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7 places

Things to do in Escorca

The heart of the Tramuntana: Lluc monastery, the Torrent de Pareis, Sa Calobra and Cala Tuent.

Escorca: the essentials

  1. Lluc sanctuary and its museum

    Besides the basilica with the Mare de Déu de Lluc, the Black Madonna known as la Moreneta, the sanctuary has a museum of archaeology, sacred art and ceramics. The Escorca town hall and the Blauets choir school are here too.

  2. The Camí dels Misteris

    A cobbled path leaves the sanctuary and climbs the Rosari hill, passing five stone monuments on the way to an iron cross at the top. It is short and gives a good view over Lluc and the mountains.

  3. Mountain plants at the Botanic Garden

    A small garden next to the sanctuary showing Tramuntana plants, medicinal and aromatic, among stone walls and a little pond. A gentle stroll for children or anyone who prefers not to hike.

  4. Coll dels Reis viewpoint

    At 682 metres, at the top of the Sa Calobra road, you look down on the hairpin bends and the Nus de sa Corbata, where the road loops under itself. Stop carefully, as there is a lot of traffic and many cyclists.

  5. Round the Cúber reservoir

    Beside the Sóller to Lluc road, beneath the Puig Major, a flat track circles the Cúber reservoir as far as the dam. Close by is the Gorg Blau, a Natural Monument since 2003, set between rock walls.

  6. The GR 221 from Lluc to Pollença

    From the Son Amer refuge by Lluc, this stage of the Dry Stone Route heads down to Pollença along charcoal burners' tracks and holm oak woods. It takes a full day; return by bus or leave a car at the far end.

  7. Climb Puig Tomir

    One of the range's high summits, which you can climb from the Lluc area. The final section has a rocky step with chains; go only in good weather and with proper boots.

  8. Lunch above Cala Tuent

    Mallorcan cooking and fish under the pines, on the hillside above Cala Tuent with the sea in front of you. A good way to finish after a swim in the pebbly cove.

Escorca is Mallorca's highest and most thinly populated municipality: almost all of it is Serra de Tramuntana, holm oak woods, limestone and winding roads. There is no real village; the heart of it is the Santuari de Lluc, the monastery Mallorcans have walked up to on pilgrimage for centuries. Every day at midday the Blauets choir sings the Salve, and around the monastery you'll find short walks, the Jardí Botànic de Lluc and mountain dining rooms. Close by, Es Guix has a natural rock pool beside the restaurant.

Towards the sea, the Sa Calobra road drops in tight hairpins to the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis, one of the most photographed landscapes on the island. Walking the gorge from the top takes you past the Mirador de s'Entreforc, where the two ravines meet; it is a serious route, only when the bed is dry and best with a guide. Next door, Cala Tuent is quieter: pebbles, very clear water and Restaurant Es Vergeret looking out to sea from the hillside.

Getting there

By car, Lluc is a little under an hour from Palma via Inca and the Caimari road. By public transport, take the train or a TIB bus to Inca and change there for the TIB bus up to Lluc (timetables on tib.org). Sa Calobra can also be reached by boat from Port de Sóller between April and September. If the road signs say the Sa Calobra car park is full, don't drive down: there is nowhere to leave the car.

When to go

Spring and autumn are best for walking: mild temperatures and less traffic on the Sa Calobra road. In summer, arrive early or late in the afternoon, because in August the car parks at Sa Calobra and Cala Tuent fill up. Don't attempt the Torrent de Pareis after rain or in winter. Lluc is worth a visit all year round.

Experiences near Escorca

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Eat

Beaches & coves

Viewpoints & walks

A day in Escorca

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to Sa Calobra without a car?

The easiest way is the boat from Port de Sóller, in season, which takes about an hour and drops you at the Sa Calobra jetty. In summer there is usually also a TIB bus with few departures via Lluc. If you drive, check first whether the car park is full.

What can you do in Escorca in a day?

Start at Lluc: the sanctuary, the museum and, before one o'clock, the Blauets singing the Salve. Have lunch there or at Es Guix, then in the afternoon drive down to Sa Calobra, stopping at Coll dels Reis, or to Cala Tuent for a swim. Heading back towards Sóller, stop at the Cúber reservoir.

Where can you eat in Escorca?

At Lluc there are dining rooms and a café in the sanctuary itself, for simple Mallorcan food. Nearby, Es Guix has a restaurant beside its natural pool. On the coast, Sa Calobra has restaurants by the car park, and at Cala Tuent the Restaurant Es Vergeret looks out over the sea.

Can you swim at Sa Calobra?

Yes, in two places: the small cove by the jetty and, after walking through the tunnels cut in the rock, the pebble beach at the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis. There is no shade and hardly any facilities on the beach, and with an easterly swell swimming can be tricky.

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