Camí de Cavalls. Stage 16:
Son Bou – Cala en Porter
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.
This stage of the Camí de Cavalls begins at the far eastern end of the beach of Son Bou. Following the signs, you quickly leave the road and pick up a small path that climbs steeply and takes you to Cala Llucalari. Picking up the path on the other side of this cove, you climb up and out of the gully to where the dry landscape is characterized by fields and pastures dotted with lentisc and wild olive bushes. You reach a small road, where you should turn left for 10 minutes before finding the path again heading off to the right. After crossing a small wooden footbridge, you take the a track to the right leaving behind in the distance the views of the pre-historic settlement of Torre d’en Galmés. In ten minutes, you have to enter on your left the Torrenova estate. From here and for almost 15 minutes, you drop gradually down into the gully of Cala en Porter. Then, the path continues between fruit trees and dry-stone walls as far as the small wetland behind the beach that has formed where the gully reaches the sea.
Distance: 8 km • Difficulty: Average • Estimated walking time: 3 h
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 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. In between, you walk through a typical Menorcan agricultural landscape, with fields and pastures alternating with large areas of wild olive bushes. The contrast between the gullies of Llucalari and Cala en Porter is very obvious: the former is rugged and wild, whilst in the latter you will see how humans have taken advantage of the hillsides that provide shelter from the north Tramuntana wind to plant fruit trees. On this stage you will also have the chance to get to know two wetlands, Son Bou and the small marsh formed at the mouth of the stream that flows down the gully of Cala en Porter.
Don’t miss
• 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.
• Pacaners de s’Hort Squella: When you reach the gully of Barranc de Cala en Porter, and just before you cross the bridge over the stream, you will find the Pacaners de s’Hort Squella, a stand of pecan trees that has been catalogued as monumental by the Government of the Balearic Islands.
• Cala en Porter wetland: Small marsh formed at the mouth of the gully’s stream where various species of interest inhabit the stands of bulrushes and reeds.
Nearby sites of interest
• Torre d’en Galmés: One of the largest prehistoric settlements in the Balearic Islands. To get there, turn off the road to Torrenova 1 km before you get to the entrance to this estate.
• 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.
• Torralba d’en Salort: This pre-historic village houses one of the largest and best-preserved taules in Menorca. It lies 4.5 km south of Alaior on the road to Cala en Porter.
How to get there
• Son Bou and Cala en Porter: At both ends of the stage you will find residential and tourist areas with all types of facilities, above all during the tourist season.
Both ends of the stage are accessible by car (Son Bou and Cala en Porter) and there is plenty of space for parking.
Son Bou is 10 km south of Alaior. Coming along the main road, you will see a turn-off indicated to Son Bou that avoids the town of Alaior.
To reach Cala en Porter from Alaior (10 km), take the road to Cala en Porter that passes by the pre-historic settlement of Torralba d’en Salort. If you come from Maó, it is best to take the road to Cala en Porter that starts in Sant Climent (12.5 km).
During the high season a bus runs to Son Bou from Maó and Alaior. To go to Cala en Porter, take the Alaior-Cala en Porter bus or the Maó-Sant Climent-Cala en Porter bus. Check out bus times and frequencies (that vary according to the season).
Accommodation and logistics on Camí de Cavalls
Search accommodation at Son Bou
Search accommodation at Cala en Porter
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 16 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…