Alternative Mallorca Plans to Experience the Island Without the Crowds

Alternative Mallorca offers a collection of experiences and activities on the island that move away from conventional sun-and-beach tourism, including inland villages, nature trails, local culture, and plans at sea without the throngs of people. It is characterized by a slower pace, access to lesser-known corners, and a more authentic connection with the territory.

If you are looking for alternative plans in Mallorca, it’s about changing your mindset. It’s about understanding that an island with more than 3,600 km² cannot be reduced to a beach umbrella and a lukewarm beer. Here, I am going to tell you what to do when you are fed up with the typical circuit—and yes, we are going to talk about the sea, but in a different way. From a catamaran, with space, with views that no one else has, and without even stepping on the beach if you don’t feel like it.

Inland Villages and Corners for an Alternative Mallorca

Charming Villages Beyond the Classics

Valldemossa, Deià, Sóller… beautiful, yes. But also packed. If you want a truly alternative Mallorca, step away from the circuit and look for places like Fornalutx, which is literally right next to Sóller but has a tenth of the crowd. Or Alaró, where you can have a coffee in the square while watching the locals do their shopping—no posing, no forced Instagram shots.

There is also Santanyí, which has a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays; although there are tourists, the atmosphere remains quite local. Narrow streets, sandstone buildings, and small art galleries that don’t feel like tourist traps.

The charm of these villages is that they aren’t designed for you. They exist because they exist, and you are simply passing through. That is what makes them authentic.

Markets and Local Life Without the Rush

Markets are one of those plans that sound boring but then get you hooked. The Sineu market, on Wednesdays, is the oldest on the island. You’ll see tractors parked next to rental cars, and ladies selling homemade sobrasada that has nothing to do with the supermarket version.

The trick is to go early, walk around without rushing, buy something to snack on (Mallorcan bread with tomato and oil is a religion here), and then sit in a traditional bar to watch the morning go by. It’s a slow plan, yes, but one of those you’ll remember better than the 47th beach you visited.

You might be interested in this article: The best sunsets in Mallorca

Alternative Mallorca: Nature and Sports in the Mountains and Natural Parks

Easy Routes to Disconnect (Without Being an Expert Hiker)

You don’t need to be part of the alpine club to enjoy the Tramuntana. There are gentle, accessible routes that give you brutal views without the need to climb anything.

For example, the Mirador de ses Barques in Sóller: you drive almost to the top, walk for 20 minutes, and you have Port de Sóller at your feet with the Mediterranean in the background. Or the Sa Costera path in Alaró, which climbs steadily up to the castle; the views from there justify every drop of sweat.

For those with children or those who aren’t in peak shape, the Torrent de Pareis (only the walkable part, not the canyoning descent) is an impressive walk between rock walls. However, be aware that in summer it can be bone dry.

Natural Parks to See Another Side of the Island

The Albufera de Mallorca, in the north, is a huge wetland perfect for bird watching and feeling like you are on another planet. No mountains or coves: just water, reeds, and silence. A “weird” plan that almost no one does, but it leaves you with a strange sense of peace.

And if after a day of walking you want to finish with something special, combining that route with a sunset at sea closes the perfect circle. But we’ll get to that.

Cultural and Gastronomic Plans Off the Typical Circuit

Museums, Art, and Heritage in Palma and Surroundings

Palma has museums that many people skip because they are more focused on the Cathedral. Es Baluard is a museum of modern and contemporary art with sea views and a collection that includes everything from Picasso to current local artists. It’s not the Reina Sofía, but it has weight.

The Miró Foundation, on the outskirts, is located in a building designed by Moneo and holds the largest collection of the artist outside of Barcelona. The space is almost as interesting as the works. And if you like a historical vibe, the Sa Gerreria neighborhood in Palma is full of small galleries, artisan workshops, and shops with items you won’t find in any mall.

Local Cuisine, Markets, and Foodie Experiences

Mallorcan gastronomy isn’t just about the ensaimada, although the ensaimada is great. Try frito mallorquín (offal, potatoes, vegetables), tumbet (a type of ratatouille with eggplant), or arròs brut, which is basically a “dirty” rice with a bit of everything that every grandmother makes her own way.

Markets like Santa Catalina in Palma or El Olivar are good places to try local products without being ushered into a tourist-trap restaurant. And if you want to close a day of plans with something different, there is a way to combine good food, good drink, and the best views of the coast without moving from your table. Well, actually, from the deck of a catamaran. But that’s coming up now.

Alternative Mallorca from the Sea: Catamaran Plans Beyond the Towel

Why a Catamaran is an Alternative Plan (And Not “Just Another Boat Trip”)

Here comes the literal change of perspective. Because you can spend the whole week looking for the perfect cove—the one in the guidebooks—and when you arrive, there are 200 people there with the same guidebooks. Or, you can hop on a catamaran and see those same coves from the water, without fighting for a square meter of sand.

You don’t depend on finding a spot. You don’t burn your back looking for shade. Suddenly, you have access to corners of the coast that don’t even exist from land: cliffs, rock formations, and crystal-clear waters where you can swim without someone stepping on your head. The point of view changes everything.

At Attraction Catamarans, we have been doing this for years, satisfying people in the comfort of our catamarans, where the only thing you have to do is be there. With a skipper, with everything organized, without technical hassles or worries.

Catamaran Experiences That Fit an “Alternative Mallorca”

There are two types of outings that make sense if you are looking for something different:

Day Tours

You set sail at 10:00 AM towards Cala Vella and return at 3:00 PM. These are 5 hours on the water where you navigate the coast, swim in calm waters where the bottom is crystal clear, snorkel if you feel like it, and meanwhile, there is a DJ on board creating an atmosphere (a good one, no rowdiness) and catering that is nothing like what you’d expect on a boat.

I’m talking about fresh breads, homemade ali-oli, pesto focaccia, salads like smoked quinoa or beet with spinach and orange, smoked salmon wraps, beef mini-burgers, chicken tikka masala skewers… and to top it off, mini crème brûlée with red fruits or chocolate brownie (with a vegan option).

Everything is included in the price: €75 for adults, €65 for children aged 6 to 12, and little ones from 0 to 5 go free. Drinks are paid separately, but the rest is covered. It’s not a party. It’s being in the Mediterranean without noise, without rushing, eating well.

Sea Day Catamaran Tour

Sunset Tours

This is directly on another level. You depart at 5:00 PM and return at 9:00 PM, and in those 4 hours, everything happens. You sail towards Cala Vella, watch the sunset from the water with the lights shifting over the coast, the cliffs turning golden, and the sea calm while the DJ sets the perfect rhythm for that time of day.

Catering is also included (same high level as the day tour), and the price currently features a 20% discount: €60 for adults, €52 for children aged 6 to 12, babies free. It’s one of those moments that you describe later and it sounds like you’re exaggerating, but you’re not. It’s real. It works for couples, groups of friends, or anyone who wants to end the day with something that is neither a restaurant nor a beach bar.

Sunset Boat tour

Alternative Plans for Groups: Catamaran for 140 or 70 People

Then there is the private rental with a skipper option, which opens a world of possibilities for large groups. I’m talking about catamarans for 140 people or 70 people, depending on the size of the event.

What is this for? Things like:

• Corporate Events or Team Building: Imagine an annual meeting, but instead of being in a hotel looking at PowerPoints, you are sailing, with catering on board, water activities, and an atmosphere that truly helps people relax and connect.
• Bachelor or Bachelorette Parties: But the elegant kind—those looking for something beyond getting drunk in Magaluf. Private navigation, swims in hidden coves, good food, good music, and the luxury of having the boat all to yourselves.
• Intimate Weddings or Pre/Post-Wedding Celebrations: Some couples get married in Mallorca and want to do something special for their guests. A sunset catamaran with champagne, views of the Tramuntana from the sea, and the feeling of being in a unique place… it’s hard to beat.

The Important Part: The Rental Includes a Skipper

You don’t have to worry about anything technical. Reservations, navigation, safety: it’s all covered. You just enjoy and decide how you want to live those hours.

If you want to experience an alternative Mallorca from the sea, at Attraction Catamarans we organize catamaran outings during the day and at sunset, with a skipper and everything prepared so you only worry about enjoying yourself. You can book your spot on our regular tours or check the private rental option for groups of up to 140 or 70 people, ideal for events, parties, or special celebrations.

Ideas for “Alternative Days” Combining Inland and Sea

Slow Day: Charming Village + Catamaran Sunset

This is the plan for those in no hurry for anything.

• Morning: Wake up without an alarm, have a quiet breakfast, and head to a village like Fornalutx or Santanyí. Stroll through the streets, have a coffee watching life go by, buy something at the market if it’s market day.
• Afternoon: Return to your accommodation, take a nap (blessed Mediterranean siestas), read for a while, or simply do nothing.
• Evening: Head to the port to board the sunset catamaran tour. Sail as the sun goes down, watch the coast light up in orange and pink, toast with something cold, and when you return to land, it’s already night and you have that feeling of having lived a full day without having rushed anywhere.

Discover: Can you rent a boat without a license in Mallorca? Real options with and without a permit.

When you have decided which alternative plans you want to do in Mallorca, book your moment at sea: choose between our catamaran tours (sunset or daytime) or rent a full catamaran with a skipper for your group. It is the most comfortable and unique way to say goodbye to the island, or to start getting to know it for real.

And if after reading all this you still want more ideas, more corners, and more ways to squeeze the most out of the island without falling into the usual traps, take a look around the blog. Here we share things that actually work, plans we’ve tried, and places that are worth it. There is always one more cove, a village you didn’t know, or a different way to look at the same sea. And that, precisely that, is what makes it addictive.