Menorca suggestions

[sailbadthesinner]

Anyone got any good stopovers on Menorca

Am staging from Portals to Pollensa then over.

Any gems be appreciated.

oh and it is on a stinkie.
Thanks

Beer! Now there's a temporary solution.

 

[ccscott49]

I'm in puerto soller, just around the corner from portals, I will next week, be going up to pollensa, then over to Menorca, fancy a beer?

 

[sailbadthesinner]

If you're buying i fancy several.
I fly out 22nd of this month ai m to be in menorca 24th
I'll pm you my Mobile no. or a contact no. for while i am out there.
it would be good to meet up.

Beer! Now there's a temporary solution.

 

[tcm]

I know of three decentish places

1 Cuitadella, may have been the old capital, not sure, on the west side, old "town quay" style mooring, rafting up, not a "marina", quite attractive, not rec'd if any W in the wind, narrow streets etc.

2. Cala Gardenia on the south side, nice blue water, anchorage only, bars and 1x large naff hotel ashore, but cos there is nothing else they assume everyone stays at the hotel so no prob with table tennis etc etc. Not advised if any S in wind. Free, of course.

3. Mahon. Monster harbour on eastside, protected in most weathers. Nice to be closest to the the action, so call yacht club maritimo. Can hoik up to the town or soddit walk along the front just as good imho. BUT beware they accidentally(?) signed thru a credit card for the 1 night's berth at 10x what it should have been which wd have easily won me the most expensive berth award at towards a grand.

 

[Pendana]

The following is a little dated (I havn't been since 1999) and aimed at tourists on the island rather than cruisers at sea but might give you a few ideas.
Have a great time.

Eddie S


THE ISLAND OF MENORCA


Most people who visit the island will find it useful to hire a car for 2 or 3 days or perhaps even a week. Thus providing you the opportunity to explore other parts of the island very easily, particularly as public transport will usually only depart from your resort to Mahon or Ciutadella and not to other resorts or places of interest.

The Main Road

It’s about 45 Km between Mahon and Ciutadella. The main road is in good condition and by our standards has little traffic on it. Generally speaking, wherever you want to go, you have less than an hours journey. The journey from Mahon to Ciutadella will take you through three main centres of population and industry. All have numerous fiesta days where it seems spirits are raised on a mixture of Menorcan gin and lemonade (called Pomada) and a desire to pat the chest of a rearing horse - casualties are apparently quite common! The first town as you travel west is Alaior which is famous for it’s cheese and numerous shoe factories. It used to be a bit of a bottleneck sometimes but this has been alleviated by the Alaior bypass which was opened in 1996. The next town is Es Mercadal situated at the foot of Monte Toro. Famed for its confectionery and ice cream, it clearly has a variety of other commercial activities. The road to Fornells is on the right here where an old road roller has been turned into a showpiece for the centre of a roundabout! As you pass through Es Mercadal, on your right you will see a windmill, this is now a restaurant and reputed to be one of the best on the island. Onward to Ferreries whose economy used to be mainly agriculture and is now based on furniture, leather and jewellery. On leaving Ferreries towards Ciutadella, the scenery changes from the rolling hills covered in pine trees to a flat, rocky and rather featureless landscape.

Petrol

There are now numerous petrol stations on the island, one in Mahon, three on the Mahon to Ciutadella road, one on the Mahon to Fornells road, one in Ciutadella and one in Cala d’en Bosch - no doubt there are others. Petrol comes in the leaded (con plomo) form of super and regular and the unleaded (sin plomo) form. The petrol station on the Mahon to Fornells road is about 2 Km east of the junction to Arenal d’en Castell. It is usually quiet and you are served immediately. The three on the main road are at Alaior, the western outskirts of Es Mercadal and about 6 Km west of Ferreries. These are often busy and you may have to queue for fuel.

A couple of tips

A useful item to take with you is a cool box. Fix the lid with parcel tape and check it in with your luggage at the airport. Fill it with frozen bacon, butter, marmalade and plastic cups etc. It all comes in useful if you are staying in an apartment. However, what you really want the cool box for is packing the beer, wine, cool drinks and sandwiches when you visit one of the natural beaches of the Island.

It is probably worth mentioning the price of sunbeds and sunshades on the public beaches. Sunbeds and sunshades are 600 Pts each per day (1999 prices). You can buy a sunshade at the many gift shops for 2000 Pts. Thus, depending how often you like to go to the beach, the purchase of a sunshade can pay for itself in 4 days. Buying a sunshade will also be found useful, indeed essential, if you intend to visit one of the natural private beaches that are described in the following paragraphs. Judging by the number of sunshades that come off the carousel at the airport, most people bring them home, perhaps to use next year.


Places of Interest


Mahon

The ferry to Barcelona leaves most days at 12.00 noon. Watching it depart from under the shaded awnings of the bars and café’s opposite is quite entertaining - and thirst quenching!

The easiest place to park is by the quay near the Estation Maritima. If you drive to Mahon on the main road from Ciutadella (C721), as you approach the town you need to turn left at the first roundabout and join “La Ronda” which takes you down to the road from Fornells, turn right to the port, past the Gin Factory and Pedro’s Boat Centre and find a place to park the car.

You can visit the Gin Factory - it’s free - on your own or tag along with a bus trip that is there; sample all you want and then buy a bottle if you want to. It’s not the same as London Gin eg. Gordons, but lots of people like it’s milder flavour.

The stairs up to the town centre crosses the meandering road several times with one - way traffic coming down the road. Standing at the foot of the stairs with your back to the harbour you will find the main post office on your left where the road from the town centre meets harbour side road. Post your cards here and they will be delivered in the UK in about six or seven days.

Walk up the stairs to the main town and turn left at the top. There you will find the fish market, continue on towards what looks like a church where you will pass the bakers and find the fresh vegetable market in the corner (a lot of visitors miss this). Most of the produce is grown on the Island. Numerous butchers also operate from the vegetable market. You need to cross the road to get to the main shopping areas and cafes. Incidentally, the fishermen don’t take to their boats on Sunday nights so the fish market is closed on Mondays.

Market days are Tuesdays and Saturdays. To get to the market square having climed the steps from the harbour, cross the main road and head for the main pedestrianised shopping area which is laid out with tables from the adjacent cafes. Find a table and order a drink! (or what about an ice cream - the delicious local ice cream, Menorquina, is made in Mercadal). If you can find a street name, it is called S’ Arravaletta. Continue for about 50 yards to the Placa Reial and turn right. Continue for about 150 yards and turn left onto S’Hannover where you now start to climb the hill. After about 300 yards you leave the pedestrianised part of the city and continue up the bank for about 200 yards to the market square - Placa S’ Explanada. Find a bar and order a drink, it’s down hill all the way back to the car!
Cala ’n
Porter

Good deep beach with acres of room to play ball games. Tall cliffs on both sides of the deep bay and pine trees at the back of the beach make this resort a particularly attractive place. Good safe swimming in this long deep Cala that is well protected from any swell in the sea. Sunbeds, sunshades and pedaloes are avilable for hire. Plenty of bars, retuarants and shops in the town. The Island’s famous discotheque in the cave of Xoroi is located at this resort.


Son Bou

Excellent beach with dunes at the back. Has quite shallow bathing and often has roller waves coming in - take the lilo for great fun. Plenty of sunbeds, sunshades, boats and pedalos available for hire.
The resort also has a central complex called Son Jaime that is actually part of a chain of apartments. It has a bar/restaurant, a magnificent swimming pool, three big water chutes, showers, changing rooms and toilets. The pool is free although I suppose they do expect you to buy a drink / meal from the bar / restaurant. There is a charge for the water chutes.
As you enter Son Bou you drive through a small tunnel. If you want the beach, turn left at the roundabout towards the two “Sol” hotels, drive past them and park in the huge car park at the end of the road. If you want the complex, continue straight on at the roundabout and take the next left and park in the square in front of the shops and complex.
Try the beach in the morning, then go to the complex for lunch!


Santa Tomas

Good, long sandy beach. Excellent swimming. Quite a few hotels, apartments, bars and cafes at this resort. A new promenade between the beach and the hotels, completed in 1999, gives excellent access to the beach and provides the opportunity for a pleasant stroll in the evenings. Turn left at the end of the road into the resort and drive towards the hotels and apartments that back onto the beach. The large car park is on the right adjacent to the beach just beyond the Hotel Los Condores and Hotel Santa Tomas. On a clear day you can see mountains of Majorca as you look out to sea. The Riera bar adjacent to the car park is handy for a swift drink and the loo before you depart!


Cala
Santa Galdana

Two good sandy beaches. Plenty of hotels, apartments, bars, shops, sunbeds, sunshades and pedaloes at this quite large but picturesque resort.

Cala
Macarella
Wonderful small cove and beach - good swimming. In 1999 facilities were limited to a small bar and restaurant nestling amongst the pine trees - no sunbeds or sunshades, however there is plenty of natural shade under the pine trees. The road turns to a dirt track for the last couple of kilometres. See directions for Son Saura to get through Ciutadella and on the right road for the coast. It is worth visiting Cala en Turqueta while you are here - it’s just round the corner!


Cala en
Turqueta
Beautiful cove and sandy beach - great swimming. In 1999 there were no facilities at this beach apart from an ice cream stall. Shade from the sun is available under the “umbrella” pine trees which are situated at the back of the beach. The last couple of kilometres to the beach is just a dirt track that needs a little care but is worth the trip. Directions to get there is as Son Saura but you take one of the other forks in the road towards the coast. Take a picnic.



Son Saura
A beautiful natural sandy private beach of two large bays opened to the public from the road in 1994. Before this the only way to visit was to take the Pirate cruise from Ciutadella. Son Saura has no facilities whatsoever so make sure tums & bums are in fine fettle before making a visit. Pack the sunshade and don’t forget the cool box and picnic!


How to get there

Take the main road to Ciutadella. As you approach Ciutadella there is a roundabout with a large statue of a horse in the middle of it and a petrol filling station on the right. Turn left at this roundabout and continue about 50 metres to the end of the road and turn right. You are now paralleling the main road and continue approximately 200 metres to the end and turn left at the “T” junction. Follow this road on its long gentle right hand curve passing a couple of signs pointing to the Hospital on the left. After about 1 Km. you come to another “T” junction where you turn left. As you progress towards the coast there are several forks in the road. Pay attention to the small signposts at each junction, you may have to stop to read them as they have a number of destinations on quite small signs. As you approach Son Saura you reach a farm and pay the Guard 500 Pts. for parking - he will also tell you to be on your way by 7.00pm. Follow the farm tracks, open and close two or three gates to stop cattle wandering and after about 1 Km. you arrive at the beach.

Algaiarens
Another private beach of natural beauty which is usually ideal for swimming. Again, there are no facilities, so pack the beer, sandwiches and sunshade. If rollers are coming in watch out for any undertow especially near the rocks at the edges of the bay. There is a second, prettier bay just over the rise to east of the main bay but it’s along way to hump a heavy cool box when it’s 120°F in the sun! You can reach it on a Lilo if the sea is calm.

How to get there

Take the main road to Ciutadella. As you approach the outskirts of Ciutadella you come to the Industrial estates on either side of the main road. Turn right at the Polygon Industrial “Leo’s Shop”. Continue along this industrial estate road to the very end and turn right onto an extremely bumpy and potholed road. After about 5 Km you come to a junction on the left to Cala Morell, continue straight on for about another 2 Km. Here you come to the Guard who asks for 500 Pts. and tells you to vamoose by 6.30pm. Incidentally, Cala Morell has a very tiny beach and some very old caves where Troglodytes once resided according to legend; it is popular with Spanish holiday makers with sailing dinghy’s and motor boats. It also has a very nice bar/restaurant overlooking the little beach which is handy for a beer and also the loo! As you approach Cala Morell, turn left at the roundabout and head for the beach.

Es Castell
(Villa Carlos)
Quiet little harbour during the daytime where the ferry taxi service to Mahon calls from time to time. Numerous tapas bars and cafes provide meals from snacks to five course dinners. The place transforms at night time into a throng as all the restaurants compete for custom. Apparently the place to be seen for those who cherish the limelight!


S’Algar
Tucked away to the south east of Mahon is one of the Island’s finest water sports centres. All sorts of water sports can be undertaken here but it appears to specialise in scuba diving. You can swim from the rocks at S’Alagar or walk to the adjacent Cala d’Alcaufar where there is a small beach.


Punta Prima
Southern most tip of the Island overlooking the lighthouse on the small islet Illa de L’Aire. Fine beach and safe swimming with usual mix of gift shops, bars and restaurants. The parascending activity that you may see in the bay is booked from S’Algar.


Fornells
Traditional fishing village and marina. Exceptionally pretty place with it’s little fishing boats and backdrop of white buildings set behind palm trees. Every visitor to Menorca should visit Fornells. There are sailing and wind surfing schools here but the real speciality is fish restaurants - £30 for lobster! Not a place to go swimming but a place to spend an hour or so looking around or three hours having a damn good meal!

Son Parc
Magnificent beach with dunes at the back. Plenty of room to play ball games towards the dunes. Follow the signs to the beach (La Playa) and park in the large car park. Good bar and restaurant, plenty of sunbeds, sunshades, boats and pedalos - 18 hole golf course too.


Arenel D’en
Castell
Excellent beach in a wonderful cove. Great for swimming. Plenty of bars, shops and restaurants. Sunbeds, sunshades, boats and pedalos are available for hire. May not suit the elderly or the unfit as there are lots of steps between the beach and the apartments / shops particularly at west end of the bay. Parking is limited at the west end of the bay, however there is ample parking at the east end of the bay behind the Hotel Aguamarina.


Na Macaret
Very Spanish fishing village and popular with the locals who own most of the small apartments. Certainly worth a visit for an hour. Stroll along the quayside and have a drink at the bar towards the end. Watch the boats going to and from Puerto Addaia.


Cala Tirant
Large sandy bay with plenty of room to play ball games especially towards the back of the beach where it turns into grassy dunes. Quite shallow bathing means rollers are often breaking over the shallow sea bed. Watch for any undertow near the rocks at the edges of the bay particularly if there is any sign of a swell at sea. Sunbeds and sunshades are available albeit limited and there is also a handful of pedaloes avilable for hire. It is useful to visit this bay on your visit to Fornells as they are next door to one another.


Monte Toro
The mountain in the centre of the island standing about 1200 feet high. The road to the top has been improved greatly over the last few years; it used to be quite a frightener. You can see the whole island from the top (not in summer though; too much haze). The small convent that is at the top of the mountain has a snack bar where the nuns will gladly serve you refreshments.


Cala ’n Bosch
Son Xoriguer
This is another of the Island’s resorts that is centred on water sports. You can even do a two day power boat course on a 30 foot motor cruiser and earn a International Certificate of Competence that is recognised by the Royal Yachting Association
Good swimming from a small beach where the usual sunbeds and pedaloes are available for hire. Numerous shops, bars and restaurants particularly round the area of the marina. There is a better beach in the next bay to the east called Son Xoriguer. This too has excellent swimming and the rocks to east of the bay make it particularly good for snorkelling.

 

[MedDreamer]

Know Menorca well but not from a boating angle.

Fornells on the north coast is a good alternative to Mahon, anchorage only though.
Small resort with lots of excellent restaurants. Bay is sheltered from northern winds.

Na Macaret east of Fornells would be a great lunchtime stop over. Mooring alongside excellent Tapas Bar.

Puerto Addaya across the bay from Na Macaret also very pleasant and may have overnight moorings (not too sure though).

V. jealous stuck here behind desk - any spare berths?

 

[sailbadthesinner]

thanks
sorry no spare room.

Beer! Now there's a temporary solution.

 

[MedDreamer]

Oh well. If you don't ask..............

Look forward to reading about where you end up.

Hope the waters are calm and the beer is cold

 

[sailbadthesinner]

cheers ta

Beer! Now there's a temporary solution.

 

[kghowe]

Ciutadella, Cal n'bosch, Cala Blanca Generally round the SW side not so 'niche' as Fornells and other N or East ports. Still get busy. Cala n' bosch is surrounded by excellent restaurants that won't cost you a bomb. Take your snorkel and be prepared to drop the hook and you won't be disappointed. we went in 2000, best holiday for years!
Kevin

 

[MedDreamer]

I wouldn't argue about Calan Bosch and it should be relatively quiet now.



KgHowe: Did you take your own boat or did you charter?. If so where from and how much?

 

[kghowe]

Didn't take the boat, took the family instead, including the outlaws. Nowhere near as much as the boat but don't drink as much fuel!! we had a block of appartments right on te edge of the cliff at Cala Blanca. Looked at price of Kingfisher charter etc and thought too bloody expensive. Ironic thing is that our new boat arrives back from the Med tomorrow having bought it out there and spent two weeks on it (dodging storms for the first week).

Cheers
Kevin