Quick info
- An absolute classic hike with scramble bits
- A truly impressive canyon with up to three hunderd meter high walls and bizarre rock formations
- Fairly well known but still possible to enjoy in relative solitude
General
The Tramuntana mountains are home to many wild canyons formed by the millions of years of rain runoff through the limestone rock. Exploring these torrents is its own sport and many fans of canyoneering come to the island just for that. Many can only be accessed with a lot of skills and technical gear. However luckily one of the most impressive ones can be done with just a pair of hiking shoes.
The Torrent de Pareis drops for about four kilometers and over 400 meters through the wildest parts of the Tramuntana and ends at the beach of Sa Calobra. From its start at the intersection of two other canyons to the very end by the sea the Pareis stays steep, deep and visually impressive.
The soundscape of the torrent is special to behold as well. The high walls block the sound of wind and the outside world while amplifying the sounds made in the canyon itself - which can be a good thing if you hear the chirps of the small endemic frogs living here or a bad one if it is a loud group of people which you will hear no matter how far you are away.
So even though its mentioned in many guides about the island and is more of a hike than a technical adventure consider ticking it off as a must do item!
Logistics
To start the hike drive along the MA-10 road on the small plot by the road at the few houses at form the village Escorca.
After you have finished the hike at the beach of Sa Calobra you can either try to catch a bus up again (there is a bus stop at the parking spot) or just hike up through the canyon again. The second option does make for a long day but is very doable for any reasonably fit person.
Approach
From the parking spot find the well trodden hiking trail towards the north that starts to drop off sharply at once. Follow the trail down towards the Entrefoc following the crains and the clearly visible signs of use. You will reach the bottom - turn left here and start making your way over the washed out stones and pebbles into the canyon itself.
Technical information
- No technical gear needed, however 20 meters of cord or thin rope can be helpful at a few points (often there are rappel stations available which are used by guided groups).
- On warm days the torrent will get very hot quickly as the wind is blocked and the heat accumulates. Carry lots of water if it is even a bit warmer.
- After rainfall the pools will be filled with water and you might have to wade through or even swim. However you can always turn around and make your way up again. If there is rain forecast for the day you want to go: Do not. People die in canyons on the island every few years.
- The Torrent has been popular for many years and especially at the choke points the rock is very polished and slippery even when dry.
Route finding
Once you are in the canyon and have passed the Entrefoc the wayfinding is easy.
Follow the canyon and look for crains and signs of wear on the rock from people walking over it. There are a few choke points where you need to look around for the best way through, however these are often easy to see by the wear and polish on the rock and potentially rappel stations on top.
Depending on the speed of the party the way down will take 3-4 hours and the way back up more or less the same time (you might be faster because you do not need to stop all the time for pictures).