Eco-Friendly Escape: Discovering Sustainable Majorca and Can Picafort

The next country on this blog is Majorca. Majorca is a sun-kissed gem of the Balearic Islands and is home of many hidden treasures. I recently visited Majorca, in August of this year. I stayed a week in Can Picafort along the bay of Alcudia. Can Picafort is a coastal town known for its vibrant markets, sandy beaches, charming cafes and is a town that is committed to eco-friendly initiatives that align with the overall island’s sustainability goals. Throughout this blog, I will write about my adventures during my week away, attraction recommendations and how the country Majorca promotes a sustainable environment. The image to the right was taken in a local town in Can Picafort. They are sculptures of Joan Bennassar. 

On my arrival to Majorca, the weather did not look promising. Thunderstorms were predicted for the week and the sun was scheduled to not make an appearance. We stayed mainly indoors for the first day of the holiday as the streets were flooded due to their poor drainage as their system is not prepared to take so much rainfall within such a short period of time. However, the weather began to turn around and the sun shined for the rest of the week. The reason behind the sudden changes in weather was indeed climate change.

The image to the right is the scenery at Rancho Grande Park. 

 

Below I have mentioned a series of attractions that are a must when visiting Can Picafort, Majorca.

Rancho Grande Park

Rancho Grande Park provides a unique adventure for experienced and novice horse riders. Rancho Grande have been providing tours for over 50 years in the peaceful areas of Son Serra de Marina (Rancho Grande, 2017). 100 horses live on the ranch with a small animal farm and children’s facilities (Rancho Grande, 2017). As I visited the ranch myself in the summer, I was able to experience a Spanish show that included live music and dinner. Guests at the ranch are given the option to experience a trip throughout the forests on horse or a western wagon (Rancho Grande, 2017). See image below of my experiencing the advanced riding experience at Rancho Grande Park. 

Sunrise Dolphin Boat Trip

Why not embark on a exhilarating boat trip and observe the dolphins during sunrise. The journey starts by being picked up at your chosen accommodation either in Alcudia or Can Picafort (GetyourGuide, 2024). The tour guide will give you knowledgeable information about dolphin’s behaviours and their environment as the focus of the tour is conservation and respect of the marine environment while contributing to the preservation of these incredible dolphins (GetyourGuide, 2024).

Alcudia Old Town

Alcudia was founded in 70 BC by the Romans (Mallorca.com 2024). The Alcudia Old Town situated in the north of Mallorca (Mallorca.com 2024). The medieval gem was established from the roman settlement of Pollentia (Mallorca.com 2024). The Old Town is accessible for all the public to experience the incredible views that overlook the Old Town. The Old Town also features the impressive Casa Consistorial Town Hall which was built in a Renaissance Style (Mallorca.com 2024).

Majorca as an island is working actively to promote a sustainable future. Firstly, they plan to improve its Marine Conservation. From its protected marine areas and strict regulations on fishing helps to preserve its delicate under water ecosystem (Mallorca Preservation Foundation, 2024). The Posidonia meadows play a vital role to produce oxygen, absorb carbon and provide habitat and shelter for a variety of species to help maintain the water quality (Mallorca Preservation Foundation, 2024).

Sustainable Travel, explore the city using public transportation. Majorca provide many tourists and residents with bike sharing schemes and electric vehicle incentives to cut down on emissions and reduce carbon footprint.

Plastic Free Initiative, by 2030 Majorca, hopes to reduce plastic by 20%, to help reduce the impact on marine ecosystems because of plastic pollution (Bennett, 2021).

Tourism Tax 2016, the tax helps the country to provide funds towards projects aimed at protecting the environment. The price of the tax is dependent on the type of accommodation (Bennett, 2024).

To conclude this blog Majorca and specifically Can Picafort is an amazing place to visit for a summer. Majorca’s eco-friendly practices and commitment helps to preserve natural beauty and pave the way for a sustainable future. Majorca’s charm will remain unspoiled for generations to come.

I hope you take my recommendations on board for future trips to Majorca. Please comment below other attractions that are must when visiting Majorca from one traveller to another.

*Parts of this blog was created using AI Software.

References

Bennett, A. (2021) How Mallorca is setting a new sustainable standard in the Balearic Islands. Independent [online], 11 March. Available from: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/sustainable-living/mallorca-sustainable-travel-balearic-islands-spain-b1815347.html [Accessed 12 October 2024]

GetyourGuide (2024) From Alcudia: Sunrise Dolphin Watching Boat Tour. GetyourGuide. Available from: https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/mallorca-l47/alcudia-dolphins-and-sunrise-in-a-small-group-t468057/?ranking_uuid=d316f74a-a80c-42b5-a737-cd4a5c68306e  [Accessed 12 October 2024]

Mallorca Preservation (2024) Marine Conversation. Mallorca Preservation Foundation. Available from: https://mallorcapreservation.org/en/grants/area-of-interest/marine-conservation [Accessed 12 October 2024]

Mallorca.com (2024) The historic old town of Alcudia. Mallorca.com. Available from: https://mallorca.com/en/mallorca/sights/alcudia-old-town [Accessed 12 October 2024]

Rancho Grande Park (2017) Unique Experience in Mallorca. Mallorca, Balearic Islands. Available from: https://www.ranchograndemallorca.com/es/rancho/ [Accessed 12 October 2024]