I came to the Body Camp Mallorca willing to improve my health but wasn’t sure it was for me. I am not an athlete, I don’t have a lot of endurance, I love to party, and I don’t like vegetables…

However, I was willing to give it a try and be challenged. The Body Camp Mallorca experience was awesome and beyond my expectations. Read on for my review and practical tips

How to get to the Body Camp Mallorca?

The Body Camp is located in the countryside in the middle of Mallorca island in Spain. Palma de Mallorca is a huge airport that gets flights from all over Europe and is easy to get to.

Getting a taxi from the airport to the Body Camp Mallorca or renting a car?

From the Mallorca airport, a taxi takes about 40 minutes to the Body Camp. Taxis are easily available just outside the airport and cost 40-50 Euros. There are no Uber or taxi apps in Mallorca.

Some participants rented a car for the week and could explore Mallorca in the afternoons. However, the program was so packed that they didn’t end up using their cars a lot. If you want to explore Mallorca, I would suggest you stay a few days before or after the Body Camp.

TIP: the google map location of the body camp Mallorca is inaccurate. So make sure you follow the instructions provided by the camp and follow the road signs

Exploring Palma De Mallorca during the day

Check-in at the Body Camp is on Friday between 4 and 8 pm.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you can go and explore Palma de Mallorca. It is a very pleasant town to walk around with plenty of historic buildings.

TIP: You can store your bags for the day at the Call and Ride office in the town center near the cathedral. This costs 5 Eur per bag. They can also call a taxi for you at the end of the day, so it is super easy.

Review of the body camp resort

The Body Camp Mallorca is a large villa located in a huge domain covered in gorgeous trees and flowers. The garden is covered by walking and running trails.

The body camp Mallorca house is charming, with lots of corners to relax in between training sessions. Hammock, sofas, and chairs are peppered throughout the property and give the feel of a luxury country home.

As the camp is dedicated to fitness retreats, they have all the sports equipment you can imagine. Most of the training sessions are outdoors, taking advantage of the beautiful garden.

A few tiny dogs live on the premises and were adorable.

The dining area is semi-outdoor and is adjacent to the kitchen where the cooking classes take place.

The pool is relatively large and was so refreshing during the warm summer months. There are plenty of lounge chairs by the pool, which is a great place to relax in the afternoon.

Review of the bedrooms at the Body Camp Mallorca

I stayed in a double room located on the second floor under the roof. It is simple but decorated with taste.

The white and light grey color code was very appealing.

My room had a window opening onto the pool and the gorgeous countryside. It is marvelously quiet, and I loved hearing the sound of the birds in the morning.

The bed is king-size and is comfortable with plenty of oversized pillows. I slept very well and was able to recover from the intense workout sessions.

There is a fridge and a safety box in the room and plenty of storage space.

TIP: There were many mosquitos during my stay at the Body Camp Mallorca, so bring mosquito repellent with you and a mosquito plug-in repellent for your bedroom.

Air conditioning is available for those who need it. The house is antique with thick walls, so it stayed relatively cool during the night. Despite traveling in August, the warmest month of the year, I didn’t need to use the air conditioning.

The bathroom is en-suite and has a bathtub and a shower inside.

Shampoos, conditioners, and soap are provided. They are really good organic products from the Ren brand. I loved the smell and feel of them. A bathrobe, pool towels, and sarong are also provided to make your stay comfortable.

You can see that a lot of thought went into making the room comfortable, and it had everything I needed.

Review of the food at the body camp Mallorca

The Body Camp is based on fitness and plant-based food. The food is what surprised me the most positively at the body camp Mallorca.

A plant-based diet

A plant-based vegan-based diet is as far away from my normal diet as it can be. I was therefore expecting to have a hard time with the food. I should not have worried, as the food was varied and delicious.

Ben, the cook, knows what he is doing. Every meal was absolutely wonderful. I had no idea you could pack so many flavors into vegetables!

Not only was it delicious, but it was also healthy with plenty of ingredients like maca, spirulina, reishi mushrooms…

During the cooking demos, he explained a balanced diet based on vegetables, fruits, fiber, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds that could provide us all the vitamins and minerals we need for a healthy body.

3 meals a day and 2 snacks: great pre-workout meals

We would usually get breakfast at 9 am after the first session. Coffee is served with breakfast for those who can’t do without.

Breakfast was beautifully presented. It looked quite small at first but felt surprisingly filling. I always believed that vegetables are not filling. Yet, I didn’t get hungry until lunchtime. Breakfast ranged from burritos to oatmeal. The clear favorites of the week were the vegan chocolate pancakes!

A snack is served around 11 am. They alternate between salty and sweet snacks. The donuts made with apples looked great.

Lunch was at 1:30 and ranged from lentils with almond feta and watermelon to Poke bowl or dhal with vegetables.

After another snack, we would gather again at 7 pm for dinner.

Although you only get one course per meal, the creativity going into each meal was mind-blowing. The meal schedule has been carefully crafted to allow enough time before the workouts.

We even had plant-based burgers, where the bread was made from large mushrooms.

The food was also beautifully presented. The lasagna on the last day was delicious.

Food options for everyone

Depending on your goals for the week, you can choose your portion size.

Lane 1 is the smallest size and is for people wishing to lose fat during the week. Many participants aimed to lose weight and gain muscle during the week.

Lane 2 is the “normal” track, while level 3 is for people wishing to gain weight.

Lane 3 is for people looking to gain weight. Protein shakes were also available at an extra cost for people into bodybuilding.

The food is the same for all levels; only the portion sizes differ.

I chose level 2, and it felt perfect for me. I didn’t go hungry during the week. Despite being on lane 2, I did lose one clothes size during the week and gained muscle through all the workouts.

Tip: Note that there is a strict no alcohol and drugs policy at the Body Camp. So, if, like many people, you drank a bit too much during Covid, a week at the Body Camp might be what you need to get back into healthy habits!

Ben, the cook and his team did an amazing job of handling everyone’s allergies and food restrictions. The food was tailored to each person’s individual needs.

Drinks at the Body Camp Mallorca

The drink of choice is water. But it doesn’t have to be boring. The Body Camp Mallorca has created a hydration station with flavored water. Choose from mint to orange or lavender water, depending on your mood.

They also provided salted water to replenish the salt lost through sweat in the intense exercise sessions.

TIP: If you start to feel dizzy or get a migraine at any point during the camp, have a sip of salty water. It helped me many times after an intense sports session!

Besides water, herbal teas were available at all times. However, they were basic tea bags, so if you are a tea lover, you might want to bring your own.

Who are the participants at the Body Camp Mallorca?

We were a group of 13 people from Europe and the US. About half the people came from the UK. It was equally split between men and women. The age ranged from 25 to about 50, but the Body Camp has had participants up to 80 years old. Most people were young professionals traveling on their own and needing a break from their demanding job.

Amazingly, half the group was returnees. They had done one or more camps before. Some people were coming back for the fifth time, which tells you how good the camp is!!!

The group size was smaller than usual, as it was during Covid. Many British participants canceled last minute, fearing that Spain would be added to the “amber plus” list. Most camps usually have 20-25 participants.

The level of fitness varied a lot. Some people were into bodybuilding and super strong, while others were working with injuries.

I was traveling on my own and it was easy to meet other participants as the camp involved loads of teamwork and interaction. Most of the workouts are done in groups of 2-5 people, which is a great way to stay motivated. The level of encouragement I got from the other participants was awesome, and the positive spirit was overwhelming.

All the meals are around a large table, so after a few meals, you start to thoroughly get to know the people in the program and enjoy their company. I discovered many splendid people during my week at Body Camp. It was awesome to see how everyone was glowing and happy by the end of the week.

Review of the fitness program at the body camp Mallorca

You can see that the body camp has been designed to help people transform. It goes way beyond fat loss with weight training. Before joining the camp, I was worried that I wouldn’t cope with the intense exercise regimen and the weight lifting. It didn’t help alleviate my fears that the packing list recommended that we bring pain killers and Compeed for blisters!

However, I was willing to give it a try. And trust me, regardless of your fitness level, all you need to participate in the body camp is motivation and the willingness to challenge yourself.

The body camp team has run the program hundreds of times and has a passion to keep improving it so that it works for everyone.

Within moments of arriving at the Body Camp, we started to understand the principles of the Body Camp Mallorca. It is all about a healthier lifestyle, being positive, keeping an open mind, and having fun.

The morning consisted of the core program with intense exercise sessions. During the afternoon, you could do as much or as little as you want with optional activities.

A diverse and fun core program in the morning

The core program starts at 7 am every morning.

We had 3 to 5 workout sessions per day. It seemed daunting to me, as I am not used to exercising that much, but I quickly adjusted.

Everything is extremely well-organized, and while I felt I was working hard, it was enjoyable and time passed by super quickly. All the exercises have been designed for various levels. So someone like me can follow along with the more athletic people! They offer many alternative exercises and different weights to allow everyone to feel sufficiently challenged.

More athletic people could wear a 20 kg jacket to keep pushing themselves during the group sessions

This is not a “mean camp,” where people will scream at you. I liked that all the encouragement coming from both the coaches and the other participants was very positive, and it helped me go way beyond what I thought I could do physically.

We did circuits, interval runs, boxing, pool aerobics, and even Baywatch beach workout!

I never thought I would call a cardio session fun, but the Body Camp has developed an amazing method to keep people motivated. Most sessions included dynamic music, dancing, and a lot of laughing. Our trainers, Rik, Anthony, and Eli, were outstanding, full of energy, and knowledgeable about the body and how to drive people.

We would often train in the pool around lunchtime when it got too hot.

Optional activities in the afternoon

We usually had the afternoons off to relax, or optional activities were offered.

The pool and its lounge chairs were always very inviting.

But for those who had energy left, activities ranged from cooking classes, meditation, mindful discussions, stretching, yoga, and even a bar class.

Discovering Mallorca with offsite activities

We had a few offsite activities. The recovery day was a hike to the tallest mountain of Palma. Another day was a bike ride through the countryside.

My favorite was the Baywatch training on the West coast of Palma. After a super hard HITT training, we all jumped in the sea, and it felt so delightful.

360 challenge to exercise on your own.

Besides the group training sessions, we are asked to work independently and do 6 “ units” of extra activities per day.

The activities to get 1 unit would range from 1 lap of the running track with a TRX station in the middle, 10 lanes swimming in the pool, or 600 meters on the rower.

This is a great way to gain new habits and allowed us to chose our activities depending on our mood and body conditions. I started to feel my muscles a lot on the second day, so I tended to stick to the pool for my 360 challenge.

A mind and body transformation

The trainers at the body camp have realized that the mind is a core element for people to adopt healthy habits and challenge themselves. Therefore, the first session talked about the rules and principles of the camp. In that session, we set our individual goals for the week and identified our limiting beliefs.

The motto of the camp is fun, fitness, and food. Being on time is a key requirement as the programs run like clockwork. Everyone would usually show up 5 minutes before the start of an activity.

TIP: If you want to go further into understanding yourself, your values, and your goals, check out the Body Camp Ibiza. I was told that they spend more time in the afternoon sessions discussing and reflecting on life.

A transformative fitness experience with tangible results

My week of hard work really paid off. I used a Fitbit and was able to monitor my health indicators throughout the week. By the end of the week, my resting heart rate had decreased by 10 points!!

I slept better and totally smashed the active minutes’ rate. The American Heart Association recommends 150 active minutes per week. I often did over 150 active minutes on a single day!

On the first and last day, we did a fitness test to gauge our progress during the week. I had improved on all the exercises by 10 to 40 percent!

By the end of the week, I could also wear some old clothes again, so I probably dropped one size at the hips!

I feel much stronger in my core and able to breathe better.

On the last day, we had a session about identifying habits that we would continue after the Body Camp so that the benefits could be long-term. We all set goals that we wanted to achieve in the next 3, 6, and 12 months.

What to bring to the Body Camp?

You will get a very detailed packing list. I didn’t use some of the items on the list. I was happy not to have to use the blisters, band-aid, Compeed, or pain killers.

I also didn’t use the swimming hat and Goggles. The weather was great during our week, so the rain jacket was not useful, but you might want to check the weather forecast before you pack.

I wished I had brought more shirts, t-shirts, and underwear. You will be doing 3 to 5 training sessions per day, and you will sweat, so it is great to change into a clean t-shirt a few times a day.

The dress code is super casual. It is more about being comfortable. Makeup and jewelry are not recommended.

TIP: Don’t forget your sunscreen and mosquito repellent, as most workouts are outdoor in the sun. An electric mosquito plugin is helpful to avoid mosquitos in your bedroom.

The wifi at the Body Camp Mallorca

The Body Camp encourages you to do a digital detox during the week. Phones are not allowed during training and meal times. Free wifi is, however, available at the body camp. It was usually weak, and I sometimes struggled to do WhatsApp calls. So don’t plan on doing a video conference call while you are there.

The internet was usually good enough to send emails and messages and slow internet browsing. There is a 4G connection, which was good for a phone call but also quite weak for the internet.

The five things I learned at the body camp Mallorca

1) Vegan food can be delicious

I was not expecting to enjoy the food, but I did. The food is sophisticated, and the flavors are incredible. Some of the dishes were worthy of a Michelin star restaurant.

2) Muscles stiffness won’t last forever

By the end of Day 2, my whole body was aching. I pushed through and kept training. The muscle cramps went away miraculously and never came back. So hang in there for the first few days, and your body will adjust.

3) You get enough energy to exercise from plant-based food

I ate only plant-based food during the whole week. I didn’t take any supplements or vitamins, and my body was still full of energy by the end of the week

4) I can stop caffeine without getting a headache or migraine

I stopped drinking caffeine for the week and was afraid I would feel the withdrawal effect. I didn’t and have now stopped drinking caffeinated drinks for the long term.

5) Intense exercise can be fun

I never thought I would say that, but some of the training sessions were fun with all the music, dancing, and cheering from the group. It was a real breakthrough for me to dissociate intense exercise from pain and effort.

In conclusion of my review of the Body Camp Mallorca

The Body Camp Mallorca is an awesome experience if you want to work out, eat well and improve your health. It is challenging but also fun and so rewarding. The hotel location is beautiful and comfortable. The vibe is fun and positive, and the food delicious. I felt transformed after just one week, and most of the other participants were glowing by the end of the week. The Body Camp is a great way to lose weight and gain muscle in a fun way. I highly recommend it and look forward to my next camp there. I might even book two weeks, as one week was not enough 😊

For info and bookings, check out the Body Camp website. Make sure you book early, as many of the camps, especially around the summer, are fully booked.