Cycling in Mallorca from February to April: Sa Calobra, Puig Major, Formentor and what to expect

November averages around 19 °C by day, 8 °C at night and about 6 rainy days, with dusk at about 17:35. December and January are the coldest and shortest months: highs of 16 and 15 °C, lows of 5 and 4 °C and sunset before 18:00. February rises to 15.4 °C with almost six hours of sun a day and about 5 rainy days; March reaches 17.5 °C with 6.5 hours of sun; April approaches 20 °C, with 7.8 hours of sun a day and sunsets around 20:30.

These are AEMET figures for Palma airport (1981-2010), so on the mountain passes it will be a little cooler and, above all, windier and colder on the descents. A windproof layer and arm warmers fit in any jersey pocket. Another practical point comes from our own catalogue: the coach and boat excursions that reach Sa Calobra and Formentor start in April or May, so in February and March you share the road with less tourist traffic.

Sa Calobra is the most famous: about 9.4 kilometres of climbing from the sea to the Coll dels Reis, at an average gradient of 7 %, with ramps of 11 to 12 % at the steepest and about 670 metres of ascent; figures vary by a few metres depending on the source, and around 26 hairpins are quoted, including the knotted bend known as the tie. It is an out-and-back ride, so the effort is the climb on the way home. Guided-cycling operators advise riding it early or late because of the coaches.

Puig Major is the island's longest climb: about 14 kilometres at 6 % on average, with ramps near 9 %, on the Ma-10 from the Sóller valley. Formentor is a different kind of ride: from Port de Pollença to the lighthouse it is about 40 kilometres there and back with roughly 850 metres of climbing in total; the first stretch, up to the Sa Creueta viewpoint, is about 3.3 km and 220 m of ascent, and beyond that point the surface gets worse, with potholes and loose stones.

A classic multi-day plan links all three from a base in Sóller or Pollença. For a single day, Sa Calobra from Sóller or Pollença makes more sense than from the east coast: from Playa de Muro it is about 55 km to Sa Calobra.

Huerzeler rents road bikes at its Playa de Muro station, which in 2026 is open from 13 February to 1 November; you will not find that station open in January or December. In Sóller, Tramuntana Tours rents everything from road bikes to e-MTBs and runs guided excursions all year according to its listing, with bikes returned at Port de Sóller. Sportive Breaks offers guided weeks with a support van and an ex-professional among its guides; it is priced in pounds, 499 to 699 GBP a week as published.

If you prefer off-road, CAMIBIKE runs guided MTB or e-MTB rides on the east coast, with separate programmes for spring and autumn, summer and winter, guides in German or English and prices of 79 € with your own bike, 98 € on a full-suspension bike and 114 € on an e-bike. Book early in February and March, when most riders are on the island.

Not every day is a mountain day. An e-bike is a good way to recover: from Inca there is a half-day ride on quiet tracks among olive, carob and almond trees to villages at the foot of the Tramuntana, with a stop at an oil mill. In Palma there are flat rides through the old town and past the cathedral with tapas, and an e-bike outing that climbs to Bellver Castle, lasting 2.5 to 3 hours.

One useful detail: the Call&Ride old-town tour in Palma leaves every day of the year at 10:30 according to its listing, and Palma Bicycle Tours lists German among its languages. Published prices run from about 59 to 75 euros.

After a day of climbs, hot water feels good. In Palma, the Son Armadams spa offers a thermal circuit of about 90 minutes with sauna, steam bath and hydromassage, open every day; in the south-west, the Elba Sunset Thalasso Spa admits outside visitors and, according to its website, opens Monday to Friday in winter. If you want to add a relaxed train ride, the Sóller train is listed in our directory with a season from February to December.

Helmet and traffic: under Spanish rules, cyclists must wear a helmet on roads outside built-up areas, with exceptions on long climbs or in intense heat, and drivers must leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking; always check the current DGT rules before you go. Carry a spare tube and a pump, front and rear lights, because it gets dark early, and enough water: some climbs do not have a single cafe halfway up.

At the end of April the Mallorca 312 takes place, a cyclosportive starting and finishing in Playa de Muro with three routes of 167, 225 and 312 kilometres; the 2026 edition was on Saturday 25 April with about 8,500 riders. In the week before, the mountain roads are busy: for peace and quiet, plan your trip for February or March.