Description
Long Weekend in Sant Elm, Mallorca
Grade 
Come and explore the beautiful rugged west coast of Mallorca on this long weekend in Sant Elm. As well as fantastic walking, take in views of the sun setting over Dragonera Island from the hotel restaurant each evening.
Duration:
3 or 4 nights
– No single supplement
Next departure:
– October 12th 2024
Price: 3 nights £350, 4 nights £430
This long weekend can be combined with Walking the GR221 which departs on October 16th. For those wishing to combine the two trips, I will arrange a transfer (at no extra cost) to Hostal Esporles, in Esporles. For more details of the GR221 holiday, click the link below.
Sant Elm is one of my favourite places in the whole World! It’s a beautiful and relaxing small resort lying on the rugged west coast of Mallorca. Across the bay is the beautiful island of Dragonera. I think the photo says it all. It is taken from the dining room of the hotel we will be staying in, Hostal Dragonera; some days the sunset is better than others, but generally its pretty good! Directly below the dining room is a sun-terrace from which you can swim in the Mediterranean at the end of the days walk. Oh and the walking? We do two and a half days walking, meaning that those who can only spare three nights can take a flight home late on Tuesday afternoon, while the rest of us can stay and have a leisurely sea front lunch in Port Andratx, our destination for the last day’s walk, before heading back to the hotel for a final swim and sunset dinner before heading home. The other two walks are full day walks exploring the local area and the surrounding local villages. The views are fantastic.
Holiday highlights
- Stay in the lovely Hostal Dragonera with its stupendous views across to Dragonera Island.
- Walk the quieter, beautiful rugged west coast of Mallorca for fantastic views and cold beer in delightful villages.
- Book a 3 or 4 night stay. Our walk on the 3rd day will finish early enough to take a late flight home or you can stay the extra night for a sunset lit dinner!
- No single supplement for a limited number of rooms, once these are sold, there is a supplement of £20 per night.
Accommodation
Our base for this long weekend is the Hostal Dragonera in Sant Elm. I have spent many weeks at a time in this hotel and I never tire of the phenomenal view from the dining room – each time I leave I have to wrench myself away! The food is excellent Spanish fare and there is just such a welcoming lovely feel to both the hotel and Sant Elm itself and the views are amazing (or have I said that already?!?)
All rooms are comfortable and en-suite. There are 6 single rooms that are bookable without a supplement.
Included
- En-suite half-board accommodation in the welcoming Hostal Dragonera.
- A three-course meal served each evening in the hotel restaurant.
- 2.5 days guided walking with a qualified and professional leader.
- All transport to and from walks.
Not included
- Flights, you book these yourself, but please do not book until the minimum number for the holiday is reached.
- Transfers to Hostal Dragonera, however, see Day 1 details below.
- Lunches -these are available to buy from local shops in Sant Elm -I generally take a sandwich order for the local deli which we pick up at the start of our days walk.
- Incidental expenses such as drinks.
Day-to-Day Itinerary
The following is the proposed itinerary for this short break. However, please bear in mind that in the event of local conditions changing, for example, due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, then it may be necessary to change the itinerary.
Saturday: Arrive Mallorca
Arrive at Hostel Dragonera, Mallorca. Meet for briefing and dinner at 7:00 pm in the hotel dining room.
Transfers from the airport are not included in the weekend cost; however, Sant Elm is accessible by bus from the airport (with a change in the city centre and Port Andratx) or taxis in Mallorca are reliable, honest, metered, plentiful and reasonably priced (airport to Sant Elm is approximately 70 euros) or for £35 I will pick you up from the airport – if you arrive in Palma Airport before 16:30
The bus from the airport to the city centre leaves approximately every 15 minutes and costs 6 euros. Buses from the city centre to Andratx depart from the bus station in Palma.
We will meet in the hotel bar at 7:00 pm for a short briefing about days ahead before we have dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Meals included: dinner
Sunday: S’Arraco
Today we do a local walk to take in the beautiful area around Sant Elm. Walking from the hotel, we first climb to Torre de Cala en Basset, a watchtower from the late 16th century, built to protect the west coast of Mallorca. The views over towards Dragonera Island are fantastic. From here we follow wooded tracks to the village of S’Arraco which will be our lunch stop. There will be time to eat our lunch in the square and have a beer in the local bar before heading over Barrio son Tio for more incredible views of Sant Elm bay on our way back to the hotel.
14 km (9 miles) ascent/descent 300m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Monday: La Trappa and ses Basses
Today we climb steadily around the hillside above Sant Elm to reach La Trappa, a well-preserved abandonned 19th century Cistercian Monastery, now a centre for conservation. After a little time for elevenses and to explore the buildings there, we continue our ascent to Mirador d’en Joseph Sastre. At 450m above sea level, the views down are dizzying. From here we contour around the hillside following the GR221 before descending down to S’Arroco for a cold beer and returning by taxi back to Sant Elm.
14 km (8.5 miles) ascent/descent 500 m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Tuesday: Port Andratx
Today we again follow the GR221, this time in the direction of Port Andratx. We firstly head out along the Pineta penisular, before turning inland in the direction of Barri de Son Tio. However, this time we turn off, to pass under the cliffs at Pas Vermell and from there we slowly descend to Port Andratx. Port Andratx is a beautiful port, those staying for a fourth night can enjoy a leisurely lunch before getting the bus back to Sant Elm, however, alternatively, if you can only spare 3 nights for this short break you can take a taxi back to Sant Elm to pick up your luggage and then onto the airport.
10 km (6 miles) ascent/descent 350 m
Meals included: breakfast (and dinner if staying for 4 nights)
Wednesday: Farewells until next time!
After breakfast we say goodbye, until next time.
For those travelling onto Esporles to do the Long-distance path, the GR221, I will arrange a transfer to leave at lunchtime.
Those returning to the UK, can either travel to the airport by bus or taxi.
Meal included: breakfast
Kit list
For walking each day:
- Good walking boots or shoes
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Lightweight, quick drying trousers
- Base layer
- Mid-layer such as a fleece jacket and an additional ‘spare’ layer depending on the forecast
- Walking socks
- Warm hat and gloves -just in case the weather turns
- Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and high SPF sun block
- Day sack (25 litre capacity is a good size) to comfortably carry your kit, lunch and water
- Dry bag or rucksack cover to keep the contents of your daypack dry
- Water bottle
- Basic first aid kit (plasters, blister treatment, antiseptic etc)
- Some snacks to keep you going
- Walking/trekking poles (if you use them)
Maps
OS Explorer maps OL 44 Torquay and Dawlish, OL 20 South Devon
