Mallorca might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think dedicated photo trip, but this island has it all.

Beautiful landscapes and the poetry of real, everyday mundane life. Nature, charming villages, and picturesque towns. The hustle and bustle of Palma, alongside quiet mornings in the countryside. Plus, the chance to enjoy typical holiday pleasures on local beaches.

Unless you're like me and avoid beaches during peak season. In that case, it’s worth visiting after the season - or, actually, it’s best to go after the season anyway.

But most of all: Mallorca has light.
Mediterranean, Spanish sun that rarely disappoints (unless clouds decide to show up - which can happen quite often, especially in the winter).

Roadtripping through MA-10 - west side of Mallorca

The most charming towns on the island’s western side - Valldemossa, Sóller, Deià, Fornalutx and Sa Calobra - are tiny, with very few parking spaces.

I have no idea where all the tourists - and their rental cars - fit when the season is in full swing.
I’m also not sure if public transport can get you there, and if it can, it probably takes ages, considering these towns sit in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, with narrow, winding roads leading to them.

Since most of the traffic comes from Palma, heading northwest along the famous MA-10 road, it’s worth setting out early to reach the first village while everyone else is still sipping their morning coffee at the hotel.

These villages offer endless opportunities for postcard kind of photography (which I sometimes like too).
They're well-kept, pristine, full of a wide variety of diverse plants. Attention to detail feels like it’s from another world. Frames, frames, frames - everywhere you look.

The MA-10 route, including the descent to Sa Calobra, can probably be done in one day, but I decided to split it into two. I didn’t want to rush around with my camera; I preferred to wander through these towns at my own pace, stopping here for a coffee, there for lunch.

What I’d Do Differently—and What I Wouldn’t

Renting the car

I’d make sure the rental car was on my name, not my wife's. We had originally planned to go together, but life had other ideas. As a result, I had to rent another car on-site, though, luckily, it wasn’t too expensive—€35 for four days with an automatic SUV (can’t recommend it more).
I won’t recommend the rental company, though - it was a bit of a sketchy experience that left me with mixed feelings. The process itself was frustrating, but the car was great, and I got my deposit back fairly quickly.

Different route

I’d head straight from Palma airport toward Valldemossa, skipping the detour through the island’s southwest, which cost me a good hour. The road to Andratx isn’t particularly scenic, comparing to more middle and northern part of MA-10. I didn’t stop until I reached some viewpoint after several dozen kilometers - where I was greeted by a sign that read “they will rob you here.”

accodomodation

I chose the accomodation on the eastern side of the island - a former monastery atop Sant Salvador. It felt like a questionable decision the first night when I drove back to the hotel along a steep, narrow and dark road. But later, I thanked myself for that choice.
The monastery is a pretty significant spot for a solo trip, with stunning views across half the island. Plus, from a practical standpoint, it was kind of a half way to places I wanted to visit.

West vs east Mallorca

While the western part of the island and the mountains are incredibly charming, it’s the eastern part of the island that won my heart (for the second time already).
More about that in the second part of this little guide.