Route no. 11 · start & finish Can Pastilla
Sant Elm
- Epic
- 144 km
- 2,612 m
- ≈ 6½–7½ h
Map and elevation profile
Move along the elevation profile to see where you are on the map.
Food & coffee stops
Tried-and-tested places where cyclists like to stop for coffee, food or water.
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Café 31 kmBar Nou Es Capdellà
Village bar that is usually full of club riders, with bike racks across the street. You pass it on the way out (km 30) and on the way back (km 114). Closed on Wednesdays.
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Café 41 kmMercat Tramuntana Puigpunyent
Coffee and breakfast between the Galilea and Es Grau climbs, open in the morning. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, when Bar Es Pont next door is the alternative.
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Café 70 kmRestaurant es Grau Andratx (Ma-10)
Self-service café with a clifftop terrace on the Ma-10 coast road next to the Mirador de Ricardo Roca, with a bike rack – a stop at roughly half-distance. Daily 10am–5pm, weekends 10.30am–5.30pm.
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Café 93 kmForn Sa Palomera Sant Elm
Bakery-café on Sant Elm's car-free promenade (Av. Jaume I), about 250 m from the turnaround: coffee, ensaïmadas, llonguets, sandwiches and homemade cakes with a sea view. Tue–Sun 8am–5pm, closed Mondays.
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Café 101 kmBlend – brunch & speciality coffee Port d'Andratx
Speciality coffee and brunch by the harbour in Port d'Andratx, about 150 m off the route at km 101: sourdough toasts, açaí bowls and croissants. Summer daily 9am–4pm, winter Tue–Sun 9am–3pm, so aim to get there by early afternoon.
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Café 109 kmSchwarzwald Café Peguera
German-style café on Plaça de Torà by the beach, about 450 m off the route at the end of Peguera's boulevard: homemade cakes and pastries, coffee specialities, breakfast and ice cream with a sea view. Tue–Sun 9am–6pm; closed Mondays and over the winter break (reopens in February).
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The Beauty of the Mountains and the Coast, a South-West Route for True Climbers
Route summary:
The route along the south-west coast has a demanding, hilly terrain, meaning you will be climbing a lot. We recommend this route only to experienced riders. The demanding terrain means how you distribute your energy will be important. It is one of the most demanding rides on the island, and will take from 6 to 8 hours to complete, depending on the rider’s physical condition. The best places to stop to get some energy include Banyalbufar, Sant Elm, Port d'Andratx and Peguera. The beautiful nature and many demanding climbs are specific for this route, which will take you to the fishing town of Sant Elm. At the start of the route, there is a climb taking you to the well-known Coll Sa Creu. About half way up, behind the town of Banyalbufar, there is the old Torre del Verger tower, from where you can get a wonderful view over the Tramuntana highlands. The next town, Andratx, has a large number of historical monuments like the Church of Santa Maria, an architectural treasure. The scenery around Sant Elm is a strong invitation to stop and recover some energy in one of the local restaurants.
Cycling route summary:
The initial 10 kilometers going through the capital Palma will be followed by a 6-kilometers climb to the top of Coll Sa Creu. This first climb is very typical for this mountainous stage. You will then ride down to Calviá. It then turns into a climb after a few kilometers again. The following kilometers continue in a similar way with a series of consecutive ascents and descents several kilometers long. You will enjoy the breathtaking nature of the Tramuntana Mountains on the way. You will pass through the towns Galilea and Puigpunyent, to the southwest coast of the island, further along the route. You will find there a number of beautiful views of the rugged coastline combined with the amazing nature of the Tramuntana Mountains. More relaxing part will come at 80. kilometer, when the descent to the southwestern tip of the island begins. It is near the town Andratx. This easier part around the south coast, will be followed by a climb to the top of Coll Sa Creu again, but in the opposite direction. There will then be a long descent, back to Palma.
Tourist summary:
The route will take you through the hilly southwestern part of the island, after a short ride along the coast of Palma at the beginning. The main destination on the route is the fishing town Sant Elm. You will enjoy the amazing mountain views along the way, as well as the unusual sea views with many historical monuments. For example the ancient tower Torre del Verger.
Climbs click to show on the map
- Coll de sa Creu from Palma (Ma-1043) 5.9 km · Ø 5.4 % · max. 9 % · top 380 m km 11–17
- Galilea from Es Capdellà (Ma-1032) 4.7 km · Ø 6.1 % · max. 7.5 % · top 412 m km 33–37
- Es Grau (Puigpunyent – Esporles) from Puigpunyent (Ma-1101) 4.2 km · Ø 6.1 % · max. 8.4 % · top 467 m km 41–46
- Coll de sa Gramola from Estellencs (Ma-10) 3.6 km · Ø 4.4 % · max. 8.9 % · top 360 m km 74–77
- Coll de sa Creu from Calvià (Ma-1043) 6.6 km · Ø 3.9 % · max. 7 % · top 380 m km 121–127
Tips from our guides
- Five main climbs and about 2,600 m of climbing. The steepest (Galilea, Es Grau) come before km 50, so don't go too hard on Coll de sa Creu.
- Fill both bottles in Banyalbufar or Estellencs. The coast road to Andratx climbs twice more and passes no villages, only the Es Grau café.
- The Ma-10 coast road is narrow and twisty, and cars brake suddenly at viewpoints such as the Torre del Verger. Ride single file and stay visible.
- The road to Sant Elm is a dead end, so you ride back to s'Arracó the same way. Stop at the end of the road for the view of Sa Dragonera island.
- The second Coll de sa Creu, from the Calvià side, is gentler (6.6 km at 3.9%). The descent then drops into Palma's traffic, so take care at roundabouts.
Did you know?
- Sa Dragonera, the island off Sant Elm, was bought in 1974 for a resort with a hotel, casino and marina. Protests and a court ruling stopped it; it has been a natural park since 1995. source
- The name Banyalbufar comes from Arabic and means roughly 'built by the sea'. Its terraces were once given over to vines, above all the prized Malvasia. source
- The dry-stone terraces and old water channels along the route are a key reason the Serra de Tramuntana has been a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape since 2011. source
Places along the route
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18 km
Palma de Mallorca center
We can’t forget the historic center of Mallorca’s capital. There is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Locals call it La Seu, or the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary. It dates from 1230 and covers an area of 6655 m². Just a few hundred meters away is another important Gothic building, the Lonja de Mallorca, from the 15th Century. It was built by the architect Guillem Sagrera.
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230 km
Es Capdellà
Breathtaking views of the Tramuntana Mountains, rural farms, stone houses and traces of Arab and Roman occupation. This is how Es Capdellà could be described. The renovated Castell Son Claret, from the mid-18th century, is also worth a visit.
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341 km
Puigpunyent
If you like nature and outdoor sports, you will definitely like to visit the natural park La Reserva Puig de Galatzó. There are many plants, waterfalls, animals and breathtaking views, in addition to outdoor activities.
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450 km
Museu La Granja
The local farmhouse, closed to the public since autumn 2022, recalls the history and traditional crafts of Mallorca between the 10th and 17th centuries. There are also luxurious gardens with a local farm.
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558 km
Banyalbufar
Banyalbufar is famous for its beautiful terraced gardens built by the Moors in the 10th century. The major tourist attraction is the nearby historic tower Torre del Verger, built in the 16th Century. The tower is used as a lookout tower and offers a number of extraordinary views.
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683 km
Andratx
You can see one of the most interesting galleries of modern art in Mallorca. Historical enthusiasts should visit a number of churches (Santa Maria de Andratx, s'Arracó, Castell de Son Mas) or the ruins of the former monastery of La Trappa. Castell de Son Mas is now used as the town hall.
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792 km
Sant Elm
Historically very important seaport city of Mallorca. The target place of a number of pirate fleets, including the famous "red-bearded" Barbarossa. It helped King Jaume to access the island to regain it, in the 13th century.
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8100 km
Port d'Andratx
The resort has been built in the middle of the 20th Century, around the existing fishing port. Port d'Andratx has its own special character with a mixture of luxury yachts. You can also enjoy some shopping or nice restaurants there.
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