Level: Easy
Duration: St Elm to Sa Trapa 1 1/2 hr one way, to Col de Sa Granola 3 hrs
St Elm to Sa Trapa, cases se Guixter and to S'Arraco 4 1/2 hrs
This walk out of St Elm follows the green, wild and rugged coast line of at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains, and offers spectacular views over Dragonera island and the pretty turquoise waters of the Cala d'en Basset. For many it will also be the first (or the last) stage along the GR 221, who will reach the Col de Sa Granola in 3 hours from st Elm, a bit more with a break at Sa Trappa. The ruined settlement of Sa Trappa is a old trappist monk farmstead, of obvious and substantial importance in its heydays. It is slowly being rebuilt, and might even one day become a hikers refuge- don't hold your breath, we are talking in decades here. There is supposed to be a small camping ground around sa Trappa, though I have seen no evidence of its material existence. There is a very short scramble on the way to sa Trapa where small children will require supervision.
A good walk can be had from St Elm to S'Arraco via Sa Trapa and the cases de ses Bases; unfortunately most of the hills between the cases and s'Arraco have burnt down in the 2012 fire.
Duration: St Elm to Sa Trapa 1 1/2 hr one way, to Col de Sa Granola 3 hrs
St Elm to Sa Trapa, cases se Guixter and to S'Arraco 4 1/2 hrs
This walk out of St Elm follows the green, wild and rugged coast line of at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains, and offers spectacular views over Dragonera island and the pretty turquoise waters of the Cala d'en Basset. For many it will also be the first (or the last) stage along the GR 221, who will reach the Col de Sa Granola in 3 hours from st Elm, a bit more with a break at Sa Trappa. The ruined settlement of Sa Trappa is a old trappist monk farmstead, of obvious and substantial importance in its heydays. It is slowly being rebuilt, and might even one day become a hikers refuge- don't hold your breath, we are talking in decades here. There is supposed to be a small camping ground around sa Trappa, though I have seen no evidence of its material existence. There is a very short scramble on the way to sa Trapa where small children will require supervision.
A good walk can be had from St Elm to S'Arraco via Sa Trapa and the cases de ses Bases; unfortunately most of the hills between the cases and s'Arraco have burnt down in the 2012 fire.
Getting there
Bus service 100 and 102 will take you to port d'Andratx and on from there to St Elm from Palma. It is a slow journey, about 1 1/2 hour. Service 100 goes through s'Arraco for thosemheading that way. There is no public transport on the road from Andratx to Estellencs, so those going to Sa Granola will have to plan ahead or just walk back to Andratx (2hrs) or on to Esstellencs.; people going this way will probably be hiking the 221 and will have a choice between hiking up Esclop or follow the coastal road/trail all the way to Estellencs.
Driving to St Elm, you should ignore the car parks at the start of the village and park instead on the asphalted road at the start of the hike, free, shaded and convenient.
Bus service 100 and 102 will take you to port d'Andratx and on from there to St Elm from Palma. It is a slow journey, about 1 1/2 hour. Service 100 goes through s'Arraco for thosemheading that way. There is no public transport on the road from Andratx to Estellencs, so those going to Sa Granola will have to plan ahead or just walk back to Andratx (2hrs) or on to Esstellencs.; people going this way will probably be hiking the 221 and will have a choice between hiking up Esclop or follow the coastal road/trail all the way to Estellencs.
Driving to St Elm, you should ignore the car parks at the start of the village and park instead on the asphalted road at the start of the hike, free, shaded and convenient.
The Hike
The start of the hike in S'Arraco is on a street heading inland just to the north of the little ferry dock to Dragoners. It is not signposted, but it is about the only road that heads into the woods here, so not difficult to find, The amount of parked car should be a hint.
The tarmac soon turns to a dirt track, which you follow for 15 minutes. You then take a marked and cairned trail to the left, that meander to a sort of col. Down hill to the left leads you to Cala d'en Basset, up hill to the left leads you to the look out tower above the cala. Instead, go straight ahead an uphill on the cairned trail that will take you to sa Trapa. You will climb steadily for 20 minutes, befor the track levels out and follows the coast with nice views on the Cala and Dragonera island.
Push on and the path will start to climb steeply again, you will soon have to scramble up a small steep and rocky section, on top of which you will find flat ground and a great viewpoint.
A gentle downhill leads you to sa Trapa, less then half an hour away. This s a great spot for a break or a picnic.
Those heading further on to Cases de ses Basesr, Col de sa Granola or S'Arraco will need to follow the driveable dirt track up hill from the monastery, till they find a signposted trail leading to the left on a hairpin bend. leave the big road and follow this trail towards the Puig de ses Basses and beyond. The main track actually does not go to the Puig summit; you will have to look for a turn off to the right to reach it.
After a small climb the trail levels outs. Do not miss the impressive mirador (viewpoint) of "Josep Sastre" just below the Puig, a short distance off the main trail to the left. A large cairn marks the turnoff.
The trail meanders along to the Cases de ses Bases, splitting at one point in two branches. Both lead to the sases, two sets of houses not currently lived in.
To go to s'Arraco, take a large driveable dirt track leaving from the cases to the right down to the bottom of the valley away from the sea. This track comes up the other side of the valley (ignore the turn off to the right at the bottom of the valley), reaches a small col and then an other, before undulating all the way down to s'Arraco village, 1 1/2 hr away. The way is perfectly straight forward; just keep to the main track.
To go to the Col de Sa Granola (and rejoin the main Andratx to Esstellencs road or continue on the GR 221) go left (ahead) at the cases on a wide driveable dirt track, staying level and more or less parallel to the coast on top of the ridge, heading in a easterly direction towards Esclop mountain. You will reach the col in more or less an hour of easy walking.
The start of the hike in S'Arraco is on a street heading inland just to the north of the little ferry dock to Dragoners. It is not signposted, but it is about the only road that heads into the woods here, so not difficult to find, The amount of parked car should be a hint.
The tarmac soon turns to a dirt track, which you follow for 15 minutes. You then take a marked and cairned trail to the left, that meander to a sort of col. Down hill to the left leads you to Cala d'en Basset, up hill to the left leads you to the look out tower above the cala. Instead, go straight ahead an uphill on the cairned trail that will take you to sa Trapa. You will climb steadily for 20 minutes, befor the track levels out and follows the coast with nice views on the Cala and Dragonera island.
Push on and the path will start to climb steeply again, you will soon have to scramble up a small steep and rocky section, on top of which you will find flat ground and a great viewpoint.
A gentle downhill leads you to sa Trapa, less then half an hour away. This s a great spot for a break or a picnic.
Those heading further on to Cases de ses Basesr, Col de sa Granola or S'Arraco will need to follow the driveable dirt track up hill from the monastery, till they find a signposted trail leading to the left on a hairpin bend. leave the big road and follow this trail towards the Puig de ses Basses and beyond. The main track actually does not go to the Puig summit; you will have to look for a turn off to the right to reach it.
After a small climb the trail levels outs. Do not miss the impressive mirador (viewpoint) of "Josep Sastre" just below the Puig, a short distance off the main trail to the left. A large cairn marks the turnoff.
The trail meanders along to the Cases de ses Bases, splitting at one point in two branches. Both lead to the sases, two sets of houses not currently lived in.
To go to s'Arraco, take a large driveable dirt track leaving from the cases to the right down to the bottom of the valley away from the sea. This track comes up the other side of the valley (ignore the turn off to the right at the bottom of the valley), reaches a small col and then an other, before undulating all the way down to s'Arraco village, 1 1/2 hr away. The way is perfectly straight forward; just keep to the main track.
To go to the Col de Sa Granola (and rejoin the main Andratx to Esstellencs road or continue on the GR 221) go left (ahead) at the cases on a wide driveable dirt track, staying level and more or less parallel to the coast on top of the ridge, heading in a easterly direction towards Esclop mountain. You will reach the col in more or less an hour of easy walking.
