Camí de Cavalls. Stage 7:
Els Alocs – Cala Pilar – Algaiarens
Stage 7 of the Camí de Cavalls stands out for the diversity of landscapes it crosses: it passes through Cala Pilar, follows a good inland stretch among forests and farmland, and ends at the unspoilt beaches of Algaiarens.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls begins on the pebble beach of Els Alocs and continues along the coast for around 30 minutes as far as the beach of Cala Pilar. If you want to access this beach, a wooden staircase on the right makes it easier to get down. The Camí de Cavalls, however, continues straight ahead, offering excellent views of the beach until it reaches a pine grove where you’ll find picnic tables, ideal for taking a break. From here, in 30 minutes you reach the beach of Pla de Mar, from where the path heads inland through forests and then farmland as far as the beaches of Algaiarens or La Vall. This large beach is made up of two smaller unspoilt beaches, Es Tancats and Es Bot.
Distance: 9,7 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 3 h
Be sure to shut all gates after you, since they are used to control the cattle.
The first stretch of this stage between Els Alocs and Cala Pilar runs through one of the botanically richest areas of Menorca, which boasts many endemic plants. Please keep to the marked paths.
The surroundings
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 the sand-dunes and coastal areas. Inland you will find one of the best-preserved holm oak forests on the island. After Pla de Mar, the path heads inland to avoid the summit of Muntanya Mala. In spring here, you will hear the song of the nightingale and the high-pitched calls of the firecrest, Europe’s smallest bird. The final stretch runs alongside farmland before reaching Algaiarens, with its spectacular sand dunes and the freshwater lagoon behind the beach of Es Bot.
Don’t miss
• Cala Pilar: Unspoilt beach of golden sand in an unbeatable natural setting.
• Algaiarens beaches: Group of two unspoilt beaches consisting of Platja des Tancats and Platja des Bot, with a small wetland behind the latter.
Nearby sites of interest
• Cala Morell: This beach that is well protected from the southerly and easterly winds. It is 9 km north of Ciutadella and, thanks to the diving platforms and its calm shallow transparent waters, is a perfect place for diving. More information about snorkel in Menorca.
• Cala Morell necropolis: A group of 14 burial chambers hewn from the bare rock that were used from the pre-Talaiotic period up to the second century AD. Just before reaching the beach you will come to a small car park at the entrance to the necropolis. More information about Cala Morell necropolis.
• Punta Nati lighthouse: Lighthouse 6 km north of Ciutadella that consists of two rectangular brick buildings and a 19-m high tower with a hexagonal base. It stands 42 m above sea level and is one of the best places in Menorca for watching the sunset. More information.
Services
• Els Alocs and Algaiarens beaches: Unspoilt beaches without facilities.
How to get there
Els Alocs is 23 km from Ciutadella and 10 km from Ferreries. Take the Camí dels Alocs that heads north from between kilometre-points 31 and 32 on the main Maó-Ciutadella road. In all, 7 km of made-up road and 2.5 km of track will take you to Els Alocs.
The last stretch of the track to Els Alocs is poor and unsuitable for normal cars (but just possible with care in a van with good ground clearance).
The beaches of Algaiarens are 10 km north of Ciutadella. From the roundabout to the north of the town, take the road towards Cala Morell. After 6 km, turn right on the road to Algaiarens. After 3.5 km you come to the first car-park and then to another just a few metres behind the beach.
Accommodation and logistics on Camí de Cavalls
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.
Also, you have to bear in mind that there are sections where you will not find any kind of accommodation for kilometers around. That is the case of the 33,5 km section between Cala Tirant and Cala Morell. 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 7 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…