Sharing our passion for the ultimate cycling experiences.
Your hosts Steve & Heather.
What is VargaTours?
Hi, I’m Steve Varga, and was given the nickname VargaTours because I have been so passionate about showing people around Majorca. I’ve been going there for close to 20 years and in time I realized that I have the best time when I invite friends from home (Canada) to come join me in exploring the amazing roads and culture of Majorca. For the past few years Heather and I have grown this trip into a tradition where we have an incredible group of new and repeat cyclists who come together every spring.
This is not a business but a way to share Majorca with friends and pass along travel tips along the way. I’m inviting you to come ride with us and stay in a very beautiful hotel that specializes in accommodating cyclists and all their needs.
Ponent Mar Hotel
The Ponent Mar Hotel is a proper cycling hotel, where the hotel staff understand and cater to all the specific needs of cyclists.
The hotel offers:
Secure bike storage facilities for all of our bikes
Charging stations for e-bikes
A fleet of rental bikes available for those who don’t want to bring their own bike
A bike mechanic on call
Incredible cycling guides including retired pro-cyclists
The hotel management understand that the quality of your ride is paramount to your stay and that the quality of the guides is critical to ensuring the success of every ride.
Located 20 minutes west of the capital city, Palma, on the cliffs of Palmanova. The hotel sits in an absolutely beautiful peninsula with a fabulous unobstructed view of the Mediterranean Sea.
VARGATOURS Discount
Book your stay at the Ponent Mar Hotel with promo code ‘VARGATOURS’ and receive
10% off your hotel stay from February 14-March 31 and 5% off your stay in April or May
+ free daily guided rides (valued at 20 euro/day).
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Schedule
A typical day will begin with breakfast at 7:30 (most guests eat at the hotel).
The rides usually start at 9:00/9:30 directly from the hotel. All rides will have one coffee stop per ride.
Once you get back, there is a little apres at the lounge where there will be a fruit platter for each group. Here you can also grab a beer, smoothie and sandwiches.
After cycling you can enjoy the complimentary spa which has a cold plunge pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub.
Dinner is served at 7:00 and is a big social component to the trip. There is a lovely lounge with a great bar for those who like to have after dinner drinks.
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Routes
Set routes for each day of the week take you on all the best roads in the area. Each day alternates between hilly and less hilly to give your legs a break.
Rides vary between 60 to 100 km depending on the level of the group. People are broken up into 4 different groups based on fitness levels.
The length of rides can be changed to accommodate the demands of a group, it just needs to be pre-discussed. It’s not unusual to get a super strong group that likes to go long and hard and our top guides can do that no problem.
Wednesday is the standard off day. For those that want to ride this is the day we will schedule an away ride via a bus to ride to another part of the island (Sa Calobra or Cap Formentor or Ronda). Note: this will involve an additional charge to cover the cost of transportation.
Routes may be altered to account for unusual weather.
E-bikes are welcome on all rides and a great option for partners with different skill sets or fitness levels.
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Riding Etiquette
Standard riding etiquette here is a two-abreast formation. On the climbs, cyclists can go at any speed they want. The groups typically stop at the top of each climb to regroup and then descend single file. Descents are quite technical and we recommend everyone stays calm and safe (no crazy passing).
All rides have a no-drop policy, so that no riders get left behind.
You will do more turning in one week of riding in Majorca than a life time in Ontario so give yourself time to adapt and enjoy!
Majorca’s Cycling Season
The cycling season in Majorca is broken into 2 parts Spring (March, April and May) and part 2 is the fall (late September and October).
Cyclists kick off Majorca’s tourism season when temperatures are ideal for cycling!
March is the quietest month but a favourite amongst many racers where temperatures average 17C to 19C.
April ‘s last two weeks are the busiest as temperatures start to average 19C to 21C.
May has the best weather averaging 21C to 25C.
While you can cycle in the summer, it is very hot (30C+) and the island gets busy with non-cycling tourists. In the fall and winter tourism slows down considerably and the Ponent Mar Hotel is closed from November to the first of March.
Bike Rentals
Ponent Mar Hotel offers solid bikes at very modest prices. See their bike selection here.
If you wish to rent a higher-end bike like a Colnago or BMC, I’d recommend Mallorca Cycling Centre, a bike shop right around the corner from the Ponent Mar Hotel.
Another great option is Ross Rent Mallorca, they also have a great reputation and will deliver bikes to the hotel.
For e-bikes, Liberty Sport is relatively close by (and delivers) and the owner, Dani, is a good friend of many of the guides and Ponent Mar staff. He is reliable and an excellent mechanic.
A few things to watch out for when renting bikes:
1. If you’re coming at peak season (i.e.: April) book well in advance.
2. Be careful of what you’re ordering. If you want a top of the line bike with disc brakes, specify that because they rent a lot of older bikes with calliper brakes. Also, check on the gearing as sometimes it’s pretty tall.
3. Make sure they deliver to the Ponent Mar before the ride at 9:00am. Many deliver after 10:00am which is too late for that days ride.
The Food Plans
Ponent Mar Hotel offers a variety of food plans that most cyclists opt-in for. The food is great and huge part of the social atmosphere!
The buffet format offers tremendous variety with menu changes each day. You will always be able to find something you like no matter your dietary needs. The buffet is all you can eat and is a great value. A bottle of wine or beer is included with each meal.
Ponent Mar offers two food plan options. One is only breakfasts and the second includes breakfasts and dinners.
Dinner time is the biggest social time for the cyclists. It’s the best opportunity to meet new people and have great conversations. There are several large round tables that are reserved for the cyclists to congregate. If you come alone or with a partner or friend you can easily join one of these tables and meet new friends. If you wish to have a quiet meal with your partner, you can easily take a smaller table away from the big noisy tables.
For those who want to explore all the restaurants, I recommend you only take the breakfast plan. You are still able to dine at the hotel when you feel like it, and charge it to your room.
Palma is 20 minutes by taxi and has an endless variety of restaurants to sample, your biggest problem will be deciding which one. I’m working on a recommendation list with my local friends.
Activities for Non Cyclists
Majorca has a lot of things to do beyond just cycling.
Hiking: The number one activity is hiking. There is a network of trails around the island that are truly spectacular and encompass the whole island.
Tennis: The Vila Tennis Academy is one kilometre away from the hotel. This is a top quality tennis camp so if tennis is your game that’s a great option.
Golf: There are several golf courses surrounding Palmanova.
Sightseeing: Palma is the capital and it is a truly beautiful city and is very worthy of visiting several times. It has a world famous cathedral, a beautiful walled city, fantastic walking streets with great shopping and endless restaurants, bars and cafes.
For sightseeing I’d recommend renting a car. There are beautiful drives along the coast and country side and numerous quaint sea side villages dotted all around the island.
A personal favourite: They have a really good go-kart track nearby that has fast karts (ie 85 kph)that require real driving skills. A few of us go over on an off day and have our adrenaline rush.