Eco Island Adventure

Mallorca from the sea

The image is fascinating and, in the absolute silence that invades this hollow molded by the force of nature, we engrave it in our retina, captivated by the emotion.

Author: Aina Coll

Photographer: Jaume Oliver

The waters that embrace Mallorca are a whole world to explore. From the surface of the Mediterranean or submerged in its turquoise blue, the island takes on another dimension and offers a new perspective from which to observe it, discover it and of course live it. And at Eco Island Adventure they are specialists in organizing experiences -stand-up paddle, snorkeling, coasteering, scuba diving and marine speleology- that advocate responsible and quality tourism that makes us connect with the environment and, above all, enjoy it.

Under the sunshine of a June morning and in front of a sea as flat as a dance floor, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards of this small company of S'Illot, in Manacor, await our arrival to lead us along a route that is drawn on a maritime map and traces the path that connects S'Illot with Cala Morlanda. A route of 4 kilometers, sport practice and immense beauty.

Behind a sign that catches our attention for its message -'Keep our beach plastic-free. If you bring 30 plastics, you have one hour free SUP!'. Toni, co-founder of the project, welcomes us and invites us to make contact with the water, a little cold but crystal clear, before we step on, cautiously, first on our knees, on our boards. Captained by him, who guides us during the two-hour excursion, we set off on our journey out to sea.

The rocks and the summer houses that outline the coastal landscape dictate the itinerary while our paddle boards help us to advance until the time comes, now, to stand up -or at least try to- on the board. With nervous laughter we undertake the first attempts that culminate in a few falls that, despite everything, do not overshadow our efforts. A few dips later, and with the help and patience of our guide, who advises us on how to keep our balance, we finally succeed.

Upright and enthusiastic, we continue our journey until we reach the first stop, Es bufador, an open-air cave bathed in light. We access it, lying on the board, and immediately understand the reason for its name. As Toni explains to us, on days when the sea storm takes place, this water inlet that scans the rocks becomes a fountain that expels water upwards thanks to the force of the wind. A wonderful spectacle that nature provides and that, we are sure, is worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.

For a few moments having been turned into aquatic archaeologists, we walk through the interior of Es bufador, unhurriedly, before resuming the excursion that now takes us to a small cave with an even smaller entrance. There is no room for the boards so, once parked, we dive in the dark until a small ray of sunlight, breaking through the rocks, illuminates the interior. The image is fascinating and, in the absolute silence that invades this hollow molded by the force of nature, we engrave it in our retina, captivated by the emotion.

Leaving the cave, the clarity of the sky blinds us for a few seconds, but adrenaline drives us to continue. Mounted again on the boards, we set off towards Cala Morlanda. After the occasional fall and many more laughs, we continue along the coastline until we reach this impressive cove of transparent water and we put on our diving goggles. Submerged, we swim among fish, rocks and posidonia, and we understand that there is no better reward for the effort involved in this journey.

Gathering the last dose of energy that we still have, we start our way back to S'Illot. Exhausted but exalted by the beauty of the journey, we take a last swim before saying goodbye to Toni and the Eco Island Adventure team. It has been an unforgettable experience from which we take with us a lesson to remember: there are infinite ways to enjoy this island, you just have to dare to try them.