Torrent de Pareis is a gorge cut through the Serra de Tramuntana in the municipality of Escorca, on Mallorca, by a seasonal torrent formed where two streams meet upstream. It runs from the mountains near Escorca to the coast at Sa Calobra, where its mouth opens between high rock walls onto a stony beach. The gorge is protected as a natural monument and is known for a demanding through-hike that is largely boulder scrambling.
Torrent de Pareis
Boulder-choked limestone gorge in the Serra de Tramuntana, opening between sheer walls onto the sea at Sa Calobra.
- Entrance
- Free; there is no ticket.
- Accessibility
- The gorge is impassable for wheelchairs and anyone with limited mobility: the way through means climbing over boulders. The mouth is reached on foot through a tunnel from Sa Calobra.
- Parking
- Two car parks about 1.4 km away in a straight line; one of them is free.
- Difficulty
- Hard. The full gorge between Escorca and Sa Calobra takes 3 hours 45 minutes to 5½ hours of scrambling over large smooth boulders on exposed ground, on a route that is ambiguous in places; good fitness and a partner are needed. The mouth from Sa Calobra is a walk through a tunnel.
- Transport
- Bus stops Sa Calobra, about 2 km away in a straight line, and Escorca 1 (Escorca), about 3 km away.
- Hours
- A natural gorge with no gate; walk it in daylight.
- Address
- torrent de Pareis, 07315, Balearic Islands, Spain
What makes it special
At Sa Calobra you walk through a tunnel in the cliff and come out between two walls of rock that rise straight from the stones of the riverbed, with the sea directly in front. The mouth is as far as most people go.
Beyond it the gorge closes in. The floor turns into a staircase of smooth boulders, climbed with hands as much as feet, and some steps need a partner to haul you up. Goats pick their way along the ledges. Walked end to end between Escorca and Sa Calobra, it takes 3 hours 45 minutes to 5½ hours of scrambling, and the scale of the walls stays with you the whole way.
Good to know
- There are no toilets and no drinking water nearby. Carry more water than seems sensible; a hot, dry gorge drains it fast.
- The line through the boulders is ambiguous in places, and a wrong turn means backtracking over exposed rock.
- Some climbs need a second pair of hands, so never go alone. With no scrambling experience, a guided walk is the sensible option.
- It only gets harder after the first climbing sections. If one of those feels wrong, turn back there.
- Wear shoes with grip and pack a dry bag: in wetter spells the lower gorge has water crossings and slippery rock.
Getting there
There are two ways in. The easy one is from Sa Calobra. The road down to the coast is a long chain of bends and hairpins; once parked, you walk through a tunnel in the rock and come out at the mouth of the gorge, where it meets the sea. Two car parks lie about 1.4 km away in a straight line.
The full hike links Escorca, up in the mountains, with Sa Calobra on the coast, and is walked in either direction. The Escorca 1 bus stop is about 3 km away in a straight line, the Sa Calobra stop about 2 km. You can take a taxi between Escorca and Sa Calobra to get back to where you started.
Best time to visit
Best: a settled, dry spell in spring or autumn, with an early start. The through-hike takes most of a day and you carry all your water, so mild temperatures and plenty of daylight matter most.
Avoid: the days after heavy rain, and the heat of midsummer. Rain fills the torrent and turns the boulders slick, while in summer the bare rock holds the heat and water runs out fast.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Torrent de Pareis on the map
After rain the torrent can rise fast in the narrow gorge and wet boulders turn slick, so stay out when rain is forecast. The scrambles are exposed: turn back at any climb you could not climb down again.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to hike Torrent de Pareis?
Walking the full gorge between Escorca and Sa Calobra takes 3 hours 45 minutes to 5½ hours, most of it scrambling over boulders.Can I see the gorge without doing the hike?
Yes. From Sa Calobra you walk through a tunnel to the mouth of the gorge, with the rock walls on either side and the sea in front. The first stretch inside, around 45 minutes, has easier climbing and makes a good short walk before turning back.Do I need climbing experience?
The full route has several climbing sections on smooth rock, some of which need help from a partner, and good fitness is essential. If you have not scrambled before, go with a guide.Is there water in the gorge?
Sometimes. In wetter spells the lower gorge has pools to wade through; in a dry summer the bed can be dry enough to walk in dry shoes. Either way there is no drinking water nearby, so carry plenty.How do I get back to my car after the through-hike?
You can take a taxi between Escorca and Sa Calobra.