Climbs, car restriction hours and the best months to ride the lighthouse road
Quick answer
- Cap de Formentor is an out-and-back ride from Port de Pollença: 60 to 70 km and about 900 to 1,000 m of climbing from our northern hotels.
- The road to the lighthouse is 10.8 km at 2.9%; the real effort is Coll de la Creueta, 3.4 km at 5.8%, which you climb on the way out and again on the way back.
- Private cars are usually restricted from about 15 May to 18 October, 10:00 to 22:00; the 2027 dates still need confirming.
- Ride it from March to June or September to November; in July and August start early because of heat and wind.
Cap de Formentor cycling: what the ride is
Cap de Formentor cycling means riding the single road from Port de Pollença to the lighthouse at Mallorca's northern tip and back the same way. From our hotels in the north it is a half-day ride of 60 to 70 km with about 900 to 1,000 m of climbing, and around four hours of riding.
It is not a mountain day like Sa Calobra. It is a coastal road with two short climbs, long exposed stretches above the sea and a dead end, so every kilometre you ride out you ride back. Intermediate riders manage it well; the wind decides how hard it feels.
The Formentor road and its climbs in numbers
The Formentor ride has one steep climb, ridden twice, and one long gentle one. Out of Port de Pollença, Coll de la Creueta climbs 3.4 km at 5.8% to the Es Colomer viewpoint. You drop to Cala Formentor, then ride the Cap de Formentor road: 10.8 km at an average of 2.9% to the lighthouse, rolling rather than steady.
On the way home the Creueta comes back from the Cala Formentor side, 3.48 km at 5.8%, through pine trees and with more shade than the sea side. The steepest ramp on our main Formentor route is 9.1%. Those numbers explain why the ride is popular with mixed groups: nothing lasts long, and the hard parts are short enough to regroup at the top.
The Formentor car restriction: dates and hours
The Formentor car restriction limits private cars on the road to the lighthouse, not bikes. In recent seasons it has run from about 15 May to 18 October, every day from 10:00 to 22:00. The Consell de Mallorca sets the dates each year, and the 2027 dates are not confirmed yet, so check them before you fix your ride day.
Does the restriction mean an empty road? No. It cuts private cars during those hours, but you will still meet other vehicles, and our route notes flag buses on the blind corners near the viewpoints. Ride single file on the bends and expect traffic at Es Colomer and Cala Formentor in any month.
Best time to ride Cap de Formentor
The best months to ride Cap de Formentor are March to June and September to November, when daytime temperatures usually sit between 15 and 24°C. Inside the restriction period, in late May, June, September and early October, time the lighthouse section for after 10:00, when private cars are off the road.
July and August change the order of priorities. The peninsula has little shade and our route alerts warn that it gets very hot and windy in summer, so start early and be back before midday, even if that means riding before the restriction begins. In winter the road is quieter and mild, but north-facing descents stay damp in the early morning. For month-by-month weather across the island, see the best time to cycle Mallorca.
How hard is Cap de Formentor by bike?
Cap de Formentor is a moderate ride: an intermediate rider who can climb 3 km at 6% without stopping will finish it comfortably. What catches people out is not the gradient but the exposure. The road runs along cliffs with no shelter, and a headwind on the 10.8 km to the lighthouse makes a 2.9% average feel like a proper climb.
Three things deserve attention on the day. Buses and tourist traffic on the blind bends near the viewpoints. Goats, which are common on this route and cross without warning. And theft at the busy stops: never leave the bike unattended at Es Colomer or the lighthouse. On an e-bike the ride is easy for almost anyone, which is why it works well when one person in the group rides less.
Where to start the Formentor ride
Start the Formentor ride from Port de Pollença or Pollença: the closer your hotel is to the peninsula, the more of the day you spend on the good road. These are the Formentor routes we ride from hotels we work with, with the distance, climbing and riding time from our route database.
| Start | Distance | Climbing | Riding time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Seasons, Formentor | 23 km | 435 m | 2 h | An easy lighthouse ride |
| Can Aulí, Port de Pollença | 60.7 km | 903 m | 4 h | A first visit |
| Hotel Son Brull | 64 km | 1,017 m | 3.5 h | A countryside base |
| Hotel El Vicenç de la Mar | 69.8 km | 974 m | 4.5 h | The full loop with every stop |
| The Lodge | 90.9 km | 1,135 m | 5 h | A longer day |
From Hotel El Vicenç de la Mar the ride starts at the front door and passes Es Colomer, Cala Formentor and the lighthouse before the coffee stop in Pollença. From Can Aulí you skip most of the approach. If you are choosing a base for the whole week, our guide to the best cycling bases in Mallorca compares the seven areas we use across the island.
Our recommendation by type of rider
Every road rider visiting the north of Mallorca should ride Formentor once; the version depends on your legs and on who rides with you.
- First visit, intermediate level: the 60.7 km ride from Can Aulí, on day two of the week, before the bigger mountain days.
- Strong rider: the full 69.8 km loop from El Vicenç de la Mar, or the 90.9 km version from The Lodge, with both sides of the Creueta at your own pace.
- Couple or group with one less experienced rider: the same route, with an e-bike for that rider; the climbs are short, so the group stays together.
- Not the right day for: riders looking for a long sustained climb. For that, ride Sa Calobra or the Puig Major instead.
Ride Formentor on a Medfeel trip
The Signature Mallorca Bike Tour rides Formentor on day two, 49 km and 1,108 m from Can Aulí, then crosses the Tramuntana to Sóller and finishes on the west coast. It lasts 7 days with 5 riding days, is rated Intermediate with e-bikes available, and costs from €2,320 per person in double occupancy. Flights, travel insurance and food beyond breakfast are not included; we recommend travel insurance, and cancelling 35 days or more before departure gives a full refund. Tell us your dates through Plan your trip and we will plan the Formentor day around the forecast.
FAQ: Cap de Formentor cycling
How long does it take to cycle to the Formentor lighthouse?
From Port de Pollença or Pollença, the round trip takes about 3.5 to 4.5 hours of riding for an intermediate rider, depending on the hotel you start from. Add time for stops at Es Colomer and Cala Formentor.
Is Cap de Formentor harder than Sa Calobra?
No. The hardest climb on the Formentor ride is the Coll de la Creueta, 3.4 km at 5.8%, while the Sa Calobra climb is 9.5 km at 7.2%. Formentor is harder only on a day of strong wind.
Can you ride Cap de Formentor on an e-bike?
Yes. Our e-bike fleet includes the Trek Domane+ and Charter+, and Formentor suits an e-bike well: the climbs are short and the ride is 60 to 70 km from the northern hotels.
Can you cycle Cap de Formentor in winter?
Yes. The car restriction does not apply in winter and the road is quieter. Take care on the north-facing descents, which can stay damp early in the morning, and carry a windproof layer.
Where can you stop for coffee on the Formentor ride?
Cala Formentor beach is the usual mid-ride stop, and Holibikes Coffee Bar in Pollença, a café used to cyclists, is our stop on the way back.
Do you need a guide to ride Cap de Formentor?
No. It is one road out and the same road back, and the GPX files are included on every Medfeel tour. A guide is optional and is most useful for pacing a mixed group and timing the ride around the car restriction.
