Mallorca: Formula Car and Buggy combo tour

The best part of this two-hour Mallorca outing is that you do not simply sit in a vehicle and admire the Sierra de Tramontana. You drive two very different machines, a manual slingshot and an automatic buggy, along the coast and through the mountains. The route brings wide sea views, a photo stop at Malgratz Island, and a longer viewpoint near Estellencs.

I like the vehicle swap, since it gives you two distinct driving experiences for $69. I also like the small group size, capped at 10 people, and the friendly welcome and clear introduction reported by one recent participant. The main caution is important: the slingshot has a manual gearbox, and some departures may offer less buggy driving or fewer stops than expected.

Key points before you book

• Two vehicles in one tour: You drive both the manual slingshot and the automatic buggy.
• A scenic southwest route: The drive links Calvia, Malgratz Island, Estellencs, Port Andratx, and Camp de Mar.
• Manual driving is essential: You need to know how to operate a manual car to drive the slingshot.
• The main viewpoint is near Estellencs: This is the longer stop for views over the coast and Sierra de Tramontana.
• The extra insurance costs €30 per driver: The vehicles have full insurance with a €350 excess.
• Small groups keep it personal: A maximum of 10 participants makes the guide’s briefing and vehicle change easier to manage.

Two vehicles, two very different kinds of driving

This is not a standard sightseeing bus trip with a quick photo beside the road. The point is to take the wheel. During the two-hour route, you drive a slingshot and a buggy, switching vehicles at the main stop.

The slingshot uses a manual transmission, so you need real confidence with clutch, gears, starts, and hill driving. This requirement is not a minor footnote. The route passes through mountain roads, and anyone who has only driven automatic cars should not book this activity as a way to learn manual driving.

The buggy has an automatic transmission, making it easier to handle. That contrast is part of the appeal. The slingshot gives you a more involved drive, while the buggy lets you concentrate on the road, the views, and the feel of an open vehicle without managing the gears.

The tour is sometimes described as a formula car and buggy experience, but the practical information identifies the first vehicle as a slingshot. Check the exact vehicle wording at booking if the car itself matters to you. Either way, you should expect to drive both vehicles rather than choose only one.

Starting at Formula Tours in Calvia

You meet at the Formula Tours garage. The guide begins with an explanation of the vehicles and the route, then organizes which vehicle you use first. The order can vary, so you may start in the slingshot or the buggy.

This first briefing matters. You will need to understand the vehicle controls, the driving plan, and the changeover later in the route. The small group, limited to 10 people, should make it easier to hear the instructions and ask questions before setting off.

Guiding is available in English, German, Spanish, and French. A guide leads the group throughout the route, rather than sending you out on your own. Fuel, taxes, bottled water, and a helmet if needed are included.

You must bring your passport or identity card, driving license, sunglasses, credit card, and closed-toe shoes. Sunglasses are mandatory for both drivers and passengers, while the driver must wear closed shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed.

The minimum age for a driver is 21, with at least two years of driving experience. Passengers can be as young as six. A child seat is available from age three, according to the tour details, so confirm the exact seating arrangement when booking if you are bringing a child.

Along the Calvia coast toward Malgratz Island

After the briefing, the group heads along the coast of Calvia, passing points of interest on the way to the first stop. The route is designed to combine driving with scenery, so you get time behind the wheel instead of stopping at every viewpoint.

The first planned stop is opposite Malgratz Island, where you have about 10 minutes for photographs. This is a short pause, not a long break. You can stretch, take pictures, and look back toward the coast before continuing.

That brief stop works best if you arrive ready. Keep your phone or camera easy to reach, since 10 minutes passes quickly once everyone has parked and gathered. The exact number of stops can vary from two to three, depending on traffic and available time.

This is also the point where expectations need a little care. The tour promises several stops, but one recent departure included only one stop lasting around 40 minutes. That meant less time driving, and the participant also reported not getting to drive the buggy. This may have been an unusual departure, but it is a useful warning: traffic and tour conditions can affect the balance between driving and stopping.

The Estellencs viewpoint and Sierra de Tramontana

From Malgratz Island, the route continues toward Es Grau in Estellencs. This is the scenic heart of the outing. The main stop offers a broad view of the coastline and the Sierra de Tramontana, Mallorca’s dramatic mountain range.

I would treat this as the place to pause and enjoy the setting rather than rush through a checklist of sights. The combination of mountain roads, open coastal views, and the distinctive vehicles gives the tour its character. One participant especially valued the drive high into the mountains for the view over the sea.

The stop is also where you change vehicles. If you begin in the slingshot, this is your chance to try the automatic buggy. If you begin in the buggy, you switch into the manual slingshot and need to be prepared for a different driving style.

The vehicle swap adds variety, but it also takes time. A two-hour tour is fairly compact, and every stop, briefing, parking maneuver, and changeover reduces the minutes spent actually driving. If you want a long, uninterrupted road experience, this may feel too short. If you want a taste of both vehicles and a few strong viewpoints, the format makes sense.

Driving toward Port Andratx

After the changeover, the group continues toward Port Andratx, an exclusive resort area in the southwest of Mallorca. The route gives you another chance to handle the vehicle on public roads while enjoying the coastal setting.

Port Andratx is not presented as a separate walking visit. It is part of the drive, so you should not expect free time to explore the harbor or browse shops. The value here is the route itself and the chance to see one of the island’s better-known southwest areas from behind the wheel.

The tour then returns toward the Formula Tours garage. On the way, you pass through the mountains with views toward the Camp de Mar golf courses. This final stretch helps complete the loop and adds another change of scenery after the coast and Estellencs viewpoint.

One strength of this route is its variety. You are not simply repeating the same road in both vehicles. The itinerary moves from Calvia’s coast to Malgratz Island, up toward Estellencs, onward to Port Andratx, and back through the mountain area near Camp de Mar.

What the €69 price really covers

At $69 per person, the tour is reasonably priced if you specifically want to drive both vehicles. The fee includes the guide, fuel, taxes, water, and a helmet if one is needed. For a two-hour activity in a small group, that gives you a straightforward way to add motor sport and mountain scenery to a Mallorca holiday.

The value depends on how much actual driving you receive. Two hours sounds generous at first, but the briefing, two or three stops, and vehicle changeover all take time. The tour is best judged as a compact introduction to two vehicles, not as a full-day driving expedition.

There is also an additional €30 insurance charge per driver, paid at the office. The vehicles have full insurance with an excess of €350. You need a credit card, and the insurance arrangement deserves attention before you arrive. Ask exactly what the €30 covers and how the excess applies, especially if you are concerned about damage costs.

The booking setup is flexible. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Those terms are useful if your Mallorca plans depend on weather, flights, or other day trips.

Who should book, and who should skip it

I would recommend this to a confident manual driver who likes machines, mountain roads, and short active excursions. It also suits couples or friends who want something more hands-on than a standard viewpoint tour.

You should book for two people if you want to share one vehicle. If two people each want their own vehicle, each person needs an individual reservation. That distinction affects both the price and the way you experience the tour, so decide before booking.

The tour can work for a parent and child, since the minimum passenger age is six and child seating is available from age three. However, only licensed drivers aged 21 or older with two years of experience may operate the vehicles. A young passenger can ride along, but cannot drive.

I would skip it if you cannot drive a manual car. You will drive the slingshot during the tour, and the manual gearbox is a firm requirement. I would also skip it if your main goal is off-road buggy driving. The supplied information describes mountain and coastal roads, not a dedicated off-road course, and one recent participant specifically regretted not getting onto trails with the buggy.

Practical tips for a smoother outing

Arrive with your driving license and credit card ready. The license is required to operate a vehicle, and the card is part of the tour’s required equipment and insurance process.

Wear closed shoes with a secure fit. You will be driving, and open footwear is not permitted. Bring sunglasses even on a cooler or cloudy day, since they are mandatory for both driver and passenger.

Do not plan this as a photo-heavy tour at every bend. The official plan includes two to three stops depending on time and traffic, with about 10 minutes at Malgratz Island and a main stop near Estellencs. You may have plenty of pictures from those points, but the tour’s main activity is driving.

Keep some flexibility in your expectations. Traffic can change the number or length of stops, and a recent departure had only one stop and less buggy time than expected. If the balance between both vehicles is essential to you, confirm the plan with the office before setting out.

Finally, remember that alcohol and drugs are not allowed. That is obvious for a driving activity, but it belongs in your planning because the rules apply to everyone operating a vehicle.

The strongest reasons to choose this experience

The most appealing feature is the chance to drive two unusual vehicles in one short outing. Many activities make you choose between a buggy trip and a sports-car-style drive. This one tries to give you both, with the manual slingshot offering more involvement and the automatic buggy offering an easier change of pace.

The scenery is the second major draw. Malgratz Island gives you a clear photo stop, while the Estellencs viewpoint brings the best mountain and sea outlook. The return through the Camp de Mar area keeps the route varied rather than sending you straight back along the same road.

The friendly welcome and clear introduction also matter. One recent participant who had the group nearly to themselves found the outing well organized and worth the money, with free water included. A small group can make the experience feel more personal, although the exact atmosphere depends on the day’s group size.

The weak point is consistency. The advertised structure promises both vehicles and two to three stops, but one recent departure did not deliver the full buggy experience. That does not erase the appeal of the tour, but it does mean you should confirm the vehicle plan and treat the timing as flexible.

Should you book the Mallorca slingshot and buggy tour?

Book it if you want a compact, active experience with two vehicles, mountain roads, and southwest Mallorca views. It offers good value for confident manual drivers, especially couples who want to share one vehicle and switch at the Estellencs stop.

Think twice if you need guaranteed off-road buggy driving, a long time behind the wheel, or a fixed number of photo stops. The €30 driver insurance fee and €350 excess also belong in your budget.

For the right person, this is a fun way to see the Calvia and Tramontana area from a very different seat. Just arrive licensed, sunglassed, properly shod, and ready to use a clutch.

FAQ

How long is the slingshot and buggy tour?

The activity lasts two hours, including the briefing, driving, stops, and vehicle change.

Do I drive both vehicles?

Yes. You drive both the slingshot and the buggy during the tour. The order depends on which vehicle you use first.

Is the slingshot manual or automatic?

The slingshot has a manual transmission. You need to know how to drive a manual car.

Is the buggy automatic?

Yes. The buggy has an automatic transmission.

What is the minimum age to drive?

Drivers must be at least 21 years old and have two years of driving experience. A valid driving license is required.

What is the minimum age for a passenger?

The minimum passenger age is six years old. A child seat is available from age three.

What extra insurance cost should I expect?

Driver insurance costs an additional €30 at the office. The vehicles have full insurance with a €350 excess.