CAMÍ DE CAVALLS 15Sant Tomàs – Son Bou
walking by the Camí de Cavalls
The stage
This stretch of the Camí de Cavalls begins at the far western end of the beach of Sant Adeodat and continues along the two beaches of Sant Tomàs along a pleasant promenade running between the beach and the residential area. The first stretch can be walked along the beach itself. As you leave Sant Tomàs you climb a rocky path as far as Atalis, passing between the coast and the fields of this fertile section of coast. Once over the bridge over the canalized stream – Torrent de sa Vall or Son Boter – that flows down this gully, the route follows the edge of the Son Bou wetland through vegetation that changes the further into the gully you get.
Cross the stream on a set of stepping stones made from the local limestone just where the wetland ends and the gully begins and continue to skirt Son Bou along a path lined by pines and wild olives as far as Son Benet. After walking between fields and pastures, and crossing the bridge over a stream, Torrent del Barranc des Bec, you reach the residential areas of Son Bou. From here, the stage runs through the whole built-up area to its end at the car-park at the entrance to Son Bou. If you aim to walk this stage both ways in the same day, you could avoid this final, much less interesting built-up stretch by parking where the houses end and the path begins.
Distance: 6.4 km • Difficulty: Easy • Estimated walking time: 2 h 15 min
Be sure to shut all gates after you since they are used to control the cattle.
The surroundings
This stretch of the Camí de Cavalls is flat and, with very little uphill, is easy to walk. Nevertheless, it passes through a series of different habitats that include built-up areas, inland gullies, low rocky coastline, dunes, fields and pastures, and the wetland of Son Bou. This coastal marsh is fed by the gullies you cross on this stage of the walk and is separated from the sea by the sandbar that has created Son Bou’s 3 km of beach and dunes. Reeds and bulrushes dominate the vegetation of the wetland, which is an area of great biodiversity, above all in winter when many species of aquatic bird gather here.
Don’t miss
• Son Bou wetland: Also known as L’Albufera de ses Canessies, this is one of Menorca’s main wetlands and a must for birdwatchers and nature-lovers in general.
• Son Bou paleo-christian church: Remains of a rectangular church with three naves separated by pillars that is thought to have been built in the 5th century. It stands at the far eastern end of the beach of Son Bou, just a few metres from the sea.
NEARBY SITES OF INTEREST
• Torre d’en Galmés: One of the largest prehistoric settlements in the Balearic Islands, this site lies between Son Bou and Alaior, 5 km from the latter.
Services
• Sant Tomàs and Son Bou: At both ends of the stage you will find residential and tourist areas with all types of facilities, above all during the tourist season.
How to get there
Both ends of the stage are accessible by car (Sant Tomàs and Son Bou) and there is plenty of space for parking.
Sant Tomàs is 2 km from Migjorn Gran, a town that can be reached along different routes from Ferreries (10 km), Es Mercadal (11 km) and Alaior (15.5 km) depending on your starting point.
Son Bou is reached from Alaior (10 km). Coming along the main road, you will see a turn-off indicated to Son Bou that avoids this town.
A bus runs to Sant Tomàs from Migjorn Gran, Maó, Alaior, Ciutadella, Ferreries and Es Mercadal. There is also a bus to Son Bou from Maó and Alaior. 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
ALTERNATIVE ALONG THE BEACH OF SON BOU
If you want to avoid the final built-up stretch but still reach the other end of Son Bou, you have the choice of walking along the beach of Son Bou. To do so, at Atalis leave the Camí de Cavalls and follow the coast along what is Menorca’s longest beach. This will also allow you to get a better idea of the most important wetland area on Menorca’s southern coast. The choice is not easy!
Always use the wooden boardwalks that you will find along the beach to cross the fragile dune system between the beach and the wetland. • Depending on the time of year, you may have to cross the mouth of the lagoon that connects the wetland to the sea. If so, barefoot is the best option.
Map
See all stages of the Camí de Cavalls
All stages of the Camí de Cavalls
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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 behind the fertile fields and woods of La Vall d’Algaiarens and heads into a dry scrubby landscape dominated by low scattered plants. -
The whole of this stage of the Camí de Cavalls 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... -
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls can be divided into two very different parts. The first runs through what is known as ‘Dry Menorca’, an area characterized by its sparse vegetation and long lines of dry-stone walls... -
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 most attractive elements of this stage of the Camí de Cavalls are the unspoilt beaches of its coves: En Turqueta, Macarella and Macarelleta are three of the best-loved of Menorca. -
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls is an excellent way of getting to know the woods and forests of the southern coast of Menorca. Most of this part of the long-distance footpath runs through... -
This stretch of the Camí de Cavalls connects two of the most important gullies on the southern coast of Menorca, the Barranc de Llucalari to the west and Barranc de Cala en Porter to the east. -
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 part of the Camí de Cavalls crosses a flat but rocky section of Menorca’s southern coast that is currently very built-up. The rocky islands of Binissafúller and the Illa de l’Aire remain in sight for most of the walk. -
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls runs along a rocky stretch of low-lying coast dominated by shrubs such as lentisc and Phoenician juniper as far as the defence tower of Alcalfar. -
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. -
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...
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