Mirador de ses Barques - Cala Tuent GR 221 variant 6

Mirador de ses Barques - Bàlitx - Coll de Biniamar - Es Vergeret restaurant - Cala Tuent
Quote from a Mallorca walking guide book:
“This is without a doubt one of the great "classics" in Mallorca."
Hiking, swimming and a boat ride, what more could you want from a perfect day trip? The coastal high trail to Cala Tuent offers all three and is one of the most beautiful hikes on Mallorca. With the rocky peaks of the Tramuntana on your right hand side and the shimmering turquoise sea on the other, the path winds picturesquely through the unique Mediterranean landscape.
Take bus 231 Alcudia from Soller to the Mirador de Ses Barques, which is a good starting point. From here, the way to Cala Tuent is completely signposted. Gently descending through shady pine and sparse holm oak forest, as one walks through the large estate of Bàlitx with its great, centuries’ old buildings, where mountain streams run through the olive groves growing on the elaborately designed terraces that prove so effective in the constant struggle against soil erosion. The way up the Coll de Biniamar is the only steeper ascent of the tour. Shortly after, you can already spot the headland of Mola de Tuent and the ancient watchtower in the distance.
The Coll de Biniamar pass opens up the wild coastal mountain sides. Here the main feature is the sea and it will be keeping you company all the way to the cove of Cala Tuent, with a bright pebble beach. What a treat to swim in the crystal clear water after about four hours of hiking. And to enjoy a cool drink and the catch of the day on the terrace of restaurant Es Vergeret, overlooking the bay. Above Cala Tuent you see the highest mountain on Mallorca: Puig Major (1436 meters). In the afternoon (16:50 hours) a boat brings you back to Port de Sóller (21 euro). Sailing along the coastline even gives an additional perspective.
Sometimes boat rides are cancelled on short notice due to unexpected weather conditions, so book the return boat to Port Soller the day before by phone 971 63 01 70, or book online with 10% discount:
https://reservas.barcoscalobra.com/boat-ride/cala-tuent
https://caminsdepedra.conselldemallorca.cat/en/-/variant-6-sa-costera

Mirador de ses Barques viewpoint was built in the late 1950s, during construction work of the road from Sóller to Lluc, and delights our eyes with beautiful views over the Sóller valley and its port.

Camí de Bàlitx: Until the early 20th century, this was the main means of communication between the Sóller valley and Tuent and Sa Calobra, with turnings off to Port de Sóller and Fornalutx. Owing to its strategic importance, it formed a part of Mallorca's main road network and was under royal jurisdiction. The old bridle path was partly replaced by a cart track towards the end of the 19th century, but there still remain some very well built stretches of the original path.

Bàlitx d’Amunt is one of the three great estates that have their origins in the old farmstead of Baalichi, recorded in 1232 in the official document Llibre del Repartiment. The main building is an excellent example of this type of architecture, with its oil press, chapel and a façade boasting painting tiles under the eaves. Worthy of note, too, is the way humans have shaped the landscape, especially by building terraces and their complex drainage system to prevent erosion.

Cala Tuent: This cove has a shingly beach, and has no comparison with the overbuilding to be witnessed in other areas. It was one of the few natural refuges for fishermen on the Escorca coast; they built different shelters for their boats, called escars, most of which no longer exist. The surrounding lands, which were brought together as the former farmstead "Duayat Jabiliquam" in the 1232 Llibre del Repartiment, were divided up over the years and the estates of Can Palou, Can Real, Can Capapuig, etc. came into being. Olive farming could be carried out thanks to the construction of a large number of terraces and an extensive irrigation system, which were severely damaged by the building of a road and a voracious forest fire in 1993.