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Petit Caimari - Turismo De Interior, Carrer Horitzó 07314 Caimari Selva España
Caimari, the jewel of El Raiguer
The Raiguer region has a very marked personality within the island of Mallorca.
Nestled between the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range and the Mallorcan plain, it enjoys the best of both worlds: a rugged natural environment and a deep agricultural tradition. Caimari, in the heart of es Raiguer, is the best example of this.
Caimari extends at the foot of the mountain range, under the watchful eye of the peaks of n'Escuder, sa Creu and Masanella.
Among the cliffs, mediterranean vegetation and caves, from which the village seems to have taken its name. Behind it winds the old road between valleys and hillsides to the monastery of Lluc.
With barely a thousand inhabitants and part of the municipality of Selva, Majorca has in the quiet town of Caimari excellent examples of rural architecture perfectly integrated in the landscape, very dynamic artisan traditions and diverse options of outdoor and gastronomic leisure.
Attractions with a strong identity
What to see in Caimari? First and foremost, an example of Mallorcan rural authenticity. We enter an harmonious architectural ensemble of ancestral homes (with Son Albertí, the origin of the village, as maximum exponent), churches (two good examples of the sober rural Mallorcan religious architecture) and squares (starting with the Plaça Major).
If we go a little deeper, we discover what makes Caimari unique in Mallorca:
- The Pou Major: on the outskirts of the village, we find the Pou Major, one of the best preserved common wells of the island, in a small cobbled square with a porch, with more than six centuries of history.
- The "marjadas": the growth of the population in the 19th century forced the clearing of communal lands. This gave rise to the characteristic stone terraces (marjades), a sign of the landscape of the region, with their small huts and porches.
- The ethnological park: Since 2002, Caimari has housed an important area of 3,000 m2 that illustrates the traditional economic uses integrated into the territory, such as the “rotlo de la sitja”, a bread oven, a lime kiln, a snow house, etc.
Festivals, unique moments
The most deeply rooted festivals in the tradition of Caimari are those of popular and religious origin. The festivities are held on August 15, in honour of the Virgin of the Assumption, and pay tribute to the elderly in a multitudinous popular snack.
The Easter Week celebrations, in addition to being the occasion of the "Davallament de la Creu" from Es Fornassos, are the perfect excuse for the pancaritats or pilgrimages that each neighborhood organizes outdoors around the village.
Nor could not miss the classic weekly market, which is held here on Mondays on the main square.
But perhaps the highlight in Caimari is the Fira de l'Oliva with the olive as a central element (here is the program for 2021), which is held on the third Sunday of November and celebrates its twenty-fifth aniversary in 2022. However, Caimari's relationship with the olive goes much further back....
The olive of Caimari
The culture of olive oil has been part of Caimari's identity for more than a thousand years, as attested by the numerous olive trees around the town. With the Romans, the olive-growing activities began in the area, which have never stopped since then.
The best testimony of the rootedness of the olive and the oil in Caimari we have it in Sa Tafona de Caimari, a local oil mill that produces one of the best olive oils in Mallorca, with visitable facilities and a museum area to discover, during the Fair, the traditional elaboration of olive oil.
Routes and hiking in Caimari
Another famous activity in Caimari is hiking. We propose three routes of different durations and difficulties to get into the landscapes of Caimari:
- Comuna de Caimari: a circular route of about 7 km and medium difficulty that starts in Es Fornassos, takes us to the top of Puig de sa Creu and returns us, among breathtaking panoramic views, to the upper part of the village.
- Mirador de Caimari: a short circular route of just 3 km and low to medium difficulty, with some ascent, that offers wonderful views from the viewpoint of sa primera volta and es Castellet.
- Plain of Selva: another circular route of 11 km and low difficulty, touring its villages and hamlets (Selva, Moscari, Binibona) between fields of almond trees, dry stone walls and traditional farmhouses.
Cycling/BTT in Caimari
If walking is one of the best ways to discover the surroundings, cycling routes provide an extra point of dynamism.
Here are three examples:
- Camí Vell de Lluc: the ancestral pilgrimage route that crosses the mountains on its way to the monastery runs parallel to the Ma-2130 along the GR222; 17 km round trip with good slopes for MTB lovers.
- Caimari - Coll del Miner: a classic MTB route in Majorca, with about 45 km, moderate technical difficulty and quite steep slopes that takes us to the north, first between cliffs and crossing the Campanet plains afterwards.
- Caimari - Coll de sa Batalla - Col de Sa Calobra: 100 % road route with two demanding passes and 60 km, if done in a circular route, that takes us through the mountain range and up to the rugged northern coast of the island.
How to get to Caimari?
Caimari is relatively close to the main road that connects Palma de Mallorca and Alcudia, the Ma-13 road, but at a sufficient distance to guarantee a preserved environment.
- The most usual is to arrive from the capital, Palma de Mallorca, about 40 km away. distance. Just follow the Ma-13 to Inca and then take the secondary road Ma-2130 (exit 25, direction Selva).
- From Alcudia (about 30 km away) you can also get there by the Ma-2130, taking exit 30. There is an alternative route through Campanet and Moscari (Ma-2131).
- By public transport, the bus line 312 that connects Muro and Lluc stops in Caimari (linking in Inca with the 301 and 302). In Inca you can also take the train to Palma, Sa Pobla or Manacor.
