Camí de Cavalls. Stage 2:
Es Grau – Cap de Favàritx
Stage 2 of the Camí de Cavalls, from Es Grau to Cap de Favàritx, covers 8.6 km surrounded by protected landscapes, pristine beaches, and lush pine forests. This walk takes place entirely within the Parc Natural de s’Albufera des Grau, offering a unique experience of Menorca’s northern coast.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls commences at the same place as one of the marked trails in S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park. First, cross the mouth of the stream that drains the main lagoon and cross into a wetland along a wooden boardwalk. From here, the path quickly takes you into the pinewoods and then out to the beach of Es Grau. Next, the trail takes you on to Cala Tamarells and then to Cala de Sa Torreta, where there is a magnificent shady pinewood in which to rest. Favàritx lighthouse gradually grows closer, although you still have an hour of walking to do before you reach the Arenal de Morella Nou (or Cala Tortuga) and Cala Prescili (or beach of Capifort), two unspoilt beaches that are protected from the north wind by Cap de Favàritx, which marks the end of this stage.
Distance: 8,6 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 3 h
Be sure to shut all gates after you since they are used to control the cattle.
The surroundings
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, enriched by the presence of singular structures such as Torre Rambla (C. 18) or Favàritx lighthouse, which looms in the distance for much of the walk. You walk through wetlands and pinewoods, and then come to inviting unspoilt beaches, all framed in a rolling landscape in which farmland and grazing alternates with wild olive woodland and the scrubby vegetation that characterizes this rocky coastline.
Don’t miss
• Rambla tower: A defence tower built by the English in 1802 during their third period of occupation (1798-1802).
• Albufera des Grau viewpoint: The beginning of the stage begins almost at the mouth of the stream that drains the large lagoon of S’Albufera, which is also the start of one of the marked trails in S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park. It is worth detouring briefly from the path and walking a few extra metres for a gaze over the lagoon from the viewpoint that is signposted off the trail.
• Cala de Morella Nou: Also known as Cala Tortuga, this unspoilt beach is protected from the northerly winds by Cap Favàritx. There is an interesting lagoon just behind the beach, with permanent water and a splendid tamarisk wood.
• Cala Presili: Also called Platja de Capifort or Arenal d’en Moro. To reach this beach you have to take a short detour from the marked path.
Nearby sites of interest
• Far de Favàritx: This lighthouse was the first in the Balearic Islands built from concrete. It is 28-metres high and is painted white with a black spiral band that makes it immediately recognisable. More information.
• S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park: This is the only natural park in Menorca and is a must for birdwatchers and nature-lovers alike. A number of different trails cross the park – more details from the information centre (Tel: 34 971 17 77 05 / 609 601 249).Road Maó – Es Grau Km 3,5.
Services
• Es Grau: Small resort with bars, restaurants and a small supermarket. Kayaks can be hired on the beach if you want to get to know the coastline a bit better.
• Favàritx cape: No facilities.
How to get there
Es Grau is 7 km from Maó and to get there leave Maó from the roundabout at the end of the harbour on the road towards Fornells. After just over 500 m, turn right towards Es Grau. You can park in one of the two car-parks behind the beach of Es Grau.
During the high season, a bus runs from Maó to Es Grau. Check out bus times and frequencies (that vary according to the season).
Cap de Favàritx is 17 km from Maó. To get there, take the road to Fornells from Maó harbour. After 8.5 km, you will come to the turn-off to the right to the lighthouse.
Both Es Mercadal and Fornells are about 26 km from the lighthouse. Follow the road to Maó from where it joins the Es Mercadal-Fornells road and turn left to Favàritx after 12.5 km. About 2 km before the lighthouse there is a parking area, and 1 km further on you will find the Camí de Cavalls path. It is recommended to leave your car in this parking area, as parking is not allowed on the road up to the lighthouse.
During the tourist season, the Favàritx lighthouse area will not be accessible by private car. The vehicle must be left in the parking lot, about 2 km from the lighthouse. The access will only be allowed by public transport, with a shuttle bus system that will depart from the Maó bus station. Check out bus times and frequencies.
Accommodation and logistics on Camí de Cavalls
In Es Grau and at Cape Favàritx there is no accommodation.
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 Camí de Cavalls. Stage 2: Es Grau – Cap de Favàritx
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…