Wednesday, July 11, 2018

5 Stunning Beaches You Must Visit In Menorca, Spain


Ah, it feels good to be back. No, I'm lying, take me back to sunny Spain and leave me there for the rest of the summer (is that too much to ask?). I'm currently suffering from post-holiday blues, especially after such an amazing week and a bit in Menorca. I had never been before to this stunning island and what can I say, it completely wowed me. Menorca (or Minorca) is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca, but despite being tiny it offers so much in culture, gastronomy, architecture and of course, leisure. I truly love getting to know new places and making the most of every day, and that is exactly what we did during our stay. With the numerous beaches we went to in mind, I thought I'd put together a list of 5 top beaches and tips about each one if you ever find yourselves going to this unmissable island.

ARENAL D'EN CASTELL

I will start with my favourite of them all, simply because this beach resembles a natural pool and that is just how I like my beaches, no waves, simply peaceful and clear water! Located just under 30 mins from our hotel (in Son Bou), it boasts clean white sand and clear water, so clear that you can see tiny fishes swimming around your feet. It wasn't overly crowded when we arrived, nor when we left as it looks to be a beach popular with residents in the area rather than tourists. There is a free car park 2 minutes away which leads to the steps down the beach (not too many steps thankfully). I did notice a bus stop just in front of the car park but considering we drove everywhere, I am not entirely sure how reliable or easy to use the public transport may be so I would definitely recommend hiring a car instead. The beach has sunbeds and umbrellas to hire (we found these to be generally very expensive) but also plenty of sand space so not really a necessity. There are a few bars and restaurants along the beach, paddle boats to hire and a shower near the exit to refresh yourself. We spent around 4 hours here (not longer because of the heat) and honestly, I didn't want to leave the water. This is a must when in Menorca and in my opinion, far better than the most popular beaches located in the southern part of the island. And, it makes for pretty awesome photos too!

CALA GALDANA


Situated just over 20 miles from the airport, this is a sight for sore eyes. Amongst the most beautiful beaches in Menorca, it offers a large shell-shaped cove with white golden sands and shallow turquoise waters. Numerous beach activities are available such as kayaking, paddle boats and stand up pedal boards to hire. There are two options for parking, one car park at the bottom of the hill and one at the top. Sadly for us, the bottom one was full when we got there which meant we had to walk down the hill through a trail and some steps. This was doable even in flip-flops, but walking back up in the sun was definitely a workout. There are also several beachside shops, restaurants and bars. Before we decided to head back to the hotel we stopped at Chirinquito Toni Bar Restaurante "Sa Cova" which overlooks the beach and what a wonderful choice it was. I am always sceptical about eating in restaurants right at the beach because they're usually overpriced, but this surpassed my expectations. Despite being quite a simple restaurant the menu offers a lot of options and the food is authenticly Mediterranean. We went for fish dishes, as pictured, and we loved everything especially the fried sardines, croquetas and the "pescado". With facilities such as showers and loos just a few steps away, this is a beach one can easily spend the entire day at.

SON BOU
Image result for son bou beach

One of Menorca's best beaches, it is situated on the south coast (a 2-minute drive from our hotel San Valentin and a 20-minute drive from the airport) and offers a long 3km stretch of soft golden sand flanked by rugged volcanic headlands. The beach was awarded for its high quality and safety standards, making it truly perfect for families. This was the only beach we visited that had some full-on waves but nothing I would deem to be dangerous, on the contrary, it was very fun! Similar to the previous, it also has paddle boats and kayak services for hire, as well as banana boats, kite surfing and a giant inflatable aqua assault course with climbing wall, trampolines, rollers and slides in the middle of the sea if you're in need for some adrenaline. Towards the rear of the beach is a large protected wetlands area where many species of wild birds and ducks can be seen which just adds to the charm.  Food is closeby-ish, a 10-minute walk I would say, but the options are great and varied and some of the souvenir shops have some really cute stuff worth checking out. I would suggest trying the restaurant Atlantis and their famous seafood paella, which was honestly one of the best I've ever eaten and not overpriced like some other places in town. Parking is not too far off either and there are no steps to getting to the beach which is always a plus!

CALA 'N BOSC

My father's favourite because this was the only beach he was able to proper snorkel around. It is a small but lovely sandy beach offering clean, blue water once you get past the seaweed and plant debris. There are a lot of bigger fishes near the rocks (as well as jellyfish so extra care is advised) but the beach offers facilities like a shower near the exit and there are a lot of activities such as jet skis, paddle boats and the likes. Here is where we found sunbeds to be the most expensive (18 euros for 2 for half day) but despite being small, it can accommodate quite a large crowd so again finding some sand space won't be too hard. Here we also found to be the highest concentration of Brits which is likely to be explained by the number of resorts around it. Parking is not too far off either, but if that is full, you can leave the car on the many residential streets around the beach as parking restrictions are extremely rare in Menorca.

CALA MACARELLA/MACARELLETA

Ok, so these are technically two different beaches but considering they are literally next to each other I thought I'd group them as they are considered to be amongst the best in Menorca. First, unlike all the previous, these are not easily accessible beaches and it was a quite a trip getting there under the blazing sun. Only buses are allowed down to Macarella and Macarelleta due to parking restrictions so the nearest car park is for Cala Turqueta (which isn't the best so not really worth the visit). Getting to Cala Turqueta is quite a challenge in itself as roads are very narrow with cars going in both directions. Once you've made your way to the car park (hopefully without scratching the car like we did) you're in for a 30-minute hike (which I would advise doing in trainers and not in flip-flops like dummy old me). Unfortunately for us, when we got to Macarella at around 10am it was already incredibly busy. It was also a particularly windy day and the beach was suffering from lots of plant life being washed into the bay which gave the whole place an unpleasant odour. Having said that, I wouldn't scratch them completely off. They are both best seen from above and if you have the chance, maybe getting a boat there might be better so you don't have to fight for some sand space nor endure the extreme hiking workout. There isn't much around, so no bars nor facilities (not a great place for kids to be honest) but if you're feeling adventurous I'd add these to the list for some awesome scenic photographs.

Oof that was a long one! But I hope it's detailed enough so if you're ever in Menorca you're informed! I always prefer reading detailed blog posts rather than just vague Trip Advisor reviews so hopefully at least one of you out there find this useful.  Let me know if you'd be interested in an overview of Menorca and I will happily write that up too! Now I'm off to start researching for my next holiday because I miss the beach already...

Thanks for reading beauties!
xoxo
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49 comments

  1. Belas paisagens. Momentos bem passados por aí!

    Isabel Sá
    Brilhos da Moda

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  2. This is an excellent post Pam. Very detailed indeed. I have always wanted to go to Menorca or Majorca haha ( I used to think they were the same place lol). Those beaches are incredible. I can't believe how clear the water is and the food! My goodness that paella looks amazing!!!

    I'm glad you had such a great time. Welcome back!

    Mich x
    https:/_michjosephblog.wordpress.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Mich! I definitely recommend Menorca over Majorca as the latter is very busy whereas in Menorca you can fully chill :)

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  3. Ahhhh these are sooo beautiful!!

    xx Sofia | SOFIAADOT

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  4. Your pics look amazing.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Those beaches are so beautiful.

    Ann
    https://roomsofinspiration.blogspot.com/

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  5. Spain is definitely one of the places I would love to visit someday! It looks beautiful


    Candice | NatalyaAmour.com

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    Replies
    1. I've never been to mainland only the Balearic islands but love them!

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  6. Wonderful photos and great tips! You have beautiful swimsuits my dear!

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  7. Gorgeous photos. I love your swimsuits!:)
    xxM
    https://sunstreetbymonica.blogspot.com

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  8. Love these vacation pictures Pam ! Thanks for sharing!
    Have a great day!
    Nina
    xox
    www.thecrispylipstick.com

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  9. Reading this post makes me want to pack up my bag and move over there.

    Shireen⎜Reflection of Sanity

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  10. Muito obrigado, minha querida :D
    Eu apostava numas Rose Gold sem pensar duas vezes :P

    Adoroo! posso tele-transportar-me para aí? +.+

    NEW REVIEW POST | THE AFTER SUN THAT LEAVES YOUR SKIN PROTECTED. :O
    InstagramFacebook Official PageMiguel Gouveia / Blog Pieces Of Me :D

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  11. such wonderful pictures! i love how clear the beaches are and i never thought there are some amazing ones there! (i definitely have no idea! haha!) what an incredible post! thank you for sharing!! x

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    1. Thank you for reading! Truly a stunning destination!

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  12. Beautiful pictures, I'm so glad you had a good time! I went there last year and would love to go back!
    Have a lovely day :)
    Rosanna x
    Rose's Rooftop

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    Replies
    1. Same here! I feel like there is still loads to see!

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  13. This looks like an amazing trip Pam.
    The beach view are amazing and I wouldn't mind indulging myself with that Paella.

    Much Love,
    Jane | The Bandwagon Chic

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  14. So beautiful beaches! The water looks so nice x

    Laura
    https://pinkfrenzymissl.blogspot.com/

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  15. Menorca is really amazing!Wonderful pictures:-)

    http://www.lostindaydreams.com/

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  16. These photos are so good! I can't wait for my holiday x

    www.ofbeautyandnothingness.co.uk

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  17. OMG!! I love Spain Dear ;) You look perfect ;)

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  18. Omg! Take me there! So beautiful
    www.NancyUgo.com

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  19. Omg, the place looks amazing! I heard about the beauties of Spain and been to Barcelona, but this... I especially like the pool-like beach. It's something perfect for me as I am usually a little bit picky about beaches I go to (I don't like water when it's too cold). Hope you had much fun during your holidays!
    Dorota
    www.fetchcandle.wordpress.com

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  20. The beach looks amazing! looks like you had an amazing holiday
    www.misslaurenmorgan.blogspot.co.uk

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  21. This makes me want to book a flight asap!

    Meredith
    LATEST POST | INSTAGRAM

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  22. You look such a darling here dear! Loving your floral bikini, that one-shoulder ruffled style is such a chic touch.

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

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  23. Thanks for your suggestion! All I need now is trying to make money to book a fight as soon as possible!
    All About Gloves

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