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The place where the morning sun first makes landfall on Mallorca, the island’s northeastern corner is a refreshingly low-key area where the rough, sheep-scoured Sierra Llevant mountains rise from fields of fig and almond, and march towards the broken coast. There's great hiking, swimming, horse riding and bird-watching in the northeast, yet its attractions aren't solely natural. The medieval hill towns of Artà and Capdepera retain countless antique treasures, while the raucous resort town of Cala Ratjada is a reminder of what much of Mallorca's eastern coast has become.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Northeastern Mallorca.
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Head 1km north of Canyamel and pass through an unassuming fissure in the rock wall that buffers the coast and you'll find yourself in a stunning warren of limestone caves – the possible inspiration for Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. First up is a soaring vestibule, home to the 22m-tall stalagmite known as the 'Queen of Columns', while subsequent rooms include the 'Chamber of Purgatory' and 'Chamber of Hell'. Guided tours leave every 30 minutes.
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Lording it over Capdepera is this early-14th-century fortress. A walled complex built on the ruins of a Moorish fortress, the castle is one of the best preserved on the island. Constructed as a self-contained fortified town by Jaume II (son of the conquering Jaume I), it was a bastion of safety (from pirate attacks) and royal power in this part of the island. Within the walls, a simple stone church contains a valuable wooden crucifix dating to the 14th century.
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Named for the 15th-century 'blind tower' (unsighted by similar watchtowers) at its centre, this coastal estate was built in the early 20th century by the noted architect Guillem Reynés Font. The beautiful Mediterranean garden is home to a collection of over 40 works by noted Spanish, Catalan and Latin American sculptors, such as Eusebio Sempere, Juan de Ávalos, Xavier Corberó and Agustín Cárdenas. All guided visits must be booked in advance through the tourist office.
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Cala Mesquida's beautiful sweep of sand (nearly 300m long) and nearby dunes and pine scrub are not just appreciated by human visitors. The area is protected, in recognition of its importance to local birdlife. There's a wooden walkway to take you deeper into the dunes, without damaging them.
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Founded in 1805, Ermita de Betlem is still home to hermits who live a life of seclusion and self-sufficiency. The alluring views over country and wind-whipped coast make the steep up-and-down road to this hermitage a joy. The lovely stone-built exterior of the church stands in contrast to its modern whitewashed interior, ceiling frescoes and cave nativity scene, complete with stalactites and stalagmites. Stroll up the neighbouring hilltops to see all the way to Menorca.
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Rising high and mighty above Artà, this walled fortress was built atop an earlier Moorish enclave and encloses a small church. The 4000-sq-metre complex, extensively restored in the 1960s, reveals all the hallmarks of a medieval bastion, down to the stone turrets ringing the top and the metre-thick walls. The views from here sweep over the rooftops of the medina-like old town and beyond to the bald, bumpy peaks of the Serra de Llevant.
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Just beyond Artà proper lies the remains of a 3000-year-old Bronze Age settlement, the largest and most important Talayotic site on the island's eastern flank. The site's looming stone gateway, composed of rough, 8-tonne slabs, is an impressive transition into the mystery-shrouded world of prehistoric Mallorca. You can traverse the tree-shaded site in under 30 minutes, but may appreciate a longer visit. From the large roundabout east of Artà's tourist office, follow the signs towards Ses Païsses.
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This church, built atop the foundations of a Moorish mosque, was begun soon after the Christian reconquest, although the restored facade dates to the 16th century. Inside, note the large rose window, the ornately carved mahogany pulpit and the 14 chapels in the nave. There's also a small museum exhibiting artefacts such as precious altarpieces and a silver cross bearing a sliver of Palma Cathedral's relic of the True Cross (brought here in 1512).
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This lighthouse on Mallorca's easternmost tip is the endpoint of a lovely drive, walk or cycle through pine forests, around 1.5km east of Sa Torre Cega. Sitting 76m above the sea, the lighthouse – long crucial for sailors fighting the fierce winds that assail the east coast – began operating in 1861 (and was only electrified in 1969), and the views from here (all the way to Menorca on a clear day) are wonderful.