Winter plans in Menorca, natural island

The most relaxed tourist model and contact with nature in Menorca never ceases in order to surprise those who visit it. The fact that many people repeat advances how difficult it is to resist its charms. An island of around 100,000 inhabitants exemplary in the preservation of its territory, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Would you like to spend a few days getting to know its beauty?

Text: Raúl Beltrán. Palma

CAMÍ DE CAVALLS: Surrounding the 185 kilometers of the island in stages

The Camí de Cavalls (horses path) is a particular Balearic ‘Camino de Santiago’. Almost 200 kilometers of ancient trails that surround Menorca discovering its irresistible natural charms. Menorca Tourism divides this route into 20 stages, but what if you put all of them together? Then you can dedicate days and days to go around Menorca on foot, by bike or on horseback through this GR223 that starts in Sa Mesquida and ends in Cala Sant Esteve.

This route requires adequate equipment according to the weather conditions and attention to signs, as it sometimes runs through private properties. Respecting the rules is key to their preservation and one of them is the prohibition of camping. Therefore, the ideal is to plan the accommodation in detail according to the stages that are going to be covered or to hire the whole experience with a local adventures company. For these winter months it is essential to be warmly dressed.

Camí de Cavalls. Photo: Alejandro Sánchez.

BRITISH FORTIFICATIONS ROUTE: The legacy of the Anglo-Saxon occupation in the 18th century

The British could not resist the charms and the strategic location of the island of Menorca, which they conquered in 1708. Great Britain Kingdom returned its sovereignty to Spain in 1802, almost a century of occupation that left an important mark on the island. English origin words incorporated into the local language, gastronomy, popular games and an extensive heritage that can be known through the British and Fortified Route of Menorca.

The prized port of Maó concentrates much of a route full of defensive architecture, with the nearby Fort Marlborough, the castle of San Felipe and the tower of Stuart o d’en Penjat. In the middle of the port, you can visit the King’s Island, where the remains of the early Christian basilica and the old military hospital are located. Numerous British-built defense towers span from the harbor to the north coast of the island and serve to follow in the footsteps of this historic British legacy.