1st April 2026
Beyond Menorca's coves and clear shallows, a network of coastal paths traces the island’s edges, where landscapes shift from rugged, wind-carved cliffs to shaded pine forests and hidden bays. At its heart, the Camí de Cavalls offers a way to experience it all on foot – a route that connects not just places, but the changing character of the island itself.
It’s easy to think of Menorca as just its beaches. From the water, it appears as a sequene of coves and clear shallows, each one self-contained. Yet on foot, the island behaves differently.
Paths run almost uninterrupted around the coastline, cutting behind beaches, across headlands, through farmland. They move through the landscape, and walking them changes the scale and your experience of the island entirely. Distances feel earned; places that once seemed separate begin to make sense together.
At the centre of it all is the Camí de Cavalls, a coastal trail that circles Menorca in full. Around it, smaller routes branch off and return, offering shorter ways into the terrain.
To understand Menorca is to walk it. Here’s where we’d recommend you begin.
Encircling the island for approximately 185 kilometres, the Camí de Cavalls is one of the Mediterranean’s most remarkable long-distance trails. Its origins date back to the early 14th century, when it was used by mounted guards to defend the coastline. Today, it has been carefully restored and marked, allowing walkers to follow its full route in stages.
Divided into 20 sections, the trail offers flexibility, making it easy to join or leave, depending on your desire for a short coastal walk or a multi-day hike. Each stretch has its own identity, shaped by the geography of the island.
In the north, the landscape feels raw and exposed. The northern wind – the tramuntana – has carved the terrain into something almost lunar in places, with red earth, jagged rock formations, and dramatic cliffs dropping into the deep blue. Vegetation here is low and resilient, shaped by constant exposure.
The southern sections, by contrast, are softer and more sheltered. Pine forests stretch down towards hidden coves, and paths wind through shaded ravines where the air feels cooler, heavy with moisture. The walking is gentler; the light filtered through leaves, a terrestrial guide.
To walk the Camí de Cavalls is to experience the full spectrum of Menorca’s character. Moving along the paths, you see the island’s full, evolving story – an insight into how quickly the landscape changes, even over short distances.
While the Camí de Cavalls forms the backbone of Menorca’s hiking network, smaller coastal trails offer their own rewards. Some branch off from the main route, leading to secluded beaches and viewpoints that feel removed from the rest of the island.
Near Cala Mitjana and Cala Galdana, forested paths weave through limestone cliffs, opening suddenly onto bright, sandy coves. These routes are among the most accessible, yet still retain a sense of discovery, especially in the early morning or late afternoon, when the light softens and the crowds thin.
Further north, trails around Cap de Cavalleria feel more exposed and elemental. The land stretches outward into the sea, with long, uninterrupted views and a sense of space that’s hard to find elsewhere. Walking here, the scale of the landscape becomes apparent, as does its solitude.
These smaller routes don’t require the same commitment as the full Camí de Cavalls, but they capture the same essence: movement through a landscape that is constantly shifting.
Hiking in Menorca is about engaging with the landscape directly. The island isn’t mountainous, but the terrain can be demanding, with uneven paths, rocky stretches, sandy sections, and occasional steep climbs along the cliffs.
Distances vary depending on the route, but even shorter walks can take longer than expected due to the ground underfoot. A 10-kilometre stretch might feel more substantial here than it would elsewhere.
The climate plays its part, too. Summers can be intense, with high temperatures and little shade along exposed sections of the coast. Spring and autumn are widely considered the best times to walk, when the air is cooler and the landscape greener.
Winter brings its own appeal. The light is sharper, the paths emptier; the island feels closer to its natural state.
Walking opens up a different relationship with Menorca’s natural world. Details that might otherwise go unnoticed begin to emerge: the movement of birds overhead, the scent of wild herbs, the shifting colours of the sea as the day changes.
The Camí de Cavalls passes through a remarkable variety of habitats. Wetlands near S’Albufera des Grau bring birdlife into close view, while coastal sections reveal the interplay between land and sea, waves breaking against rock, salt shaping the vegetation, seabirds riding the wind.
Inland stretches, particularly in the south, pass through wooded areas where holm oaks and pines create pockets of shade. In these quieter sections, the island feels almost enclosed.
And always, the presence of the tramuntana can be felt, shaping both the landscape and the experience of moving through it.
There’s something about walking that changes how you understand a place. Distances become tangible, transitions noticeable. You begin to see how one landscape gives way to another: how a rocky headland softens into a sandy bay, how open coastline folds into sheltered woodland.
In Menorca, the change feels particularly significant. The island’s commitment to preserving its natural environment means much of the landscape remains largely untouched. Development feels distant, and even in popular areas, it’s possible to find stretches of path where you’re entirely alone.
The Camí de Cavalls, in this sense, is a thread that ties the island together – historically and geographically, yes, but also in a way that helps you understand your place in the natural landscape.
While the infrastructure around hiking in Menorca is well developed, preparation remains essential.
Waymarking along the Camí de Cavalls is generally clear, but carrying a map or GPS route is advisable, particularly on longer sections. Water is crucial, especially in warmer months, as facilities can be limited along more remote stretches.
Footwear should be chosen with the terrain in mind (sturdy enough for rocky paths, but comfortable for long distances). And as with much of the island, timing makes a difference: starting early or walking later in the day can transform the experience entirely.
There’s often a moment, near the end of a stretch, when the path lifts slightly and the coastline comes back into view.
A cove sits below you. A headland extends further out. Another section of path becomes visible in the distance.
Nothing has changed exactly. And yet the island feels different. What once appeared as separate places begins to hold together – something you’ve followed, step by step, into understanding.
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