Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
seem overprotected - there are few hiking trails open to the public, and for most of
them you'll either need to tag along with a guide or request permission from the
park office - but this is an extremely fragile ecosystem.
The best-known walking route heads up to a restored
14th-centurycastle
, a fort-
ress once used to keep pirates off the island. It was later converted into a prison for
French soldiers, more than 5000 of whom died after being abandoned in 1809 to-
wards the end of the Peninsular War. The 30-minute walk to the castle meanders
along the northern side of the island before taking you to the 80m-high bluff where
the castle looms.
Guides also sometimes lead the 20-minute walk to
Es Celler
, a farmhouse
owned by the Feliu family, who owned the entire island in the early 20th century.
It's now a small museum with history and culture exhibits. Nearby stands a monu-
ment to the French prisoners who died on Cabrera.
Other possible routes lead to the
N'Ensiola lighthouse
(four hours, permission
required), the southern sierra of
Serra de Ses Figueres
(2½ hours, permission re-
quired), or the highest point of the island, the 172m
Picamosques
(three hours,
permission required).
The island is a wonderful place for snorkelling. While you need special permis-
sion to dive here, you can snorkel off the beach. Or, in July and August, sign up for
the guided snorkelling excursions offered by park rangers.
This is prime territory for birdwatching: marine birds, birds of prey and migrating
birds all call Cabrera home at least part of the year. Common species include the
fisher eagle, the endangered Balearic shearwater, Audouin's gull, Cory's shearwa-
ter, shags, ospreys, Eleonora's falcon and peregrine falcons.
Wildlife is also abundant. The Balearic lizard is the best-known species on Cab-
rera. This small lizard has few enemies on the archipelago and 80% of the species
population lives on the island.
On the cruise back to Colònia de Sant Jordi, the boat stops in
Sa Cova Blava
(Blue Cave), a gorgeous cave with crystalline waters where passengers can take a
dip. Speedboats also stop here.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ses Salines
Used as a source of salt since the days of the Romans, Ses Salines (the Salt Pans) is an
unassuming agricultural centre that's rapidly garnering a reputation as one of southern
Mallorca's most agreeable inland towns. With cool bar-restaurants and shops selling the
cleverly marketed local salt, it has transformed itself from a rural waystation to a destina-
