Camí de Cavalls. Stage 10:
Punta Nati – Ciutadella de Menorca
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls, between Punta Nati and Pont d’en Gil runs through what is known as “Dry Menorca”, characterized by sparse vegetation and endless rows of dry-stone walls. It then passes through several residential areas before reaching Ciutadella de Menorca.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls begins a few meters from the lighthouse at Punta Nati and is generally fairly flat if somewhat rocky underfoot. The path follows the cliff edge for 5 km as far as a natural sea arch, Pont d’en Gil, which you reach just after passing next to a water treatment plant. From here you have 5 km still to walk, all along roads. First you pass through the built-up area of Calespiques and then reach Cala en Blanes. This small beach has a stand of palm trees with picnic tables that make it an ideal spot to rest and relax for a while. From here you finish the stage by walking along a promenade with a bike lane, which takes you into Ciutadella past the lighthouse of Sa Farola and to the end of the stage in the town’s old port.
Distance: 10,5 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 3 h
Be sure to shut all gates after you since they are used to control the cattle.
SHORTER ALTERNATIVE AVOIDING ROADS
Punta Nati – Pont d’en Gil
If you finish the stage at Pont d’en Gil you will save yourself the 5 km of road into Ciutadella.
Distance: 5 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 1 h 30 m
The surroundings
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls can be divided into two very different parts. The first – Punta Nati to Pont d’en Gil – 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 (ponts de bens) in which sheep flocks take shelter in the event of bad weather. The landscape has been modelled by the northerly tramuntana wind and there is a surprising abundance of wild caper plants whose fruits are much appreciated on the island. The photogenic natural sea arch of Pont d’en Gil marks the start of the second part of the stage, this time wholly along roads as far as Ciutadella and the end of the stage.
Don’t miss
• Punta Nati lighthouse: Lighthouse 6 km north of Ciutadella that consists of two rectangular brick buildings and a 19-m high tower with a hexagonal base. It stands 42 m above sea level and is one of the best places in Menorca for watching the sunset. More information about lighthouses of Menorca.
• Pont d’en Gil: Spectacular natural rock arch formed by the erosive power of the sea.
• Ciutadella: It is well worth wandering around the old port and getting to know the narrow streets of the old city.
Services
• Punta Nati: No facilities.
• Calespiques and cala en Blanes: Resorts with all types of facilities for beach-lovers such as bars, restaurants and supermarkets, open during the tourist season.
• Ciutadella: All visitors’ needs can be catered for in the city.
How to get there
Punta Nati is 6 km north of Ciutadella. From the centre of the town, take the Camí de Son Salomó to a roundabout on the northern ring road, where you will find the road to Punta Nati. If you come from Maó, the quickest way is to follow the northern ring road as far as the aforementioned roundabout and then take the right-hand turn-off towards the lighthouse. There is a parking lot 300 meters before reaching the start or finish of the stage.
A bus runs to Cala en Blanes from Ciutadella during the high season. Check out bus times and frequencies (that vary according to the season).
Accommodation and logistics on Camí de Cavalls
No accommodation available in Punta Nati.
Find accommodation in Ciutadella.
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 specialized 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 of stage 10 of the Camí de Cavalls
See all stages of the Camí de Cavalls
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 stretch and the afternoon for the return.
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.
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…
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.
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…
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…
This is the longest and hardest of all the stages of the Camí de Cavalls and, unsurprisingly, also one of the most spectacular.
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…
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls leaves the fertile and wooded area of La Vall d’Algaiarens to enter a landscape dominated by low, scattered vegetation and ends at Cala Morell, one of Menorca’s geological jewels.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls runs entirely through what is known as dry Menorca, characterized by sparse vegetation and endless rows of dry stone walls, ending near the Punta Nati lighthouse.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls, between Punta Nati and Pont d’en Gil runs through what is known as “Dry Menorca”, characterized by sparse vegetation and endless rows of dry-stone walls. It then passes through several residential areas before reaching Ciutadella de Menorca.
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.
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.
One of the great attractions of stage 13 of the Camí de Cavalls are the unspoilt beaches of Cala en Turqueta, Macarella and Macarelleta, some of the most iconic — and also overcrowded — beaches on the southern coast of Menorca.
If you want to discover what the forests of Menorca’s southern coast are like, this stage of the Camí de Cavalls is a great opportunity, taking you through Cala Mitjana, one of the unspoilt coves on the southern coast that draws the most visitors during the summer months.
The route of stage 15 of the Camí de Cavalls is flat and not very rugged, never reaching any significant elevation. Even so, it passes through quite varied habitats, such as urban areas, inland ravines, low rocky coastline, coastal dunes, fields and pastures.
The route of stage 16 of the Camí de Cavalls runs almost entirely inland, connecting two important ravines on the southern coast of Menorca: the Llucalari ravine and the Cala en Porter ravine.
Stage 17 of the Camí de Cavalls runs almost entirely through the interior, crossing ravines along the southern coast, alternating with the typical Menorcan mosaic landscape of croplands, pastures and small wild olive groves.
Stage 18 of the Camí de Cavalls runs almost entirely through streets and paved roads of numerous residential developments, with the exception of two small remaining dirt path sections at the beginning and end of the route.
Stage 19 of the Camí de Cavalls covers part of the eastern coast of Menorca and crosses the Rafalet ravine. Along the way, it passes important vestiges of the island’s military history, such as the Alcalfar tower and Fort Marlborough, in Cala Sant Esteve, at the end of the stage.
A 100% paved and mainly urban stage that connects and crosses the towns of Maó and Es Castell, walking parallel to the Port of Maó.
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.
The Menorcan interactive map with the 20 stages of the Camí the Cavalls (GR 223) and much more…