2 Torrent de Pareis Mallorca

The gorge starts on the west coast at Sa Calobra beach in the central car park. From the car park you walk down to the picturesque village and take a right (it is well signposted) onto the beach. You will pass through two rock tunnels and find yourself at the mouth of the gorge into the sea. Then it’s an easy journey steadily upstream to where you can make it and then back the same way. From the very beginning it is an impressive limestone canyon full of spectacular sites, steep 100m high walls, amazing water-worked boulders and small lakes. This gorge is not suitable for swimming, there isn’t much water, the water is rather stagnant and mostly nonexistent.

The whole gorge is 4km long and passing through it means 4 hours of time to go up and back. Alternatively, it is possible to climb up to the main road to a place called Escorca (another 1km steep climb and 2 hours of time, so 6 hours in total) and return by bus from there or, on the contrary, start at the top of Escorca and end up at the sea. We didn’t explore these options, we only mapped half of the gorge and we recommend this one for a trip with children. The whole hike would be very challenging for children.

You will start your return trip at this point (Es Degotís). Although there is a rope hanging to the left, it is high and getting through this spot is only for experienced climbers. For those interested in continuing, the place can be bypassed by a traverse to the right.

The first part of the gorge, approx. 200 m, is suitable for everyone, then after a sign warning of the difficulty of the route it is suitable only for adults and for children from 10 years of age with careful supervision and parental assistance in the more difficult places.

All sections are climbable for people used to the outdoors, but good quality trekking shoes are essential, and it’s not a bad idea to have a short rope in your backpack to secure the children and certainly enough food, drink and a first aid kit. After about 1.5km, a spring comes out of the right wall as you ascend, but it is better not to rely on it and to have a sufficient supply of water.

The gorge can be dangerous in the rain, the limestone slides a lot normally and there are a number of spots that are very smooth due to the popularity of the gorge and will slide all the more. Avoid the gorge completely during storms, there is a risk of floodwaters.

Before venturing into the gorge, consider also that there is no mobile signal in the gorge. At the very least, it’s a good idea to have a map downloaded to your cell phone.