A guide to hiking the Cami de Cavalls in Menorca

Imagine a long distance hiking trail where you’re never far from sparkling turquoise seas and sheltered coves. On which you can walk in a continuous circuit or as individual day walks.

Now imagine yourself on the Cami de Cavalls in Menorca where you can take advantage of the spring or autumn sunshine for a gorgeous hiking holiday. Enjoy delicious food and comfortable hotels at the end of a day’s walk.

Walking in Menorca is a great way to explore the island, to dip into its green landscape and rugged coastline while increasing your wellbeing and fitness. Read on for my guide to the Cami de Cavalls.

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What is the Cami de Cavalls?

The Cami de Cavalls is long distance walking trail, the GR223 that makes a complete circuit of the island on Menorca. This coastal path has been established for centuries to allow for defense of the coast.

Horse riders were dispatched to check the watch towers and send messages if there was any threat of invasion. The name Cami de Cavalls literally means the “path of the horse riders.” Most people use it as a walking trail, but there are sections that are also suitable for horse riding and mountain biking.

If you fancy trying some horse riding on the Cami de Cavalls, check out this horseback riding experience in Menorca

Although the paths that make up the trail are centuries old, some sections had gradually fallen into disuse or been enclosed by land owners.The Menorcan government launched a project to re-open the route, which was completed by 2010. Cami de Cavalls largely follows the coast, although sometimes it meanders inland to take account of the terrain.

The official route is broken into 20 stages, each taking a few hours. If you are walking for full days this equates to 10 stages, each of which are a reasonable day’s walk.

Although we found a guidebook useful, this Menorca hiking trail is easy to follow. It is well marked with red and white painted marks on trees and rocks, or signposts for the Cami de Cavalls or GR223.

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How to organise the Cami de Cavalls

I love the flexibility of hiking in Menorca. You can choose to do the whole Cami de Cavalls route in one 10 day stretch. Or, dip into different stages spending on the time you have available.

Escape to an unspoiled landscape and coastline. But, in reality you’re probably never more than a 20 minute taxi ride from the nearest habitation.

This Menorca coastal path is an ideal start for walkers who want to test themselves on a long distance walking route that’s easy and mostly flat. It makes for good practice before trying something more challenging like the mountain trails of the Alps or Dolomites.

If you plan to walk the Cami de Cavalls in one 10 day stretch, I’d recommend using a service like CamideCavalls360. They provide suggested walking routes and book your accommodation. Most importantly they transport your luggage each day, allowing you to walk with just a daysack.

If you prefer to organise things yourself this is also possible and I’d use a guidebook like the Cicerone Trekking Through Mallorca to plan your stages. Then research the accommodation that’s closest to each start and end point.

Alternatively you can do as we did and base yourself in major towns such as Ciutadella, Mahon or Cala Galdana for a few nights. Then walk the stages that are closest to these locations. Use buses and taxis to reach the start and end point of each day’s walk. This works especially well if you plan to pick and choose just a few stages to walk, rather than walking the whole 10 day circuit.

Best stretches of the Cami de Cavalls

If you have limited time and plan to walk only some of the stages, you may be wondering which are the best stretches of the Cami de Cavalls. It’s difficult to give a definitive answer to this as it depends on your style of walking and the kind of landscapes you enjoy. There are a few things to consider.

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The south coast of Menorca that we walked has some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. It features rocky coves enclosing sandy beaches and turquoise water.

The north coast is much wilder and more remote, including wetlands and natural parks. We found that the beaches here were not as pretty, since they were sometimes stony and covered with seaweed.

However, the landscape was also beautiful in a rugged way. Walking the north coast also requires careful planning, as there are long sections with no accommodation or road access.

The sections of the path that are closest to Mahon and Ciutadella, to the east and west of Menorca tend to be more built up. They run partly through residential areas, resorts and the more popular and accessible beaches.

If you are combining your Menorca walking holiday with some relaxation, this might be an advantage. You’ll have regular rest stops and access to bars and cafes, but less of a benefit if you want a wilder experience to escape the crowds.

Day 1 – Cala Galdana to Cala’n Bosch (south coast)

Our walk begins at Cala Galdana

We started our first day’s walk at Cala Galdana. I’d walked this stretch a couple of years earlier so I knew that it had some lovely beach stops. On the previous occasion I’d done a much shorter walk so I was keen to stretch my legs and see the landscapes further along the route.

Cala Galdana is one of the most popular beach resorts on Menorca. If you want an alternative base to Menorca and Ciutadella, this would be a good place to stay for 2-3 nights. The Cami de Cavalls walk from here is beautiful and easy to follow in both directions.

Our bus ride from Ciutadella to Ferreries (see full transport options later in the article) allowed us to drink in the landscape of Menorca. The rolling fields are bounded by dry stone walls and dark green balls of pine and oak cluster on the hillside.

It’s a reminder that for many centuries Menorca’s wealth was based on the fertile farmland of the island’s interior. The coast was considered a dangerous place to be, with risk from invaders and pirates coming from the sea.

Ferreries

In Ferreries we found the taxi rank outside the bank, close to the roundabout where the bus had dropped us. Luckily there was a taxi waiting – otherwise it’s easy to call a taxi using the central number that covers the whole island.

Cala Galdana is a busy holiday destination that’s packed in the summer months with numerous bars, shops and restaurants. There are several larger hotels and lots of other holiday accommodation.

If you need to stock up on drinks and a picnic to take on your walk, this is the place to do so There are barely any refreshment stops or other facilities until you get the to end of the walk. It may also be possible to book a private transfer for pickup and dropoff on this stretch of the Cami de Cavalls.

From the taxi rank it was a 5 minute walk to the path that starts close to the Hotel Artiem Audax. Take in the views across the bay, the inlet to the marina and the wide, sandy beach. Don’t be tempted to stop here, nice as this beach is, there are several that are even better and less crowded along the route.

Cala Macarella on the Cami de Cavalls

The stretch from Cala Galdana is of the most popular Menorca hiking trails. It travels westward skirting the coast, initially on a broad path that was flat and shaded by pine trees.

Although we were out of sight of the sea, a few small paths branched off to our left leading to cliff viewpoints where we could admire the rocky coastline and sparkling blue water. The viewpoint that’s closest to the twin bays of Macarella and Macarelleta is a good one for photos. You get a great view of both bays and the boats coming and going below.

The boardwalk bordered by intense green pine shoots continued down the hill towards the broad, sandy beach of Cala Macarella. This was the only beach cafe that we saw on this day’s walk.

On the other side of the beach our walk continued as the path skirted the headland. Here we had the opportunity to look into some of the natural and man made caves that are carved into the cliff face. Time from Cala Galdana to Cala Macarella – 1 hour

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Cala Macarelleta on the Cami de Cavalls

A short distance further and we could look down on the smaller beach of Cala Macarelleta, one of the most photogenic views on the Cami de Cavalls. This small beach is bounded by rocky cliffs and intensely turquoise water.

The path down to the beach was narrow and required a little scrambling but the sheer drops are protected by traditional wooden fencing. At the back the beach is protected to ensure that the sand dunes are undisturbed. Time from Cala Macarella to Cala Macarelleta 15 minutes.

Cala en Turqueta on the Cami de Cavalls

After spending a little time on the gorgeous beach at Macarelleta, we continued on the path. It rose gently from the far side of the beach up the hill, through shady woodland. This stretch took us out of sight of the sea on a sandy and sometimes rocky path through scrub and pine forest.

We soon reached Cala en Turqueta where we stopped for a break and a refreshing swim. Although the beach was already quite crowded, I enjoyed swimming under the rocky outcrops bounding the beach. Time from Cala Macarelleta to Cala en Turqueta 40 minutes. Cala Turqueta can be reached by #68 bus from Ciutadella.

Son Saura on the Cami de Cavalls

From Cala en Turqueta, the path followed the line of the coast. On this stretch we were closer to sea level, walking through scrub on an open, sandy path. Following the headland took us next to Platges de Son Saura.

Here the long but narrow beach is backed by scrub and dunes that are protected by a boardwalk running the length of the beach. This beach is wild and natural, but it seemed to attract more seaweed than some of the other rocky coves we had just passed.

At the eastern end of the beach is a jetty where boat trips from Ciutadella were dropping off lots of people. This is a popular beach as it has its own car park. It can also be reached by bus #66 from Ciutadella (toilet near the car park). Time from Cala en Turqueta to Platges de Son Saura 1 hour.

If you want to discover Menorca’s south coast beaches by boat, check out this sightseeing boat trip from Cala’n Bosc

We continue towards Son Xoriguer

The next stretch of the Cami de Cavalls from Son Saura felt wild and untamed as the sandy path meandered through scrubland. We looked down from jagged cliffs where the sea had undercut to make sinkholes that gave a low rumble as water flowed in and out.

In one stretch the enormous boulders below the turquoise water gave a surreal appearance to the sea as if we were walking through the land of the giants. There was very little shade on this stretch and on a sunny day I found it hot and unforgiving, so be sure to make full use of your hat and water bottle.

Cova dels Pardals – a hidden sea cave

As we neared the end of our walk at Son Xoriguer, we passed an unassuming white building. Had it not been for the guide book, I would have probably missed the steps leading down to a hidden sea cave.

We discovered a sheltered boat mooring and place to swim. I could just imagine smugglers and fishing boats hiding out here in days gone by. Time from Platges de Son Saura to Cova dels Pardals 1 hour.

Our day’s walk finishes at Son Xoriguer and Cala’n Bosch

From the sea cave it was an easy walk as we approached Son Xoriguer. This holiday spot is on the outskirts of the main resort of Cala’n Bosch (also known as Cala en Bosc).

Our first stop was at the Restaurante Neptuno, a busy beach restaurant serving meals, ice creams and drinks. We took a well earned rest and drink, while watching the activities on the busy beach, full of sunshades and small boats.

The Cala Son Xoriguer beach by the restaurant was sandy but we continued a little further on to a rocky stretch with patches of sand and clear water for a swim. Next we walked into Cala’n Bosch where we located the bus stop and caught the bus back to Ciutadella.

If you want to extend your walk, there’s an interesting lighthouse within sight at Cap d’Artrutx that you can also visit – if you have the energy!

Transport for Day 1 walk – Cala Galdana to Cala’n Bosch

Find details of bus routes and timetables on the tib Menorca and Torres Menorca website. Be sure to check the bus timetables carefully before planning your walk, as there are often only a few buses each day.

To reach Cala Galdana by bus for the start of this walk your options are

• From Ciutadella take the #52 direct to Cala Galdana
• From Mahon take the #51 direct to Cala Galdana
• From Ciutadella take the #36 #52 #72 bus or from Mahon take the #1 bus to Ferreries. Then take a taxi from Ferreries to Cala Galdana.

This walk took us around 7 hours total but the actual walking time was around 5 hours (17km). The rest being stops at beaches or viewpoints for rest, swim or refreshments.

From Cala’n Bosch you can take the #65 bus back to Ciutadella.

Day 2 Favaritx lighthouse to Es Grau (north coast)

Our walk started at the Far Favaritx lighthouse on the north east coast of Menorca, one of seven lighthouses that protect ships from the island’s rocky coastline. It was built in the 1920s after several ships ran aground on this rocky headland.

The black and white striped lighthouse set on a whitewashed building makes a distinctive photo. We spent some time clambering on the jagged black rocks that surround the lighthouse, before backtracking down the road to pick up the Cami de Cavalls walking signs.

Platja d’en Tortuga

A broad stony track took us through low scrub and bushes, skirting behind the headland. We curved back towards the sea and got a glimpse of the Favaritx lighthouse on the other side of the bay.

The track now took us down the hill to Platja d’en Tortuga. This wild looking beach was partly stony and partly sandy, with a dark tidemark of seaweed.

We skirted the back of the beach, where a fence protected the sand dunes from disturbance and followed the track up the hill at the other end of the beach. Time to walk from Favaritx lighthouse to Platja d’en Tortuga 30 mins

Cala de Morella Nou

Shortly after crossing the headland we reached the next beach at Cala de Morella Nou. This beach was mainly pebble, with a tidal fringe of seaweed and a small whitewashed boathouse.

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Cala en Cavaller

The next beach of Cala en Cavaller was only a short walk further on an open gravel path. This time the beach was large and flat and while sandy was also covered with seaweed. I assume this must be a feature of the beaches in the north of Menorca, although this often depends on the season (we were there in September).

Walking in the Parc Natural s’Albufera in Menorca

The Cami de Cavalls path now took us slightly away from the coast. We were able to appreciate the wilder landscape of the Parc Natural s’Albufera with dunes and grasses and no development.

The park was designated in 1995 in order to protect this area of diverse habitats including wetlands, dunes and cliffs that offer a haven for wildlife on Menorca. If you want make an individual visit to the park, a good place to start is the park’s visitor centre Centro recepción-interpretación Rodríguez Femenias. It is located just outside Es Grau with parking and two nature trails to follow nearby.

Cala de sa Torreta

As the path brought us back within sight of the sea again we walked past Cala de sa Torreta. This area had the appearance of a shallow lagoon, a sheltered haven for birds fringed with reeds and grasses. Time to walk from Platja d’en Tortuga to Cala de sa Torreta 1 hr 10 mins

Cala des Tamarells

Over the headland the path meandered gently up and down, past Cala des Tamarells, a small rocky cove. This beach was probably the most attractive for swimming of all we’d passed on this wild stretch of northern coast.

On the headland we could see Torre de Rambla, one of a series of coastal watchtowers. This was built by the English when they governed Menorca at the end of the 18th century. Time to walk from Cala de sa Torreta to Cala des Tamarells 30 mins

We reach Es Grau

The final part of our walk was on easy gravel paths and walking over another headland. Soon the white buildings of Es Grau came into sight across the bay.

This small fishing village has now become a popular spot for holiday homes. Traditional whitewashed cottages are closely packed together on the slope of the bay with small boats bobbing in the water.

Es Grau has the feel of a relaxing holiday spot, with just a handful of bars and restaurants but no big hotels. The wide, sandy beach backed by the dunes of the nature reserve opens out to a bay where the water is shallow. This makes a popular beach for young families with some kayaks for the teenagers. Time to walk from Cala des Tamarells to Es Grau 40 mins

We’d decided to make this the end of our day’s walk, although this stage of the Cami de Cavalls would have taken us on to Mahon in another few hours. Instead we wandered around the village to admire the traditional Minorcan cottages, the older ones even whitewashed on the tiled roofs.

We chose Bar Es Grau, a traditional bar and cafe with lots of tables set out in the shade of the trees. After settling in we ordered drinks and a simple lunch while overlooking the beach.

Although there is a bus that runs from Es Grau to Mahon, it was not due for some time. Instead we called a taxi for the short drive back to Mahon.

Transport for this walk

Find details of bus routes and timetables on the tib Menorca and Torres Menorca website. Be sure to check the bus timetables carefully before planning your walk, as there are often only a few buses each day. To reach Far Favaritx by bus for the start of this walk, take the #43 from Mahon bus station.

From Es Grau you can take the #23 Bus to return to Mahon. However as there are only a few buses each day, we called a taxi from the beach restaurant in Es Grau.

This walk took us around 4 hours total but the actual walking time was around 3 hours (10km). The rest being stops at beaches or viewpoints for rest, swim or refreshments. A Cami de Cavalls stage is double this distance (20km)and continues back to Mahon.

Day 3 Cala Galdana to Santo Tomas (south coast)

After enjoying our walk from Cala Galdana so much on the first day we decided to return to the south coast and walk in the other direction. We walked eastwards to Santo Tomas where we arrived just in time for a late lunch. On this stretch we enjoyed more of the secluded, turquoise coves and a wilder stretch along almost bare rock that took us finally to the popular resort of Santo Tomas.

Our walk starts at Cala Galdana

As on our Day 1 walk, we arrived by bus at Cala Galdana, but this time we headed across the broad sandy beach. This was just starting to get busy with holidaymakers setting out their sunbeds and umbrellas.

Climbing up the steep path at the end of the beach, we walked along the residential road past the Hotel Melia Cala Galdana and found the start of the Cami de Cavalls path.  It may also be possible to book a private transfer for pickup and dropoff on this stretch of the Cami de Cavalls.

If you decide to base yourself in Cala Galdana, check prices and book for hotels in Cala Galdana

Cala Mitjana

After a short walk through shady pine woods we reached the first beach in a stretch of lovely beaches at Cala Mitjana. Our first view of the beach was from across the bay where boat trips drop people off.

We then walked along the side of the bay under shady trees we reached the small, sandy cove of Cala Mitjana. This area was busy with sun worshipers enjoying the swimming in the clear, turquoise water. Time to walk from Cala Galdana to Cala Mitjana 50 mins

On the far side of the beach, we scrambled up a steep path through the pine forest, offering beautiful viewpoints before the path turned away from the cliff edge. We continued on a sandy forest track, arriving at the next beach of Cala Trebaluger.

Cala Trebaluger

The access to Cala Trebaluger required a bit of scrambling, either to pick your way carefully down a rocky slope, or to pass through an arch carved through the rock. This wide, sandy beach was backed by dunes and woodland and since the only access seemed to be by walking. It was not quite as busy as Cala Mitjana from which we had just come.

A small river runs down to the beach from the wetlands behind it. You can cross on a sandbar and we saw a group of kayakers pulling their boats over the sandbar to continue down the river. Time to walk from Cala Mitjana to Cala Trebaluger 50 mins

Once again, the path continued steeply on the other side of the beach. This time we walked along an open stretch of jagged rocks and boulders close to the sea, the path taking us next to Cala Escorxada.

Cala Escorxada

Cala Escorxada was probably my favourite beach along this stage of the Cami de Cavalls. There were not too many people due to the only access being on foot or by boat (you can also rent boats for the day at Cala Galdana).

The beach is surrounded by steep sided rocky cliffs and the rocks on one side make it a bit more interesting for swimming or snorkelling. Set into the rocks where I’m standing in the picture there was also a Civil War bunker with just a slit to poke your weapon through. So strange to think of violence in this lovely setting. Time to walk from Cala Trebaluger to Cala Escorxada 1 hrs 30 mins

The next stretch of the Cami de Cavalls was somewhat more challenging. It followed the line of the coast on a rocky slope, where the path was not always obvious.

This is a stretch where you appreciate having decent walking shoes for grip and to protect against jagged rocks. It’s not one that I’d recommend doing with young children or if you’re less mobile.

If you want to access the lovely beaches of Cala Mitjana, Cala Trebaluger or Cala Escorxada I’d suggest that it’s better to come from the direction of Cala Galdana. From here the path is easier, rather than from Sant Tomas where the path was a bit hair raising at times.

Still being the intrepid walkers we are, it was easier than some of the mountain trails I’ve done and the streams we jumped over, gurgling down through the ravine added to our spirit of adventure.

Platges de Binigaus

The final stretch of path took us on an easier path through the pine forest. We arrived at the end of Platges de Binigaus, a broad sandy beach backed by sand dunes.

From here, the level sandy path followed the line of the beach on a stretch that seemed to be favoured by naturists (it was hard to keep our gaze on the path!) Soon we reached the edge of Sant Tomas.

We were certainly ready for a rest! Gratefully we secured a table overlooking the beach at the excellent Bar Es Brucs and ordered a well earned drink and late lunch. Time to walk from Cala Escorxada to Santo Tomas 1 hrs 30 mins

After lunch we checked the bus timetable and wandered a bit further through the small and pleasant resort of Santo Tomas. It offers a mixture of beachfront hotels, holiday villas and apartments.

If you want to extend the day, it’s an easy 30 minute walk along the coast to the next resort of San Bou. This is an alternative location to get the bus back to Mahon.

One thing to also note is that we had followed the path from Cala Galdana that skirts the coast and cliff tops so that we could enjoy the lovely beaches. But, there is also a variant of the path that takes you inland and is the strict Cami de Cavalls route.

Transport for Cala Galdana and Santo Tomas

Find details of bus routes and timetables on the tib Menorca and Torres Menorca website. Be sure to check the bus timetables carefully before planning your walk, as there are often only a few buses each day. We walked this section of the Cami de Cavalls from our base in Mahon, which is closer than Ciutadella.

To reach Cala Galdana by bus for the start of this walk your options are

• From Ciutadella take the #52 direct to Cala Galdana
• From Mahon take the #51 direct to Cala Galdana
• From Ciutadella take the #36 #52 #72 bus or from Mahon take the #1 bus to Ferreries. Then take a taxi from Ferreries to Cala Galdana.

To return from Santo Tomas take the #72 to Ciutadella or the #71 to return to Mahon.

To return from San Bou take the #36 to Ciutadella or the #32 to Mahon

This walk took us around 5.5 hours total but the actual walking time was around 4-4.5 hours (12km). The rest being stops at beaches or viewpoints for rest, swim or refreshments.

Cami de Cavalls accommodation

When it comes to accommodation for hiking the Cami de Cavalls there’s a wide range of accommodation available. Unlike some other long distance trails in Europe, you won’t find walker’s hostels where you will mix only with other walkers. Instead you are likely to stay in holiday hotels in Menorca that range from modest to luxury depending on your taste.

If you are walking the whole of the Cami de Cavalls in a circular route, you can use a service like the Cami de Cavalls 360. They will transport your luggage for you and arrange accommodation, taking most of the organisation off your hands. You can just turn up and start walking!

I’d probably use a service like this if I was walking the whole route sequentially as carrying a backpack in the Mediterranean heat is not very appealing.

Select your route

If you don’t want to walk the whole route sequentially you can pick a few sections of the Cami de Cavalls or do them in a different order. This is perfectly possible and is what we did over three days walking.

In this case, most of the start and end points for each walk can be reached by a combination of local bus and taxi. Both of these are pretty reliable on Menorca.

If you take this approach, I’d recommend that you book accommodation for a few nights in either Ciutadella, Mahon or Cala Galdana. Then tackle the sections of the walk that are closest to these points.

Ciutadella and Mahon are the two major towns on Menorca and have the best bus connections. We booked hotels for 2 nights in each place. Check out all the hotels in Ciutadella and hotels in Mahon.

Because we were going to be out walking all day, rather than spending any length of time in the hotels, we elected for mid range hotels. We chose those that were comfortable, modern and centrally located in town. We could easily enjoy the restaurants and access the bus stations.

Hotel Patricia Menorca in Ciutadella

We stayed for 2 nights in Hotel Patricia Menorca, a 44 room, family run hotel in Ciutadella. This made the perfect base for walking the stage of the Cami de Cavalls from Cala Galdana to Cala’n Bosch.

The style of the hotel decor is fresh and contemporary, with restful furnishings and a modern bathroom with shower. We found the service here exceptionally friendly and helpful.

Our receptionist patiently helped us research the bus routes we needed. The hotel was also happy to store our bags for the day in their secure storage next to reception.

The breakfast buffet was also exceptional, giving us a good start for the day’s walking. There was a wide range of food, including some hot dishes on offer, although there’s no on site restaurant.

Hotel Patricia Menorca is located a 10 minute walk from the historic centre of Ciutadella and the harbour. However, we did not see this as any disadvantage since the residential location was much quieter. We could find a huge choice of places to eat within a short distance. More central areas are packed with bars and restaurants.

The hotel also has an outdoor swimming pool which we didn’t use. I’d say it’s more of a city hotel that provides a great base for an active holiday, than offering a resort style holiday experience.

If you want a more luxurious experience, we can recommend Hotel Faustino Gran. This elegant boutique hotel is in a townhouse in quiet street of the old town of Ciutadella where we had dinner one evening.

Hostal Jume – Urban Rooms in Mahon

Hostal Jume was our choice of accommodation in Mahon, in a modern building with 39 rooms of various sizes with some 2 bedroom suites. A Hostal is a typical type of simple accommodation in Spain that’s somewhere between a full service hotel and a hostel.

In the case of Hostal Jume, all the rooms were en suite with modern furnishings. But, there are also communal areas and a breakfast room, with a reception area and coffee machines.

Our room furnishing was simple, clean and contemporary in style, but there was not much else in the way of hotel facilities. This style of hotel makes an excellent base for sightseeing when you plan to be out most of the day.

We also liked the location of the hotel which was in a quiet square, but very close to the fish market and harbour area of Mahon. The receptionist was very helpful and happy to store our bags in her locked office.

What to pack for hiking the Cami de Cavalls

Because Menorca is a small island you’re never too far from a small town or shop. I wouldn’t worry too much about having the right gear as everything can be easily bought in Ciutadella or Mahon.

Bear in mind that this is warm weather hiking close to the sea, so the clothing we wore was slightly different to what we’d wear for a walk in the mountains. Here’s a basic list of what we needed for hiking on the Cami de Cavalls.

Equipment

• A day backpack. I recommend a 20 – 30 litre rucksack like the Osprey Hikelite 26L. Carry an extra layer or two of clothing depending on the time of year and the weather forecast. You are only carrying what you need for the day and can leave the rest in your hotel room or have it transported for you each day.
• Water and food or snacks to last at least 5 hours, as we only found cafes and shops at the start and end of each day’s walk, with little in between. These Hydramate folding water bottles are ideal for hiking as they are light, BPA free and fold up when not in use.
• Walking poles (optional). Although the path is mostly flat, there were a few more challenging sections. Walking poles support your knees and ankles and reduce the risk of injury. I walked with a single pole for the Cami de Cavalls and am addicted to my super light and portable fold up Leki Micro Vario walking poles.
• Money belt like this one from Eagle Creek or waterproof pouch to keep your phone and money safe when swimming on busy beaches.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Guidebook. I can recommend the Cicerone Trelkking Through Mallorca guide which has in depth instructions for the Cami de Cavalls as well as other walks around Menorca.

Clothing/footwear

• Walking shoes or well supported trainers. The trail is mostly flat but includes rocky stretches so you need footwear that’s supportive and protective but not too hot. You may also like to carry a pair of flip flops in your backpack to use on the beach – check out the Havaianas range.
• Quick dry shorts, walking trousers or sports leggings depending on the season of your walk. We walked in September and spent all our time in shorts. I wore these Ronhill women’s shorts.
• A quick dry walking or sports t-shirt. I prefer t-shirts that cover my shoulders as there’s less risk of sunburn or chaffing from daypack straps.Sun worshipers may prefer a vest top. Check out these hiking t-shirts from Columbia or these from The North Face.
• If you like to swim, wear a sports bikini like this one from Syrokan or quick dry crop top under your walking gear. Or, carry your swimsuit in your backpack.
• A quick dry portable towel us useful for sitting on the beach and drying off after a swim. Check out the colourful Dock & Bay range.
• A sunhat or sports cap. I wore a lightweight cap like these from Trailheads

How long to walk the Cami de Cavalls?

As I’ve mentioned the Cami de Cavalls is divided into 20 official stages which each take around half a day. So, this makes 10 stages, each of which takes a day’s walking.

Therefore if you want to walk the whole route sequentially, you need to allow for 10 days of walking. Add any extra time for travelling or for rest days.

I’m moderately fit and didn’t find the day’s walk especially strenuous, so I don’t think the rest days are absolutely essential. Normally you’ll be staying in a resort or village and have time to look around in the evening.

I have seen options that allow you to walk the entire Cami de Cavalls in 8 days, but I think you’d need to be quite fit. You’d not have much in the way of stops for rest or swimming, so I don’t think this would be very enjoyable.

If you have less time available, I’d pick particular stages of the Cami de Cavalls to walk each day. Use bus and taxi to reach the start and end point of the day’s walk.

Each day’s walk on the Cami de Cavalls ranges between 5 hours and 10 hours. The longer sections are on the north coast, where there is less transport and easy access.

However, most stages (with a couple of exceptions in the north) can be shortened if required. You do need to take account of the heat which can be exhausting, especially if you are walking in the summer months.

Best time to walk the Cami de Cavalls

There are two main things to consider when deciding the best time of year to walk the Cami de Cavalls; the weather and the transport options.

From a weather point of view, the best time to walk is in spring or autumn when the weather is sunny but not unbearably hot. May is lovely when the wild flowers are blooming. September when we walked is also a good month, with generally settled and warm weather. July and August in the Mediterranean tend to be too hot for walking and the beaches and resorts are very crowded with summer visitors.

However if you are in Menorca at this time on a summer holiday, you could incorporate some of the shorter sections between beaches into your itinerary. Take care to allow for the heat with sunscreen and sun hat. The winter is possible, although days can be rainy and grey so not as nice as the blue skies and warm sunshine of spring and autumn.

From a transport point of view, you will probably rely on buses and taxis to get you to the start and end of each day’s walk. Be aware that many of the buses run seasonally. The main summer timetable tends to run between beginning of May to end October.

Outside this time there may be either no bus or a much reduced service. In this case you would need to rely on taxis to get you around which adds to the cost. You can find information and timetables for the buses to help you plan on the tib Menorca and Torres Menorca websites.

Typical stages of the Cami de Cavalls

If you are moderately fit you can walk the Cami de Cavalls in a relaxed way with enough time for swimming and rest stops. The route breaks down into 10 stages, each taking a day to walk.

It is also possible to walk the whole circular route in 8 day long stages, but unless you are doing it more as a run than a walk I don’t think this would be very enjoyable. The official Cami de Cavalls website describes 20 stages, but you can comfortably walk 2 of these in a day.

There are equal stages on the north and south coast. You can walk the whole north coast in 5 stages / days and the south coast in 5 stages / days.

If you don’t have the 10 days to walk the whole Cami de Cavalls sequentially, I would recommend just picking a few of the stages. Plan according to the length of your holiday, rather than trying to walk further each day.

These are the typical stages that are recommended for a 10 day walk. You can walk in either direction and start at any point, although most guidebooks start at the island capital of Mahon. I have used the times for each stage described in my guidebook – the Cicerone Trekking Through Mallorca.

Stages we walked*

South Coast

Stage 1 – Mahon to Binisafuller 20 km / 8 hours

Stage 2 – Binisafuller to Son Bou 20 km / 8 hours

Stage 3 – Son Bou to Cala Galdana 18 km / 7 hours *

Stage 4 – Cala Galdana to Cala en Bosc 17 km / 6 hours *

Stage 5 – Cala’n Bosch to Ciutadella 13 km / 5 hours

North Coast

Stage 6 – Ciutadella to Cala Morell 18 km / 7.5 hours

Stage 7 – Cala Morell to els Alocs 15 km / 7 hours

Stage 8 – els Alocs to Ses Salines 20 km / 10 hours

Stage 9 – Ses Salines to Cap de Favaritx 24 km / 8.5 hours

Stage 10 – Cap de Favaritx to Mahon 20 km / 7.5 hours *

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15 Things to do in Mahón, Menorca – if you only have one day

15 fun things to do in Ciutadella – the ancient capital of Menorca

Walking in Menorca – on the Cami de Cavalls

Plan your Cami de Cavalls

I can recommend the Cicerone Trekking Through Mallorca guidebook, covering the Cami de Cavalls trail in detail. It also covers the coast to coast route that runs through the centre of Menorca and some other day walks.

I particularly like Cicerone walking guides, which give useful background information and tips on points of interest. There’s also photos, good maps and detailed walking instructions. For a more general guidebook, we recommend the Rough Guide to Mallorca and Menorca to help you plan your trip.

There’s more information to plan the walk on the official Cami de Cavalls website

Looking for boat trips and activities on Menorca? Check out these guided tours and excursions.

To plan your holiday in Menorca visit the Menorca Tourism website or follow them on social media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

For holidays in other parts of Spain you can find more information on Spain’s official tourism website or follow them on social media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

If you need a guide on the Cami de Cavalls or other parts of Menorca, I can highly recommend Luis Amella of Menorca Guides

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This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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