Standing at over one thousand metres above sea level, Puig de Galatzó is the island?s highest summit south of the Tramontana Mountains. Its isolation from the rest of the mountain range makes it a privileged spot with commanding views of Palma and the mountains in the vicinity.

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Puig de Galatzó is located in western Mallorca, at the convergence of the municipalities of Estellencs, Puigpunyent and Calvià. Measuring 1,027 metres high, it is one of the island?s most singular and emblematic mountains. The weather in the area explains its unusual shape, sacred rites were performed in its prehistoric caves and it has been witness to several violent events.

Many legends, myths and anecdotes surround Puig de Galatzó, which give it a magical, magnetic and phantasmagorical air. One popular legend is about Comte Mal, a figure condemned for his cruelty to ride a black horse enveloped in flames each night of the year for eternity. Among other curiosities, another legend has it that the Muslims who survived the island?s Christian reconquest sought refuge there.

There are many ways to reach Puig de Galatzó despite its formidable appearance. At any rate, we recommend consulting a Tourist Information Office about availability.

The most customary way to reach the mountain starts from the Andratx-Estellencs C-710 road at approximately kilometre 97, close to Mirador des Grau. A broad path links this departure point with the recreational zone called Son Fortuna, also known as Ses Serveres, where there are tables with benches and a reconstructed charcoal miner?s hut. Just behind the hut begins the ascent to Coll de sa Moleta Rassa through Pas des Cossí, between the imposing Es Pinotells and Penyal des Morro mountains. The path splits into two at this point and, as the sign indicates, the fork to the right leads to Sa Mola de s?Esclop and the one to the left, which is the one we will be choosing, leads to Puig de Galatzó.

The route is noteworthy for its vegetation, which includes oaks, junipers, Hypericum balearicum (an endemic species of brush), rosemary and exuberant expanses of reeds, among others. The impressive views it commands of the island?s north coast and the remains of ancient constructions used in coal mining can be found along the way.

And, for those seeking more excitement there is La Reserva in Puigpunyent, an adventure park for the most daring visitors, with activities that range from scaling, abseiling, Tibetan and Amazonian bridges to a mountain with refreshing cascades for an unforgettable day.

The Galatzó farmstead, which occupies a third of the mountain it was named after, was acquired by the Calvià Municipal Council in 2006. Galatzó, one of the island?s largest farms, stretches out over 13.5 million m2 of land and houses 5,000 m2 of constructions. The farmstead?s municipal management makes it possible for visitors to enjoy excursions and hiking, among other activities. For further information, please consult the following website:
http://www.esgalatzo.es

Because of its strategic situation, Sa Dragonera was used throughout history by corsairs, pirates and smugglers and has been a nature park since 1995, in accordance with Law 4/89 on Natural Spaces, to ensure its environmental protection.

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United Fans Group, a not-for-profit recreational and cultural association in Mallorca, organises guided tours to Sa Dragonera Island so that visitors can enjoy this nature park, which also includes the islets of Es Pantaleu and Sa Mitjana.

Excursionists can choose from among four different itineraries: a visit to the Tramuntana lighthouse (1 hour), which stands at 54 metres above sea level; a visit to the ancient lighthouse at Na Pòpia (3 hours), which was added to a tower 352 metres above sea level; a visit to the Llebeig light house (2 hours 40 minutes) and its tower that houses a cannon inside it and a visit to Es Lladó (30 minutes), the site of the visitor reception centre, near a beach where swimming can be enjoyed.

The excursions leave from the port of Sant Elm and a guide accompanies visitors when departing from the port, during the various excursions around the island of Sa Dragonera and on the boat trip home. Cala Lladó offers the chance for a swim and a bite to eat.


To sign up : http://www.uffg.es

Further information: Parque Natural de Sa Dragonera

A large part of s'Albufera (1,700 hectares) conserves its natural characteristics intact, which make it a privileged place to be with an important environmental worth because it has remained relatively undisturbed for a long time period.

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Natural Park of s'Albufera de Mallorca

S'Albufera de Mallorca is a wetland area, of approximately 2,580 ha with a perimeter of 32 kilometres, embracing part of the municipality of Alcúdia, Muro and sa Pobla, and has had extraordinary economic and ecological importance in this zone of the island. It is important not to confuse this lagoon, known as the big one, with the small lagoon at Pollença.

A large part of s'Albufera (1,700 hectares) conserves its natural characteristics intact, which make it a privileged place to be with an important environmental worth because it has remained relatively undisturbed for a long time period.

It is necessary to point out, however, that on the 3rd of November 2000 a fire destroyed a total of 450 ha of the area, 440 ha of which belonged to the Natural Park. Luckily, it wasn't the nesting season and the ecological consequences haven't been too devastating. In the spring of 2001 it will be possible to enjoy a total recovery of the affected area.

Here, the main vegetation is the canyet and the cesquera plants, which were formerly used on the island for, amongst other things, feeding livestock. During the months of summer, the sea water floods into s'Albufera, which during the rest of the year is nourished by fresh water running from the high ground. This causes salted earth. In these lands saltworts and rushes grow, but also it should be noted that so do elm trees, tamarisks and albàs.

The fauna that inhabits s'Albufera is as diverse as abundant. Counting only birds, there are about 230 species that live, nest or spend some time in this protected natural space. Of the ones that nest, it is important to highlight the coot, the cap-blau, the suís, the avisador and sedge-warble. However, there are also many migratory species which stop only to rest, such as flamingos or the limícoles, and also those who spend the whole winter such as ducks, herons... In the wetland areas, fish such as eels, sea-pechs, silverfish, amphibians and reptiles are also abundant.

With the arrival of mass tourism in the sixties, the landscape in the region of s'Albufera was dramatically altered along the coastal area, when large spaces were built on and lakes and canals were constructed around the hotels and apartment blocks.

To put a halt to this process and preserve the richness of the biggest wetland area of Majorca, the Balearic Government approved, in 1988, the creation of the first Natural Park of the Balearic Islands, with a total of 1,700 ha protected. Also, the area was declared ZEPA (Bird Special Protection Zone), and a Biosphere Reserve. Also, s'Albufera is included in the Ramsar treaty for the protection of wetlands.

Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca
Llista de Correus E-07458 Can Picafort - MALLORCA
Tel: (+34) 971 89 22 50 Fax: (+34) 971 89 21 58
E-Mail: salbufera@oninet.es

http://www.mallorcaweb.net/salbufera

The Drach caves are some of the largest of the island, thanks to their nearly 2,400 metres of length and a maximum depth of 25 metres under the sea.

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The Drach Caves are actually four caves connected to each other called the French caves, Louis Salvador, the White Cave and the Black Cave. They are formed by the entrance of seawater and it is believed they date from the Miocene period.

Inside them is one of the world?s largest underground bodies of water, Martel Lake, which measures 117 metres long by 30 metres wide. The lake has a temperature of 17°C and is slightly salty: proof of its connection with the Mediterranean Sea. Classical music concerts featuring works by Caballero, Chopin and Offenbach, among others, are offered on a daily basis.

After the concert, visitors can enjoy a brief boat ride on the lake to conclude the approximately one-hour visit, if they wish. Wondrous, illuminated stalactites and stalagmites can be admired during the tour of the cave thanks to the work of engineer Carlos Buigás in 1935.



Opening hours: November 1 to March 31, 10.45 am, 12.00 noon, 2.00 pm and 3.30 pm. Visit without concert at 4.30 pm. April1 to October 31, at 10.00 am, 11.00 am, 12.00 noon, 2.00 pm, 3.00 pm, 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm. Closed: January 1 and December 25.
Admission: General: ?9.50. Children under 7 years of age free.
Not adapted for the disabled.

Cuevas del Drach
Carretera Cuevas s/n
07680 Porto Cristo, Mallorca
Tel: 0034 971 820 753, Fax: 0034-971 815 089.

The Mondragó Natural Park is located in one of the areas with the richest bird life in Mallorca. It has a great variety of landscapes, such as winding river torrents which flow out into beautiful beaches and oak woods with an abundance of orchids.

© www.illesbalears.es

This Natural Area of Special Interest is in the south-east of Mallorca, in the municipal district of Santanyí. It was designated a Natural Park in 1992 and since 1995 it has been regarded as an 'Area of Special Protection for Birds' by the European governing body; not in vain, since more than seventy species have been recorded in the park, most of them migratory birds and those typical of marshland areas.

The zone is made up of horizontal strata of calcareous sands which formed part of the reefs during the Miocene Period. The park has a surface area of 785 hectares and is 57 metres at its highest point.

It has a great variety of landscapes. Along the coastline are ravines carved out by winding river torrents which culminate in beautiful beaches with small dune systems; there are also cliffs; and marshlands with a vegetation of reed beds and rushes, such as those at the coves of S'Amarador and ses Fonts de n'Alis. Inland, however, there are oak woods with numerous orchids.

Great diversity of birds

The park is home to a great variety of birds. At any point along the coast it is easy to sight shags or Audouin's gulls, and from time to time, ospreys land near the lagoons.

Apart from its ecological value, Mondragó is interesting from the ethnological point of view. In the past, part of the park was used for agriculture and livestock farming, and bearing witness to this are the barraques de roter, small buildings of dry stone which were used as dwellings and rest places for animals; the barraques de curucull, used for keeping cattle; or the sínies, which served to extract the underground water with which they used to water the crops.

Visitors can follow different itineraries in the park, on foot or by bicycle, and enjoy the different ecosystems.


The Mondragó Natural Park has two entrances: the road from Santanyí to s'Alqueria Blanca, and the road from Santanyí to Cala Figuera. There is an information centre in ses Fonts de n'Alis, open all year round from 9 to 16 h. except on 25th and 31st, Telephone and fax: +(34) 971 181 022.

Sa Dragonera has belonged to the Majorca Council since 1987, but it was only in 1995 that the Government of the Balearic Islands approved the declaration of Natural Park.

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Natural Park of sa Dragonera

Even though the Natural Park is named sa Dragonera, it also includes the islet of Pantaleu, the island Mitjana and els Calafats within its protected area, because of their shared environmental conditions, they are very valuable due to their magnificent state of natural conservation. Sa Dragonera has belonged to the Majorca Council since 1987, but it was only in 1995 that the Government of the Balearic Islands approved the declaration of Natural Park in order to guarantee the conservation of this space, and show it to all that want to know it.

The island of Sa Dragonera is, geologically, the continuation of the Majorcan Serra de Tramuntana, but its vegetation is not the same because it is conditioned by the dimensions of the island, by the steep topography and the influence of the sea. The most common vegetation is littoral, in rocky areas, the coastal areas, the brushwoods of wild olive trees and rosemary, which is very abundant.

Concerning the fauna of the park, its name Dragonera gives much away. The common gecko and the lizard are the only known reptiles on the island of sa Dragonera. In fact, apart from the birds, there were no mammals until the arrival of humans. In this way rabbits, goat, sheep, hedgehogs and rats were introduced, some of them for specific purposes and others in accidentally.

The vell marí was an autochthonous mammal inhabiting the area, but declined in number and, in fact, there are now just a few left in the Mediterranean. The cetaceans that still can be frequently seen are the common dolphin and the dofí mular.

As usually happens in natural parks in coastal areas, birds are the most habitual fauna, numerous and diverse. Sa Dragonera, Pantaleu and la Trapa were declared ZEPA areas (Bird Special Protection Zone). The most frequent marine species are the puffin, cormorant, virot, vulgar seagull and red seagull. Among the percy birds, are the peregrin falcon, the falcó marí, the kestrel and the little owl.

Tel: +34 971 180 632
Boats from Sant Telm to : La Margarita +34 639617545; Bergantín +34 627966264; Watertaxi +34 971 100 866.

Guided tours to Sa Dragonera

http://www.conselldemallorca.net/dragonera/index.php

Son Real was purchased by the Balearic Government in 2002 to preserve its natural and ethnological values and prehistoric sites.

© www.illesbalears.es

Son Real is located on a stretch of coast between Can Picafort and Son Serra de Marina in the municipality of Santa Margalida. A variety of elements on its 379 hectares make it an exceptional, unique value. Alongside traditional farming practices, which today are biological, autochthonous farm animals are also raised. A number of different buildings and digs have demonstrated the ethnological values the farmstead has boasted from medieval times until now. Furthermore, joining the above is the large number of archaeological remains from different cultures.
The farmstead?s natural beauty includes almost 200 metres of shoreline on the virgin coast in this enclave in Mallorca.
The Balearic Government has been effecting improvements in both the architecture as well as in the preparation of facilities for visitors? enjoyment, which includes an office with explanatory material to attend to the public. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, the Foundation for Sustainable Development in the Balearic Islands is in charge of managing this publically-owned property.

Timetable
Farmstead:
apr-set 10-19h
oct-mar 10-17h
Information center: 10-16h
Exhibition: 10-17h
sonreal@balears-sostenible.com
Tel: +34 971 185 363

Itineraries trough Son Real

http://www.targetaverda.com

The farm known as Gabellí Petit is a beautiful spot near Campanet that regularly offers the magnificent spectacle of underground waters coursing to the surface in the midst of a verdant grove of oak trees.

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In 2005, the Balearic Government acquired the emblematic 44.91-hectare farmstead called Gabellí Petit, home to Les Fonts Ufanes, which was declared a natural monument in 2001 and is part of the public heritage.

This phenomenon usually takes place after a period of more or less intense rains that generate a spontaneous water course that can vary between 3,000 to 100,000 litres per second. The discharge is produced when the impermeable layers of clay are saturated and impede the circulation of underground waters, causing them to flow to the surface. The stream is fed by the waters of the aquifers in the zone (Sa Pobla, Pollença, Campanet and Búger) and the Albufera Nature Park. Plans are in place for the farm to become a part of the future Tramuntana Mountains nature park, which currently boasts 62,677 hectares.

Its areas on the coast and those devoted to farming and cattle breeding are of great interest thanks to their bio-diversity and excellent conservation.

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S'Albufereta is the perfect spot for bird watching all year round. 196 of the 325 known species in the Balearic Islands can be seen there. With waterfowl closely related to those in S'Albufera de Mallorca, it is the nesting grounds for rare species such as the purple gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio), marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), stilt sandpiper (Himantopus himantopus), yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava) and moustached warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon), as well as other, more common species such as the little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), coot (Fulica atra) and moorhen (Gallinula chloropus).


S'Albufereta is an important stopping off point and feeding grounds for migratory fowl during spring and autumn and also the habitat of birds from northern European in winter.

The wetlands encompass three clearly differentiated areas: a sandy coastal strip that measures 50 to 100 m wide, floodlands with channels and lakes (S'Albufereta's two almost permanent lakes and a salt lake known as Sa Barcassa, which is flooded in winter) and sporadically flooded areas which feature the largest grove of tamarind trees in the Balearic Islands, made up of Tamarix gallica and T. Canariensis.

Studies of plant life indicate the presence of 349 different species in the S'Albufereta Nature Reserve, and the Autonomous Community protects six endemic varieties, three others species (Pancratium maritimum, Chamaerops humilis and Myrtus communis), one genus (Tamarix) and one family (Orchidiaceae).

RESERVA NATURAL S'ALBUFERETA
Lista de Correo. E-07458 Can Picafort 07458 Can Picafort- Mallorca
Tel.: +34 971 89 22 50 Fax: +34 971 89 21 58
http://dgbio.caib.es

The National Maritime-Terrestrial Park of Cabrera?s interpretation centre is located in the Colònia de Sant Jordi in the municipality of Ses Salines.

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Although the sub-archipelago of Cabrera belongs to the city of Palma administratively speaking, its geographic proximity to Colònia de Sant Jordi makes the latter the logical place for the park?s interpretation centre, since boats to the park also leave from Mallorca?s southern zone (Portopetro and Colònia de Sant Jordi). The interpretation centre allows visitors to garner first-hand knowledge of the wealth of nature that makes this island deserve the maximum protection. Because of the park?s fragile environment and so as not to disturb the peace and quiet of its different species, visits are only allowed in the environs of the port of Cabrera, which is why the interpretation centre is an excellent opportunity to understand its values better. Aquariums display the different species that can be found in the surrounding waters and another section introduces its terrestrial medium. These contents are framed by Mediterranean history and culture on display in facilities whose main building is inspired by the megalithic talayotic constructions of the islands of Mallorca and Menorca.

http://reddeparquesnacionales.mma.es/parques/cabrera/index.htm

The hand of man has created a wetland that is now Mallorca's third largest habitat for hibernating waterfowl.

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This wetland was formed by rainwater and purified water from the village of Felanitx. It covers three hectares and shelters a high density of waterfowl. The property has been acquired by Government of the Balearic Islands, through the Ministry for the Environment to ensure its conservation.

Felanitx

Bird watchers have a specific place that provides them with information not only about birds, but also about the nature areas nearby.

© www.illesbalears.es

The centre is located in the area of La Gola in the Port de Pollença. La Gola is a small wetland zone formed by the confluence of the Gotmar and Sóller torrents, whose waters flow through the site before reaching the sea. Panels with itineraries to guide visitors have been set up.

The location of the centre a few kilometres from the S'Albufereta and Albufera wetlands in Mallorca, as well as its proximity to the Tramuntana Mountains, makes it an ideal starting point for those interested in nature in general and bird watching in particular. The centre also meets educational goals related to the world of birds and nature conservation. A permanent exhibition introduces visitors to the island?s birdlife, species and habitats.

C / Temple Fielding, s / n
07 470 Port de Pollença

info@lagola.info
http://blog.lagola.info

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Back in the 15th Century, San Vicente Ferrer warned the Mallorcans that the island was hollow inside, that it was like a pottery bowl turned upside down. Although the comparison sounds exaggerated, it is true to say that in Mallorca alone there are more than two hundred known caves. The Cuevas dels Hams are a beautiful example of these mysterious settings formed drop by drop over thousands of years.

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The Cuevas dels Hams are found in Porto Cristo, a coastal town in the municipal district of Manacor. They were discovered by Pere Caldentey on the 2nd March 1905, although they were not opened to the public until five years later.

Their discovery was due to a coincidental factor. In 1890, this Mallorcan speleologist had travelled to Chile, where he saw various objects sculpted in onyx similar to the stones which he knew existed in his Manacor homeland.

On his return to the island, he began his work and a short time later he found some quarries of high quality onyx. Just two hundred metres from here were the caves. Curiously, the mausoleum erected to Cardinal Merry de Val in the Basilica of San Pedro in Rome was built with stone from these quarries.

Concert in the Sea of Venice

A tour around this large cave takes the visitor into fourteen different rooms. The entrance receives the name of Primeras Visiones (First Visions) and the next room is called Cementerio de las Hadas (the Fairy Cemetery), with stalactites which look like cypresses around a statue.

The deepest place lies some thirty metres down. This is the lake known as the Mar de Venecia (Sea of Venice), the setting for a concert with musicians playing in a boat which is lit up and with impressive sound effects. Living in the lake are some small prehistoric crustaceans which are white and completely blind.

Another of the most spectacular rooms is the one which Caldentey called El Paraíso Perdido de Milton (Milton's Lost Paradise). Also striking is El Sueño del Ángel (Dream of an Angel), where the stalactites are hook-shaped which is what gives the caves their name, since 'hams' means 'hook' in Mallorcan.

The room is situated some twenty metres deep and, apparently these shapes are produced by the currents which exist in this part of the cave. The spiders, in their laborious eagerness to weave webs, also contribute to this process.

The beauty of the stalactites and stalagmites is heightened thanks to the light effects which are colourist at times and natural at other times, giving rise to magical scenes.


Carretera Porto Cristo-Manacor. Tel: (+34) 971 820 988. www.cuevas-hams.com March to October, from 10 am to 6 pm. Rest of the year, from 10.30 am to 5 pm.

The Centro para la Conservación de la Vida Silvestre en el Mediterráneo (Mediterranean Wildlife Conservation Centre) is the headquarters for the new Fundación para la Conservación de los Buitres (Vulture Conservation Foundation)

© www.illesbalears.es

In 1982, a plan was launched with twenty specimens of black vultures to prevent the extinction of this species? sole population on the island. Although the issue of the declining black vulture population was first raised in 1970, effective measures to halt the extinction and encourage the recovery of the species took place were not implemented until the early years of the following decade. The Fundación para la Conservación del Buitre Negro (Black Vulture Conservation Foundation, BVCF) came on board the project and, together with the authorities, ecologist associations and volunteers, developed a successful programme to recover these birds, which today number 110. Benefitting from this experience and joining forces with the Fundación para la Conservación del Quebrantahuesos (the Bearded Vulture Conservation Foundation), the new Foundation is working to protect a number of different European vultures: Aegypius monachus (Black Vulture), Gypaetus barbatus (Bearded Vulture), Gyps fulvus (Griffon Vulture) and Neophron percnopterus (Egyptian Vulture).
Those interested in visiting the centre may contact the entity to get to know its facilities and projects.
The Balearic Islands are home to places of great interest to nature lovers and bird-watchers. Visit the naturaleza section on our website.

Fundación para la Conservación del Buitre Negro (BVCF)
Centro para la Conservación de la Vida Silvestre Mediterránea
Finca Son Pons s/n, Ctra Palma ? Alcudia, km 38,200
07310 Campanet, Mallorca ? Illes Balears, España
Tel:+34 971 51 66 20
Fax:+34 971 50 95 41
http://www.bvcf.org
E-mail: bvcf@bvcf.org

Project for sustainable tourism development:

La Sierra de Tramuntana covers about a third of Majorca's area and is a series of craggy mountains and calm, fertile valleys. The coast begins and ends at two unique settings: Dragonera Island and Cape Formentor.

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It is somewhat more than 1,000 km2 in size and is made up of several alignments of peaks running SW-NE. Its great natural wealth and environmental worth make it the object of a project now in the planning stage which intends to extend its protection and declare the Serra de Tramuntana a natural park.

The mountains are the main stars, with peaks rising above 1,000 m between Valldemossa and Escorca. Some examples are Puig de Massanella (1,367 m) or Puig Major de Son Torrella (1,445 m). The sierra goes through a total of 19 municipalities and has different shapes along its route, from crests of three consecutive waves with discontinuous, terraced valleys communicated with each other by ravines, to craggy mountains with fertile lower valleys, such as in Sóller, Andratx and Pollença.

Majorca's hydric reserve
Its geological formation, dominated by calcareous rocks, makes this sierra the main hydric reserve on Majorca. As far as vegetation, holm oak groves cover the lower part of the mountains. Birds stand out amongst the fauna, particularly the majestic figure of the voltor negre (black vulture). It is also easy to see the goat, one of the few mammals which have survived.

The coast is dotted with towers and lighthouses, structures of great historical value. Outstanding amongst the former is that of sa Calobra, Picada tower, sa Pedrissa, and sa Mola tower. The most interesting lighthouses are those of Formentor, that of la Creu (at the port of Sóller), and the two on the island of Dragonera.

The scenery is one of the main merits of this sierra. There are several miradors and points from which the views are magnificent, such as Ses Tres Creus, in Sóller, where the panorama is fantastic.


La Serra de Tramuntana covers 19 municipalities on Majorca and runs parallel to the island's northeastern coast, from Andratx and Calvià to the south, to Pollença in the north.

www.serradetramuntana.net

This new educational leisure space is located in the Playa de Palma-S'Arenal zone.

© www.illesbalears.es

A modern concept of a nature theme park that is a welcome addition to the island of Mallorca's tourist attractions.

Palma Aquarium is much more than a simple aquarium, thanks to the sea-related experiences it offers, which allows visitors to enjoy the marvels of the underwater world to the utmost.

According to its promoters, the combination of aquariums, flora, sophisticated audiovisuals and atmospheric stage elements heights the feeling of immersion. The organically designed main building occupies 7,500 m2 of land and feature 900m of exhibition galleries. The aquarium tanks (with 5 million litres of salt water) houses 8,000 specimens of marine fauna that include over 700 species and in addition to a giant acrylic tunnel that simulates the diving experience, there is an Amazonian rain forest zone.

http://www.palmaaquarium.com

Encouraged by the temperate Mediterranean climate, the first variety of the island's more than 117,000 almond trees timidly begin to bud in late January.

© www.illesbalears.es

Encouraged by the temperate Mediterranean climate, the first variety of the island's more than 117,000 almond trees timidly begin to bud in late January, a foretaste of the exquisite fields blanketed by white, delicate flowers that burst into bloom between late January and mid-February. Be it in a lone specimen or a riot of flowers, this surprising and omnipresent forerunner of spring is a special treat for visitors. A closer look at this man-made display of nature reveals in detail the colours of these flowers, which range from the purest white to pink. A unique and guaranteed opportunity for photography lovers to take an unforgettable memory back home with them.

The cultivation of almond trees was introduced en masse after phylloxera devastated the Islands' vineyards in the late eighteenth century, especially in Mallorca and Ibiza. Their fruit can be sampled as is, toasted or as part of the islands' typical dishes, especially pastries. Almond products from the archipelago's most important area are sold under the trusted brand name, ?Ametla de Mallorca?. Furthermore, beauty products made with ingredients from this singular tree can also be found in perfumeries.

The farmstead of Planícia nestles in a priceless natural, scenic setting. The farmstead has been owned by the Balearic Government since February 17, 2009.

© www.illesbalears.es

Planícia is located in southwest Mallorca and its 445 hectares make up 25 percent of all the land in the municipality of Banyalbufar.

Its terrain ranges from rugged coastlines to the peak of Sa Mola de Planícia Mountain (934 m) and its natural treasures include groves of Holm oak and pine trees and associated fauna. Farming at the possessió (the local name for the island?s great rural farmsteads) revolves around olive oil, which is why olive crops and large olive presses are other points of interest. Also abundant are lime kilns and rotlles de sitges, which were used to make coal from Holm oak in the olden days.

The paths crisscrossing the farm are ideal for hiking, since they run through beautiful, peaceful landscapes. Planícia is located on the GR-221 route, known as the Drystone Route, which cuts across the Tramuntana Mountains from north to south.

The Balearic Government, through the Ministry of the Environment, and the Spanish Government have joined forces to place this natural space at the islanders? service.

http://www.conselldemallorca.net/mediambient/pedra/doc/ruta.pdf

10 km to the south of Cabo Salines is the Cabrera archipelago, designated a Maritime-Land National Park.

© www.illesbalears.es

The first attraction of a visit to it begins with the crossing, sailing between a variety of different shaped islets and in the company of dolphins and seagulls.
The Cabrera archipelago separated from Majorca some 15,000 years ago. It is formed by a main island, Cabrera, and 18 islets; the first one to come into sight is Na Foradada, a flat mass with vertical walls. The island of Cabrera, with a small harbour where the golondrinas or pleasure boats moor, has a surface area of 1,569 hectares and is a succession of cliffs, coves, headlands, sandy beaches and beautiful caves along the coastline. The most spectacular is Sa Cova Blava, with an enigmatic natural composition of light and colour.

Cabrera is also an important ecosystem for the fauna and flora. There are more than 450 plant species and it is a strategic point for many birds during their migration. The most diverse colonies of the Western Mediterranean are found here, with the special presence of Eleonora's falcons, which are easy to localise around these islets. The land fauna is dominated by the 10 sub-species of lizards which inhabit it.

Concentration camp for French prisoners
Its history is not without some curious episodes. During the 1st to 6th Centuries, there was a colony of Romans here who produced garum, a substance made with fish gut which they added as a condiment to certain dishes and which, it seems, was an aphrodisiac. In the park's Museum, installed in a building dating from the late 19th Century, you can see the remains of the ceramics which have been found.

Its castle, built in the 14th Century, was used as a concentration camp for 9,000 French prisoners after the battle of Bailén. Between 1809 and 1811 they began to arrive on the island in groups; the most numerous was formed by 4,000 men, who were held prisoner for five years; only 3,600 of them survived. According to legend, there was also a monastery inhabited by rebel monks who danced naked on the beach.

http://reddeparquesnacionales.mma.es/parques/cabrera/index.htm

You can get to Cabrera in the golondrinas which leave La Colònia de Sant Jordi and Portopetro, in the south of Majorca. To go sailing, anchor or go diving along the coast you have to obtain authorisation from its offices in Palma (Plaça d'Espanya, 8. Tel. +(34) 971 725 010). It is possible to stay overnight in the bay.

The waters ringing the Balearic Islands are oxygenated and filtered by posidonia oceánica, which gives them the transparency so highly-prized by divers and swimmers

© www.illesbalears.es

Balearic Islands have exceptional beaches and peerless diving conditions, thanks its clear, clean waters. One of the main reasons for this is the presence of Posidonia Oceánica, an angiosperm marine plant that promotes transparent waters, prevents erosion and serves as a habitat for a wide array of ocean fauna. In fact, the waters of the Natural Reserve of Ses Salinas in Ibiza and Formentera are home to some of the finest beds of Posidonia Oceánica in the Mediterranean, in terms of conservation.

http://lifeposidonia.caib.es