Cycling season on Mallorca ends in May and starts again in September. The summer months are dry and calm, however, nobody wants to pedal in the blazing sun. But this year we missed the road for many weeks. And if you get up early, it’s not too hot for a ride in the mountains. Only few rental cars will get in your way, right now. One of my favorite tours in the southern Tramuntana is what I call the three peaks tour. Sure, I like the spectacular descents through most beautiful valleys even more than the three summits which are rather passes.
From Palma the route winds up towards Coll de Sa Creu where the view opens to the sea again. A quiet rural road lined with wild summer flowers meanders down to Calvià along typical dry stone walls and olive, almond and orange orchards. It’s this ancient cultural landscape, infused with the smell of grass, earth, sun and salt that I love so much about the Mediterranean.
The street from Calvià leads further to sleepy Es Capdella. Take a turn towards the Galatzó and get on the long and winding road up to Galilea. The church place of the highest mountain village on Mallorca offers a fabulous vista over the entire southwest of the island. Unless you take a break here, speed right down to lovely Puigpunyent and straight up again to coll es Grau. The route to La Granja leads through another marvelous valley past ample vineyards and secluded farm houses. And the play of light and shadow continues when you arrive on the tree-lined main street of Esporles. Now, there’s just one more short climb on the way back to Palma.
I have done this “three peaks tour” many times but I never tire of its sensations. You can vary the trip by choosing different pit stops. To me, a coffee in Calvia is almost mandatory. Galilea is certainly worth a stop, too. But then I also like the relaxed atmosphere of Puigpunyent a lot. Pa amb oli is always a good energy intake. And a final cerveza sin on picturesque Passeig del Rei in Esporles replenishes the electrolytes. But sometimes I just love to sprint home and crown the trip with an ice cream at Ca’n Miquel in Palma. 
