Menorca Four Day Active Break
Menorca is one of Spain's Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Traditionally more low-key than its neighbours, Ibiza and Mallorca, it's best known for stunning beaches, from endless sandy crescents to rocky, sparkling turquoise bays. Swathes of pine trees hug the 216km of coastline and there is the Camí de Cavalls bridal track running all the way around the island, which is perfect for walking or biking and conveniently connects the many bays and inlets. As a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Menorca is one of the best preserved and unique natural environments in the Mediterranean. It contains the Natural Parks of S'Albufera des Frau in the north-east of the island, five nature reserves, 19 Natural Areas of Special Interest and a marine reserve. The island is a genuine natural paradise of spectacular ravines, underwater and land caves, where wild birds, animals and plants may be observed in their natural habitat. There are ample places to go walking, mountain biking, road cycling, horse riding, sea kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, windsurfing, paddle boarding, sailing, jet skiing, motor boating and more!
Getting There
The flight time from London to Menorca is around 2 hours and 20 minutes, making it very accessible for a long weekend. EasyJet, Thomson, British Airways, Jet 2 and others run regular flights from most major UK cities, including London, Manchester, Glasgow, Nottingham, Leeds, Newcastle and Bristol - check Sky Scanner for the latest flight information. We found the best option was to hire a car from the airport to both drive to the accommodation and give us a set of wheels to get around easily for the weekend - check Holiday Autos for the best deal. The distance from one side of Menorca to the other is around 50km and there is one main motorway - the Me1 - which runs east/west across the island connecting the capital Mahon in the east (where the airport is situated) to Ciutadella in the west. The driving time across the islands is around 45 minutes, driving on the right hand side.
Accommodation
We stayed at Galdana Gardens in the beach resort of Cala Galdana on the south of the island, around 30 minutes from the airport. Cala Galdana is situated in a sheltered cove, affording visitors calm waters and great views out over the bay. It is a popular resort with beach, lots of places to eat and drink, a small local supermarket and a few beach-oriented shops. The beach is definitely the main attraction with pristine white sand leading to crystal turquoise waters. There are sun beds for hire, pedalos, motor boats and kayaks. It's a great place to relax but bear in mind that it gets very busy in peak periods and you may be vulnerable to getting sand blasted in windy conditions! Galdana Gardens was basic but pleasant with well furnished apartments surrounding a central courtyard with swimming pool and relaxation area. Check Expedia.co.uk to find hotels or apartments either in Cala Galdana or other places in Menorca that you may wish to stay.
We booked with Low Cost Holidays, a firm which went into administration whilst we were on holiday, so we got a knock on the door on our second morning asking us to settle the room bill because our travel company had failed to do so! Key takeaway being make sure you either book with an ABTA protected firm (Low Cost Holidays had relocated from the UK to Spain 2 years earlier so were not covered) or book with a credit card, meaning you're covered through your credit card company for holidays over £100.
Beaches
Menorca's pristine coves with soft golden sand and picture-perfect glistening turquoise waters are definitely its main attraction. As you'd expect, the best beaches with the widest range of services get very popular during the peak summer months, but there are also more secluded coves that are a lot quieter. The gem of all the beaches is the clear sparkling water, which is seaweed and jelly fish free, making for relaxing, trouble-free beach days. Many of the major beaches are also blue flag certified, proving that they meet a good standard of water quality, safety, tourist information and environmental management criteria. Of the beaches close to where we stayed, Cala Galdana had the best range of activities with sun beds for hire, pedalos, motor boats and kayaks, with Cala en Porter and Son Xoriguer offering a similar set-up.
The beaches in the north and south parts of the island are very different. Beaches on the south coast are flanked with pine groves with crystal waters and soft white sand, including beaches such as Cala Galdana (where we stayed), Cala Macarella and Cala Mitjana (either side of where we stayed), which were all a beach-lovers paradise. Beaches on the north side of the island are very different due to greater erosion arising mainly from the "Tramontana", a powerful, dry northerly wind. You'll find the beaches in the north have darker, thicker sand with lower surrounding vegetation. Unspoilt gems in the north include Cala Pilar, Cala Morella, Cala Algaiarens and Cala Pregonda. You won't typically find services or nearby cafes and restaurants at northern beaches, except for Arenal de Son Saura and S'Arenal den Castell.
Walking and Mountain Biking
Hiking and mountain biking can be enjoyed on countless country paths and bridle tracks, most notably the 'Cami de Cavalls' (bridle path) which circles the island and is broken up in 20 way-marked routes. The Cami de Cavalls was used during the 18th century as a boundary path around Menorca with a defence objective. It offered the military or governing authorities a good look out from the coast and an efficient communication service by the watchtower, shore batteries and other fortresses. We walked a Leg of the Menorca Bridle way from Cala Galdana to Cala Macarella which as you might expect in the height of the summer had a very dry and arid landscape. Enjoy views out over the sea and hear the crush of pine needles under your feet whilst taking care to dodge the protruding tree roots! Sturdy closed toe footwear is required - avoid flip flops. The well trodden paths flanked by trees are a great way to escape from the beach but bear in mind it is steep in places and can get very hot, so pack a drink and take it at your own pace. If you walk in the opposite direction from Cala Galdana you can enjoy a couple of excellent viewing points over the bay and a 20 minute woodland walk to the next beach at Cala Mitjana.
Easier Mountain Biking and Road Cycling
There are a number of bike hire shops scattered around the island and if you're staying in a major tourist area there's a good chance you'll have one very nearby. The hire places are typically small single sites delivering multi-activities (e.g. bike hire, kayak hire, motor boat hire, etc), so you won't necessarily find them easily on Google - often exploring your local area or asking the locals is best. There is a bike hire shop on the front (next to the main road that runs adjacent to the beach) in Cala Galdana which offered well used but high end bikes for a decent price (18-25 Euros for a full day). Whilst experienced mountain bikers will undoubtedly want to take on the steep climbs and sometimes technical descents of the 'Cami de Cavalls', there are also easier mountain / quiet road biking options for those looking for something more leisurely. The bike hire shops provide everything you need including bikes, helmets, bike pump, bottle holders for your drinks and a map of routes.
Ask your hire company for recommended routes - ours was really helpful. Don't be put off by road biking routes - whilst the main roads and especially the Me1 motorway are busy with tourist traffic - there are loads of quieter traditional country roads which are barely used. We cycled on the country roads for over an hour without seeing a single car. Exploring the country roads by bike is a great way to really appreciate the Menorcan landscape and it's vast fields partitioned by impressive dry stone walls. The verges are also bustling with wildlife from the rustle or small birds to the hum of crickets throughout the route. Take plenty of water with you on the bike as in the height of the day temperatures in the high 20s feel much hotter without the coastal breeze, and you're unlikely to come across any shops to replenish your supplies.
Horse Riding
Another fun way to explore the interior landscape of the island is to join a horse riding excursion with one of several companies on the island. They all offer a range of different trips to suit all abilities from beginner to experienced riders. There are also different lengths of ride depending on your budget and how long you think you can last in the saddle comfortably! We rode with Menorca a Cavall based on its strong Trip Advisor reviews and found the staff to be friendly, horses very calm and safety made a top priority. Our leader checked that everyone was ok at regular intervals and the group was split into two sub-groups based on ability after the initial part of the ride, which helped to tailor the experience to individual's comfort level. Menorca a Cavell's stables are at the Menorcan farm of Es Calafat, just a 5 minutes drive from Cala Galdana in the direction of Ferreries.
Most of the routes are ridden through the forest and countryside with some (including the 2.5 hour trek we chose) visiting a couple of beaches along the way. For riding enthusiasts, Menorca a Cavall also run single and multi-day rides along the 'Cami de Cavalls', which is best for experienced riders. For routes that stop off at secluded beaches and coves, it is sometimes possible to take the horses into the water. Bear in mind though that this is not guaranteed as if there are swimmers in the water when you visit you'll have to stay on the beach.
Sea Kayaking
Kayaking is an increasingly popular way of seeing the beautiful Menorcan coastline and caves up close from the sea. You'll feel the benefit of working your arms along the way and it's certainly a lot cheaper than chartering a boat for the day. A lot of the most popular beaches (including Cala Galdana) offer kayak hire at reasonable prices - we chose a 2 person kayak which was 25 Euros for 2 hours, or around £10 per person. Small guided tours also set off from various points along the coast and the centre at Cala Galdana ran a special sunset caves tour on Sunday evenings when we visited. Some places may offer three seater kayaks to allow families to stay together, but we don't come across these at Cala Galdana. In a kayak you'll have the benefit of being able to get closer to the coastline, interesting caves and remote beaches than you could in a boat. Open topped kayaks are more stable and the best choice for beginners who don't fancy getting wet! As you'd expect given Menorca is well known for being the "windy island", it does get a bit choppy once you leave the shelter of the Cala Galdana bay, so be prepared for this and take travel sickness tablets if you're prone to feeling nauseous.
For hardcore kayakers, some companies run trips that circumnavigate the island, which takes around 10 days in good conditions, stopping overnight on secluded beaches. Not for the feint hearted or those without sea legs, especially given for the northern parts of the route you'd be exposed to the powerful "Tramontana" northerly wind much more than off other parts of the island.
Windsurfing and Sailing
The windier northern part of the island is naturally the best place for windsurfing and sailing. Fornells is perhaps the best known part of the island for windsurfing and plays host to 'Wind Fornells', the most professional and organised looking outfit we came across in Menorca. Wind Fornells make safety their top priority, with kit carefully fitted and safety boats always on hand whilst people are out on the water. They have RYA qualified instructors on hand to help who are fully fluent in English, in case your Spanish isn't what it used to be! The Fornells Wind centre is also well-equipped with showers, changing rooms, toilets and a small chandlery. There are a number of options available including courses, hire, lesson and a specialist children's programme. If you prefer somewhere a little closer to Cala Galdana on the south west of the island you'll find Surf and Sail Menorca which also looked like a good choice. Menorca Sailing also in Fornells which is 5 star reviewed on Trip Advisor should also not be ruled out, especially for high performance sailing boats.
Scuba Diving
As you can imagine, with warm, crystal clear waters, fascinating wrecks relatively close to the short, ample reef diving, archaeological dives and some of the best marine life in the Mediterranean, Menorca is a not a bad place to go scuba diving! There is a magnificent selection of easily accessible dive sites with pristine bathing and visibility often of around 30 metres. Blue Islands Diving was the closely place to Cala Galdana, where we stayed, offering a 5 Star Dive Resort with professional set-up. Blue Islands Diving run a range of snorkelling and dive trips at nearby locations with every single one of their Trip Advisor reviews being rated "Excellent" at the time of writing. They also run courses from Open Water Diver to Dive Master if you want to learn how to dive whilst you're away. Other well known centres in other parts of the island are Son Bou Scuba on the south coast, Salgar Diving on the eastern most tip of the island, Blue Dive Menorca in the central northern part and Dive Inn Menorca on the west coast, so where ever you're staying, you have no excuse not to squeeze in a dive whilst you're away.
Famous Horse Shows and Festivals
The Menorcan thoroughbred horse becomes the main feature of each town's local festivities between June and September, which is one of the bigger appeals in summer. The coat of the Menorcan horse is mainly black, with long thin legs, round eyes and a vigorous look. It is a warm-blooded animal very energetic and noble, but only ridden in a very specific fashion. The internationally known Sant Joan festivities in Cuitdella are especially interesting because they are the most traditional and every year thousands of visitors enjoy this celebration. These religious 'fiestas' last three days: the day of the lamb, the Vigil and the day of Sant Joan. The origins of these festivities date back for centuries. A good proof of this are the spectacular medieval equestrian games where the rides - among a crowd - show their skills at Es Pla. During the long 'fiestas' the town is all decked out. All the streets are packed with visitors and residents, the gastronomic and handicraft stalls are open all day long and the local bars sell the popular "pomada" until really late at night. Finally, numerous open-air dances and fireworks will mark the end of the 'fiestas'.
Shopping
Distinctive Menorcan handicrafts can be found in specialist shops, as well as at open air markets organised in most towns. The island's craftsmen mainly create pottery, basketry, jewellery and leather. But undoubtedly the 'abarcas' (sandals made of leather and rubber from car tyres) are the most popular items for visitors. Currently, this comfortable and lightweight shoe (or a farming origin) is exported all over the world, and now with various designs, colours and types of leather. An experience not to be missed is a walk through the stalls at Calas Fonts in Es Castell, Ferries, Fornells or Cuitadella and Mahon Harbours, idyllic open air markets full of atmosphere, where the tourist can find any typical items or curious antiques. Mahon, Cuitadella and other tourist centres also offer exclusive shops, where you can purchase the latest styles of clothing, footwear and complements. There is no better chance to discover the latest Menorcan trends. The shops' opening times are generally from Monday to Saturday (9:00am to 1:30pm and 4:30pm to 8:00pm). However, some shops close on Saturday afternoon. The official currency in Menorca is the Euro.
Menorca History and Prehistoric Sites
The traces left by ancient settles are still to be seen in the numerous prehistoric sites on the island. These megalithic constructions, made of huge stones, are among the most impressive in the world. More recently, in the 18th century, fortifications were built in order to defend the island from invasion. At that time possession of Menorca offered unprecedented strategic advantage in the Mediterranean. Fortifications from the periods of British occupation are visible everywhere. Fortresses defended the Port of Mahon and to understand the island's more recent past, La Mola at the mouth of the harbour is well worth a visit. Menorca also has an important ecclesiastical history. You will appreciate this by visiting its different religious buildings, of which the most outstanding is the Cathedral of Menorca in Ciutadella. Also recommended is a visit to the Museum of Menorca in Mahon and the Military Museum in Es Castell. The Cami de Cavalls bridal track that circles the island has stood witness to the island's history. The route was very important to the Menorcans for its ecological and environmental value, its scientific and scenic interest and above all for the tradition this route upholds.
Menorca Food and Drink
Menorca's cuisine is centred on fresh fish and seafood, as well as top quality locally produced products. The most famous Menorcan dish is Lobster soup and if you have the chance of enjoying it while sitting on a restaurant terrace with views of the sea, the experience will be totally sublime! Other really convincing Menorcan dishes are grouper's Caldereta, grilled grouper with Mayonnaise sauce; oven baked 'dorada', grilled squids, grilled red mullets or in the oven with potatoes; and 'escupinyes', clams which are eaten raw with lemon or in the oven with a mixture of grated bread, parsley and garlic. You will find a wide range of cuisine in Mahon, Ciutadella and other tourist centres with most restaurants combining traditional recipes with haute cuisine. You will find the typical 'sobrasada' sausages (made thinner and less spicy than the Mallorcan ones), long pork cured sausage (known as 'carn i xua') and the 'camot' (really similar to the Mallorcan 'camaiot').
If you want to sample the best Menorcan dessert, Es Mercadal is the place to go where those with a sweet tooth will love the specialised cake shops. Our best pick of restaurants in Cala Galdana is a pizzeria called La Luna, a few minutes walk up the main (reasonably steep) street from the beachfront. La Lunda offered great service and tasty food, with a very affordable 3-course set menu including a choice of any of their homemade pizzas.
Also of special interest for food buffs is the opportunity to visit several farmhouses (llocs in Menorca's dialect) open to the public, where you will have the opportunity to sample Menorca's distinctive cheese or purchase traditional homemade 'sobrasada'. Another typically Menorcan product is the local gin, which probably arrived with the British since the juniper berries which are the basis of its manufacture are not found on the island. The Menorcan gin is characteristic for being produced using the same distillation process as was used over two hundred years ago. It preserves its antique flavour and is made from alcohol derived from grapes rather than grains and it does not follow the industrial process of condensation and decondensation. There is only one distillery left: Xoriguer, which can be found on the Mahon harbour. In addition, Menorcan evenings provide an enormous variety of trendy nightclubs and discos, mostly concentrated in Mahon and Ciutadella, where you will be able to dance into the small hours.
Menorca Nightlife
Menorca offers various options after dark. Most of the nightclubs are concentrated in the harbours of Mahon and Ciutadella. Bars, natural restored caves and modern design pubs are always busy by Menorcan people or tourists for the whole summer. In some of these nightclubs you can even enjoy live music. Such is the case of Space Menorca, which opened in mid June 2012 becoming the second Space franchise at a global level, after Space Sharm (Egypt). Its opening was part of a new launch phase for Space Ibiza, considered to be the best club in the world. Without a doubt the island's best tunes can be found in this nightclub. There are also a wide variety of other bars and small clubs dotted around the various urbanisations. The Cova d'en Xoroi is located inside a spectacular natural cave and has unparalleled views out to sea. If you are looking for something different, check out Menorca's Maritime Casino and, with magnificent views of Mahon Harbour, enjoy playing the tables. During the summer months Menorca offers unforgettable night, where you can sit with friends and a few drinks overlooking the sea.
