Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Horse Riding
With its extensive network of rugged trails making their way over the hilly countryside
and alongside the Mediterranean, Mallorca is a fine place to saddle up. Many towns and
resorts have stables where you can sign up for a class (€10 to €20) or join a group excur-
sion (about €15 for the first hour, with two five-hour rides generally costing around
€25-€60 per person. Longer trips are also possible. Some stables also offer pony rides
for small children.
Horse-Riding Routes
Cala Ratjada, Colònia de Sant Jordi and Pollença are all popular riding areas; ask at local
tourist offices for the nearest stables. Cala Ratjada in particular allows you to ride along a
largely undeveloped coast towards Cala Mesquida. Rancho Bonanza (
Click here
)
, Cala
Ratjada's main stables, are German run. Besides countryside and coastal excursions, staff
arrange pony rides for kids.
Horse-Riding Resources
Get more information from the
Federació Hipica de les Illes Baleares
(Equestrian
Federation of the Balearic Islands; 971 75 67 54 ;
www.fhbalear.com
;
Avinguda
Uruguay). Its website lists 15 stables in Mallorca under 'Clubes Illes Balears'.
MALLORCA FROM ABOVE
Mallorca looks tiny as you rise gently above it or glide on thermals.
Illes Balears Bal-
looning
( 607 647647;
www.ibballooning.net
)
offers hot-air balloons for charter,
with a bird's-eye view of the entire island. As you approach Port d'Alcúdia you'll of-
ten aragliders drifting high on the thermals. If you're keen to join them, try Tandem
Mallorca (
Click here
)
. In addition to tandem flights for beginners, there are also be-
ginners' and intermediate courses year-round.
Water Sports
Scuba Diving & Snorkelling
Mallorca is one of southern Europe's premier diving and snorkelling destinations. The
combination of superclear waters and professional dive centres make this an excellent
place for a leisure dive or even the open-water PADI diving-accreditation course.
