As the mountain is located in a military zone, the neighbouring peak Puig de Massanella (1,364 m) is considered the highest accessible summit on the island.

As a consequence of the Cold War, the first Friendship, Defense, and Cooperation Agreement between Spain and the United States, signed in 1954, agreed on the installation of radar at the top of Puig Major for NATO air control of the Western Mediterranean, starting the works of the new road, barracks, reservoir and radar station in 1955.

The access road to the summit, with a very aggressive layout (straight lines, without adapting to the contours of the terrain) and without any prevention of environmental or landscape impacts, destroyed the old stone path that ascended from the Coll de N'Arbona, widely used by the people of Sóller.

The accumulation of debris cones or scree, as a result of these works, has caused significant damage to the slopes of the summit, which are the habitat of numerous endemic plants.

[3][4] Hiking has an extensive tradition in Majorca, and hikers love the Puig Major for its beautiful routes, such as the climb to Penyal des Migdia to the southwest of the summit or Morro D'en Pelut to the north.