The Gran Recorrido del Llevant (also known as East Mallorca GR-226) has finally opened. This is a four-part hike around Mallorca’s beautiful, jagged eastern coastline – the Llevant and is designed for easy to moderate trekking, so ideal for almost everyone. The largest elevation gain in one day is 248m.

The beautiful Llevant is home to the Serra de Llevant mountain range and beaches, including Cala Ratjada and Porto Cristo. This trail leads you over dirt tracks, snakes by mountains and coastal routes. This means you can divide your time between hiking, catching rays on beaches with panoramic sea views and spending time in historic, culturally rich towns.

If you are tempted to explore the wilder East Coast, set aside around four days, or choose a section.

The sections are:–

• Cales de Mallorca to Manacor (24.99 km)
• Manacor to Son Carrio (22.99 km)
• Son Carrio to Artà (23.19 km),  
• Artà to Cala Mesquida (22.63 km).

There are additional access points at Son Macià and the Costa dels Pins, and all the sections are connected by public transport.

Start the trail at Cales de Mallorca, going inland passing farmland, vineyards and the town of Manacor. If you have a penchant for castles, start at Son Carrió, for the Talayotic Settlement of S’Illot, a 3,000-year-old archaeological site and pass Monestir de Bellpuig. The route ends at Artà, home to Na Batlessa, a stately home built between 1898 and 1900 and now the municipal library, the 16th-century church of La Transfiguració del Senyor and the 19th-century Santuario de Sant Salvador. Artà, 

Continue to the final stage towards Capdepera, where you will find historical attractions such as the 14th-century Castle of Capdepera with panoramic views of the coastline and the Menorca channel.

Eventually, you pass through the old fishing village of Cala Rajada and reach the curvaceous beach of white sand and crystalline waters of Agulla, looking spectacular with the backdrop of pines and unkempt hills.

The post Mallorca has a new 100km/65 mile hiking trail – GR-226 – Gran Recorrido del Llevant appeared first on The Travel Magazine.