CAMÍ DE CAVALLS – Stage 17Cala en Porter – Binissafúller
walking by the Camí de Cavalls
The stage
This part of the Camí dels Cavalls begins on the beach at Cala en Porter and crosses through the residential area that lies behind it. Once out of this built-up area, the path takes you down into the gulley of Barranc de Calescoves and close to the water’s edge, and then up and out of the cove through welcome shade in the summer. Leaving Calescoves behind, you now walk for more or less an hour through fields and pastures before dropping down again into the gully of Barranc de Cala es Canutells. Despite its small size, there is a small stand of elms in the wetland at the mouth of this stream. Leaving this gully, you come to a picnic site in the pine and wild olive woods that provide much-needed shade in summer. From here on and after passing through the Canutells residential area, there is a stretch of 1.75 km of road. At this point, you leave the gully-ridden southern coast of Menorca and enter into the eastern part of the island, dominated by a combination of small fields, pastures and large clumps of wild olive. For 15 minutes you pass through the fields near S’Argossam and then cross the road to Binidalí. From here, a dry-stone-wall-lined path takes you through an area of scattered houses and into the gully of Barranc de Biniparratx. Finally, after crossing the road to Biniparratx, you reach the end of the stage about 500 m from the beach at Binissafúller.
Distance: 11.8 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 4 h
Be sure to shut all gates after you since they are used to control the cattle.
SHORTER ALTERNATIVE AVOIDING ROADS
If you want to avoid walking along roads, you can just walk the stretch between Cala en Porter and Es Canutells and leave out the section between Es Canutells and Binissafúller. If you have a car you can also avoid having to walk through the residential areas at both ends of this alternative version. From Cala en Porter, you can take the path from the top of Carrer Travessia de l’Avinguda de la Central and leave your car in the car-park of a football pitch that you will find there. If you want to walk in the opposite direction, leave your car at Es Canutells in the beach car-park and start from the picnic site described above.
Distance: 5.4 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h
The surroundings
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 stage takes you through the last of the typical gullies of the south coast and then heads into the flatter land of the eastern half of the island. You visit the small wetland that has formed where the stream in the gully of Barranc de Cala en Porter reaches the sea, as well as the gullies of Barranc de Calescoves, Canutells and Biniparratx. Throughout the walk the landscape alternates between cool, shady gullies and the typical rural Menorcan landscape characterized by a mosaic of small fields, pastures and patches of wild olive. The downside to this stretch is the 1.75 km of road after Es Canutells and the need to walk through two residential areas (Cala en Porter and Es Canutells).
Don’t miss
• Cala en Porter wetland: Small marsh formed at the mouth of the gully’s stream where various species of interest inhabit the stands of bulrushes and reeds.
• Calescoves: A sheltered, double cove that is perfect for bathing. In the summer there are normally a lot of boats moored here. Along with that of Cala Morell, this cove’s cliffs house the most important necropolis on Menorca, which has had to be closed off due to the abuse they suffered at the hands of summer visitors.
Services
• Cala en Porter: Large tourist residential area with all types of facilities, above all in the high season. A good place to buy provisions if necessary.
• Es Canutells: Residential area with all types of facilities, above all in the high season.
• Binissafúller: Low-density residential area with chalets and apartments.
How to get there
Cala en Porter is 12 km from Maó and 7.5 km from Sant Climent. You can also get there from Alaior along the road to Torralba (11 km). Binissafúller is just over 9 km from Maó and 5 km from Sant Lluís. Take the road from this latter population through s’Ullastrar towards the beaches of the south coast. After about 2 km (after passing the turn-off to Binibèquer) at the prehistoric settlement of Binissafullet, turn left and then right 2 km further on. By car, you can reach Canutells, halfway between the start and finish of the walk, which allows you to shorten the walk and only do the stretch towards Binissafúller (eastwards) or towards Cala en Porter (westwards). This latter option is the most recommendable because it avoids the 1.75 km of road.
In Cala en Porter, Es Canutells and Binissafúller there is plenty of parking space. The car-park at Binissafúller is 500 m from the end of the stage, although there is also a small place to park at the end of stage itself. Just behind here there is a good place for bathing if you end the walk somewhat hot and bothered.
A bus runs to Cala en Porter from Maó, Sant Climent and Alaior. In the high season there is also a bus to Binissafúller from Maó and Sant Lluís. Likewise, there is a bus to Es Canutells in the high season from Maó and Sant Climent. Check out bus times and frequencies (that vary according to the season).
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.
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
Leave a Reply