The origins of these trails date back to 1330, which were designed to be able to see the arrival of possible invasions on the island.
Later on, they were also used by the English and French invasions to protect this strategic place in the navigation of the Mediterranean Sea, by means of horsemen who moved along these roads warning of the dangers. The port of Mahón offers unique conditions for stopovers, providing protection from storms. At the same time, the port also offered security for the repair or maintenance of the ships that sailed the seas in these latitudes, as well as being a place of rest and provisioning for the crew.
With the passing of the years and practically in 2010 the Camí de Cavalls was inaugurated and was included in the routes of importance within the European Union assigning it as reference GRR223. This path is divided into 20 stages with a perimeter length of about 180km.
SECTIONS:
1. Mahón – Es Grau 10km
2. Es Grau – Faváritx 8.6km
3. Faváritx – Arenal d’en Castell 13.6km
4. Arenal d’en Castell – Cala Tirant 10.8km
5. Cala Tirant – Binimel·lá 9.6km
6. Binimel·lá – Els Alocs 8.9km
7. Els Alocs – Algaiarens 9.7km
8. Algaiarens – Cala Morell 5.4km
9. Cala Morell – Punta Nati 7km
10. Punta Nati – Ciutadella 10.5km
11. Ciutadella – Punta de Artrutx 13.2km
12. Punta de Artrutx – Cala en Turqueta 13.3km
13. Cala en Turqueta – Cala Galdana 6.4km
14. Cala Galdana – Sant Tomás 10.8km
15. Sant Tomás – Son Bou 6.4km
16. Son Bou – Cala en Porter 8km
17. Cala en Porter – Binisafúller 11.8km
18. Binisafúller – Punta Prima 8.1km
19. Punta Prima – Cala de Sant Esteve 7.3km
20. Cala de Sant Esteve – Mahón 6km
We recommend starting the first section from Cala Mesquida, as from Mahón there is a stretch of road of about 6 kilometers.
You can travel there in a Menorca rental car and park in the parking area on the beach. All the stages are signposted at the beginning of the same with signs that announce the section that we are going to start giving us information about where the roads to follow.
It is important before starting the way to read the indications to be aware of the degree of difficulty and other information that gives us the route, as well as questions of interest as we will find much of the history of Menorca.
During the tour we will find some wooden gates that we can open to continue our way, please do not forget to close them. It is very important to keep the gates closed to prevent the animals that are inside from getting out.
Normally they are farms that are crossed by the Camí de Cavalls, that the owners want to protect the escape of their animals. It is important when planning this trip to be aware that we will be between 2 to 4 hours walking through forests, beaches, ie we will not have a population nearby and that entails taking precautions.
It is necessary to bring a drink, some food, comfortable shoes, a charged phone, camera, sun hat in case of summer and take each one according to their needs the appropriate precautions. Be sure that you will be fascinated by this experience, since you will be able to walk and see the island from a different perspective, enjoying nature and amazing views.
You will be protagonists and you will be part of a magical environment. Along the way you will find the watchtowers, which were used as observation points where possible incursions were sighted and which surround the entire surface of Menorca from a certain distance.
Another part of the route is the option to visit the lighthouses that warn sailors of possible dangers at sea. This one specifically the Cap de Cavalleria can be visited. The location of the same is around cliffs which gives us a spectacular landscape beauty, the fierceness of the sea generates waves that generate spectacular views. Important lighthouses of the island to visit are:
Favàritx lighthouse on the road from Mahón to Fornells is the junction on the right hand side.
San Carles lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse at the entrance to the port of Mahón.
Punta Nati lighthouse located in the Ciudadela area.
Illa del Aire Lighthouse is located in front of Punta Prima beach.
Lighthouse of Artrutx is located near Calan Bosch and Cap d’Artrutx.
Punta Sa Farola Lighthouse located at the entrance to the port of Ciutadella.
The paths will take us to places that you could never know such as the Cova des Coloms, Cales Coves and Cova des Pardals.
Cova des Coloms
In the town of Es Migjorn next to the cemetery there is a road that leads to Binigaus about 45 minutes from this route in the middle of the woods is the cave that is signposted.
It can also be reached from Binigaus beach located next to Sto. Tomas, at the end of the beach you must take the road to the right and you will find the cave about 30 minutes. It is a large natural cave with 24 meters high x110 meters long and 15 meters high.
The pigeons that gave the cave its name have disappeared due to the effect of hunters, but a significant number of bats still take refuge in the cave.
Being an area populated by lichens and mosses give it a gloomy appearance, it is said that the first settlers of Menorca used it as a sacred place.
Cales Coves
It is a treasure of a cove. It is surrounded by high and vertical cliffs, in which you will see that there are caves used as necropolis in the Bronze Age and later in the Iron Age.
On June 3, 1931 Cales Coves was declared a historic-artistic monument for its necropolis. It is very easy to get to Cales Coves. You have to take the road from Sant Climent to Calan Porter, at the second traffic circle take the second exit about 150 meters you will find a traffic circle painted on the ground, and three exits, one leading to the cove, another leading to the urbanization of Cales Coves and another leading to the urbanization of Son Vitamina. You have to take the first exit you will see some recycling garbage right next to it, follow the road to the dirt parking and then walk down 1 km or so to the cove.
Cales Coves is very nice and is very good for diving, snorkeling and have beautiful views. From the dirt road to the cove there is a way to get to Calan Porter on foot along the Camí de Cavalls, it is signposted.
Cova des Pardals
To arrive from Ciutadella we must follow the road towards Calan Bosch, just after passing the commercial area we turn left and after passing the Hotel Carema we turn right until the end of the street where the parking of Son Xoriguer is located.
If you are in the beaches of the south zone from Arenal de Son Saura, or Cala Turqueta you can also access following the route of Camí de Cavalls.
The way from the parking of Son Xoriguer is very flat and before leaving the beach with the same name you will find restaurants, bars, toilets with shower.
This cave is located under a hut that you will see on the right hand side, from the wall down some stairs that lead you to it. The hut was used by fishermen to take refuge and store their catch. In the floor they opened an access to the cave where they could unload from the fishing boat obtained.
You will walk through inhospitable places, which are regularly of mild difficulty, although there are some sections especially on the north coast that have between medium difficulty most of them and some especially the one marked in red that is stronger. In case you have to ask for help it is important that you give the location of the section where you are, the post that marks the route indicates the number of the section and the number of the sign, with this information it will be much easier to receive the necessary help.
We are always willing to expand any information you need to make these walks a satisfactory experience.
