How to get around Mallorca?

Hello! Rolling into Mallorca tomorrow for a week with the wife. She wants to rent mopeds for the week to get around to the crags and the island. Is this the move there, or is public transit better? Or just renting a car? Thanks for any advice at all!

You’ve not said where you’re staying but Mallorca is not a small island. It’s an hour (40-50 miles) drive from Palma airport to the east coast deep water soloing areas, a little less to the various sport climbing spots mainly in the north west. It’s not like tootling around Kalymnos. I’d rent a car. 

Definitely agree with Duncan here. I did my first trip to Mallorca back in Feb and I was surprised at how big Palma and the whole island actually is. I was expecting island vibes and when we arrived in Palma it felt like Barcelona or Valencia! I myself wouldn’t consider the moped idea and would opt for a car. Mopeds could be a fun ‘adventure day’ activity I suppose.
It can also rain quite a bit but that might be more of a winter thing.  

Ah ok sweet thanks, we’re staying southeast end of the island near most of the dws crags in theory. Sounds like a car is the move either way. Thanks for the beta fellas! 

The public transit is bad, infrequent & runs late. If you rent a car make sure to not leave anything in the car while parked, even a jacket. There's frequent car break-ins & theft!

+1 to the virtual necessity of a car and the risk of theft. Leave nothing in the car and nothing obscured (so there's no temptation to break a window to check for valuables).

Other unsolicited mallorca DWS advice:

- A dry bag is well worth the investment (both as a way to keep your stuff dry and as an ad-hoc life preserver/floatie)

- Consider what would happen in an accident and how you'd get to safety. It's honestly a miracle nobody has drowned at places like Cova del Diablo without an easy exit (the cliff is one of the best so don't let this discourage you, though). A boat makes the whole process easier and safer and I'd strongly recommended it if there's no easy way out of the water.

- Also, if there's no rest ledge, consider wearing a sling and carabiner to attach yourself to the water exit lines as a means of drying off/resting before casting off without tiring yourself out (you can leave the carabiner on the fixed line while you climb so it doesn't thwack you when you land in the water). 

- Watch out for jellyfish. 

- Bring liquid chalk.

All awesome advice, got here yesterday morning the island is beautiful! The car is 100% a necessity good call we got one on arrival. Thanks for all the beta!

Get a car, like other said it’s a pretty big island.

My only other advice is if you don’t have a boat pick up some pool noodles or some other type of floaty. Your spotter can float with them in the water or throw it to you when you fall. It’s very hard to swim with climbing shoes on, and you get really tired when you fall off. 

Second the liquid chalk. 

Calla barques should not be missed. 

wcayler wrote:

Get a car, like other said it’s a pretty big island.

My only other advice is if you don’t have a boat pick up some pool noodles or some other type of floaty. Your spotter can float with them in the water or throw it to you when you fall. It’s very hard to swim with climbing shoes on, and you get really tired when you fall off. 

Second the liquid chalk. 

Calla barques should not be missed. 

Spent all day at Barques today! Most scenic routes I’ve ever climbed, unreal setting and the permanent cheering section across the cove is quite the scene