Fonts Ufanes: High Visitor Numbers This Weekend – Access, Rules, Tips

Fonts Ufanes: High Visitor Numbers This Weekend – Access, Rules, Tips

January 24–25: Natural phenomenon draws visitors to Campanet – Authorities control access

The underground springs near Campanet are showing their loud side again after the rainfall: the Fonts Ufanes are gushing, the old limestone sparkles, and hiking boots crunch on wet soil. For the coming weekend, January 24 and 25, the authorities therefore expect a lot of public traffic, as noted in Mallorca at the Limit: Will This Weekend Break the Visitor Maximum?.

So that the visit does not end in traffic jams, crowding or frustration, the environmental authority Ibanat and the municipal administration of Campanet have regulated access. The most important traffic rule: the Camí de na Pontons will be passable in the direction of the spring only as a single lane or one-way road on Saturday and Sunday. The official access is via the roundabout at sa Pobla on the MA-13; the signed exit back after the visit leads via the Camí Blanc towards Campanet.

Anyone who has been there before knows: parking spaces on site are limited. That simply means: if you arrive late, expect to plan for a walk on foot or to wait longer on the return trip. My everyday tip from the island: be there early, pack tea or a thermos and wear sturdy shoes. On the short paths between the car park and the spring it can get muddy; rubber boots are not a bad idea in January.

The scene at the Fonts is usually a mix of awed walkers, families with children and photographers trying to capture the jets and the moss-covered basins. You hear the loud splashing, the screeching of seagulls in the distance and the occasional laughter of people experiencing a small natural wonder. If you meet locals, greet them briefly – a friendly "Bon dia" usually opens doors and lifts spirits.

The traffic regulation aims to relieve the routes and prevent the small roads around Campanet from being blocked. The basic approach is: well organized so that as many people as possible can experience the Ufanes without the local residents having to pay the price. Please follow the instructions on site, park only in designated areas and do not block access to fields or private houses.

Practical information: if you come from Palma or Alcúdia, take the MA-13 to the roundabout at sa Pobla and follow the signs. Expect waiting times at the single-lane access over the weekend. If you want to walk less, you can leave the car at the village entrance and walk a shorter distance. Cyclists and minibuses increase the chance of getting close to the springs without searching for a parking space.

A small everyday tip: bring garbage bags. Nature stays most beautiful when everyone takes their waste back with them. It is also advisable to check the weather forecast: after heavy rain the path is wetter and slipperier than usual; dress warmly and do not forget a waterproof jacket.

For the local catering in Campanet such a rush of visitors is not a disadvantage: cafés and small bars are happy about the extra turnover on a rainy January weekend, and that local boost is part of a wider discussion explained in More Visitors, More Money — But How Long Can Mallorca Sustain It?.

In conclusion: the Fonts Ufanes are not an amusement park but a sensitive natural phenomenon. Carefulness and consideration keep the place alive. Arrive early, follow the signs, behave respectfully – and then enjoy the scene: bubbling water, wet stone, a brief feeling of happiness that is not easily forgotten.