Cala Sant Vicenç - Camí de les Coves Blanques - Paso de los Pescadores - Puig de Cornavaques - La Mola - Cala Sant Vicenç

This panoramic circular/loop hike high above the rocky coast in the north starts from the Cala Barques bus stop in Cala Sant Vicenç. From the bus stop walk down the street Carrer de Cala Clara and turn right at the first corner, up the Placa de Sant Vicenç, passing the tourist information, crossing the Placa de Sant Vicenç and turn right at the Carrer de la Bruixola crossing the Avinguda del Cavall Bernat.

Follow the ascending cemented road Carrer Ruiz de Alda. The path enters the pine forest and shortly reaches a crossroads where there is a metal barrier after 0.6 km. There is also a kind of monolith with a plaque dedicated to the memory of the republican prisoners who built the path that starts behind the barrier:
“In memory of the republican prisoners who, to remain faithful to democracy and freedom, were forced - between 1937 and 1940 - to open paths like this one.
COUNCIL OF POLLENÇA
April 2005”

Before crossing this gate/barrier, take the path on the left to go to the Cova de les Rodes. Save 0.55 km by skipping the detour. Then return and cross the barrier/gate through the pedestrian crossing. Immediately one sees a poorly defined path to the left, along which will be the return at the end of the walk.

Now continue straight along the stony broad cart track Camí de les Coves Blanques, built by the republican prisoners, which first flattens and then slightly climbs closer to the Penyal Roig area. A little further up reaching a small bridge that crosses the Torrent de les Rotes Velles. Here one can appreciate the magnificent construction of this road that preserves large support walls in very good condition.

The path offers splendid views of the bay of Cala de Sant Vicenç and the Serra del Cavall Bemat across the bay. The path continues to climb and after 3.1 km reaches the mouth of a tunnel dug around 50 m into the rock (to the right). During the Spanish Civil War, ammunition was stored in this tunnel, which can be explored with a torch or the light of a smartphone. It is located at 131 m altitude.

Leave the tunnel and continue along the path in front which now becomes narrower. The trail begins to ascend a slightly steep slope. After a few minutes reaching a stream on the north-east slope of Penyal Roig. Then ascend a path where reeds abound and a little further on reach the edge of the cliff.

From the cliff after 4.6 km one can see Cala Estremer, Punta Galera, Cala Castell, Punta Topina, the Castell del Rei area, etc. offering extraordinary views of this part of the Mallorcan coast. From the cliff ascend to the summit that one sees below and which also offers an impressive panoramic view.

Descend from the top and continue the walk, now already at the edge of the cliffs. There are stone cairns that show the path to follow. A little further on, leave the row of cairns and continue along another to the right, getting closer to the Fishermen's pass (Paso de los Pescadores) (5.3 km) located at 303 m above sea level. This is a difficult, dizzying and exposed pass that allows access to the Ternelles Valley and Cala Castell from this part of the Sierra de Cornavaques.

From here head in search of the path left before, reaching this higher up after a few minutes. The cairns leads towards the rocky wall to the left and which is part of the Sierra de Sant Vicenç. Then approach the edge of the cliff again. A little further up one reaches a confluence point. On the left, the path will continue later when returning from Puig de Cornavaques to head to La Mola. Now continue straight ahead, following the row of milestones, close to the rocky wall of the Serra de Sant Vicenç.

The path reaches a hill and begin the ascent to the top of Puig de Cornavaques. The climb is not difficult. The summit, located at 545 m altitude is reached 7.7 km from the starting point. It is crowned by the base of what was once a geodesic vertex, the rest is on the ground. The panoramic views are spectacular: Ternelles Valley, Castell del Rei, Cala Estremer, Punta Galera, Cala Castell, Punta Topina, Puig Gros de Ternelles, La Cuculla de Fartàritx, Puig de Ca Miner, Puig Tomir, Pollença, Puerto Pollença, Bay of Pollença, Bay of Alcudia, Formentor Peninsula etc.

After enjoying these views return to the confluence point mentioned before (9.0 km). Here follow the cairns that are now on the right and head to crown the summit of La Mola (9.3 km). This peak is located at 474 m above sea level and is the highest point of the Serra de Sant Vicenç. The panoramic views here are equally extraordinary. Descend from it on the opposite side to the one climbed. The descent is done along a very steep slope. There is no defined path, but the route is well marked with cairns, which ends after 11.2 km right next to the barrier mentioned at the beginning, where the path built by the Republican prisoners begins.

Once this point is reached, the circle is closed and now return to Cala de Sant Vicenç through the steps to the Avinguda del Cavall Bernat, turning left there and ending at the starting point at the Cala Barques bus stop in Carrer de Cala Clara. From there a refreshing swim in the Mediterranean is only a few meters away in any of the 3 beaches of Cala Barques, Cala Clara and Cala Molins :-)

Cala Sant Vicenc:
Known in Castillian Spanish as Cala San Vincente and in Mallorquin as Cala Sant Vicenc, this is one of the smallest resorts on Mallorca.
Nestled on the far north west coast, Cala Sant Vicenc is part of the municipal district of Pollenca and is more or less half way between the town of Pollenca and Puerto Pollenca. Originally a fishing village, the town of Cala Sant Vicenc has several small bays with rugged & dramatic rocks and cliffs. The main attraction here is the tranquility and the collection of small beaches.
The resort is divided in two parts by a rocky outcrop that protrudes between the beaches of Cala Barques and Cala Molins.
The three small beaches in Cala Sant Vicenc with their crystal clear seas are particular favourites for both locals and tourists visiting the area. Cala Molins is the largest of the three and is therefore the hot spot for summer sunbathers. The smallest, Cala Clara is a stoney pebbled beach not ideal for sunbathing but is often a good place to snorkel.
There are life guards on duty at both Cala Molins and Cala Barques. The resort of Cala San Vicente is quite open and can be exposed to winds and high waves during bad weather and storms.
The area between Cala Sant Vicenc and Puerto Pollenca is a native home to black vultures and is a fantastic place to spot migrating birds.

Public transportation from/to Palma:
- Bus 301 Port de Pollenca to El Vilar and bus 321 Pollenca to Cala Barques in Cala de Sant Vicenç.

The hike can be combined with a hike from Cala Sant Vicenç to Port Pollença:
https://nb.wikiloc.com/fottur-loeyper/cala-barques-cala-molins-cala-carbo-coll-de-siller-port-de-pollenca-167487495?utm_medium=app&utm_campaign=share&utm_source=3759658