Tucked away in the district of Santanyí is the Natural Park of Mondragó. It is an ideal place if you want to discover the typically bucolic landscape of the island in depth. Predominating in its 766 hectares, of which 95 are public land, are almond trees, fig trees and carob trees.
Over the course of centuries, farming and animal husbandry have shaped the landscape, something that becomes apparent when you visit Mondragó, where you will see the typical barraques de roter (which serve as shelter for animals and persons alike) and stone-built walls. This type of construction, known as dry-stone walling, because each stone is placed by hand so that it sits securely without mortar, is very common in the Balearic Islands. You will also find remnants of vernacular engineering linked to the harnessing of water: water wheels, irrigation channels (acequias) and storage tanks.
Another significant attraction of the Natural Park of Mondragó is the abundance of birds and mammals in this part of the world. The coast is rocky, with a host of steep precipices away from the beaches. These provide a perfect habitat for peregrine falcons, shags and Audouin’s gulls.
The dominant plant species in the rocky habitats is Crithmo-limonietum, while rock samphire and houseleeks are abundant. Orchids feature prominently among the foothills and the pine forests of the park: the giant orchid, the pyramidal orchid, Serapias cordigera, small-flowered tongue-orchid and various species of bee orchids and the Orchis genus.
Thus the Natural Park of Mondragó offers a unique chance to visit the heart of nature and discover the indigenous flora and fauna. It enables visitors to combine an agreeable walk with a visit to one of its outstanding beaches.
Notable beaches include Cala Mondrago, with its fine white sand, which is rated as one of the island’s most beautiful beaches and is surrounded by pine forest; and S’Amarador beach, the second of the beaches located in the natural park, with a shallow sandy sea floor, crystal-clear water, Neptune grass and also surrounded by pine trees.
If you like to get away from the island’s best-known destinations, travel the extra mile and steep yourself fully in nature, this is undoubtedly the perfect spot for you. On the way back you can stop off in the charming town of Santanyi. As well as its quiet streets, its squares feature agreeable terraces for recharging your batteries and savouring the experience of a lovely day in contact with the crystalline waters of Mallorca and its wild and natural landscapes.
A visit to the Natural Park of Mondragó, which remains unknown to many people, offers a distinctive day out for immersing yourself in nature during your holidays in Mallorca!