CAMÍ DE CAVALLS – Stage 5Cala Tirant – Cavalleria beach – Binimel·là walking by the Camí de Cavalls
The stage
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls begins at Cala Tirant, where you have to cross over the stream behind the beach on a wooden footbridge. Continue along a broad track and then take a footpath that more or less hugs the coastline as far as the remains of the Roman city of Sanitja on Cap de Cavalleria. From here, pick up the road south as far as the car-park for the beach of Cavalleria. Once across this beach, the Camí de Cavalls follows the coast on a switchback path with excellent views of the north coast of Menorca as far as Cala Mica in about 40 minutes. From here to the end of the stage at the beach of Binimel·là will take you around 30 minutes..
Distance: 9,6 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time peu: 3 h
Be sure to shut all gates after you since they are used to control the cattle • Keep an eye out for cars along the small stretch that runs along the road. In summer this road can be quiet busy and there are no facilities for pedestrians.
SHORTER ALTERNATIVES AVOIDING ROADS
If you walk these two stretches separately you will avoid 1.325 km of road
Cala Tirant → Cap de Cavalleria
Distance: 4,7 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 1 h 30 min
Platja de Cavalleria → Platja de Binimel·là
Distance: 3,6 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 1 h 10 min
The surroundings
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls passes through one of the best-preserved parts of the Menorcan coastline. For this reason, the EU has declared it to be an Area of Community Importance (LIC) and a SPA (Special Protection Area) for birds. It is also of remarkable geological and botanical interest: low scrubby vegetation dominates with rosemary, winter heath, chamomile and Phoenician juniper, along with good populations of the endemic socarell plants, characterized by their compact, spiny, hemispherical forms. The beaches of Cavalleria, Tirant and Binimel·là boast ecologically rich dune systems, while behind both Cala Tirant and the beach at Binimel·là there are small wetlands. The scenic beauty of this stage is completed by the omnipresent Cap de Cavalleria and its lighthouse, which stands aloft the imposing cliffs of the headland.
Don’t miss
• Roman city of Sanitja: Remains of the Roman city of Sanisera (first century BC–sixth century AD) located around the natural port of Sanitja on Cap de Cavalleria. The excavations carried out here have revealed that this Roman city was a very important trading port.
NEARBY SITES OF INTEREST
• Sanitja tower:Defence tower built by the English in 1801 during their third period of occupation (1798-1802). It stands at the entrance to the port of Sa Nitja.
• Cavalleria lighthouse: Standing on the tip of Cavalleria cape atop some of the island’s highest and most imposing sea-cliffs, this is the most northerly point of Menorca and offers wonderful views of its northern coastline. More information. More information.
• Wetland Lluriac: Coneguda Also known as the Prat de Lluriac, this is one of the most important wetlands on the island and is a must-visit site for birdwatchers. It lies next to the track that joins the Camí de Tramuntana to the far western end of Cala Tirant.
Services
• Cala Tirant: The resort of Platges de Fornells provides all types of facilities for beach-users.
• Cavalleria beach: No facilities.
• Binimel·là beach: A restaurant is the only facility on this beach.
How to get there
Cala Tirant is 20 km from Maó and 8 km from Es Mercadal. To get there, turn right along the road 2 km before reaching Fornells.
To reach the beaches of Cavalleria and 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.
Tirant and beaches of Cavalleria and Binimel·là have car-parks. To visit Sanitja, park at Cala Viola, 1 km away along the road towards the lighthouse.
A bus runs from Maó to the built-up areas of Platges de Fornells in the summer season. 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.
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
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