Torrent de Pareis

We stand now at the mouth of the Tor-rent de Pa-rayss, arguably the most dramatic geological feature in all of My-your-ka. This is not merely a canyon; it is a national natural monument, the second largest canyon in the…

To enter the gorge from Sa Ka-low-bra, we must pass through two tunnels carved directly into the heart of the cliff. These 200-meter passages are a modern addition, designed to allow visitors to reach the mouth of the canyon…

Walking inland from the beach, the floor of the gorge is covered in massive limestone boulders, some the size of small houses. These are not static objects; they have been tumbled and polished by the incredible force of…

As you move deeper into the canyon, you reach sections known to the locals as Sa-fos-ka, or 'The Dark.' In these narrow stretches, the cliff walls lean inward, almost touching at the top. Here, the sun never reaches the floor,…

The Tor-rent de Pa-rayss is often described by botanists as an 'inverted mountain.' Because the conditions at the bottom are cooler and wetter than at the top, you find plants here that would normally only grow at much higher…

Further inland, we reach the point where the gorge actually begins: the confluence of the Tor-rent de Lluc and the Tor-rent de Gorg Blau. This is the 'Pa-rayss' or the pair that gives the canyon its name. …

Throughout the gorge, there are numerous natural caves hidden in the limestone walls, but none are as famous as those used by the 'con-tra-ban-dis-tas.' These men were masters of the terrain, able to carry 30-kilogram packs of…

As we return toward the mouth of the gorge and the open sea, take one last look at the massive walls that have enclosed us. The Tor-rent de Pa-rayss is a place that recalibrates your sense of scale and time. …