Puig de l’Ofre From Cúber (Mallorca) – The Ultimate Hiking Guide

The Puig de l’Ofre hike from Cúber Reservoir is one of the best in the Tramuntana Mountains (Serra de Tramuntana) in Mallorca. During this hike, you’ll enjoy splendid views of Puig Major – Mallorca’s highest mountain. Also, at the summit of Puig de l’Ofre (1,091 metres above sea level), there are downright drool-worthy views of two of the most beautiful reservoirs in Mallorca – Cúber and Gorg Blau.

In this guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about hiking to Puig de l’Ofre. We’ll provide GPS-guided directions, trail specs and a description of the route. Afterwards, we’ll talk about where to stay near Cúber and discuss what you should pack and wear when you visit Mallorca.

Puig de l’Ofre Hike Overview

The Puig de l’Ofre hike from Cúber Reservoir is guaranteed to be one of your favourite day hikes in Mallorca. For the majority of this hike, you’ll be following the stunning Ruta de Pedra en Sec (Dry Stone Route). This route is also known as GR221 and is a stunning multi-day trail. Of course, we don’t all have the luxury of time to be doing long multi-day hikes. But, by hiking to Puig de l’Ofre, you’ll enjoy one of the best sections of the GR221.

Puig de l’Ofre Hike Trail Navigation

You’ll find the GR221 route is very well signposted. But, this official path tends to pass by many areas of private property. From personal experience, we found that any hike in the Tramuntana Mountains that didn’t follow the GR221 often meant passing through private property or following less signposted areas. Yes, most of the Puig de l’Ofre hike follows the official GR221 route. But, the final section from Coll de l’Ofre to Puig de l’Ofre isn’t part of the GR221 trail.

Basically, at Coll de l’Ofre, you’ll arrive at a fork in the trail at a small stream crossing. Many trail maps we had seen online show people turning left at the fork. But, this would mean going through private property. There’s actually a sign forbidding access to this trail to the left of the fork.

Thankfully, there’s an alternate trail, that loops around the base of Puig de l’Ofre, leading to Coll d’en Poma. By avoiding the left turn at the fork and following straight, you’ll soon find another trail veering to the left. Follow this trail. Along the way, you’ll see crudely spray-painted blue markers to help you stay on course. At Coll d’en Poma, you can access Puig de l’Ofre from its southern slope.

Bottom line: when hiking in the Tramuntana Mountains on a trail that isn’t on the official GR221 route, it’s easy to stumble upon private property or get lost. Essentially, be prepared before hiking on lesser-known trails in the Tramuntana Mountains – basically, any trail that doesn’t follow the GR221! You can use our GPS-guided map for reliable directions during the Puig de l’Ofre hike from Cúber Reservoir in Mallorca. By using this map, you’ll avoid trespassing on private property.

Puig de l’Ofre Hike Route Details & Map

• Type: Out & Back
• Distance: 12.2km
• Time: 3.5–4.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 395m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Cúber Reservoir
• Map: Wikiloc

Puig de l’Ofre to Cúber Reservoir Trail Description

Now you’re a bit more clued up on trail navigation, let us describe the trail. To be helpful, we’ll break up sections of the hike and describe each section. Before we dive into that, where does the hike to Puig de l’Ofre start?

Where to Start the Puig de l’Ofre Hike

We recommend starting the Puig de l’Ofre hike from the Cúber Reservoir. From Cúber, you’ll enjoy one of the simplest and easiest routes to the summit of Puig de l’Ofre in Mallorca. Although, there are other trailheads for accessing this peak. We’ve briefly summarised the other main trailheads and provided links to maps for each respective trail option.

• Biniaraix: this is the best alternate route. Starting in Biniaraix, you’ll follow a stunning section of the GR221 route known as the Barranc de Biniaraix. Given the beauty of Barranc de Biniaraix, Beck and I considered doing this route. The out-and-back hike from Biniaraix to Puig de l’Ofre is around 11.5km; so, it’s a similar distance to the hike starting from Cúber. But, this trail option gains almost 800 metres of elevation, making it a harder option.
• Fornalutx: this is a harder trail option. Depending on the route you take, you’re looking at an approx. 16–19km hike, gaining 1,000–1,400 metres. Part of this trail involves following Barranc de Biniaraix and also summiting Puig de Verges (995m). This looks like an adventurous hike. But, if your goal is to just access Puig de l’Ofre, we suggest starting at Cúber or Biniaraix.
• Sóller: this is the hardest (approx. 1,200–1,500m elevation gain) and longest (approx. 16–20km) trail option. There are many trail variations, accounting for the differences in elevation gain and distance. We think hiking to Puig de l’Ofre from Sóller is an unnecessarily long option. You may as well just start and finish at Cúber, Biniaraix or Fornalutx.

FYI – some of the maps that we’ve linked above may pass through private property. So, be careful if you plan on using these maps. If anything, these maps are just intended to give you an idea of the different trailhead options.

Cúber Reservoir in Mallorca

After parking at Cúber Reservoir, also known as Cúber Lake, your hike begins by the water’s edge. It’s possible to hike around either side of the reservoir. Personally, we started by hiking around the reservoir in a clockwise direction, hiking by the southern edge. This follows the official GR221 route. Immediately, you’ll enjoy stunning views of Puig Major. Continuing along the GR221 route, you’ll advance away from Cúber Reservoir and towards Coll de l’Ofre.

Cúber Reservoir to Coll de l’Ofre

As you approach Coll de l’Ofre, the flat trail gradually ascends. With this, you’ll enjoy excellent views of Cúber nestled in between the mountains. At this stage of the hike, you won’t be able to see Gorg Blau Reservoir. Once you reach the summit of Puig de l’Ofre, Gorg Blau can be seen further in distance, behind Cúber.

The GR221 trail continues to gently ascend, guiding you through a nice area of forest. You’ll then arrive at a small stream crossing at Coll de l’Ofre. For a refresher on trail navigation at this point of the hike, read above. To summarise that section above, basically, you’ll continue straight by crossing the stream. Then, after around 100 metres, you’ll turn left onto a trail. This then continues around the base of Puig de l’Ofre in an anti-clockwise direction.

Coll de l’Ofre to Coll de Poma

From Coll de l’Ofre, you’ll continue towards the southern edge of the base of Puig de l’Ofre. You’ll find faint blue markers, that steer towards Coll de Poma. Along the way, you’ll follow a wide path, hiking by an increasingly dense forest. Soon enough, you’ll arrive at Coll de Poma, where you’ll turn left and begin to ascend the mountain via a clearly defined path.

Coll de Poma to Puig de l’Ofre

From Coll de Poma, the path up to the mountain peak is very steep. But, the climb up is relatively short. Nearer the top, the trail becomes less defined. Thankfully, at this point, trail navigation to the summit is fairly straightforward. The views atop Puig de l’Ofre are some of the best in Mallorca, with not only Puig Major and Cúber Reservoir prominently sticking out, but Gorg Blau Reservoir revealing itself too!

Views of Puig Major – Mallorca’s Highest Mountain

From Puig de l’Ofre, you’ll enjoy splendid views of Puig Major. It’s not possible to hike to Puig Major because it falls on private property. But, at least, this hike provides great views of Puig Major from start to finish. Unfortunately, when we visited, we experienced fairly poor weather. This included a snow shower when we reached the top. This meant our views weren’t the best. But, on a clear day, the views of Puig Major from Puig de l’Ofre are mesmerising.

Views of Gorg Blau – A Stunning Reservoir in Mallorca

Both the Gorg Blau and Cúber Reservoirs, in Mallorca, are positioned in the Valley of Almallutx. From the summit of Puig de l’Ofre, you’ll find that Gorg Blau reveals itself in the distance. Sure, you won’t be able to see all of Gorg Blau. But, by being able to see a small portion of Gorg Blau, you’ll get a brilliant visual comparison of this reservoir with Cúber. Positioned closely together in the valley, you’ll notice a difference in colours of the reservoirs. Indeed, this view of Gorg Blau and Cúber Reservoir is one of the best in the Tramuntana Mountains in Mallorca.

Puig de l’Ofre to Cúber Reservoir

After taking in the views, you’ll simply retrace your steps to finish the hike. On the way back, we decided to circle the other side of Cúber Reservoir. This trail can get very wet in winter. After hiking around the reservoir, we quickly shot up the drone for a better photo of Gorg Blau Reservoir (see below). Reaching Cúber Reservoir will signal the end of the hike!

How to Get to Cúber Reservoir

Getting from Palma de Mallorca to Cúber Reservoir, for the Puig de l’Ofre hike, using public transport is fairly straightforward, but time-consuming. From the Intermodal Station, catch the 204 bus to Ma-11 nord bus stop. Then, from Ma-11 nord, catch the 231 bus to Cúber 2 bus stop, located at the reservoir. The journey time is around 1.5–2 hours. This bus route is fairly infrequent. Even during the summer, this bus route operates around half a dozen times a day. The earliest departure time is around 8am.

To return to Palma de Mallorca from Cúber Reservoir, you’ll do the reverse journey starting from Cúber 1 bus stop, located at the reservoir. The final departure time of the bus route is generally around 7:30–8pm. Make sure to check the bus timetable for guaranteed departure times.

If you pay for your ticket online or by contactless bank card on the bus, it’s €3.60 each way. Paying by cash is discouraged as you’ll slow down the driver and journey. If you pay by cash, you’ll pay €4.50 for each bus ride. That means you’d pay €9 each way. Please refer to Fares on the Transports de les Illes Balears website for more information.

Car Rental in Mallorca

By far, the easiest and quickest way to get to Cúber is by driving there yourself. It’s also worth noting, that outside of summer, buses are less frequent. So, getting to Cúber from Palma de Mallorca, outside of peak season, can be even harder.

We hired an automatic car from Palma de Mallorca Airport for only €10/day!

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

Where to Stay near Cúber Reservoir

The closest towns to Cúber are Fornalutx and Sóller. Both Fornalutx and Sóller are beautifully positioned in the Tramuntana Mountains. Indeed, staying at either Fornalutx and Sóller, near Cúber, would be a better experience, in terms of quietness and serenity, than staying in the busy hubs in Palma de Mallorca.

With that in mind, we’ve handpicked the best budget, mid-range and luxury options for staying in Fornalutx and Sóller. Although, admittedly, you’ll struggle to find a budget stay in Fornalutx. There are many more accommodation options in Sóller. So, it’s easier to find budget options there, if that’s what you’re after!

Fornalutx

Sóller

Mallorca Hiking Gear Essentials

You should take water, snacks, lunch, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat. Otherwise, these are our hiking gear essentials for trekking to Puig de l’Ofre.

To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.

Mallorca Tech Gear Essentials

These are our three tech gear essentials for a trip to Mallorca. This will help you capture the trip in all its glory.

Mallorca Hiking Guide Books

Of course, we hope that our hiking guides will suffice! After all, they’re comprehensive. But, if you’re after a bit more varied information about hiking in Mallorca, we suggest the following books.

• Mountain Walking in Mallorca: 50 routes in Mallorca’s Tramuntana
• Trekking Through Mallorca: GR221 – The Drystone Route

Bonus Tips

• Other epic hikes in Mallorca: read our Mallorca hiking guide, where we talk about the nine best day hikes in Mallorca. Sneak peek: we think the best hikes in Mallorca are the Camí de l’Arxiduc and Puig de Galatzó trails. Otherwise, if you’d like to see footage of the trail discussed in this guide, please watch our Mallorca hiking video.
• Do coastal walks in Mallorca too: there’s more to hiking in Mallorca then just trails in the Tramuntana Mountains. Read our guides on the Sant Elm to La Trapa, Parc Natural de Mondragó and Cala Romantica to Cala Varques coastal walks.
• Do other tours and activities in Mallorca: there’s so much to explore on this beautiful Balaeric island. Make sure to spend a day or two relaxing on the beach or exploring the coastline by boat.

For other great hikes in the Mediterranean, check out our Menorca (Cami de Cavalls day hikes), Malta and Cyprus guides.