Puig de Massanella Hike: Everything You Need to Know

Puig de Massanella is the second highest mountain in Mallorca. Indeed, climbing to the summit of this mountain is an extraordinary adventure in the stunning Tramuntana Mountains (Serra de Tramuntana). In this Mallorca hiking guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Puig de Massanella hike from Lluc Monastery. We’ll provide GPS-guided directions and a trail description, which includes information about the Coll des Prat saddle – a glorious section of the walk. Afterwards, we’ll talk about alternate routes to Puig de Massanella as well as the best accommodation options in Lluc.

Read our guides about Camí de l’Arxiduc, Puig de Galatzó and Puig Tomir

Puig de Massanella Overview

Hiking to Puig de Massanella in Mallorca should be high on your Balearics trekking to-do list. As mentioned, this mountain is the second highest peak in Mallorca (1,447 metres above sea level). In fact, it’s not possible to hike Mallorca’s highest mountain (Puig Major) because it falls on private property. In effect, Puig de Massanella is the highest accessible mountain in Mallorca.

The Puig de Massanella hike from Lluc Monastery is possibly the best trail in the Tramuntana mountain range. Some of the hike follows the spectacular Ruta de Pedra en Sec (Dry Stone Route). Yes, you’ll find many sections of dry stone wall along this route! This trail is also known as GR221 and is a stunning multi-day trail. During the portion of the hike that follows the GR221, you’ll pass through Coll des Prat – a vantage point that offers splendid views of the Tramuntana Mountains.

FYI – Puig de Massanella isn’t part of the official GR221 route. Although, it’s possible to add an out and back hike to this peak if you wanted to go rogue during the GR221. But, usually, to access Puig de Massanella, you’ll do a separate day hike.

Where to Start the Puig de Massanella Hike

We recommend starting the Puig de Massanella hike from Lluc Monastery. The circuit from Lluc Monastery to Puig de Massanella via Coll des Prat is one of the best hikes in Mallorca. Of course, there are other route options. We’ll talk about these later in the post. But, for now, we’re going to focus on the epic Puig de Massanella hike from Lluc Monastery.

Puig de Massanella From Lluc Monastery Map & Details

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 16.4km
• Time: 6.5–7.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 990m
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trailhead: Lluc Monastery Car Park
• Map: Wikiloc

Puig de Massanella From Lluc Monastery Trail Description

Starting from the Lluc Monastery, you’ll pick up the GR221 path by following trails heading south and then west. You’ll initially ascend through dense forest, before crossing the main road (Ma-10). Then, a steep zig-zag section awaits you! Along this section, there are breathtaking views of the Tramuntana range. Personally, we had to contend with fairly adverse weather for much of the hike. So, we didn’t enjoy the typical stunning views we’d heard so much about. Despite this, we still had a great time hiking this trail!

Once you reach Col de ses Cases de Neu (1,142m), it’s possible to do a short out and back to Puig d’en Galileu (1,195m) – indicated by black arrows on the map below. But, given the poor weather and visibility, we chose to give it a miss. Hopefully, on a clear day, you’ll have better conditions to access Puig de’n Galileu in Mallorca.

Personally, as we ascended beyond Col de ses Cases de Neu, the mist and fog worsened. Again, we didn’t really have much in the way of views at many of the peaks along this trail. Unfortunately, this meant that we didn’t have any views from Coll des Prat.

Coll des Prat

After passing Coll des Telegraf, you’ll head towards Coll des Prat, which is 1,205 metres above sea level. With good weather, you should enjoy some of the best mountainous views in Mallorca from Coll des Prat. For us, we had to settle for a white-out!

To deal with the disappointment at Coll des Prat; thankfully, we had McDonald’s cheeseburgers to help cheer us up! HOLD ON. McDonald’s Cheeseburgers? Well, yes, we have to admit it. But, let us explain before you judge us! We had only arrived in Mallorca late the evening before doing the Puig de Messanella hike. When we arrived, the only place open for food was McDonald’s. Then, we set off early for this hike before any shops had re-opened. So, it was Maccas for dinner the night before, and, breakfast and lunch, the following day, during the Puig de Massanella hike from Lluc Monastery!

After passing through Coll des Prat, you’ll continue along the GR221 trail towards Coll de n’Argento. Once you arrive at Coll de n’Argento, you’ll turn left to summit Puig de Massanella.

Puig de Massanella Summit

Climbing to the peak of Puig de Massanella involves a bit of mild scrambling. Certainly, you’ll feel quite a thrill as you reach the summit. Given the horrible conditions, we didn’t experience the wonderful panoramic views of the Tramuntana Mountains. Hopefully, you’ll have more luck when you visit!

After reaching the peak, you’ll then turn right to descend pathless terrain. At times, you’ll negotiate steep and sketchy sections. Thankfully, for us, the weather improved as we descended towards Coll de sa Linia (824m) along Camí de ses Cases de Neu. This meant, we enjoyed views of Puig de Massanella from a distance. Similarly, during the Puig Tomir hike, we also enjoyed views of the peak from afar.

During the return journey, you’ll hike by farmland (Finca de Comafreda) and a quaint stream called Torrent de Comafreda. This was a part of the hike that Beck and I enjoyed some speed hiking.

As you continue to follow the stream, you’ll soon pass by a ticket booth where you’ll usually be charged €6/each ($6USD) for trail access. This is usually the case during the peak season in summer. At times, in the off-season in winter, the booth may be locked and without anyone there. After passing the ticket booth, you’ll briefly join and follow the road heading north back to Lluc. Finishing in Lluc signals the end of this epic hike in Mallorca. Certainly, if you have time, go and explore the Lluc Monastery after finishing the hike.

Puig de Massanella Route Options

There are two other popular trail options for reaching Puig de Massanella. Let’s explore these below.

Typical Route From Coll de Comafreda

• Type: Out & Back
• Distance: 10.9km
• Time: 6.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 805m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Coll de Comafreda
• Map: Wikiloc

Puig de Massanella normal route: this trail option is considered the typical route. At around 10.9km, it’s the shortest hiking option for reaching Puig de Massanella. But, given the shorter distance, the elevation gain is still around 805 metres, which means it’s a fairly steep hike. Indeed, all of the trail options involve considerable accumulated elevation gain. So, whichever you choose to do, you’re guaranteed a decent workout!

FYI – this trail option doesn’t visit Coll des Prat.

Alternate Route From Font d’es Noguer

• Type: Out & Back
• Distance: approx. 17km
• Time: 6.5–8 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 885m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Font d’es Noguer
• Map: Wikiloc

This trail option is a similar distance and accumulated elevation gain to the one starting from Lluc Monastery. Alternatively, this trail option starts in Font d’es Noguer, which isn’t far from Cúber Reservoir – the trailhead for hiking to Puig de l’Ofre. Similar to the typical route described just above, this trail type is an out and back. I don’t know about you; but, I generally enjoy a circular walk more than an out and back. It means exploring more trail that you haven’t seen or experienced before. Although, by following this trail option, you’ll avoid the €6 ($6USD) entry fee at Finca de Comafreda.

With this trail option, you won’t typically visit Coll des Prat. But, it’s possible to add a short out back to Coll des Prat to avoid missing out on this nice vantage point. Although, honestly speaking, the views from the peak of Puig de Massanella itself, are unrivalled.

How to Get to Lluc in Mallorca

It’s possible to get from Palma to Massanella by using public transport. There are a few options, which all involve catching a bus, and, there’s one option, which involves catching a train for part of the journey.

Buses and Trains

• 302 bus and 231 bus: from the Intermodal Station in Palma, catch the 25 minute 302 bus to Inca Llevant 1 (27014). Then, from across the road, catch the 45 minute 312 bus from Inca Llevant 2 (27013) to Lluc. The total journey time is around 1.5 hours. The cost of the journey is €4.50 ($4.50USD) each way. This option is perhaps the best way to get from Palma de Mallorca to Lluc using public transport.
• 204 bus and 231 bus: from the Intermodal Station in Palma, catch the 35 minute 204 bus to Ma-11 nord (61005). From there, catch the approx. 70 minute 231 bus to Lluc. The total journey time is around 2 hours and 15 minutes. The cost of the journey is €3.60 ($3.60USD) each way. This is the cheapest way to get from Palma de Mallorca to Lluc using public transport. But, it’s the longest journey.
• T3 line train and 312 bus: from the Intermodal Station in Palma, catch the 35 minute T3 line train to Estación de tren de Inca. Then, walk around four minutes to Estació d’autobusos (27001). From there, catch the 35 minute 312 bus to Lluc. The total journey time is around 1.5 hours. The cost of the combined train and bus ticket is €4.50 ($4.50USD) each way. This option may be one of the quickest in terms of public transport; but, this train/bus route runs very infrequently. So, getting back this way may be a problem, or, services coming back may be very limited.

FYI – please check Transports de les Illes Balears for the latest information on prices and departure times of buses and trains.

Hiring a Car

By far, the easiest and quickest way to get to Lluc from Palma de Mallorca is driving there yourself. Typically, the drive time from Palma de Mallorca to Lluc is around an hour. It’s also worth noting, that outside of summer, the buses mentioned above run less frequently. So, getting to Lluc 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 ($10USD)!

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

What to Expect When Hiking to Puig de Massanella

Parking: When you arrive in Lluc, there’s a huge car park located by the monastery. During the weekends in summer, the car park may fill. So, make sure you arrive early. But, on weekdays, and outside of summer, finding parking shouldn’t be an issue. The cost of parking differs between locals and tourists. For tourists, as of late 2021, parking is €6 ($6USD) on the weekend and €2 ($2USD) on weekdays.

Trail popularity: given Puig de Massanella is the highest accessible point in Mallorca, it’s one of the island’s most sought-after mountains to hike to. Particularly on the weekend, you can expect this trail to be very busy.

Difficulty: whichever trail option you choose, hiking to Puig de Massanella is quite hard. Because of the elevation gain, hiking to this mountain is physically demanding. You’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to complete this hike.

Weather in Mallorca

Mallorca has a warm and pleasant climate for most parts of the year. From April to October, you’ll experience average daytime temperatures between 19–30°C. Specifically, in summer, you’re unlikely to experience any rainfall. This dry weather is usually ideal for hiking. But, it can get very hot, making hiking more challenging. From November to March, average daytime temperatures vary between 15–19°C. These are much easier temperatures to hike in. But, you’ll have a higher chance of rain. According to NOAA, rainfall is highest between September and January.

Puig de Massanella weather depends on what time of year you visit. Personally, Beck and I visited in November. True to form, we experienced rain and poor visibility. In summer, you have a better chance of ideal weather in the mountains. But, of course, mountain weather can be unpredictable.

Best Time to Hike Puig de Massanella

You’ll find this trail is generally busier in summer and on the weekend. For a less crowded trail, visit during the week, outside of summer. Although, as we experienced, your chances of rain are higher outside of summer. There’s slightly less rainfall between March and May compared with September to January. In effect, it’s probably worth doing the Puig de Massanella hike between March and May. This will help to avoid the summer crowds and heat as well as reduce your chances of experiencing wet weather.

Accommodation in Lluc, Mallorca

There’s very little in terms of accommodation options in or near Lluc in Mallorca. Admittedly, most people will just visit Lluc from Palma de Mallorca or elsewhere on the island as a day trip. But, if you’re keen on staying in Lluc, there is one well-known hotel option. Santuari de Lluc is actually a popular pilgrimage site. But, even if you’re not religious, you’ll have a most enjoyable stay here. On-site, you’ll find an outdoor pool, two bars and a cafe with a children’s playground. The hotel’s architecture is sensational, which adds to its charm.

For the shoestring traveller, there are two other accommodation options in Lluc. Campament Lluc is a campsite near Lluc Monastery. Otherwise, Refugi Son Amer is a simple hostel, that offers dorm rooms. Here, you’ll usually find multi-day hikers doing the GR221 route.

What to Bring on the Puig de Massanella Hike

These are our gear essentials for hiking in Mallorca.

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.

You should also take water, snacks, lunch, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat.

Mallorca Hiking Guide Books

Of course, we hope that our Mallorca hiking guides will suffice. After all, we’d like to think they’re comprehensive. But, if you’re after information about other hiking trails in Mallorca, we suggest the following books.

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

For other awesome hikes in this part of the world, check out our Menorca, Malta and Cyprus trekking guides. Otherwise, read our Mallorca hiking guide, where we talk about the nine best day hikes on the island.