Mallorca: Formula Car Tour

The fun starts before the scenery does. You sit low in a three-wheeled formula-style car, learn the controls from your guide, then follow the group along Mallorca’s southwest coast. The open design, manual gearbox, and sharp turns make this feel far more active than a standard sightseeing drive.

I like two things here. First, you see a large stretch of Mallorca in only two hours, from Paguera and the Calvià coast to Palma and, time permitting, Port Andratx. Second, the stops give you time to enjoy the views and take pictures instead of simply watching the island blur past.

The main catch is the car itself: you must drive a manual transmission. The route also includes winding roads, and the pace may feel too quick if you are uneasy behind the wheel. Add the €30 driver insurance fee and the €350 excess, and the final cost is higher than the advertised $69.

Key points at a glance

• Manual driving is essential: You need to handle a stick shift confidently. Automatic-only drivers cannot join.
• The route covers Mallorca’s southwest: Expect Paguera, the coast of Calvià, Malgratz, Palma, Dique del Oeste, and possibly Port Andratx.
• Two people share one car: If two people book together, you can change drivers during the tour.
• Three stops add sightseeing value: Malgratz, Palma’s waterfront, and Dique del Oeste provide breaks for views and photographs.
• The minimum driver age is 21: You also need at least two years of driving experience.
• The experience is popular and well regarded: It has a 4.7 rating from 506 ratings, with particular praise for the guides, scenery, and fun factor.

Starting in Paguera with a quick driving lesson

You meet at the Formula Tours office and should arrive 30 minutes before departure. That extra time matters because the guide needs to explain the cars, the route, and the driving arrangements before the group sets off.

These are not ordinary rental cars. The three-wheeled design gives you a low, exposed driving position and a strong sense of the road around you. The cars look dramatic, and some have memorable styling. One driver even got to use the Batmobile-themed car, adding a playful touch to an already unusual outing.

Still, style should not fool you into expecting a polished sports car. One car was reported to be noisy around the gearbox, although it still performed well. Think of the vehicle as a fun sightseeing machine rather than a precision performance car.

Your guide leads the group, and the available tour languages are Spanish, English, French, and German. The guide-led format helps if you are driving on the right side of the road for the first time. One participant who normally drives in the United Kingdom found it easy to adjust, helped by following the lead car through roundabouts and junctions.

You receive a helmet, and child seats are available. One drink per person is included. Bring a passport or ID card and your driver’s license, since both are listed as required items.

Following the Calvià coast toward Malgratz

The first section leaves Paguera and follows the coast of Calvià. This is where the car’s open feel earns its keep. You get a clearer sense of the air, bends, and coastal views than you would from inside a regular vehicle.

The route heads toward the beautiful Island of Malgratz, your first planned stop. The stop breaks up the drive and gives you a chance to look around rather than focus only on the road. It is also a useful moment to settle into the car, especially if the manual clutch felt unfamiliar during the opening minutes.

The scenery is one of the strongest reasons to book this experience. Several people found the views stunning, and the combination of sea, mountain roads, and coastal towns gives the drive more variety than a simple out-and-back route.

You should know that the exact route can change. Traffic and timing affect the order and length of some sections, and the route shown in office posters may not match the route used that day. If a particular stop matters to you, ask the staff before departure.

Passing Palma’s Nautical Club and Cathedral

From Malgratz, the group continues toward Palma. The route passes the Nautical Club and goes in front of Palma Cathedral, giving you a quick introduction to the capital from the waterfront.

This is not a walking tour of Palma. You will not stop for a cathedral visit or spend time inside the old town. The value here is the moving view: you see the city’s waterfront, its major maritime area, and one of Mallorca’s most recognizable buildings while driving a remarkably eye-catching vehicle.

That makes this a good choice if you want a taste of Palma without giving up the coastal road experience. It is less suitable if your priority is detailed sightseeing in the capital. For that, you would need a separate visit with time to walk around.

The group format also shapes the experience. You follow the guide rather than choose your own streets, which takes the pressure off navigation but means you cannot linger wherever you wish. The guide’s job is to keep the group together and moving, not provide a full historical explanation of every sight.

The photo stop at Dique del Oeste

The second stop is at the marine area of Dique del Oeste. This is the designated chance to take photographs, and it is an important part of the tour because the cars themselves are highly photogenic.

If you are sharing a car, this is also a good place to switch drivers if you want both people to experience the driving. A booking for two people includes one car, with the option to change drivers along the way. If you want two separate cars, you must make two bookings, each for one person.

That distinction affects the price and the experience. Sharing one vehicle keeps the outing more social and lets one person enjoy the ride as a passenger. Booking two cars gives each person a separate driving experience, but it costs two individual places.

The passenger position is also useful for families. The minimum copilot age is three, and child seats are included. The minimum age for the driver is much higher, at 21, with two years of driving experience. This is not an activity where a teenager can take the wheel.

Port Andratx and the return through the hills

The third stop may be Port Andratx, depending on traffic and the time available. This port is described as an exclusive area in the southwest of Mallorca, and it adds a more polished coastal setting to the route.

Because this stop is conditional, you should not book the tour solely for Port Andratx. Treat it as a welcome extra when the schedule allows. The more dependable highlights are the coastal drive, Malgratz, Palma’s waterfront, and Dique del Oeste.

The return route heads toward the Formula Tours office through the mountains. Along the way, you get views toward the golf courses of Camp de Mar. This final section gives the tour a different mood from the outward coastal drive. You move from sea-level views and Palma’s waterfront toward higher roads and broader views across the southwest.

Some people love the winding roads and the feeling of zipping through the bends. If you are nervous on mountain roads, tell yourself honestly before booking. One person found the guide drove too fast up the mountain and felt unsafe. That is the clearest warning in the available feedback, and it deserves attention even though the overall rating is high.

What the €69 price really covers

The advertised price is $69 per person, which is fair for a two-hour guided outing in a specialist vehicle. You are paying for more than transport: the car, helmet rental, guide, child seat if needed, one drink, and a route linking several parts of southwest Mallorca.

The price becomes less simple once insurance is added. Driver insurance costs €30 at the office, and the cars have full insurance with a €350 excess. You should include both figures in your budget before deciding that this is a low-cost activity.

Value depends on how you use the car. For one person driving alone, the experience offers two hours of road time and several photo stops. For two people sharing, it can be better value because you can change drivers and make the outing a joint activity. If both people want their own car, the cost rises because you need two separate bookings.

The included drink is a small benefit rather than a major saving. The real value lies in the unusual vehicle and the access to a broad slice of the island without arranging your own route.

The practical clothing and driving rules

Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed, which makes sense for a manual car with pedals. Sunglasses will help in the open vehicle, while warm clothing is wise even on a pleasant Mallorca day.

The required packing list also includes a towel. The tour information does not explain exactly why you might need one, so treat it as a simple precaution and bring one if convenient.

The manual gearbox is the most important rule. You need to know how to operate a clutch and change gears before arriving. The staff may explain the car, but this is not presented as a lesson for someone learning stick shift from scratch.

You also need a valid driver’s license and passport or ID card. The minimum driver age is 21, with at least two years of experience. Passengers can be as young as three, provided the arrangements suit the child and the supplied child seat is used.

How the pace and guide affect the outing

A good guide makes this kind of tour much easier. The group follows a lead vehicle, and the guide handles the route while checking how the group is doing. The staff have been praised for being friendly, attentive, helpful, and professional. Robin was singled out for making one tour especially enjoyable, although guide assignments can change.

The guide-led route is particularly useful around junctions, roundabouts, and unfamiliar roads. You can concentrate on driving instead of constantly checking directions. That is a real benefit for visitors accustomed to driving on the opposite side of the road.

The tradeoff is that your pace is partly controlled by the group. If another group arrives or if traffic slows the outing, the schedule can become less smooth. Staff have handled such interruptions well, but you should not expect every minute to run exactly to plan.

The driving style may also feel different depending on the guide and the group. Most people appreciate the faster sections, while a cautious driver may find the mountain pace uncomfortable. If you prefer relaxed sightseeing, say so before setting out and make sure the staff understand your concern.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the tour to confident manual drivers who want a playful way to see Mallorca’s southwest. It suits couples, friends, and families with children old enough to ride as copilots. The combination of driving, scenery, and stops gives it broader appeal than a pure speed activity.

It is especially good for people who have already spent time on Mallorca’s beaches and want something different. You see the island from Paguera to Palma and toward Port Andratx, with mountain roads and coastal views folded into the same short outing.

I would be cautious about booking it for someone who dislikes winding roads, feels nervous in traffic, or has never driven a manual car. The open, three-wheeled design is part of the fun, but it also means you may feel more exposed to weather and road conditions than in a normal car.

This is not the best pick for a visitor seeking a slow, quiet, detailed tour of Palma. You get snapshots of the cathedral, waterfront, ports, and countryside, but the focus remains on driving.

Booking details worth checking first

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Mallorca schedule is still changing.

Check the available start times before booking because the activity lasts two hours. Arrive at the Formula Tours office 30 minutes early, not at the scheduled departure time.

Most important, confirm the driving requirements before you pay. You need to be at least 21, have two years of driving experience, hold a license, and drive a manual vehicle. An automatic-car driver cannot take part.

Should you book the Mallorca Formula Car Tour?

Book it if you can drive a stick shift and want a lively, unusual way to see the coast, Palma, and the southwest hills. The scenery, friendly guides, photo stops, and chance to share the car make the $69 starting price appealing, especially for two people who plan to change drivers.

Skip it if you want a calm sightseeing ride, cannot use a manual gearbox, or feel unsafe on winding mountain roads. Also budget for the €30 driver insurance and €350 excess before you compare the cost with other Mallorca activities.

For the right driver, this is a memorable two-hour outing with more scenery than a go-kart track and more excitement than a standard road tour.

FAQ

How long does the Mallorca Formula Car Tour last?

The tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet at the Formula Tours office. Arrive 30 minutes before the activity begins.

What driving license and experience do I need?

The minimum driver age is 21, and you need at least two years of driving experience. You must also have a valid driver’s license and be able to drive a manual transmission.

Can I join if I only drive automatic cars?

No. The cars have manual gearboxes, so you cannot join as a driver if you cannot drive a stick shift car.

Can two people share one car?

Yes. A booking for two people includes one car, and you can change drivers during the route. If you want two separate cars, make two bookings for one person each.

Can children ride as copilots?

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

What is included, and what costs extra?

The tour includes a multilingual guide, helmet rental, child seats, and one drink per person. Driver insurance costs €30 at the office, and the cars have a €350 insurance excess.