Guide to the Camí de Cavalls in Menorca: stages, maps and tips
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: route, distance and stages
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
Tips for traveling the Camí de Cavalls
• 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 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.
Interactive map 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…