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How do I get there?
Classified as a natural site since 1995, the island of Sa Dragonera is covered with a Mediterranean scrubland. Provide drinks and meals and good walking shoes, there is nothing to buy on site. To make this excursion we go to Sant Elm to take the ferry (humorous appointment) or rather the boat that goes to Sa Dragonera in 15 minutes, the pontoon is next to the restaurant "Es Raon". The price of the ferry is 13 euros per person, round trip.
Map of the island
Hiking on the island
3.2 kilometers by only 500 meters, here are the dimensions of this small island with steep relief with the popi peak (which housed a tower in 1581) culminating at 360 meters. The only access to the island is regulated at the natural port of Cala Llado. Its Dragonera is an island covered with a Mediterranean scrubland populated by a fauna whose most famous representatives are the marine falcon and the sargantana, a lizard that, by its appearance, would have given its name to the island. It was temporarily occupied during prehistory, and archaeologists have also found Roman (amphores) and Arab (ceramic) objects. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, it served as a refuge for pirates crisscrossing the seas. In 1851, a first lighthouse was built on the site of Sa Popia, where the remains can still be seen. A path crosses the island from side to side and 4 routes are marked. Swimming, snorkel mask is a treat and is possible in the small natural port, but in the coves, no sand but pebbles to stretch.
Na Miranda's Route No. 1.
This is the shortest and easiest route from the port. 1.2 km to reach the Mirador de Na Miranda in 30 minutes round trip. A first contact with the nature of the island and the paved road gives us access to beautiful views of the island.
Tramuntana Lighthouse Route 2
This 1.7km gently sloping path will take you to the lighthouse where you can admire a beautiful panorama of the Serra de Tramuntana. An easy hike that takes 1 hour to and from.
Route 3 of the Lleibeg Lighthouse.
This 4.1 km route is 2 hours and 40 hours round trip. It travels the coast and allows to enjoy the beauties of the island for longer, discover its fauna and flora with views of Mallorca and the Mediterranean.
Route 4 of the old Na Popia Lighthouse
This intermediate difficulty trail is 4.5km long and takes 3 hours back and forth, it is the longest and takes us to the top of the island, at 352m, where the old abandoned lighthouse of Na Popia is located. Also known as Vell Lighthouse. It was one of the highest in Spain, this fact became problematic because, in times of dense fog, it was not very visible and its protective effect was therefore useless. For this reason, it was extinguished in 1910 and replaced by the two current lighthouses located at both ends of the island.
Sailing tour of the island
With very little wind but under a bright sun, two hours of sailing with dinner in Sant Elm.
Tramuntana Lighthouse
A one-hour hike for 1700 meters on a gentle slope with the highest point at 65 meters. It had been planned to build only a permanent light mounted on a metal turret and maintained by the staff of the Llebeig lighthouse. In 1907, it was a real station with a tower and a shelter for the guards that was built. The original optical system was removed in 1960 and replaced with a lighting system operating with acetylene gas, no longer requiring a permanent presence on the site. The lighthouse was automated in 1961. The original optical system was placed at the Porto Colom lighthouse in 1965. Now the old technical buildings have been converted to become a permanent exhibition on the maritime history of Sa Dragonera.
Llebeig Lighthouse
Hike from 2 hours 40 to 4.5 km with an average difficulty to the lighthouse and then to the arrival swimming in the small cove near the port! Very desert, the lighthouse is closed so walk around but discover beautiful landscapes. Its optical system, very modern when it was installed, remained unchanged until 1969. It was the need to automate islet headlights to remove resident personnel that replaced the supply of the new acetylene gas optical system. In 1985, due to the weight and size of the original optics, it was necessary to use the U.S. Army to move it by helicopter to the Lighthouse of Portopi (in Palma) so that it could be exhibited among other maritime signals.
Llebeig Tower
In the 18th century at His Dragonera for surveillance of the coast following pirate raids: in 1580, the tower of Na Pepia, at 352 m altitude; then in 1583 the tower of Llebeig in order to prevent the entry of boats to Cala Llebeig and to protect the occupants of the tower of Na Pepia. The latter is maintained in good condition and was rehabilitated in 2004 by the Island Council of Mallorca.
Views along the hikes
Click on the photos to enlarge
WELCOME to Mallorca
"If you want to go out to sea, without any risk of capsizing, then don't buy a boat: buy an island!"