Hiking Boom in the Tramuntana: Mountain Huts Report Record Spring

Hiking Boom in the Tramuntana: Mountain Huts Report Record Spring

More people, more nights – and more bustle on the trails

On a mild Sunday afternoon in Palma, with the market stalls in the Plaça Major still settling down, you can hear it everywhere: hiking boots on the pavement, the clink of water bottles and conversations about summits and viewpoints. Spring 2026 has drawn many people out — not only to the coastal paths but especially up into the heights of the Serra de Tramuntana.

The island council, which operates the network of seven mountain huts that reopened after the summer break, reports a total of 17,443 users for the months of March through May. That is around 1,305 more overnight stays than last year and about an eight percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. Looking at the figures individually shows how evenly the demand is distributed: So n'Amer leads with 3,753 overnight stays, Tossals Verds follows with 3,085, Galatzó comes to 2,821 and Muleta to 2,694. Can Boi recorded 2,626 overnight stays, Pont Romà 2,304 and Coma d'en Vidal 150.

Altogether the seven huts, which are on public land, offer accommodation for 264 people. In addition, 2,981 pupils used the accommodations in the current school year as part of educational projects: a piece of nature and experiential education that is popular with both teachers and young people.

The trend continues in bookings for June: 3,924 places are already booked for that month — an increase compared with 3,042 booked places in June 2024 and roughly 29 percent growth. Spring and autumn seem to be establishing themselves as the peak seasons for the huts; then the accommodations are often nearly fully booked.

What does this mean for the island? First of all, full huts are a vivid sign that Mallorca's mountain world is being seen as a destination again. That brings income to the villages in the Tramuntana, from cafés in Sóller to small shops in Esporles and to taxi drivers who early in the morning take hiking groups to the starting points. It creates job opportunities for local guides and promotes an image of health that combines exercise and experiences in nature.

On the other hand, the effects are noticeable in everyday life: popular routes are becoming busier, parking at the trailheads scarcer and the huts need reliable maintenance — from water and sanitation systems to fire prevention. This practical challenge was underlined when the refuges were packed on the long constitutional holiday weekend. A simple observation in Port de Sóller is enough: hikers who drop into a café at the harbor in small groups after a tour create a noticeable demand peak between 4 and 6 pm.

Who benefits and what would now be important: Local businesses gain new guests, educational projects can continue to grow and awareness of the landscape increases. To keep this sustainable, two things would help: better coordination of access roads and parking at the starting points and targeted funds for the maintenance of trails and huts. More information for visitors, for example about how to use the huts, waste behavior and consideration toward vegetation, would also help a lot.

For everyone planning now: early booking is recommended. Hut capacity is limited, demand is high — and the experience of waking up at night under a clear starry sky in the mountains is worth it. Those looking for less bustle can find it in smaller valleys or in the off-season; those who enjoy social exchange will quickly meet like-minded people in Galatzó or So n'Amer.

In the end, a positive picture remains: this spring Mallorca presents itself not only as a bathing island but also as a mountain island. The sound of boots on rock, the dawn over the torrent, the smell of coffee in the villages along the routes — all of this makes the island rich in experiences. Properly managed, this development can benefit rural areas in the long term.