Natural Menorca on two wheels

Day 1: S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park

There is no doubt that the best way to visit the Parc Natural de s'Albufera des Grau is by bicycle. It is close to Maó, the starting point of our route. There are several ways to get there and none of them will take you more than half an hour cycling. Once there, you will have the opportunity to explore dunes, ponds and green trails while admiring the delicate, fragile ecosystem that inhabits it. 

S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park is the heart of Menorca's Biosphere Reserve. It covers more than 5,000 hectares and represents diverse and even disparate natural habitats: islets, posidonia meadows in the sea, lagoons, wetlands and forests. A great variety of species live within its boundaries, some endemic, such as the Balearic lizard, and plants such as the socarrell, a kind of pompom-shaped thorny bush.

The 70-hectare lagoon is one of its most unique ecosystems. It is a calm, quiet lagoon. Strolling around the area is a real pleasure for the senses, and if you are quiet, you may be able to recognise some of the main bird species in the area by their song. In this wetland area there are very few predators, which is why it is a refuge and resting place for a multitude of migratory birds and stable populations of aquatic birds, such as the common coot or the osprey.  

And beneath the turquoise waters of Es Grau lives a veritable forest of posidonia oceanica, a marine plant with an enormous capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and keep the waters clean and oxygenated; and also cymodocea. Both are a refuge and food source for numerous marine species, as well as being essential for protecting beaches from erosion and forming sand.

The agroforestry landscape of the park is characterised by alternating grassland, crops and wooded areas, providing diverse habitats for a wide variety of flora. Conserving this mosaic is essential and is one of the main objectives of the park's management. This activity has ancient roots, as reflected in the rich ethnological (wells, huts) and prehistoric (talayots) heritage found in the area.

Remember to visit the Rodríguez Femenias Reception and Visitor Centre, which is open all year round from 9 am to 3 pm and the interesting permanent exhibition S'Albufera des Grau, the core of the Biosphere Reserve.

Day 2: La Vall d'Algaiarens

The second stage of our cycling route runs through La Vall, also known as Algaiarens, an area of great natural and cultural value in the Menorca Biosphere Reserve. It is a Natural Area of Special Interest (ANEI), a practically unspoilt place, with enormous pine forests and hundred-year-old holm oaks that twist and turn into impossible shapes, creating magical corners in the forest. The lush vegetation is dotted with working traditional farms, fields and dry stone walls that mark out paths and meadows.

There are several possible starting points for this route: from Ciutadella, from Cala Morell or from the La Vall car park. The first is about ten kilometres along a tarmac road to La Vall. The second is about five kilometres along the Camí de Cavalls and the final option starts in the area car park, so all you have to do is enjoy the natural surroundings, the breeze through the trees and the silence in one of the best conserved, most valuable and most beloved natural areas among Menorcans.   

The biodiversity of La Vall is amazing: you can enjoy a great variety of native flora and fauna. Don't be surprised if you spot Balearic lizards, rabbits, hedgehogs or even Mediterranean tortoises as you explore the meandering trails that criss-cross this region.

The coastline is very rugged, with large cliffs, caves and sandy beaches (Es Tancats and Platja des Bot). The coastal landscape is varied: there are dune systems and wetlands inhabited by a species of aquatic turtle. There is also a torrent that flows into the beach and temporary ponds, such as Sa Bassa Verda.

By the end of the day, you will have experienced natural Menorca and gained a deeper awareness of its history and connection to the land.

Day 3: El Barranc d'Algendar

The third stage of our route through the hot spots of the Menorcan Biosphere Reserve takes us to Barranc d'Algendar. This is one of the most beautiful and impressive geographical features of the island, and a natural boundary between the municipalities of Ciutadella and Ferreries. 

Getting to Barranc d'Algendar is easy, and there are several ways to do it: from Ciutadella along the Camí Vell or directly from Ferreries, which is easier and quicker. At the roundabout to Ferreries from Ciutadella, on the Me-1, take the turning towards Barranc d'Algendar and after a few minutes you will find a car park near the holiday camp. 

The ravine is one of the deepest on the island: it is seven kilometres and the sides are up to 80 m high in some places. It is excavated by the action of the torrent water, which flows all year round at a considerable speed, even in dry years. This is because it drains a wide area from Pla Verd to the Santa Águeda massif and receives water from the Migjorn aquifer, which creates unique riverbank vegetation in Menorca.

You will immediately notice the microclimate of the ravine. This encourages the growth of endemic flora and fauna, such as pampalonia. It is also a protected area for birds. In fact, you are likely to see birds of prey such as kestrels, kites and peregrine falcons. 

There are two caves In the walls of the ravine, the Murada cave, known since ancient times, and the Càrritx cave, discovered in 1995 and where an important archaeological find was recently made.

Cycling along the winding paths you will come to the Pas den Revull, a narrow pass carved from the rock by nature that has been the main connection point with the Barranc d'Algendar ravine from the Camí Reial. In the past, this road was the main connection route between Ciutadella and Maó. It may date back to Roman times. The stretch that links Ferreries and the Barranc de Algendar was restored a few years ago by a group of volunteers. This means we can now enjoy this unique spot and its dense forest of wild olive trees, holm oaks and bushes that give it a unique aroma and unparalleled beauty. 

Day 4: Sant Tomàs - Prat de Son Bou

The fourth stage of our bicycle route through the Biosphere Reserve will take us from Sant Tomàs to Prat de Son Bou following the Camí de Cavalls. This is a very easy section, only six kilometres long, practically flat, running mostly along the coast and on a path that does not pass through the depressions of the ravines that lead to the coast.  

You will start the route in Sant Tomàs, a seaside resort known for its white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. From there, we will follow the Camí de Cavalls as we enter the rural landscape of Menorca. The trails will take you through old country roads, surrounded by green fields and pine forests.

Along the way you'll see the typical plants that live on the coastal cliffs, consisting mainly of salt-tolerant vegetation. You'll soon reach the Son Bou marshland, an 80-hectare coastal wetland area, one of the largest in Menorca, lying almost parallel to the coast and separated from the sea by an stretch of sand that forms the beautiful beach of Son Bou and Talis. 

In the 1950s, the whole area was used to grow rice, a history that has mingled with the rich biodiversity that we can appreciate today. It is fed by two torrents that flow down the Sa Vall or Son Boter ravine, in the west, and the Barranc des Bec ravine, further east. The vegetation changes from reeds, bindweed and bulrush in the temporarily waterlogged areas to various species of freshwater plants in the deeper pools. On the shore, sea reeds give it a unique and colourful landscape.

Throughout the year, hundreds of water birds pass through here, and in spring and summer many breed among the dense vegetation. During the winter, ducks and herons abound and the reed beds serve as a nocturnal refuge for thousands of starlings, which arrive at dusk creating hypnotic shapes in the orange sky.

As we reach the sandy area, the vegetation varies, changing considerably when we reach the beaches of Talis and Son Bou where the dune vegetation typical of these environments appears. Don't forget a final dip to round off the experience!

Day 5: Ciutadella - Turqueta Cove

The final stage of our cycling route through Menorca's incredible Biosphere Reserve will take you to some of the most beautiful beaches on the island and throughout the Mediterranean. We are talking about the coves on the south coast of Ciutadella, known for their white sand, crystalline turquoise waters and tranquillity. 

Both the coves and the surrounding natural environment are a Natural Area of Special Interest (ANEI) and a buffer zone of the Biosphere Reserve, i.e. an area of high ecological and scenic value. For this reason, we must be especially respectful when passing through and enjoying these beautiful places that nature has given us. 

There is the possibility of visiting the entire south coast of Ciutadella, where there are five beaches: the sandy area of Son Saura, the tiny cove of Es Talaier, Cala en Turqueta, Macarelleta and Macarella. We suggest you venture as far as Cala en Turqueta. 

There are two options for getting there: either from Ciutadella along the Camí de Sant Joan de Missa, on a road also used by motor vehicles with beautiful views of the Menorcan countryside; or from Cap d'Artrutx along the Camí de Cavalls, our nature trail par excellence, which runs along the coast. In both cases, the distance is more or less the same: between 10 and 11 kilometres. 

Cala en Turqueta is one of the most beautiful coves in Menorca. It is between Tambors and na Foradada, under the gaze of Talaia d'Artrutx. This unspoilt, isolated beach has been created by an inlet that runs for 400 metres until it reaches the mainland, forming this blissful cove, flanked by pine-clad cliffs, a typical scene of the south coast of Menorca.  

It is semicircular in shape, with a slab of low rocks dividing its fine white sand into two halves. This slab goes a few metres into the sea. Among its attractive features are its crystal clear, calm water and its Mediterranean beauty. This makes it one of the most popular beaches on the island with many visitors. 

The capacity of the car park is limited and, once full, the entry of motor vehicles is prohibited. There are information panels at the roundabout at the entrance to the beach area indicating whether the car park is full. The availability of car parking, however, has no effect on cyclists, which is all the more reason to come here with this sustainable means of transport.