As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to Spain, Richard Hammond provides an overview of the opportunities to see nature, a range of landscapes and heritage in the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera
Waking up at a finca in the rural north of Ibiza, the world felt at peace. Above the low-level chirping of cicadas, I could hear a bee buzzing outside my window, birds were calling out to each other, and there was a distant sound of another guest swimming in the resort’s natural pool. The tranquillity was a world away from the nightclubs and crowded beaches so often associated with this party island. Yet I should have expected it; Ibiza, and indeed the other islands of the Balearics, all have areas of great natural beauty, and over the past 30 years have built up international recognition for their efforts to protect these natural assets.
Pride of place in the Balearics are the clear turquoise waters of Ibiza and its neighbouring island Formentera, which are thanks to the protected meadows of the large seagrass oceanic Posidonia that lie on the seabed. Some 8km long and over 100,000 years old, the seagrass cleans the water and adds in oxygen to create a thriving environment and is found only in the Mediterranean. This underground forest, designated as the Marine Reserve des Freus, stretching from Ses Salines beach (Ibiza) to Es Freus (Formentera), has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO.
Numerous marine species use these underwater forests as a haven for mating and laying their eggs, so marine life thrives, which means the waters around these islands are rewarding snorkel and dive sites. Sea turtles pass through these waters on their long journey to Mexico, and the nearby lagoons of Ses Salines Nature Park, which protects both the land and the sea, is home to over 200 species of migratory birds, including flamingos and black-necked storks. Among a series of measures designed to protect this one-of-a-kind organism (some of which have been implemented thanks to money raised from the islands tourism tax), an app has been created so that yachts can avoid anchoring on protected zones and fines have been imposed for anyone falling foul of the law on this.
It’s not only the environment that is being afford protection – this year is the 25th anniversary of Ibiza’s recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural and architectural value. The island’s treasures include one of the best-preserved coastal fortresses in the Mediterranean, Dalt Vila’s acropolis; the Phoenician remains of Sa Caleta and its Carthaginian tombs. Dalt Vila specifically is home to the first contemporary art museum in Spain.
UNESCO’s recognition extends to the other islands in the Balearics. Last year, Menorca celebrated its 30th anniversary as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the largest marine biosphere reserve in the Mediterranean. Home to nearly 220 species of birds and 1,000 species of plants, 60 of which are endemic to this northernmost island of the Balearic archipelago, Menorca has remarkable diversity of flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for the ‘Menorca Biosphere Reserve’ logo awarded to those businesses that are committed to sustainable practices by generating positive environmental, cultural and social impact. In particular, visitors to Menorca are being encouraged to explore the island’s unspoiled rural countryside on foot, horseback or by bicycle.
The Camí de Cavalls, a historic path circumnavigating the entire coastline, has been improved in recent years with new footpaths and stone hedges to make Menorca’s impressive scenery more accessible to visitors. Twenty maritime routes have also been created to showcase points of heritage interest, including old fishermen’s huts, underwater caves and shipwrecks. In addition, last September, Talayotic Menorca was officially listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as an important cultural destination. Its funerary naves, circular houses as well as structures such as taulas and talayots are considered by UNESCO to be an exceptional example of Cyclopean architecture and of its evolution over fifteen hundred years as well as an important source of knowledge about the life of the Talayotic people, the Bronze Age and Iron Age.
Two other sites in the Balearic Islands have been recognised by UNESCO. Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is a World Heritage Site, covering an area of over 60,000 hectares, it includes picturesque towns such as Sóller, Fornalutx, Deià, and Valldemossa and has become a mecca for hiking and cycle tourism (see outdoor adventure activities in Spain).
Formerly an animal shelter, Ses Porqueres de Galatzó (above) has been transformed into an environmentally-friendly mountain hut for hikers in the Serra de Tramuntana thanks to funds raised by the sustainable tourism tax. The modern hikers refuge lies on the picturesque Dry Stone Route, close to hiking paths which run through the pine forest and olive groves. The hut has 52 beds divided between 12 rooms as well as a kitchen, dining rooms and a multifunctional room for educational and cultural activities.
In addition, the Song of Sybil has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. The song, which dates back to medieval times, is performed on Christmas Eve throughout the island, including at the Sanctuary of Lluc and in Palma’s cathedral.
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More information on the sustainable tourism tax and the projects it funds: www.sustainableislands.travel
For more ideas of where to visit in Spain, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Spain
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