Rambla tower. Camí de Cavalls. Menorca — Rambla tower

CAMÍ DE CAVALLS – Stage 2

Es Grau – Cap de Favàritx
walking by the Camí de Cavalls

The stage

This stage of the Camí de Cavalls commences at the same place as one of the marked trails in S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park. First, cross the mouth of the stream that drains the main lagoon and cross into a wetland along a wooden boardwalk. From here, the path quickly takes you into the pinewoods and then out to the beach of Es Grau. Next, the trail takes you on to Cala Tamarells and then to Cala de Sa Torreta, where there is a magnificent shady pinewood in which to rest. Favàritx lighthouse gradually grows closer, although you still have an hour of walking to do before you reach the Arenal de Morella Nou (or Cala Tortuga) and Cala Prescili (or beach of Capifort), two unspoilt beaches that are protected from the north wind by Cap de Favàritx, which marks the end of this stage.

Distance: 8,6 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 3 h

Be sure to shut all gates after you since they are used to control the cattle.

S'Albufera de Es Grau Natural Park. Camí de Cavalls. Menorca — S’Albufera de Es Grau Natural Park

The surroundings

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, enriched by the presence of singular structures such as Torre Rambla (C. 18) or Favàritx lighthouse, which looms in the distance for much of the walk. You walk through wetlands and pinewoods, and then come to inviting unspoilt beaches, all framed in a rolling landscape in which farmland and grazing alternates with wild olive woodland and the scrubby vegetation that characterizes this rocky coastline.

Cala Presili. Camí de Cavalls. Menorca — Cala Presili ©Fundació Destí

Don’t miss

• Rambla tower: A defence tower built by the English in 1802 during their third period of occupation (1798-1802).
• Albufera des Grau viewpoint: The beginning of the stage begins almost at the mouth of the stream that drains the large lagoon of S’Albufera, which is also the start of one of the marked trails in S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park. It is worth detouring briefly from the path and walking a few extra metres for a gaze over the lagoon from the viewpoint that is signposted off the trail.
• Cala de Morella Nou: Also known as Cala Tortuga, this unspoilt beach is protected from the northerly winds by Cap Favàritx. There is an interesting lagoon just behind the beach, with permanent water and a splendid tamarisk wood.
• Cala Presili: Also called Platja de Capifort or Arenal d’en Moro. To reach this beach you have to take a short detour from the marked path.

LLOCS D’INTERÈS PROPERS
• Far de Favàritx: This lighthouse was the first in the Balearic Islands built from concrete. It is 28-metres high and is painted white with a black spiral band that makes it immediately recognisable. More information.
• S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park: This is the only natural park in Menorca and is a must for birdwatchers and nature-lovers alike. A number of different trails cross the park – more details from the information centre (Tel: 34 971 17 77 05 / 609 601 249).Road Maó – Es Grau Km 3,5.

Favàritx lighthouse. Menorca — Favàritx lighthouse

Services

• Es Grau: Small resort with bars, restaurants and a small supermarket. Kayaks can be hired on the beach if you want to get to know the coastline a bit better.
• Favàritx cape: No facilities.

How to get there

Es Grau is 7 km from Maó and to get there leave Maó from the roundabout at the end of the harbour on the road towards Fornells. After just over 500 m, turn right towards Es Grau. You can park in one of the two car-parks behind the beach of Es Grau.

During the high season a bus runs from Maó to Es Grau. Check out bus times and frequencies (that vary according to the season).

Cap de Favàritx is 17 km from Maó. To get there, take the road to Fornells from Maó harbour. After 8.5 km, you will come to the turn-off to the right to the lighthouse. Both Es Mercadal and Fornells are about 26 km from the lighthouse. Follow the road to Maó from where it joins the Es Mercadal-Fornells road and turn left to Favàritx after 12.5 km. People park on the access road to the lighthouse since there is no official car-park in the area.

As of June 1, the Favàritx lighthouse area will not be accessible by private car, and access will only be allowed by public transport, with a shuttle bus system that will depart from the Maó bus station. Check out bus times and frequencies

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

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Es Grau – Cap de Favàritx walking by the Camí de Cavalls