Es Raiguer

Variety of landscapes

At the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range and bordered by the bays of Palma and Alcúdia, runs parallel es Raiguer, a transition zone towards es Pla, the flat, rural part of the island. It is a heterogeneous landscape that alternates lush forests, beautiful valleys and cultivated fields with welcoming mountain villages, populations with an artisanal and industrial past and tourist centres. All of this under a common denominator, the mountains, which always remain as a backdrop. 

Es Raiguer is made up of thirteen municipalities: Alaró, Alcúdia, Binissalem, Búger, Campanet, Consell, Inca, Lloseta, Mancor de la Vall, Marratxí, sa Pobla, Santa Maria del Camí and Selva. 

Inca, capital of the region and known for its leather tradition, is a dynamic city, with a lively commercial and cultural centre. Numerous outlets are worth visiting in order to get leather goods from world-renowned brands of exceptional quality. Eating in a typical celler (traditional Mallorcan cuisine restaurant) is also a must for any tourist visiting the island. 

Alcúdia, with its medieval walls and remains of the island's Roman past, concentrates tourist centres of recognised prestige for their beaches with crystal-clear waters, as well as a whole range of services available to travellers. It is also a port of entry and exit to other destinations and some cruise ships dock here.

The DO Binissalem wine route passes through some of the area's towns, such as Santa Maria del Camí, Consell and Binissalem, among others. Most of the wineries are open for visits and tasting of Mallorcan wines. 

Each village on the island has its own market day, which takes place on one day of the week, only in the morning. The popular markets of Alcúdia (Tuesdays and Sundays), Inca (Thursdays) and Santa Maria (Sundays), as well as offering seasonal fruit and vegetables, offer the possibility of buying other local products and handicrafts. But they are not the only ones. Other, less crowded markets provide a more direct and unique contact with the locals. 

Festivities and traditions are an intrinsic part of life in Mallorca. The festivities of Sant Antoni in sa Pobla in January and the grape harvest festivities (es Vermar) in Binissalem in September are well known. But they are not the only ones and each locality has its own festivity.