Adventure & Wildlife 10th November 2024

An Overnight Adventure to Tossals Verds Refugi

A dreamy Tramuntana hike with a fun family sleepover, the Refugi Tossals Verds in Escorca on the celebrated Dry Stone Route GR221 trail, is a perfect destination for a weekend in nature.

The hike to the Refugi from the Son Ordines car-park is well signposted and takes approx. 1.5-2hrs (6-7km) but may take longer with little people in tow (or in our case, a teenager who insists on kicking a football up and down the mountain). The carpark is small so if you arrive late, you may have to wait for a parking spot to free up (when day hikers return) or park further away along the single track road. Pushchairs are out, so bring a backpack carrier for toddlers.

Overview

Highlights:
majestic mountain views and gorge

Location:
Escorca

Trail Length:
1.5-2hrs (6-7km)

Facilities:
None along the route

Parking:
A very small dirt car park at the start of the trail

Best for:
Ages 5+

Difficulty level:
Easy trail but uphill for the last half

Pushchair friendly:
No, baby carriers only.

Trail Details and What to Expect

The scenery is majestic from beginning to end. Gorges with cliffs overhead make way to forests and ancient olive trees as you ascend to 550m. Bird song echoes all around and children scamper ahead, with no fears of traffic or dangerous drops. The last 30mins is steeper along a winding paved road or clambering straight up through well-trodden short cuts. Knowing that we were off for a family sleepover – and meeting friends at the Refugi – kept everyone in good spirits throughout.

We arrived in time to enjoy the last of the day’s light and after the kids’ excited squeals choosing their bunks beds, they ran off to explore while we enjoyed a glass of wine and a beautiful sunset on the outdoor terrace. Dinner was home-cooked and hearty, but the after-dinner chocolate we had packed went down very well.

The Tossals Verds Refugi sleeps up to 42 pax, we were a group of 10 and had a wooden-beamed picturesque dormitory to ourselves (sharing with our friends and their children). The mattresses were hard but looked new, protected and perfectly clean, as was the dorm itself, the linens and the shared bathroom.

If you are hiking in Spring or Autumn, keep in mind it can be chilly in the evening. The fire was roaring inside but we were all happy to have warm jumpers and cosy clothes to spend the evening in.

Waking up to enjoy first light in the mountains was a highlight and the kids ran around outside in their pijamas until everyone made it down to breakfast. Breakfast itself was simple (bread, jam, cheese, eggs), so if you are partial to porridge or otherwise, bring it along.

From the Refugi, you can continue along the GR221 to Cuber and beyond. After a morning stroll, we headed back down the mountain, enjoying the easy downhill hike back through the mountain, and already planning our next visit to one of the Consell de Mallorca’s well-run Refugi network.

Top Tips

Booking early: Book wayyy in advance! Refugis have become popular for families seeking an authentic alternative holiday experience and they get busy months beforehand. Bookings open 4 months in advance and usually close 5 days prior to arrival. Set an alarm in your calendar!

How to book: Online booking can be made here. You can book for a max. of 3 nights in one stay.

Booking Tips: When you book your bed, make sure to also select the options for bed sheets and towels (unless bringing your own). Unless you are packing enough food for dinner, don’t forget to also book your meal/s. We were very grateful for a hot home cooked dinner at the end of the day. Do advise of any food intolerances in advance, there is no ‘menu’ at meal time.

Snacks: We had packed snacks and extra evening treats and were very glad we did!

Drinks: There is a drinking water fountain to refill bottles and you can order a soft drink or wine / beer from the reception area (at additional cost)

Advisory: Advice, recommended routes and links to third party websites shared above are for informational purposes only and should be checked for updated accuracy, suitability, age appropriateness and safety before embarking on any hike.