MALLORCA UP THERE
You know Ibiza, right? Forget about it. (Well, not really. Just for the purposes of this article.) There’s another beautiful and exciting Spanish island you must visit: Mallorca (meaning “the big island”; correct pronunciation: mah-yor-kah), part of the Balearic Archipelago (just like Ibiza, actually, and also Minorca – we’ll get to this one later). It’s the largest in the formation, and we want to fly you there – and then still keep you up in the sky.
Our point is: Mallorca is a paradise best perceived from above. If you take our suggestion and get on a hot air balloon, commanded by one of the best pilots from the island, you’ll agree with us, and your family will love it.
Climate always helps, it guarantees the pleasure of such aerial adventure – the average annual temperature in Mallorca usually reaches 68º F, and summers are very warm –, but the dazzle lies in the stunning geography. The two main mountain ranges, Tramontana and Levante, are a unique case in this part of the Mediterranean, halfway between Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. The highest point of the Tramontana is almost 1,500 meters and there’s great biodiversity all over it: you may well spot eagles, hawks and vultures on this balloon trip.
Take off without hesitation at dawn, when the winds are very gentle. And when you get back to land, go and explore the delights of the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca, a historic city through which all the peoples of the Mediterranean have passed over the millennia. Once there, of course, toast to the island’s nature.
Speaking of coming down to earth…
MENORCA DOWN HERE
Our other off-the-beaten-track challenge is in Menorca (“the little island”; meh-nohr-kah), Mallorca’s neighbour, a little further northeast (fun fact: it’s the first place where dawn and dusk fall in Spain). These 700 square kilometres are the Mediterranean in a pocket, and the best way to explore it is on a jeep safari.
Nature here is also powerful. Crossing breathtaking gorges and cliffs, taking refreshing dips in turquoise waters, discovering endemic life such as its famous horses – you’ll discover part of the Horses Way, an ancient 185 km path that runs along the island by the sea –, all this will make you understand why Menorca was declared a Natural Biosphere by UNESCO in 1993.
At the end of this adventure, there’s something you really don’t want to miss: the unique sunset. You’ll be amazed by the range of colours that tint the sky and sea, and you’ll enjoy the silence and peace of a precious moment.
Ah!, one last important thing: no jeep safari in Menorca would be fair without visiting the island’s best taverns to sample its famous cheeses and wines. Yes, this is included in the jeep safari – and it’s also another genuine way to experience the powerful nature of Mediterranean Spain.
