The Beaches and Coves of the North Coast of Menorca

This itinerary through the beaches of the northern part of Menorca starts from Cala Morell, not far from Ciutadella de Menorca and goes almost all the way to Mahon. We remind you that the best way to explore the beaches of Menorca is to rent a car; a scooter is a feasible option if you want to add a bit of adventure to your vacation, considering the condition of many roads.

The peculiarity of Menorca is that there are no coastal roads, but only a single road that cuts across the island horizontally and connects Mahon to Ciutadella. To reach the beaches, you usually exit the main road and take a single-lane secondary road; at the end of this, there is a dirt path leading to the beach. To go to another beach, you must return to the main road.

It is one of the first beaches encountered in the north of the island. Cala Morell is an elbow-shaped beach, and we mention it mainly for two aspects: one, it is located alongside a series of prehistoric caves that are part of the Talayotic necropolis of Cala Morell; there is a path that leads to the caves and overlooks the beach.

The other curious aspect is that both sides of the cove belong to different geological eras, which is clearly visible even to a non-expert. It has always been used by fishermen seeking shelter when the northern tramontana unexpectedly catches them at sea.

Beyond Cala Morell, there is Algaiarens, also known as La Vall, where the beaches of Es Tancats and D'Es Bot are located. It is a protected natural area with peaceful, pristine beaches of fine pink sand that, when the sea recedes, become dunes that merge with Es Bot, a wetland area separating the beaches from the forest. The two beaches can be reached from Ciutadella; from the industrial estate area or from the northern ring road, take the well-marked path to La Vall and Cala Morell; about 16 km away there is a fork: to the left goes to Cala Morell (3 km); to the right goes to La Vall (15 km). The last stretches leading to the beach are private, and there are restrictions on getting there by car.

Twenty minutes from the beaches, there is another cove, Fontanelles. From here, you can hike to Sa Falconera, which is 207 meters high with a beautiful view of the land bridge forming the cape of Cavalleria that ends at the lighthouse.

From Binimel.la, which is a twenty-minute walk through a stretch of desert terrain of red sand. The beach is literally an oven: the orange sand becomes fiery, and there is no shelter. Bring plenty of water and a hat. Nearby, there is only a small restaurant. The water is crystal clear; in some areas, with just a mask and fins, you can see the bottom up to 50 meters. The beach is part of a nature reserve and is one of the cleanest in Menorca; it is sheltered by a series of rocky islets that protect it from the open sea. Next to Cala Pregonda, there is the small cove of Pregondó, an untouched, very secluded little beach with gorgeous water. Nearby is the natural harbor of Sanitja, facing the islet of Es Porros, where the pre-Roman villa of Sanissera is located.

To reach the beach of Binimel.là, you must proceed 2 km beyond the lighthouse, taking a path that runs alongside a wetland adjacent to the beach.

In this area located between the islands of Es Porros and Bledes, there is a group of very beautiful virgin beaches. Along the coastline starting from cape of Cavalleria heading east, there are the beaches of Cavalleria and Ferragut. Cavalleria, or Red Beach, gets its name from the color of the terrain used by bathers for sand bathing. It can be reached on foot after a 15-minute walk from an authorized parking lot. It is an unspoiled beach, where there are no services, not even a bar to buy water. The bottom drops off quickly; after a few meters, it is no longer shallow, so be cautious with children.

You can reach it from the village of Mercadal, taking the road to Fornells; almost at the town, at Km 5 of the C723 road, you will encounter the "carretera" PM710 from Mahón to Fornells. At this point, take the left fork leading to camino de tramontana. From here, there are signs for the beaches of Cavalleria, Ferragut, Mica, Ecomuseum, or to go to the Lighthouse.

It is located at the end of the "gran bahía", the land arm that reaches Cap de Cavalleria. It is one of the beaches loved by surfers, especially in winter when the tramontana blows; summer is much calmer. It is a typical urbanized beach, backed by restaurants, supermarkets, shops, and various recreational activities. You can get there from Mercadal along the "carretera" C723 that goes to Fornells; at Km 5, there is a fork of the PM710 road; to the right leads to Son Parc, Arenal d'en Castell, and Puerto de Addaia; to go to Playa de Tirant, you need to continue for a kilometer and then turn left. Further ahead is also the entrance to the beach of Ses Salines.

The area of Favàritx is Menorca's largest natural park, characterized by black rocks. Here we find the beaches of Cala Presili, Capifort and Arenal de Morella, all with very fine black sand. The best beach in the area is Arenal de Morella, which borders on a large wetland. The gem of the area of Es Grau is S'Enclusa, but you can only reach it after an hour's walk at a good pace. For those who do not have this willingness, about two kilometers from the Favàritx lighthouse is Cala Caldes, interesting also because it is possible to see rocks being detached from the mountain by the action of the sea that will eventually fall into the water. These beaches are reached via the road from Mahón to Fornells, the PM710, which starts from the end of the Mahón harbor and passes by the hermitage of Fátima; at km 9, there is a narrow path that ends at the Favàritx Lighthouse.

Cala Mesquida is the beach most loved by the young people of Menorca. It is divided into three parts: the first, the largest, is designated for the general public and families; the second also has a picnic area and is preferred by those who want to spend the whole day at the beach; at the far right, just below the large tower, separated by a cliff and a mountain, is the area reserved for nudists.

Further on, there is Cala Llonga, an urban beach with no remarkable features. From here, you can go to "Cala d'en Mora," a narrow beach with coarse black sand. The area of La Mola is the easternmost point of Spanish territory, therefore the place that first sees the sunrise.

This is one of Menorca's most famous tourist destinations. The long horseshoe-shaped beach, the fine sand, and the gently sloping sea have made it a very popular destination for families. It is also very popular among water sports enthusiasts: here you can windsurf, water ski, and pedal boat to your heart's content. Clearly, it is a typical urban beach, often crowded but equipped with all the services one could desire. Behind the beach, there is a pine forest. It is only 20 minutes from Mahon and can be reached by public bus.