A perfect way of following the coast of Menorca at your own speed along a celebrated old trail. 20 waymarked walks to discover beaches, rocks, pinewoods and cliffs of Menorca, all described stage-by-stage.
The Camí de Cavalls history
The Camí de Cavalls is a remarkable path that has existed since 1330, year in which King James II obliged all settlers on the island to keep an armed horse at the ready to defend Menorca in case of need and to use this path to keep watch over the island. This strategically sited coastal path was also used by the English and French during their respective periods of dominance of the island, but since then it has been much more used as a right-of-way to connect different parts of the island. Popular protests in 1996 led by the Coordinadora per la Defensa del Camí de Cavalls were successful in reviving this important element in Menorca’s historical, ethnological and scenic heritage. Finally, in 2010 with the completion of the restoration work the path was reopened to the public as part of the European network of long-distance footpaths under the denomination GR223.
The Camí de Cavalls, today
The length of the Camí de Cavalls is 185 km and 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. A whole day is plenty of time to walk each stage and return without any need to hurry, thereby allowing you to enjoy all the delights the route has to offer. Either by leaving a car at the beginning of the walk or by using public transport (if there is any), you can avoid for once having to worry about logistics like accommodation – just make sure that you don’t forget your lunch and take plenty of water with you.
El Camí de Cavalls, stage by stage
NORTH COAST
Stage 1. Maó – Es Grau
Distance: 10 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 3 h
Stage 2. Es Grau – Favàritx cape (through Cala Tortuga and Cala Presili)
Distance: 8,6 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 3 h
Stage 3. Favàritx cape – Arenal d’en Castell
Distance: 13,6 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 4 h
Stage 4. Arenal d’en Castell – Cala Tirant
Distance: 10,8 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 3 h
Stage 5. Cala Tirant – Binimel·là (through Cavalleria beach)
Distance: 9,6 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 3 h
Stage 6. Binimel·là – Els Alocs (through Cala Pregonda)
Distance: 8,9 km • Difficulty: High • Estimated walking time: 4 h
Stage 7. Els Alocs – Algaiarens (through Cala Pilar)
Distance: 9,7 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 3 h
Stage 8. Algaiarens – Cala Morell
Distance: 5,4 km • Difficulty : Easy • Estimated walking time: 1 h 30 min
Stage 9. Cala Morell – Punta Nati
Distance: 7 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h 30 min
Stage 10. Punta Nati – Ciutadella
Distance: 5 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 1 h 30 min
SOUTH COAST
Stage 11. Ciutadella – Artrutx cape
Distance: 13,2 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 4 h
Stage 12. Artrutx cape – Cala en Turqueta (through Son Saura del Sur beaches)
Distance: 13,3 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 4 h
Stage 13. Cala en Turqueta – Cala Galdana (through Cala Macarella)
Distance: 6,4 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h 30 min
Stage 14. Cala Galdana – Sant Tomàs (through Cala Mitjana)
Distance: 10,8 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 4 h
Stage 15. Sant Tomàs – Son Bou
Distance: 6,4 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h 15 min
Stage 16. Son Bou – Cala en Porter
Distance: 8 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 3 h
Stage 17. Cala en Porter – Binissafúller
Distance: 11,8 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 4 h
Stage 18. Binissafúller – Punta Prima
Distance: 8,1 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h 30 min
Stage 19. Punta Prima – Cala Sant Esteve
Distance: 7,3 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h 40 min
Stage 20. Cala Sant Esteve – Maó
Distance: 6 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h
Recommendations
• To avoid contradicting the official order of the stages and the direction, we describe the stages starting from Maó and walk them in an anti-clockwise direction. Despite being free to tackle the stages as you see fit, it is best to walk westwards to allow the sun to illuminate the landscape and warm your backs but without blinding you in the early morning.
• Most of the stages are fairly rocky underfoot. Thus, make sure you wear appropriate sturdy footwear even if just going out for a short stroll.
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 kilometres 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 specialised 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 the Camí de Cavalls
See all stages of the Camí de Cavalls
All stages of the Camí de Cavalls
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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 behind the fertile fields and woods of La Vall d’Algaiarens and heads into a dry scrubby landscape dominated by low scattered plants. -
The whole of this stage of the Camí de Cavalls runs through what is known as ‘Dry Menorca’, an area characterized by its sparse vegetation and long lines of dry-stone walls only interrupted by stone huts...
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This stage of the Camí de Cavalls can be divided into two very different parts. The first runs through what is known as ‘Dry Menorca’, an area characterized by its sparse vegetation and long lines of dry-stone walls... -
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 most attractive elements of this stage of the Camí de Cavalls are the unspoilt beaches of its coves: En Turqueta, Macarella and Macarelleta are three of the best-loved of Menorca. -
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls is an excellent way of getting to know the woods and forests of the southern coast of Menorca. Most of this part of the long-distance footpath runs through... -
This stretch of the Camí de Cavalls is flat and, with very little uphill, is easy to walk. Nevertheless, it passes through a series of different habitats that include inland gullies, dunes, pastures... -
This stretch of the Camí de Cavalls connects two of the most important gullies on the southern coast of Menorca, the Barranc de Llucalari to the west and Barranc de Cala en Porter to the east. -
Despite following the coastline for the most part, along this stretch of the Camí de Cavalls you will only see the sea at Es Canutells and Calescoves (if you make a short detour). -
This part of the Camí de Cavalls crosses a flat but rocky section of Menorca’s southern coast that is currently very built-up. The rocky islands of Binissafúller and the Illa de l’Aire remain in sight for most of the walk. -
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls runs along a rocky stretch of low-lying coast dominated by shrubs such as lentisc and Phoenician juniper as far as the defence tower of Alcalfar. -
Despite walking almost the whole length of the Port de Maó, you will not get much of a chance to enjoy it if you don’t combine it with some alternative route that links the port and the centre of the town. -
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.
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The Menorcan interactive map with the 20 stages of the Camí the Cavalls (GR 223) and much more...
I have just completed the north east part of the Cami De Cavalls from Es Grau to Fornells and absolutely loved it. Thank you for all your tips and guidance. You helped me out a lot. I made a few mistakes still but everything was stunning.