Bóquer Valley to the cove

The most rewarding short walk from Port de Pollença climbs a valley between two mountain ranges to an undeveloped cove of pebbles and very clear water. It is 5.49 km round trip, 174 m of cumulative ascent and an hour and a half in total, on a path. The town council rates it low difficulty.

Avinguda de Bocchoris, on the way out of the Port

The path starts on Avinguda de Bocchoris, in the Bóquer housing estate, signposted from the road from the Port towards Formentor. If you are staying in the Port you can walk from your hotel; if you come by car, the town council says to park on the estate and continue on foot. TIB bus 334 has a Bóquer stop on the Ma-2200. The route is well signposted all the way to the sea.

Country-estate houses, lime kilns and two crags

First you pass old country estates and lime kilns, and then the valley opens out, with the Cavall Bernat range to the west. The last kilometre and a half runs among pines and passes two large rocks before dropping to the cove. You return the same way.

Bocchoris, the village of the slingers

Beside the path are the remains of Bocchoris, a Talaiotic settlement from around 1000 BC, one of the most important on the island. Its inhabitants were slingers, and their aim took them to fight in Carthaginian and Roman armies. Pliny mentioned the place in the 1st century BC, and Bóquer takes its name from it.

Pebbles, posidonia and three metres of depth

The cove runs about 300 m into the coast, enclosed by bare limestone cliffs; to the west, Cavall Bernat rises to 360 m and falls almost sheer into the water. The little beach, on the left, is cobbles and gravel, often with posidonia on the shore. The sea bed is sand: about 2 m deep at 100 m from the shore and about 3 m at 150 m. It is open to north and north-west winds, so in a tramontana the water comes in choppy. Some fishermen keep their boats there, and boats use it as an anchorage.

No shade, no services

There is little shade and no fountain or beach bar: bring water, a cap and something to eat. The path has loose stones, so closed shoes are better than sandals, and water shoes help for getting into the water over the pebbles. The valley crosses private land: respect the gates and ask at the Port tourist office if you are bringing a dog.