The Balearic Islands of Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca are inviting responsible holidaymakers to interact with their culture, environments, and local communities of the archipelago in a respectable way.
Below the Balearic Islands Tourism Board gives four suggestions for tourists looking to holiday responsibly in the Balearic Islands.
Hike responsibly in Ibiza
Ibiza is home to a gorgeous array of paths for holidaymakers to explore. From winter 2024, seven brand new hiking routes will open up more of the island’s diverse landscapes and heritage to visitors.
All seven hiking routes will be classified as Pequeños Recorridos (small tours), ranging between 10 and 50 km in length.
In the rural interior of the island, visitors can discover the beauty of the Pla de Corona and Pla d’Aubarca plains, which are ideal to visit in winter to see the almond trees bloom.
On the coast there are paths leading to the ancient watchtowers, which historically protected the island from the attacks of pirates.
Holidaymakers are encouraged to leave paths as they find it and not remove parts of the ecosystem which can disrupt the ecological balance.
Taking guided tours by residents educates travellers about the relationship between the environment and locals, while giving a more curated experience.
Ibiza Outdoors offers both social and community walks on a donation basis, where holidaymakers and residents alike can explore the stunning scenery together.
Taste 0km produce in Mallorca
The local gastronomy scene of Mallorca has boomed in recent years, with zero-km produce, grown on the island by local producers, leading the charge.
From organic gardens to local farms, producers take great care of their crops and animals to provide the highest quality food.
Visitors can delight in the variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, artisan cheeses, extra virgin olive oil, local spices such as sweet paprika tap de cortí, almonds and wines made from local grapes.
Local producers include Es Garrover De Mallorca, who specialise in carob products.
Carob is a traditional Mediterranean crop, historically used as animal feed, but revolutionised by Es Garrover to create natural, organic and 100% vegan carob products such as jam and spreads.
Visitors can explore their unique farm to learn about the local carob varieties and production process.
Deborah’s Culinary Island is in the centre of Palma and only 10 minutes away from Mercado del Olivar, the largest typical market in the city.
It runs a range of local cooking workshops, market tours, and immersive culinary experiences for holidaymakers to learn about the island’s gastronomy from locals in a sustainable manner where everyone benefits.
Mallorca is also home to the largest fig trees experimentation field in the world, Son Mut Nou in Lucmajor.
The project divides and classifies fig trees into sectors to better scientifically understand the tree and it’s fruit – visitors can book to explore the centre and taste delicious figs here.
Explore protected waters in Formentera
Formentera has pleasant water temperatures throughout the year, making it an ideal location for beachgoers and watersport enthusiasts to enjoy outside of the summer months.
The island is surrounded by idyllic beaches and turquoise waters which owe their colour to the meadows of Posidonia Oceanica, a unique seagrass which acts as the Mediterranean’s natural purifier.
The underwater UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to numerous species, including the seahorse which survives off small invertebrates and larvae within the seagrass.
Formentera Natural offer both private and group scuba diving tours for travellers to explore the underwater paradise safely and respectfully.
A great beach to explore the seagrass is Cavall d’en Borràs Beach, which is just 2km from the port where visitors arrive, so can be easily accessed by bike or on foot.
Visitors t can also spot the beautiful Ibizan islands of Es Vedrá and Es Vedranell from the idyllic unspoilt wild beach.
Travellers who want to explore the pristine waters while staying dry can book boat tours to allow them to view wildlife up-close in a non-disruptive manner in Ses Salines Natural Park, between Ibiza and Formentera.
The Natural Park is made up of 13,000 hectares of ocean, creating a haven for flamingos, peregrines and storks.
Discover artisanal craft in Menorca
The island of Menorca has a long craft tradition that goes back centuries and has been handed down from generation to generation.
Menorca’s artisans preserve ancestral techniques and are used to create unique pieces of great artistic value, such as olive-wood bowls (the same wood used in farm gates around the island) and leather products such as traditional belts and clothing.
A popular product, produced for centuries on the island, is the abarca, an authentic Menorcan sandal.
Easily identifiable by their iconic shape, they are produced in small factories found around Ferreries, Ciutadella, and Es Migjorn Gran, and can be purchased in a range of colours from craft stores all over the island.
The Artisan Centre of Menorca (Centre Artesanal de Menorca), in Es Mercadal at the heart of the island, is a crafts centre and meeting point for local artisans and the wider community.
Opened in 2005, the centre is listed as a heritage asset and aims to preserve and publicise traditional trades and skills such as woodwork, carpentry and cheesemaking as part of Menorca´s historic memory.
The centre is open to holidaymakers and is home to a friendly shop of artisanal products, and permanent displays of historical and contemporary works made of fabric, leather, wood and metal.
Visitors can also engage with exciting temporary exhibitions and audio-visual documentaries on the traditional trades of the island, such as ceramics and jewellery making.
The garden contains ethnological items from Menorcan rural life and some of the island’s native plant species for visitors to also enjoy.
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