Mallorca: Formula Car Tour to Sa Foradada

The fun starts before the views: you take the wheel of a three-wheeled formula car and follow Mallorca’s mountain roads toward Sa Foradada. The four-hour route links Puerto Portals, Palma, the Cathedral, Valldemossa, Sóller, Deià, and Cala Fornells, so you get both driving thrills and classic island scenery.

I like the mix of active driving and sightseeing, and I like that the Sa Foradada stop gives you time for a drink and photos instead of keeping you strapped into the car. The main catch is simple but important: the cars use manual gearboxes, and the driver must be at least 21 with two years of driving experience.

Key points

• Manual three-wheeled cars: You must be comfortable driving a stick shift before booking.
• A broad Mallorca route: The tour connects Paguera, Puerto Portals, Palma, Valldemossa, Sóller, Deià, Sa Foradada, and Cala Fornells.
• Sa Foradada viewpoint stop: You can pause for coffee, fresh air, and photographs.
• One car for two people: Two bookings are needed if you want two separate cars.
• Multilingual guidance: Tours are offered in English, German, French, and Spanish.
• Insurance needs careful checking: The €30 driver insurance includes a €350 excess.

Taking the wheel from Paguera

This is not a standard minibus sightseeing trip with a quick photo stop. You sit in a small, open-feeling, three-wheeled formula car and drive along Mallorca’s roads under the direction of a guide. The route begins at the Formula Tours office and garage in Paguera, on the southwest side of the island.

Before setting off, the guide explains how the cars work in several languages. The practical point is the gearbox. These are manual cars, so you need to know how to operate a clutch and change gears. If you only drive automatic cars, this is not the outing for you.

The minimum driver age is 21, and you need at least two years of driving experience. A child from age three can ride as a copilot, and a child seat is included. If two adults book together, they share one car and can change drivers during the route. To use two cars at the same time, you must make two separate one-person bookings.

The vehicles make the trip feel more personal than a normal road tour, but they also demand attention. You are managing the car while looking at the views, so this suits someone who enjoys driving as much as sightseeing. Bring your driving license, passport or ID card, sunglasses, closed-toe shoes, and a credit card. Warm clothing is sensible, and sandals or flip-flops are not allowed.

Puerto Portals and the first coastal views

The first major stop is Puerto Portals, an exclusive marina on Mallorca’s southwest coast. The route leaves Paguera and follows the coast of Calvià, passing points of interest before reaching the harbor.

Puerto Portals gives the tour an early change of mood. Paguera is a resort base, while the marina presents a polished side of Mallorca, with boats, waterfront scenery, and a setting suited to photographs. This is a short stop within a larger route, so you should think of it as a scenic introduction rather than a long marina visit.

The formula car matters here. You are not simply looking out of a coach window. You feel the road, hear the engine, and get a more open view of the coast. That can be the best part for people who want a hands-on experience, though it also means you should not expect the quiet, effortless comfort of a private car.

Palma, the Nautical Club, and the Cathedral

From Puerto Portals, the route continues toward Palma, Mallorca’s capital. You pass the Nautical Club and drive along the Paseo Marítimo, with a view toward the Cathedral of Palma.

This section gives you a useful contrast with the mountain roads later in the day. Palma brings the city, port, and famous cathedral into the same outing. You can take photographs of the Cathedral and other sights as the route passes through the capital, but the tour is not designed as a walking visit inside the city.

That distinction matters. If your priority is a detailed look at Palma Cathedral, its interior, or the old streets, plan a separate visit. Here, Palma is part of a moving route, giving you a quick visual introduction before the road turns north toward the Tramuntana mountains.

I like this combination because it keeps the day from becoming one long mountain drive. You get marina views, urban scenery, and then a major shift into winding roads and mountain viewpoints.

Into the Sierra de Tramuntana

After Palma, the route heads north toward Sóller and Deià through the Sierra de Tramuntana, Mallorca’s major mountain range. This is where the formula car becomes more than a novelty.

The roads are described as especially enjoyable for driving, with scenery that changes from the coast and city to mountain slopes and high viewpoints. You will see the northern coast and mountain country from a low, open vehicle, which makes the ride feel more immediate than it would from a larger vehicle.

The guide leads the group, and multilingual instruction is available in English, German, French, and Spanish. Gio and Alex are two guides associated with the experience, and a good guide matters here because you need both clear driving direction and a steady pace through unfamiliar roads.

The route toward Sóller and Deià is also the part most likely to please keen drivers. You get room to enjoy the road while stopping at viewpoints to take in the surroundings. Still, keep your focus on driving. A three-wheeled vehicle can feel different from a regular car, and the best approach is to enjoy the scenery during the stops rather than trying to photograph everything while moving.

Sa Foradada, the tour’s best pause

The main stop is the viewpoint at Sa Foradada. The name refers to the famous rock formation with a large opening, and the viewpoint is known for broad views over Mallorca’s northern coast.

You have time here to breathe the mountain air, visit the viewpoint, take photos, and possibly buy a coffee. That pause is valuable because it breaks up the driving and gives you a chance to enjoy the scenery without also working the clutch and steering wheel.

Bring your sunglasses and a phone or camera. The tour specifically highlights views of the coast, mountains, Port Portals, and Palma Cathedral, so this is a good outing for anyone who wants photographs from several very different settings.

Food is not included, and only one bottle of water per person is provided. The stop offers the possibility of coffee, but you should not treat the tour as a meal outing. If you need food during the four hours, plan around that fact.

Sa Foradada is also the point where the tour delivers its clearest reward. The driving is enjoyable, but the viewpoint gives you the kind of broad island view that makes the route feel worthwhile. You get a real pause to look around, rather than a quick roadside stop.

Returning through Valldemossa and Cala Fornells

After Sa Foradada, the route returns through Valldemossa and Calvià before entering Cala Fornells. Valldemossa adds another scenic mountain village setting to the day, while Cala Fornells brings the route back toward the coast.

The exact length of each stop is not specified, so you should expect the four-hour schedule to be shared between driving, short pauses, and the Sa Foradada viewpoint. This is a moving tour with several scenic highlights, not a series of long guided visits.

Cala Fornells is a pleasant final change of scenery. The route enters the cove so you can see its coastal setting before returning to Paguera and the Formula Tours office. By the end, you will have covered a wide section of southwest and northern Mallorca without spending the day in a conventional tour vehicle.

The return route also helps explain the price. At $93 per person, this is more than a basic sightseeing drive, but you are paying for a four-hour activity, use of a formula car, helmets, a guide, and a wide route across the island. For someone who would otherwise book a separate mountain outing and car-based sightseeing trip, the price can be fair.

What the $93 price really includes

The headline price is $93 per person. Included are the car experience, helmets, a bilingual guide, one bottle of water, and a child seat when needed.

Several costs are separate. Hotel pickup is not included, so you need to reach the Formula Tours office and garage in Paguera yourself. Food is also not included. Most important, the driver must pay €30 for full insurance at the office, and that insurance has a €350 excess.

You should ask the staff to explain the excess clearly before driving. One driver reported being charged an additional €350 after a low-speed accident, despite having paid for the insurance, and felt the excess had not been made clear. That account does not establish every detail of the policy, but it gives you a practical warning: read the insurance terms before starting and ask what you could owe after damage.

The credit card on the packing list is relevant here. Keep it with you for the insurance process and any required security or payment arrangements. The safest way to judge the value is to include the €30 insurance in your mental price from the start, then decide if the possible €350 excess is acceptable.

The driving setup and group arrangements

The one-car arrangement for two people is worth understanding before you book. A two-person booking gives you one car, with the option to change drivers during the route. That works well for a couple or friends who both want time behind the wheel.

If you want two people driving two separate cars, you need two bookings, each for one person. Do not assume that a two-person reservation automatically provides two vehicles.

The copilot age limit is three years old, and a child seat is included. The driver age and experience rules are firm: at least 21 years old and two years of driving experience. The tour is not suitable for anyone who cannot drive a manual transmission.

Helmets are included, but you still need suitable clothing. Closed-toe shoes are required, and warm clothing is recommended. The open design of a small formula car can make the ride feel exposed to the weather, so a light layer is a smarter choice than relying on a beach outfit.

The guide can make or break the pace

The guide has two jobs: explain the car and keep the group moving along the route. Clear instructions are especially useful at the start, when you are learning the feel of a three-wheeled manual vehicle.

Guides Gio and Alex were singled out as fun and helpful, and the experience is available in four languages: English, German, French, and Spanish. The language choice is important because the initial explanation covers driving and safety, not just sightseeing.

Music is part of the car experience, and one driver enjoyed the tour but thought the playlist could use more variety, especially reggaeton. That is a minor point, but it tells you what to expect: the atmosphere is casual and energetic, not a silent scenic drive.

The strongest praise centers on the route, the guides, and the sense of fun. People who want a relaxed, highly polished luxury tour may prefer a private vehicle. If you want something playful and active, the formula car format is the reason to choose this outing.

Practical preparation before you leave

Arrive at the office and garage 30 minutes before the start time. You need time for the explanation, insurance payment, and any preparation before the cars head out.

Pack:

• Driver’s license
• Passport or ID card
• Credit card
• Sunglasses
• Closed-toe shoes
• Warm clothing
• Towel

The towel is listed among the items to bring, though no specific use is given. A bottle of water is included for each person. Food is not included, so plan accordingly.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the booking allows you to reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

Who should book this formula car outing?

I would recommend it to a confident manual driver who wants to see Mallorca from the road rather than from a bus window. It is especially suited to couples, friends, and families with a child aged three or older, provided the adult driver meets the age and experience rules.

It also works well if you are staying in or near Paguera and want one outing that combines the coast, Palma, the mountains, and a famous viewpoint. The route covers plenty of ground, so you get a broad sense of Mallorca in four hours.

I would not choose it if you cannot drive stick shift, dislike winding mountain roads, or want long visits at each sight. It is also a poor fit if the €350 insurance excess would make you uneasy. Ask about the policy before paying, and only book once you understand the financial risk.

Should you book the Sa Foradada tour?

Book this tour if the idea of driving a small manual formula car through Mallorca sounds as appealing as the views themselves. The best parts are the unusual vehicle, the broad route, the Sa Foradada viewpoint, and the friendly guidance associated with Gio and Alex.

Skip it if you want a quiet sightseeing day, a detailed Palma visit, or a fully automatic car. At $93 per person, plus €30 insurance for the driver, it offers solid value for an active four-hour outing, but only if you are comfortable with the gearbox and the insurance excess. Bring the right shoes, arrive early, and treat the road as part of the attraction.

FAQ

Where does the Mallorca formula car tour begin?

The tour begins at the Formula Tours office and garage in Paguera. You should arrive 30 minutes before the activity starts.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts four hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for your chosen date.

What places does the route visit?

The route includes Puerto Portals, Palma, the Nautical Club, the Cathedral of Palma, Sóller, Deià, Sa Foradada, Valldemossa, Calvià, and Cala Fornells before returning to Paguera.

Do I need to drive a manual car?

Yes. The formula cars have manual gearboxes, and you cannot join as the driver if you cannot drive a manual or stick-shift car.

How old must the driver be?

The driver must be at least 21 years old and have two years of driving experience.

Can children ride as copilots?

Yes. The minimum age for a copilot is three years old, and a child seat is included.

Is insurance included in the price?

The driver must pay €30 for full insurance at the office. The policy has a €350 excess, so ask the provider to explain the terms before driving.

What should I wear and bring?

Bring a passport or ID card, driving license, sunglasses, credit card, closed-toe shoes, warm clothing, and a towel. Open-toed shoes, sandals, and flip-flops are not allowed.