paths

The GR-221 links Port d’Andratx with Port de Pollença along the spine of the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO cultural landscape. It is a signposted long-distance path: 150.1 km on the main route in nine stages, with a further 111 km of numbered variants, and a high point of only just over 1200 m at the Coll de ses Cases de sa Neu. The walking is on old dry-stone paved mule tracks, snow-house roads and pilgrim paths through holm oak and garriga, with the sea on one side most of the day.

Nothing technical, but limestone karst underfoot, long waterless stretches and full sun mean it is more tiring than the numbers suggest. Early March was close to ideal for it.

Logistics

Approach

Bus or taxi to the trailhead; the Consell de Mallorca runs a chain of staffed refuges along the route (booking well in advance is normal in spring), so the path can be walked with a light pack in either direction.