CAMÍ DE CAVALLS – Stage 20Cala Sant Esteve – Maó
walking by the Camí de Cavalls
The stage
This stage is all on roads and mostly through built-up areas. We begin in the car-part at Sant Esteve-Fort Malborough and then head towards the road that links the Castell de Sant Felip with the town of Castell. After leaving Castell de Sant Felip, you turn left to Castell. On this short, 15-minute stretch to Castell, you pass by a park, El Parc del Camí de ses Ànimes, at the turn-off to Cala Pedrera, where there is a picnic site and plenty of shade. From Castell to Maó it takes about 30 along a busy road but with a safe and a well-made pavement for pedestrians. Once in Maó, the route heads into the town along Carrer del Camí des Castell to reach the old centre. After passing by the town-hall (Plaça de l’Ajuntament), Carrer d’Isabel II will take you to the Convent de Sant Francesc, from where you can drop down Costa de ses Piques as far as the port. Following the road, that runs along the edge of the quay, and then passing over a stream, you reach the end of the stage.
Distance: 6 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h
Take care with the traffic on this stretch since for the most part it runs along quite busy roads, above all in summer, that were not necessarily built with walkers in mind.
ALTERNATIVES IN THE PORT OF MAÓ
If you want to walk around more of the port of Maó without crossing through the centre of the town, you can head down to the quay along any of the streets that you will find on the way:
• Costa de Corea: Turn right at the first roundabout when you entre Maó.
• Costa de Ses Voltes: Just past Plaça del Carme, next to the fish market, there are some steps that head down to the quay.
• Costa de Ses Piques: From the Convent de Sant Francesc you can drop down to the port along the Costa de ses Piques or down some steps that you will find behind the convent.
The surroundings
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. At the beginning of the stage you will have the best views of the mouth of the port. After leaving the town of Castell, this stage passes through the centre of Maó, through Plaça del Príncep, Plaça del Carme (where the municipal market is – a good place to stock up on provisions if you are continuing onwards from Maó), Plaça de la Constitució (flanked by the church of Santa Maria and the town hall, the Ajuntament) and, finally, the Convent de Sant Francesc (which houses the Museum of Menorca). Thus, this stage turns into a tourist route through the capital of Menorca.
Don’t miss
• Calesfonts: Old fishing village belonging to Castell, where the old warehouses have been turned into bars and restaurants. It lies a little way off route, but a detour is well worthwhile.
• Plaça de la Conquesta viewpoint (Maó): One of the best viewpoints over the whole of the port of Maó (from just behind the town hall).
• Museum of Menorca: Housed in the Convent de Sant Francesc. Its exhibitions and displays provide a good background to the history of Menorca. More information.
Llocs d’interès propers
• Fort Malbarought: Fortress carved out of the bare rock by the English between 1710 and 1726 to defend the castle of Sant Felip. Open to the public. Tel.: 971 360 462.
• Castle of Sant Felip: Remains of what was once one of the most important fortifications in the Mediterranean. Started by the Spanish in 1555 and enlarged by the English during their first period of domination (1708-1756). Charles III, after conquering Menorca in 1782, ordered it to be destroyed. Tel.: 971 362 100. More information.
• Teatre Principal de Maó: The oldest opera house in the Spanish state dating from 1829. Regular performances and guided visits. Tel. 971 355 603. More information.
Services
• Cala Sant Esteve: No services or facilities, but is only 2 km from Es Castell.
• Maó: As the capital of Menorca, Maó has all the services that a visitor might need.
How to get there
Cala Sant Esteve is 5 km from Maó and 2 km from Es Castell. The car-park at Cala Sant Esteve is at the end or beginning of this stage of the Camí de Cavalls, just before you drop down to the cove.
There is no public transport to Cala Sant Esteve. Nevertheless, you can get there by walking the 2 km from Es Castell after taking one of the regular buses that run from Maó. 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