Sa Mesquida beach
The beach is associated with the summer residential area of Sa Mesquida, where many families from Maó spend their summers. As it is very well preserved and relatively separated from the urbanised area, it is a practically unspoilt beach.
Sa Mesquida beach is a quiet beach, not excessively crowded, whose only service is a lifeguard during the summer months. It is framed by a hill called Es Pa Gros on one side and the Sa Mesquida defence tower (18th century) on the other. Behind the beach there is a recently restored dune system and a temporary wetland that floods during the winter months. In the part of the beach closest to the defence tower there is a small cove where nudism is commonly practised.
The hill of Es Pa Gros offers relative protection from northerly winds, but when easterly winds blow, the sea can be quite rough. Caution is advised for adventurous visitors who wish to climb Es Pa Gros. Although it may seem easily accessible, it can be deceptive, and many bathers encounter difficulties halfway up and are unable to return, especially if they are wearing unsuitable footwear. More than one person has had to be rescued.
If you are interested in history, you may like to know that Sa Mesquida was the landing site of the Franco-Spanish troops in 1781, led by the Duke of Crillón, in their campaign to conquer the island of Menorca from the British.
How to get to Sa Mesquida Beach
Sa Mesquida is located 4.5 km from Maó. To get there, leave the city via the roundabout at the head of the harbour, heading towards the Mola de Maó. Along the way, you will pass on the right-hand side the turn-offs to cala Rata, the Mola de Maó and Es Murtar, until you reach Sa Mesquida. About 500 metres further on, you will find the beach parking area, located approximately 200 metres on foot from the beach.
Nearby points of interest
● Sa Mesquida Tower: The landing of the Franco-Spanish troops in Sa Mesquida led the British to build this defence tower in 1799, during the third British occupation, in order to prevent further incursions. Unfortunately, it cannot be visited, as it is located on private property.
● Camí de Cavalls: Sa Mesquida lies along the route of the first stage of the Camí de Cavalls. This stage starts in Maó and follows the road to Sa Mesquida. From here, it continues along dirt tracks to Es Grau.
You can find more details about this stage of the Camí de Cavalls in our guide:
Maó – Es Grau. Camí de Cavalls. Stage 1
Map of Sa Mesquida
See all the urban beaches of Menorca.
We all know that Menorca’s main tourist attraction is its beaches, which is why no Menorca travel guide would be complete without a beach guide. Here you’ll find a complete guide to the best beaches in Menorca, with practical travel information
A selection of the 10 best unspoiled beaches in Menorca: Cala Mitjana, Cala Turqueta, Macarella, Pregonda, Cavalleria, Tortuga and four more. Discover them!
The beach at Son Bou with its fine white sands is the longest in Menorca (3 km). The sea here is shallow, its waters clear and clean
Binigaus is the largest unspoilt beach on the south coast of Menorca, with no services and within walking distance of the nearest car park. For this reason, it is also the most popular beach in the municipality of Es Migjorn Gran.
Cala Trebalúger is one of Menorca’s most beautiful unspoiled beaches. It is framed by limestone cliffs and shaded by pine trees that reach down to the shoreline. The beach is marked by the mouth of the Son Fideu ravine stream.
Cala Galdana, a place of outstanding natural beauty, is today one of the most important urbanised beaches in Menorca. It is a very popular tourist beach surrounded by a large resort area offering all kinds of services.
The Cala Mitjana and Cala Mitjaneta area is one of those places that leaves no one indifferent — an unspoiled beach surrounded by pine trees and turquoise waters that are simply irresistible for swimming.
Is Cala Macarella the most photographed and most visited beach in Menorca during the summer months? Probably yes — and for good reason. Cala Macarella is a postcard-perfect beach that everyone wants to see at least once.
Cala Turqueta is one of the most famous unspoilt beaches on the south coast of Menorca. It has everything many of us are looking for: fine white sand, surrounded by pine trees, and crystal-clear water that, as its name suggests… is turquoise.
The Son Saura del Sud beaches, in the municipality of Ciutadella de Menorca, are among the largest unspoilt beaches on the south coast, with the shade of a splendid pine forest behind them and easy access by car.
Cala Algaiarens, also known as the La Vall beaches, is a group of two unspoilt beaches on the north coast of Menorca, easily accessible, with no services and located within an area declared a Natural Area of Special Interest.
Cala Pilar is an unspoilt beach on the north coast of Menorca with no car access, located in an incomparable natural setting. The walk to reach this corner of the world is well worth it.
Cala Pregonda is one of Menorca’s iconic beaches, with a unique landscape dominated by varied geological colours and the islets that protect it from northern winds.
Binimel·là Beach is a coarse-sand beach with different colour tones, virtually unspoilt yet easily accessible by car, located in the heart of the North Menorca Marine Reserve.
Cavalleria beach is one of the largest beaches on the north coast of Menorca. Unspoilt, surrounded by rugged nature, with no services, easy car access and watched over by the Cavalleria Lighthouse. A must-see.
The Son Saura del Nord sandy beach is a large beach with fine white sand, urbanised, and home to one of the largest and most spectacular dune systems in Menorca.
Arenal d’en Castell is one of the largest and most spectacular beaches in Menorca, but also one of the most urbanised, very touristy and with all kinds of services right on the beach.
Cala Tortuga and Cala Presili are two neighbouring beaches on the east coast of Menorca, watched over by the Favàritx lighthouse, which you can admire while swimming in the crystal-clear waters of these two unspoilt coves in the S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park.
If you are visiting Menorca with young children, you should know that Es Grau beach is the family beach par excellence in Menorca. It is the largest beach in the S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park, is protected by Colom Island, and is located next to the summer resort village of Es Grau.
The beach is associated with the summer residential area of Sa Mesquida, where many families from Maó spend their summers. As it is very well preserved and relatively separated from the urbanised area, it is a practically unspoilt beach.
The beach of Punta Prima is the tourist beach par excellence of the municipality of Sant Lluís. It offers a significant range of hotels and is equipped with all the beach services you may need.
Thanks to the good conservation of the immediate surroundings of the Binibèquer beach, and despite being surrounded by the Binibèquer Nou residential area, it feels as if you were on an unspoilt beach, surrounded by pine trees, with crystal-clear waters and fine white sand.
The cala en Porter beach is located very close to one of the largest residential areas on the south coast of Menorca. Nestled between high cliffs that block the incoming swell, it is a natural pool ideal for families spending their holidays in Menorca with children.