THE AREA
- the stunning north-east of Mallorca -
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The traditional village Artá
The bustling traditional town of Artá ​​is located in the middle of a large valley at the foot of a small mountain in the northeast of Mallorca. The center is busy all year round with beautiful restaurants , cafés and boutique shops. There are plenty of historical sites to visit, such as the prehistoric village Ses Paisses, Sant Salvador Castle and the Parish Church.
Park natural de la Peninsula de Llevant
The llevant natural park is situated in the municipal area of artà.
The serra de llevant mountain range is cloaked in mauritanian grass, holm oak, aleppo pine and fan palms.
Only certain areas of the park are accessible by car, so it's popular with hikers, swimmers, cyclists and horseback riders who are drawn by the sense of wilderness and remoteness.
There is a network of good hiking trails across hilly terrain that could almost pass for the scottish highlands with it's covering of heathers and shrubs at the higher altitudes.
Secluded coves with flour soft sand and crystal clear sea dot the coastline, wildlife can often be seen such as wild mountain goats, cormorants, audouin's gulls, peregrine falcons and booted eagles, while colonies of mediterranean tortoises live on some of the beaches.
My sister Anna Deacon and I fell in love with the Balearic Islands on our first visit more than two decades ago. We discovered a side to the islands we hadn't heard or read about, entirely at odds with their touristy reputation. We were entranced by the ever - changing landscapes, the olive groves, vineyards, dry-stone walls, breathtaking turquoise water, luscious green forests and limestone cliffs, by the smell of jasmine in the air and the jingling of distant goat bells.
Together we explored all the islands looking for hidden gems, following local tip-offs or rumours and scouring maps: some we have never found and remain a mystery, while others we go back to again and again.
We hope you enjoy "Wild Guide Balearic Islands"
as much as we enjoyed our adventures making it!!
WILD GUIDE Balearic Islands
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