CAP DE FORMENTOR – spectacular but packed like a zoo

Today’s destination was the spectacular northern tip of Mallorca: Formentor. The lighthouse stands at the very end of the peninsula, reached after a 40-minute drive from Pollença. Philippe had already seen the lighthouse several times while sailing with friends, but this time we approached it by road.

We were far from alone. Hundreds of tourists and cyclists had the same idea, and the place was unbelievably crowded — cars sat motionless in long queues stretching hundreds of metres toward the lighthouse, while cyclists zigzagged through the narrow road between them.

It was easy to understand why motorized access will be restricted from mid-May.

We escaped quickly and stopped instead at Cala Figuera, where the turquoise water was calm and inviting. The beach was quiet, with only a few people around, and we enjoyed a simple picnic of bread and cheese while watching the sea in peace — until a lone goat began aggressively searching visitors’ backpacks for food…