Camí de Cavalls. Stage 13:
Cala Turqueta – Cala Macarella – Cala Galdana
One of the great attractions of stage 13 of the Camí de Cavalls are the unspoilt beaches of Cala en Turqueta, Macarella and Macarelleta, some of the most iconic — and also overcrowded — beaches on the southern coast of Menorca.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls begins at the back of the beach at Cala en Turqueta, from where the path climbs rapidly into the woods and out of the small valley that forms this cove. After about an hour and just after passing the path off right to Cala Macarella, you reach Cala Macarella. Cross the beach and by the beach’s only restaurant, you will find some steps that take you up to the highest point overlooking this cove. Here you will find the path that will take you in 45 minutes to Cala Galdana. Once at this large cove, the marked path points you to the far side of the beach along the main street of the residential area; however, it is much more pleasant to cross the wooden foot-bridge you see when you arrive at and walk along the beach as far as the first-aid post. From there, climb the steps that take you through the residential area and a holm-oak wood until you reach Avinguda de sa Punta. Turn right and follow the waymarking for Cala Mitjana by taking Carrer del Camí de Cavalls (second on the left), which will take you to the end of the stage.
Distance: 6.4 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h 30 min.
Be sure to shut all gates after you since they are used to control the cattle
The surroundings
One of the most attractive elements of this stage of the Camí de Cavalls are the unspoilt beaches of its coves: Cala en Turqueta, Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta are three of the best-loved – and also busiest – beaches on the south coast of Menorca. Most of the route passes through forest of varying thickness where you will be accompanied in spring by the song of the nightingale, great tit or, with a bit of luck, the well-known call of the cuckoo. These woodlands are dominated by pines, wild olive and holm oak wherever the gullies provide more shelter; on the other hand, on the highest part of the walk between the gullies the vegetation adapts to the drier conditions and consists of rosemary, rock-roses and winter heath.
Don’t miss
• Cala Macarelleta: Small but popular unspoilt beach of white sand and turquoise waters. Just before reaching Macarella, a path off to the right drops down to this beach. On the left-hand side of the beach, there is a path cut into the cliffs that can take you to Macarella as an alternative way of continuing the stage.
Help the dunes regenerate by not walking on them.
• Vantage points: On the way between Cala Macarella and Cala Galdana you will find off to your right four marked paths that will each take you to an excellent view point. The first provides excellent views of Cala Macarella, while the other three offer views of the limestone cliffs of the southern coast of Menorca and, on clear days, of the neighboring island of Mallorca.
Services
• Cala en Turqueta: No facilities.
• Cala Macarella: One restaurant.
• Cala Galdana: Residential and commercial center with all types of facilities and services, above all in the tourist season.
How to get there
Both ends of the stage are accessible by car (Cala en Turqueta i Cala Galdana) and have plenty of space for parking. If you want to have a shorter walk, drive to Cala Macarella. In the summer, information boards on the roads from Ciutadella to the south coast beaches will tell you which car-parks still have space.
Cala en Turqueta is 14 km from Ciutadella. From the southern ring-road, take the road Camí de Sant Joan de Missa that heads towards the southern beaches. Ignore the turn-off to Son Saura and at the little church of Sant Joan de Missa, turn right towards Cala en Turqueta. Four kilometres further on, turn right again along a dirt track that leads to the beach car-park. The beach lies just 10 m beyond the car-park through the thick holm-oak wood.
Cala Galdana is 8 km south of Ferreries. To reach the end of the stage, turn left at the roundabout just before starting the descent to the beach and head for Mirador de sa Punta. Following the instructions for Cala Mitjana, turn left again along Carrer del Camí de Cavalls, where you will find the end of the stage. If you want to walk the stage in the opposite direction and so avoid Cala Galdana, drive to the far end of the beach where the wooden bridge crosses the final stretch of the stream that runs through the cove’s main gully.
In the high season, a bus runs to Cala en Turqueta. Another bus runs to Cala Galdana from Maó, Ciutadella, Alaior, Es Mercadal and Ferreries. Check out bus times and frequencies (that vary according to the season).
During the tourist season, private vehicles are not allowed access to Cala Macarella and it can only be reached by the shuttle bus departing from Ciutadella. Check the season and timetables and buy shuttle bus tickets to Cala Macarella online.
Accommodation and logistics on Camí de Cavalls
Search for accommodation in Cala Galdana.
There is no accommodation in Cala en Turqueta and Cala Macarella.
If you want to go through the Camí de Cavalls in stages, either a part or all of it, you have to plan your trek well. There are no accommodation for trekkers on the path, so you will have to make use of the touristic accommodations you will find on the route. That is the reason why making the route outside the tourist season could be somewhat complicated.
It is important to adapt the route plan to your physical condition and your experience as a trekker. In many cases, the ideal choice is to hire a logistic service for you to resolve those shortcomings. This way, you will be able to get the most out of the experience.
Camí de Cavalls 360º is a specialized travel agency that helps you to make the route in stages, in a self-guided manner and with a series of related services (among others, accommodation and logistics). Camí de Cavalls 360º offers you different choices to traverse the Camí de Cavalls with autonomy, always adapting to your needs.
Map of stage 12 of the Camí de Cavalls
See all stages of the Camí de Cavalls
The Camí de Cavalls is divided up into 20 stages that can be walked as a single long hike or individually in sections, or can be used simply as somewhere go for a stroll. Discover Menorca here describes the official stages as 20 separate day-long walks, using the morning for the outward bound stretch and the afternoon for the return.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls passes through a fine example of a windswept coastal landscape, especially between Sa Mesquida and the Macar de Binillautí.
All of this stage of the Camí de Cavalls runs through S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park. It is an excellent walk for getting to know a variety of different habitats…
Much of this stage of the Camí de Cavalls runs through the S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park and many of its very diverse landscapes.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls begins at the far western end of the built-up area of Arenal d’en Castell. Walk for 10 minutes along the cliff-top path as far as Son Parc…
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls passes through one of the best-preserved parts of the Menorcan coastline. The EU has declared it to be an Area of Community Importance and and a Special Protection…
This is the longest and hardest of all the stages of the Camí de Cavalls and, unsurprisingly, also one of the most spectacular.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls is characterized by the number of different habitats it visits. Around Cala Pilar a large number of endemic plants thrive alongside the more typical plants of…
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls leaves the fertile and wooded area of La Vall d’Algaiarens to enter a landscape dominated by low, scattered vegetation and ends at Cala Morell, one of Menorca’s geological jewels.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls runs entirely through what is known as dry Menorca, characterized by sparse vegetation and endless rows of dry stone walls, ending near the Punta Nati lighthouse.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls, between Punta Nati and Pont d’en Gil runs through what is known as “Dry Menorca”, characterized by sparse vegetation and endless rows of dry-stone walls. It then passes through several residential areas before reaching Ciutadella de Menorca.
From Cala Blanca onwards and as far as the end of the stage, the flat path follows low coastal cliffs that harbour an interesting plant community.
This stretch of the Camí de Cavalls is flat and climbs very little. The landscape over much of this stage is dominated by a rocky coastline alternating with small coves.
One of the great attractions of stage 13 of the Camí de Cavalls are the unspoilt beaches of Cala en Turqueta, Macarella and Macarelleta, some of the most iconic — and also overcrowded — beaches on the southern coast of Menorca.
If you want to discover what the forests of Menorca’s southern coast are like, this stage of the Camí de Cavalls is a great opportunity, taking you through Cala Mitjana, one of the unspoilt coves on the southern coast that draws the most visitors during the summer months.
The route of stage 15 of the Camí de Cavalls is flat and not very rugged, never reaching any significant elevation. Even so, it passes through quite varied habitats, such as urban areas, inland ravines, low rocky coastline, coastal dunes, fields and pastures.
The route of stage 16 of the Camí de Cavalls runs almost entirely inland, connecting two important ravines on the southern coast of Menorca: the Llucalari ravine and the Cala en Porter ravine.
Stage 17 of the Camí de Cavalls runs almost entirely through the interior, crossing ravines along the southern coast, alternating with the typical Menorcan mosaic landscape of croplands, pastures and small wild olive groves.
Stage 18 of the Camí de Cavalls runs almost entirely through streets and paved roads of numerous residential developments, with the exception of two small remaining dirt path sections at the beginning and end of the route.
Stage 19 of the Camí de Cavalls covers part of the eastern coast of Menorca and crosses the Rafalet ravine. Along the way, it passes important vestiges of the island’s military history, such as the Alcalfar tower and Fort Marlborough, in Cala Sant Esteve, at the end of the stage.
A 100% paved and mainly urban stage that connects and crosses the towns of Maó and Es Castell, walking parallel to the Port of Maó.
The best walks and excursions around the coast of Menorca along the Camí de Cavalls (GR-223), an ideal way of exploring the island’s coastline at your leisure. Unspoilt beaches, rocky outcrops, pinewoods and sea-cliffs step-by-step.
The Menorcan interactive map with the 20 stages of the Camí the Cavalls (GR 223) and much more…