Travel Report Mallorca
What a phototrip to Mallorca could look like?
Our Travel Report Mallorca aims to provide some support in terms of preparation and travel. Here are our favorite hotels:
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Palma de Mallorca (Castillo Son Vida)
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Camp de Mar (Steigenberger Golf & Spa Resort)
- Mardavall (St.Regis Mardavall)
What you should think about prior departure to Mallorca
Local currency: Euro. For payments or cash withdrawals, you can use your credit card anywhere in the country.
Vaccinations: Coming from Germany, no vaccinations are required. However, it recommends the standard vaccinations, see suggestions Foreign Office.
Luggage: If you arrive by plane, you should only pay attention to the weight limit of the airline. Otherwise unproblematic, also with regard to the photo luggage.
Clothing: In winter / spring it can be quite fresh. That’s why we packed warm clothes according to the well-known “onion principle”. Additionally the hiking boots.
Detailed Travel Report Mallorca: recommended places for great wildlife- and nature photography
Most will ask: “Wildlife and Nature photography on Mallorca? What’s there really to photograph?” Everyone knows the island as a sunny island, with beautiful beaches and the “Ballermann”. But very few have ever looked at the parks or know that the Parc Natural de S’Albufeira de Mallorca is a bird sanctuary, where there are free-living cattle, Mustangs and a whole range of rare birds. All this in the middle of one of the largest holiday homes (Bay of Alcudia and Cala Ratjada) in the east of the island.
Mallorca in Spring
We went many times for short and long trips (up to 2 months) to the island, mainly in spring and autumn, to see some of the most beautiful places during these less touristic months. This Travel Report Mallorca covers mainly the northern part of the island from Puerto d’Andratx to Cap Formentor. A route that can easily be explored by car in 2-3 days. But you can also find mote places from all over the island in our video above.
In the summer these routes are partially overloaded (traffic jam) or completely blocked (Cap Formentor), so you should do them outside the season.
Natural Park of s'Albufeira de Mallorca:
S’Albufera, whose name is derived from the Arabic word for lagoon “al-buhayra”, refers to the wetland of a silted-up lake dotted by dunes from the sea at the Badia d ‘ Alcúdia (“Bay of Alcúdia”) was separated. The remaining wetland of about 1650 hectares was declared a nature reserve in 1988. It is almost entirely in the municipality of Muro, only a small part in the northwest belongs to Sa Pobla.
You drive to Alcudia and then follow the signs. At a small roundabout is the parking (attention, here are a maximum of 10 parking lots!) And from the parking lot you have to walk about 1km to the entrance.
The path is very nice, as it leads along a river (be careful, there might be mosquitoes!). No entrance fee, but you have to register.
The paths are all not very far (a maximum of 5km round trip) and there are a number of shelters from which you can watch the birds and other animals hidden.
A little tip: take time, food and drink and go there in the cooler hours of the day. You also need patience. All in all, we were more than amazed to find this little paradise so close to a holidaymakers stronghold. From the hustle and bustle outside the park nothing is felt. During the walk you will also see free-living cattle and horses, who enjoy an undisturbed existence here.
PHOTOTIP:
Definitely take a strong telephoto lens. Although it is quite close to the birds, but for the really good shots at least 300mm are required. A tripod is not necessary, as you can lie down the camera in the shelters.
Taking a “bean bag” or other pad to rest on, however, are definitely helpful. The Nikon D500 and the Tamron 150-600mm make a great combo. Since you shoot in daylight, the low aperture of the lens is OK.
Estellencs
Cyclists know Estellencs, because in spring many of them meet on this beautiful mountain tour. Estellencs is located northwest of the capital Palma on the coastal road Ma-10 from Andratx to Sóller. Shortly before the village you come to a restaurant with one of the most beautiful viewing terraces of the island (but only during the day really worth the look).
Son Marroig
On the way to Estellencs you just have to follow the road and then inevitably come to Son Marroig, or past it (watch out for the exit to the car park). This old mansion is worth a visit. For years we went there, but literally ignored the museum and now visited it for the first time. Originally owned by the Austrian Archduke Ludwig Salvator, since 1928 a museum has been housed there with pieces belonging to Ludwig Salvator, including historic furniture, ceramics and Mallorcan paintings from the 17th to the 19th century.
PHOTOTIP:
If possible, drive there in the morning or in the late afternoon. During the day the light is just too strong in good weather and the beautiful blue of the sky is not really good even with filters. In addition, there are fewer visitors and you have the opportunity to photograph “without people” in the pictures.
Torrent de Parais
To get there is a decent “driving hazzle with many turns” and you should not try a big car if you want to spare your nerves. The Torrent de Pareis is a not constantly water-bearing torrent (Torrent) through a gorge. It is located on the northwest coast of the island in the mountains of the Serra de Tramuntana and flows into the Mediterranean on the bay of Sa Calobra (Cala de Sa Calobra).
Further it is a popular hiking destination (you can hike from the top to the sea), but most people drive to the estuary and then run into the gorge (do not forget the cell phone torch, you have to go through a tunnel that is sometimes less lit). In the gorge itself, you should look up from time to time. Not only because of the steep walls, but also because otherwise you could miss one of the free-living goats climbing in the trees.
Cap Formentor
Mallorcans call the peninsula meeting place of the winds. The northernmost tip of the Mallorcan world has bizarrely shaped by wind and water. Staircases, walls, paths and the lighthouse at Cap de Formentor were built on the rocks in 1892 in a step-by-step and stumbling way. You can do very nice short hikes or just enjoy the ride on the mountain road. Aviod the summer though. Then the street is closed because of “overcrowding” and a bus is in service. Here you can also find – especially interesting for drone pilots – one of the most interesting Torres of the whole island, the Albercutx Watchtower.
Camp de Mar
From Camp de Mar there are some beautiful trails to Paguera or Cala Fornells, where you can also visit the Torre and have a beautiful panoramic view of the bays. Or you walk in the other direction to Puerto d’Andratx (6km), where you can relax in the harbor.
For those who want a photographic challenge, I can only recommend the pond on the golf course. Here – of course, completely undisturbed, except for a few golfers – some rare bird species (such as the black redstart or the little grebe) have settled in and every now and then you see a wild rabbit or an eagle.
But you should ask for permission before you make your way to the pond, unless you live in the adjacent Hotel Steigenberger. Here you have direct access, although not “official” 🙂
Puerto d'Andratx
The harbor attracts with many good, but sometimes very expensive restaurants. At the same time it is one of the classics to watch the sunset on the island and drink a wine or cocktail. Here you can experience fantastic sunsets directly from the Quay road, or from one of the restaurants. Ideal at the end of the day to watch the fishing boats entering the harbor just before sunset.
Cala des Moro: Certainly one of the most beautiful bays on the island and, except by boat, can only be reached by walking along a very narrow and rocky path to the bay. Nevertheless, this is often very crowded and you should go there very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Unfortunately, there is not much left of the sandy beach that used to exist here. But the bay is still beautiful.
Palma de Mallorca
The capital is always worth a visit! Palma attracts with the great cathedral, many shops and the very large harbor with really good cafes. If you want to enjoy a great view over Palma, we recommend – during the day – the hotel Castillo son Vida for lunch or coffee. From the terrace of the hotel you have a great view.
We hope you enjoyed the little tips in our Travel Report Mallorca.
Which Photoequipment to take for Mallorca
The photographic equipment that we brought to Mallorca can be found below. In addition, you have the opportunity to order the used photographic equipment directly through our photo shop and to request further technical details. There are also a lot of extras.
Kameras:
- Nikon D500
- Apple Iphone 12pro
- DJI Mavic Mini
- GoPro Hero 8
Objektive:
- Nikon 18-105mm
- Nikon 20mm f/1.8
- Tamron 150-600 G1
- Nikon 70-200m f/4
Backpack:
Calendar and more from our trips - order online
as of 18,90€, Sizes A2-A5
