Journey with me into the depths of the earth to discover secrets hidden for millennia. Today we explore the Cova de ses Pasteretes. It is a fascinating cave near Palma de Mallorca.
The Cova de ses Pasteretes resides in the municipality of Calvià. It is nestled within Puig Gros de Bendinat. The cave lies in the embrace of the Serra de na Burguesa. To reach this natural wonder, one must journey from Palma. Take the Ma-20 highway toward Andratx. Then take the Gènova exit, Ma-1045. Entering Gènova, take the first right. Signs guide you to Mirador Ca na Burguesa. The parking area marks the start of our walking approach.
We follow a path into the Serra de na Burguesa. It leads toward the Coll des Pastors. This is Camí 376. Then we follow the path left. It leads us to Puig Gros de Bendinat. We will circle around it. Between the Coma de sa Font de s’Ermita and the Serra de ses Pasteretes, we descend to find the cave. A mirador stands to the right of the path.
The walk takes about 50 minutes. From the parking area to Coll des Pastors is about 2815 meters. From Coll de Pastor to the Puig Gros de Bendinat path is 940 meters. And another 140 meters cross-country. In total, the journey is 3895 meters.
Cova de ses Pasteretes has three entrances. Two are at the main opening. One allows easy access to the first chamber. The other is more vertical. It leads to the deeper parts of the cave. The third entrance is a few meters away. It connects to the main chamber.
We can think of the cave in two sections. There is the upper area and the lower area. The upper area is spacious. It features ornate columns. Gorgs of different sizes dot the landscape. The floor slopes gently. The mentioned hole in the upper part opens to the outside. It is just meters from the main entrance.
The lower area is reached via a narrow opening. It is between a chaos of stones. Once past this, a steep slope descends. This -60 degree ramp leads to the cave’s bottom. The area is a fracture. Blocks dominate both ends. Expect mud and loose material. The central part features a large flowstone pavement. Halfway down, the most beautiful sights appear. Columns, stalagmites, and stalactites abound. These formations create an enchanting spectacle. The bottom contains only blocks and dust. A tiny, dangerous hole continues about 5 meters further.
The maximum depth of Cova de ses Pasteretes is approximately 55 meters. For exploring the cave, a 60-meter rope is useful.
Nearby lie other caves. Clot des Sabaters is a smaller cave. Also close is Cova de ses Pasteretes Petita. The “small” cave is close to its larger sibling. Its entrance is smaller. No installation material is needed. But it is interesting. It extends 30 meters long and 10 meters wide. The cave slopes from -35 to -50 degrees.
The Cova de ses Pasteretes, with its 39 by 41 meter layout, offers a 160-meter route. It mirrors the Serra de na Burguesa caves. It is a large fracture. The fracture runs northeast to southwest. Large blocks are abundant. These blocks have resulted from collapses over time.
Entering the Cova de ses Pasteretes reveals a large chamber to the right. This is the only area easily accessible. We pass over some beautiful gours. A larger gour holds water even in summer. The chamber features a large stalagmite and diverse formations. Higher up, near the second entrance, are feeding spots. Rodents have gathered pine remains here. Other spots contain snails as food remains. Fragments of pottery of different ages are also present.
Returning to the entry point, descend to the first drop. Skilled climbers can manage without gear. The next drop needs natural anchors. A rock allows for a sling. A protector is also necessary due to an obvious rubbing point. Here we reach -10 meters. The passage is narrow. Further ahead lies the most beautifully decorated area. It features a barrier of columns. One column is particularly thick. Multiple stalagmites and stalactites create a stunning view. Descend from -30 meters to continue. The deepest part is narrow. Loose stones pose a danger.
As we leave the Cova de ses Pasteretes, remember its hidden beauty. It is a natural wonder.