Cala en Calderer. Camí de Cavalls. Menorca

CAMÍ DE CAVALLS – Stage 6

Binimel·là – Cala Pregonda – Els Alocs by the Camí de Cavalls

The stage

This is the longest and hardest of all the stages of the Camí de Cavalls and, unsurprisingly, also one of the most spectacular. It begins on the beach of Binimel·là, from where a path will take you in 30 minutes to the attractive and well-known Cala Pregonda. Here, the path continues behind the beach and after passing through a shady wood arrives at Cala Barril in a further 30 minutes. From here on the path starts to climb and after an hour of up and downs you reach Cala en Calderer. It’s worth stopping at this beach to rest and have a dip before tackling the steep section of path that crosses the cliffs of Binidelfà, which will take you 1h 30 min. After this stiff stretch, you reach the end of the stage at the beach of Els Alocs.
Distance: 8,9 km • Difficulty: high • Estimated walking time: 4 h

Be sure to shut all gates after you since they are used to control the cattle • This is a long stage, with steep sections and almost no shade. Water and sun cream are essential.

Cala Barril. Camí de Cavalls. Menorca — Cala Barril

The surroundings

This stage of the Camí de Cavalls passes along one of the most rugged parts of the whole coastline of Menorca. It follows a wholly unspoilt coastline with uphill and downhill sections that add to the attractiveness of the landscape and give unrivalled views of this stretch of singular beauty. Also of note are the important communities of socarell plants, a number of which are endemic. The path crosses unspoilt beaches such as those of Binimel·là, Cala Pregonda, Cala Barril, Cala en Calderer and Els Alocs, some of sand, some of pebbles, but all harbouring wetlands of varying sizes in their rears. Cala Pegonda, the most famous of all these beaches, boasts pale-coloured volcanic outcrops that protect the beach. Up above the cliffs of Binidelfà, one of the best viewpoints over the island’s northern coast, you reach the highest point of the Camí de Cavalls on the last stretch of this stage.

Cala Pregonda. Camí de Cavalls. Menorca — Cala Pregonda

Don’t miss

• Cala Pregonda: Unspoilt beach of golden sand in an unbeatable setting. Very popular during the tourist season.
• Cala en Calderer: Small, unspoilt beach with coarse red sand lying between tall cliffs.

Services

• Platja de Binimel·là: A restaurant is the only facility on this beach.
• Els Alocs: Unspoilt beach with no facilities.

How to get there

To reach the beaches Binimel·là from Es Mercadal, take the road to the northern beaches as far as the Camí de Tramuntana. Turn left along this road and after 1 km you will come to Carretera de Cavalleria on your right. If you continue straight on along the Camí de Tramuntana for 2 km more, you will reach the track to the beach at Binimel·là. Just 2 km further on you come to a broad track that will take you to the beach of Binimel·là.

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).

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

See all stages of the Camí de Cavalls

GUIDEBOOK RECOMMENDED

The Camí de Cavalls. The tour of Menorca in 10 days. Triangle Postals

All stages of the Camí de Cavalls

The Camí de Cavalls guide, stage by stage

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 stretc...

Maó – Es Grau

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.

Es Grau – Cap de Favàritx

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...

Cap de Favàritx – Arenal d’en Castell

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.

Arenal d’en Castell – Cala Tirant

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...

Cala Tirant – Binimel·là

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...

Els Alocs – Cala Pilar – Algaiarens

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...

Platges d’Algaiarens – Cala Morell

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.

Cala Morell – Punta Nati

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...

Punta Nati – Ciutadella

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...

Ciutadella – Cap d’Artrutx

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.

Cap d’Artrutx – Cala en Turqueta

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.

Cala en Turqueta – Cala Galdana

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.

Cala Galdana – Sant Tomàs

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...

Sant Tomàs – Son Bou

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...

Son Bou – Cala en Porter

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.

Cala en Porter – Binissafúller

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).

Binissafúller – Punta Prima

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.

Punta Prima – Cala Sant Esteve

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.

Cala Sant Esteve – Maó

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 16 best stretches of the Camí de Cavalls

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.

Map of Camí de Cavalls

The Menorcan interactive map with the 20 stages of the Camí the Cavalls (GR 223) and much more...