From Palma in Majorca I would take the bus journey to Sant Elm on the south west corner of the Island. Would spend 3 days in Sant Elm doing a couple of photo walks in the southern Tramuntana mountain range.
Getting Around Majorca
The buses are pretty good for getting around Majorca as they were a few years back in Tenerife. Ideally you would hire a car. But then you have the problems of driving on the ‘right’ side of the road, parking and the general cost etc. I have a real phobia about driving on the right hand side of the road, a small mistake could be fatal. Couple that with an automatic when been driving manual for 30+ years, then narrow winding mountain roads! When in Tenerife I inquired about driving lessons but not really set up for this. If someone was willing to do it then they not speak English. A lot of the best walks in Majorca were only accessible via car. It would help if you have someone with you as they can make sure you stay on the right side of the road. This is something I want to get over in the future as a travel photographer it opens up a lot more possibilities. Just need a lot of practice first before feeling confident
Majorca Walking Guide
As with the journey around Tenerife was using the Rother Majorca walking guide for this island. It pays to research the best of these walks before arriving in Majorca. Where you will be based and what walks you will do. Especially if you are reliant on the buses. Palma was the pumping heart of Majorca. When I changed bases around the island first had to take a bus back to Palma for a connection. These bus journeys would be my rest days and I needed them after 2 days walking up in the mountains. Usually you would then get to enjoy a relaxing evening and sunset in your new location before commencing some new walking adventures.
Sant Elm Arrival
Sant Elm is probably one of the quietest little resorts on the island of Majorca. For 3 nights I was staying in an apartment as could not find a hotel. But in hindsight preferred the apartment as not dependent on open restaurants for breakfast dinners etc. You can stock up in the local supermarket at a 1/4 of the cost, do your own breakfast and supper and maybe having dinner in a restaurant at the end of a long walk as part reward. Generally apartments are quieter and more peaceful.
It was another cold day when I arrived in Sant Elm. After unpacking wandered into the centre and there was nothing open. This is a problem coming in the low of low season. But also on this day because of the weather the few restaurants that would have been opened did not. April is when everything starts opening up again in the resort towns of Majorca. Decided to take a taxi to the nearby port of Andraxt.
Port D’ Andraxt
Port D’ Andraxt is quite a bit bigger than Sant Elm, not too far away about 10 euros in a taxi. There were restaurants and supermarkets open here, so could fill and stock up for the coming days.
Took a little walk around Port D’ Andraxt before having some food. Some nice views across the marina to the Serra de Tramuntana rising in the background.
Little tip here is not to start eating during sunset when the skies are changing colours, kept popping out the restaurant, not ideal. After some good food and a few beers stocked up in a local supermarket and took a taxi back to Sant Elm. Was looking forward to getting up into those mountains the next morning.
Sant Elm to La Trapa
Good thing with the apartment in Sant Elm there was a couple of good walks starting almost from the doorstep. Day 3 in Majorca was another cold one well below the average for this time of year which is 15c. Overcast so no good light and some spots of rain so glad had brought my rain jacket that had to get out a few times. The photo walk today was to the ruins of La Trapa monastery.
The best composition was a detour to the Torre de Cala en Basset. A strong subject can compensate for poor light. Had brought my 24-70mm 2.8 lens and 70-200mm F4 lens with the Canon 5D mk4. Starting to wish had brought my wide angle lens 16-35mm. But you can always compensate for a wide angle via doing a pano. you just have to think it at the time. Glad I bring my main camera and lenses. No point in leaving these at home, they need to be used. Although I would say travel photography your gear can be put under extra strain and some knocking about.
Sant Elm to Port D’ Andraxt
The following and final full day in Sant Elm was a walk to Port D Andraxt over the Tramuntana, no taxi this time. Its actually listed in the Rother walking guide starting from Port D’ Andraxt, so was doing it in reverse. Would have lunch in Port D’Andraxt then a taxi back to Sant Elm after a long hard photo walk.
Today the weather and light was improving. Only the night before thinking would need to get lucky to capture a good landscape photo in Majorca as not know the area. Stopped off for a coffee in Sant Elm before commencing the long walk over the Tramuntana and got lucky with a morning rainbow over Dragon Island. I love rainbows, they are so rare, they top sunsets and sunrises for me. With previous experiences shooting rainbows, they remind me to shoot panoramics. Ideally would have put on a polariser to more saturate the colours but not have the time. Rainbows are fleeting, a few minutes later it had gone.
More panos taken up in the Tramuntana mountains between Sant Elm and Port De Andraxt. Some fantastic views and good light now, the weather was changing for the better.
Some great views of Dragon Island at this height. Again a hand held pano insured got into the detail and captured the complete scene aka a telephoto wide angle.
Ice cold in Andraxt
Made it to Port D’ Andraxt, had a well deserved meal and some cold beers. Then took a taxi back to Sant Elm. I find the walks in the Rother guide marked as moderate to be very hard. Tomorrow would be a rest day as I made my way by bus to the next location and base the Port De Soller in the central Tramuntana.
Check out the Majorca Travel Photography gallery