Estellencs, Mallorca: What to See in the Village

There are villages in Mallorca we like to return to when we want a break from the bustle, and Estellencs is one of them. It sits in the Serra de Tramuntana between Andratx and Banyalbufar, on the seaward slope of Puig de Galatzó. It’s one of Mallorca’s least populated municipalities. Even in summer, when more visitors come, it’s worth turning off the main road and getting into the stone-paved lanes.

What we like most is how easy it is to combine a village stroll with a walk down to the sea. You can come for lunch and a look around, head down to the cove or set out from Estellencs on a longer walk in the Tramuntana.

What to see in Estellencs

If you’re coming from Banyalbufar, start at the old washhouses near the village entrance and walk up Carrer de sa Síquia towards the church. It’s a short walk with a few slopes, taking you from the washhouses to the towers and leaving time to wander along the narrow lanes. The town council has a map of the village walk.

The washhouses and Font des Forat d’Amunt

Look at the sloping edges of the stone basin, where people scrubbed their clothes. Water came from the Font des Forat d’Amunt, and the washhouses were also a meeting place for villagers doing their laundry. The traditional system for sharing water in Estellencs has roots in the island’s Islamic period. It helps explain the village and the cultivated terraces around it.

Sant Joan Baptista church and the Torre de Tem Alemany

The church of Sant Joan Baptista dates from the 17th century. Look at the bell tower and you’ll see why it looks like a fortification. It was built for defence before it was used for the bells. The 16th-century Torre de Tem Alemany is the old village’s other main tower. In the same square is the tafona des Forn, one of the village’s old olive mills, which was still in use in the 1960s.

Art in the street

In the open space beside the church, look for a figure by Mariano Navares, a sculptor with close ties to Estellencs. His work in iron and scrap metal is a surprise among the stone houses. We like how the square looks a little different once you stop and work out what the figure is made from.

Where to eat and when to visit the Wine and Cheese Fair

One place we’d pick out for a meal is Bar Sa Tanca on Carrer de la Mar. It’s tucked away on a side street and has the feel of a village bar, with a mix of Mallorcan and Italian cooking. If you’d like to try a wine from the area, look for Malvasia, a grape also grown in Banyalbufar.

Since 2009, Estellencs has held its Wine and Cheese Fair on 1 May. Alongside the wine and cheese, there are usually stalls selling local produce and crafts, with activities for both children and adults. It’s a good day to see the village at its liveliest.

Walking from the village to Cala Estellencs

The circular walk to Cala Estellencs is our favourite way to see both the village and the coast. Allow around an hour at a child’s pace, plus time for stops. You go down a paved road shared with cars and return uphill to the village by a different road.

At the bottom there’s a small stony cove, reddish cliffs and the escars, shelters where fishermen kept their boats. When there’s water in the stream, you can see it spilling down by the sea. This is the walk we’d choose for a short outing. For a full day on foot, Estellencs is also the start of the GR 221 stage to Esporles, a walk of about 14.4 km rated moderate by the island council.

How to get to Estellencs

By car, follow the Ma-10 from either Banyalbufar or Andratx. Coming from Andratx, the Ricardo Roca viewpoint makes a good stop for a look at the cliffs. There’s a public car park on Carrer d’Eusebi Pascual, which is also the starting point for the walk down to the cove.

By bus, TIB route 202 links Palma and Estellencs via Esporles and Banyalbufar. It’s an option if you want to explore the village and the cove without bringing a car.