On my cycling trips through the south-west Tramuntana, the Galatzó always serves as a kind of lighthouse, a point of reference for me. With 1026 meters it is the highest hilltop in this part of Mallorca and its distinctive shape can easily be spotted. There is no way to go up by bike but the rocky puig (summit) is a great hiking experience. Sitting on one of the sunny rocks, finally, always feels like the top of the world to me.

Usually, I leave Puigpunyent behind and start my walking-tour a little further up near the small well Sa Font des Pi. Just look out for the cairns, little man-shaped piles of stones that lead you all the way to the summit. I had seen and loved these wonderful landmarks in Canada, before: inukshuks, originally used by the Inuit, that make a great orientation system anywhere in the world.

Eventually, you pass a torre de vigilancia overlooking the woods, with a guard on duty. In the past there were watch towers all along the coastline to alert the people when pirates approached the coast. Nowadays it’s fire that threatens the pine forest.

Once you leave the last trees behind, you have to cross a field of rocks, a debris avalanche that went down the slope hundreds of years ago. You can already see Es Bispe, the bishop, from here – a protruding rock that strangely reminds you of a church dignitary. From here the last and most exciting part lays in plain sight: the mountaintop. A few times you may have to use your hands and climb up on all fours, but when you finally reach the summit you instantly forget all your efforts: the vista is just breathtaking. Enjoy it!