A beautiful loop along the boundary between Estellencs and Banyalbufar, through the historic estates of Planícia and Son Fortuny, twin landmarks of the region.

This week’s route offers a captivating journey through the diverse landscapes of the Serra de Tramuntana, between the mountain villages of Estellencs and Banyalbufar, passing through emblematic estates like Planícia, Son Serralta, and Son Fortuny, among others. We begin at the TIB bus stop (lines L-202 and L-131) in Estellencs, right in front of the grand entrance to the 17th-century parish church of Sant Joan Baptista, whose defensive tower now serves as the belfry.

The Route

[00 min] We head toward Banyalbufar, following the signs for the Dry Stone Route (GR-221). We pass the old communal washhouses and the school, then shortly after, leave the road on a marked trail to the left. After crossing a small stream, we start a gentle ascent on a stone-paved path. On the right, we pass Les Amitges, an estate split from Son Serralta in the 19th century. To the left, elevated, are the houses of el Collet, once known as Son Cabot — one of the largest estates in the municipality, declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1993. The buildings, solid and sturdy, feature a striking defensive tower from the 17th or 18th century.

We return briefly to the main road (Ma-10) [15 min]. While waiting for the Consell de Mallorca to complete a new parallel trail, we follow the road for a short distance before turning off onto a marked trail leading to Banyalbufar via the public estate of Planícia. We skirt the houses of Son Serralta, located just off the path. In the 13th century, it was part of the Cavalleria d’Estellencs, together with neighboring Son Fortuny. It was acquired by the Serralta family in the late 16th century. The buildings date to the 15th century, with most of the structure rebuilt in the 18th. The west-facing facade was unfortunately altered in the 20th century with two overlapping porches.

[40 min] We cross from Son Fortuny into Planícia through a gate without a barrier. Signage confirms we’re now within the public estate’s boundaries. Soon, we reach the new road built in the late 1960s, replacing the old 1868 path that ran through Son Sanutges and l’Arboçar, linking the Ma-10 to the main house. [45 min] We leave the GR route, turning right and beginning the climb to the estate house via a wide paved path. After the first gate, we enter the area known as l’Olivaret de Mar. With the majestic mola (rocky outcrop) directly ahead, we pass el sementer de Baix on the right and the end of the Obi Spring Route on the left. Gentle curves lead us past Pla de les Castanyoles and then Camp Gran.

[1 h 10 min] We reach a key junction. A dirt track to the right leads to the Aljub dels Cristians (Cistern of the Christians) — our next destination. Leaving the paved road, we continue along a dirt trail into a charming forest. We pass two junctions — the first to the right, the second to the left, near a lime kiln.

[1 h 30 min] The Aljub dels Cristians is a rectangular cistern with a barrel-vaulted roof, its mouth facing west. A small basin collects water from the slope via a channel carved into the ground. The mouth was sealed with sandstone blocks to serve as a filter. We continue southwest along the same path. After several sharp bends and a short stretch of cobbled trail, we emerge onto a new cart track [1 h 45 min]. While the public estate’s trail turns left, we go right into a narrow ravine bordered by a wall perpendicular to the slope. We head toward a gate in a wire fence, allowing us to pass from Planícia into the Salt del Fonollar estate.

Now on different land, the path gently descends through sunlit terraces surrounded by dense forest until we reach the estate’s abandoned buildings [1 h 55 min].

Currently, two properties squeezed between Planícia and Son Fortuny mark the boundary between the municipalities of Estellencs and Banyalbufar. In 1737, it was a single estate owned by Gabriel Balaguer, with lands dedicated to olives and vineyards. By the time the Cardenal Despuig map was drawn in 1784, it was already known as els Salts. Five years later, in 1789, it was officially divided into Salt del Putxet and Salt del Fonollar.

The ruins of Salt del Fonollar still show their original two-story layout, with an elegant rounded entrance. Nearby are a threshing floor and several water collection features, such as a well with a protective chapel and a vaulted cistern.

A nearly hidden path descends from the houses to a gate. From there, a trail continues southwest without much elevation change. Scattered cairns help guide the way. [2 h 05 min] Soon, we come across a wire fence marking the Salt del Putxetestate. We follow it to a cart track that leads above the Son Llarg cliffs — a long ledge offering stunning views over Estellencs.

The Giganta Viewpoint

The Fortuny family owned the estate for centuries. Roca d’en Fortuny is a prominent rock visible from the house, near the Son Jover stream and the Aigua waterfall. Gabriel Ordinas Marcé includes a local legend in his Guide to the Villages of Mallorca (Hora Nova, 2003):

“The great boulder is a stone a giant removed from his shoe while walking from Africa to Spain. Meanwhile, his wife waited on the nearby rock of Son Llarg, her legs dangling over the cliff.”

[2 h 20 min] We reach a fork after the ledge. We continue downhill to a metal gate that opens easily. Though vegetation invades parts of the trail, it’s easy to follow, leading us to the Son Jover spring [2 h 35 min], shaded by a massive fig tree. We follow a descending cart track until we intersect with signage for the Royal Path of Puigpunyent [2 h 50 min], a GR-221 variant connecting Calvià and Estellencs.

From here, we follow the signs to close the loop by the washhouses at the entrance to Estellencs [3 h 20 min].