Mahon Harbour looking out to Isla del Rey
and, in the distance, Isla Lazaretto near the entrance

Calas Covas 39°51'-7N 4°08'-7E

Cala Binidali next to Cala Binparraitx

Ciutadella Harbour

Day One

After briefing and provisioning, get your crew used to the yacht in the beautiful and safe waters of Mahón Harbour. There are some lovely anchorages within the harbour - our favourite stop for lunch or tea is Cala Taulera near the harbour entrance behind Isla del Lazareto. You can approach through the narrow canal but keep a look out for the yellow glass bottom boats coming the other way.

Stay at anchor overnight or return to our mooring base for an evening out along the harbour.
Recommended restaurants - Itaki, Sa Lliga (Club Maritimo), Wepi, La Minerva, Latitude 40. If you want to watch the rugby, football etc on a large screen or have an English breakfast then Pierros is the place to go. For Tapas try Sa Taverna d'es Port. For a pizza go to Casanova, or Pizzeria Opera.

Breakfasts, sandwiches and fresh bread - Cafe Oh La La, Sa Lliga, (Club Maritimo) Fuensanta, opposite the ferry terminal.

Day Two

Leave Mahon harbour and, depending on departure time, stop for lunch at Cala Biniparraitx, Cala Binidali, 10nm and Cala Coves 16nm (a must visit site). If you prefer to go ashore, stop at the pretty beach of Binibeca, where there is a picturesque beach bar. Or sail further west to Es Canutells or Calan Porter, a popular holiday resort where there are numerous restaurants and bars.

Night stop - take your pick from numerous virgin beaches along the south coast or one with restaurants ashore.

Unspoilt anchorages - Cala Escorxada, Cala Fustam, Cala Trebaluja, Cala Mitjana 27nm Cala Turqueta, Cala de Son Saura

If you wish to go ashore, anchor in Cala Galdana (restaurants ashore in summer) or Cala Macarella (one beach bar/snack bar).

Cala Trebaluga 39°55'-8N 3°59'-4E

Day Three Ciutadella

Short sail to Ciutadella 11 nm. Ciutadella is the enchanting former capital of Menorca and it is worth spending a morning or evening exploring the heart of the old town around the cathedral. If you are interested in architecture and history you can hire a recorded tour of Ciutadella from the tourist office. Or you can download it from the internet at www.balearicislandstourism.info

In 2011 a new ferry terminal was built outside Ciutadella Harbour and so access has been improved. There are moorings at the Club Nautic or in Calan Busquets on the north side of the harbour, but be warned it will be expensive in peak season. New pontoons are under construction perpendicular to the wall where the ferries used to dock.

There are Showers at Club Nautic yacht club and the Port Authority has free showers on the north side of the port.

We recommend anchoring stern-to-shore in Cala Delgollador, just outside the mouth of the harbour. Take an additional line ashore and secure it around a rock. This anchorage is close to the town beach and it is a short walk to the centre of town. (Cala Delgollador is not safe when there is a SW wind.)

Recommended restaurants and bars

Café Balear on the far side of the small bridge, is famous for its seafood. There are two sittings during the evening.

Bar Triton opens at the crack of dawn to cater for the fishermen and those leaving the nightclubs at the far end of the port. It offers a great range of tapas or tasty plates of burgers egg and chips for the less adventurous family members.

To us, Ciutadella wouldn’t be Ciutadella without Bar Imperi on the main square. It is a lovely traditional bar, popular with locals and visitors day and night. There is a beautiful vaulted ceiling but beware of the strange acoustics. You can find yourself listening to a conversation going on in the opposite corner while you struggle to hear your partner speak across the table. You can drink here all evening and still be very pleased with the total on your bill. Other good local bars on the square are the Qiosc, 971 and La reina.

Other good value restaurants include Ses Voltes (try to get a table on the roof terrace in Summer), Don Giacome, Ca Nito and Aurora. If you can find your way to the fish and meat market hidden in the centre, there are some good tapas bars such as Es Mercat and Cas Marino. Along the way you may come across a queue of locals waiting outide El Hogar de Pollo.

Day Four

Afternoon sail to Cala Morell, with restaurants and caves, or the beautiful Cala Algaiarens, known locally as La Vall 12nm. There are two beaches at La Vall, and you can anchor off either. Watch your toes as you are going ashore or swimming as there is a rocky reef close to the large beach. If you walk behind the headland dividing the two you will find a creek full of turtles.

Day Five
What could be nicer than lunch in Cala Pregonda 10nm and then dinner in Fornells 12 nm. There is a complete change of geology on the north side of the island and you can look out for the strange rock formations off the beach of Cala Pregonda.

Cala Pregonda 40°03'-5N 4°02'-6E

Fornells is a picturesque fishing village and renowned throughout Spain for its lobster and mediterranean seafood. King Juan Carlos I of Spain has anchored his yacht here many times to partake of the speciality Caldereta de Langosta (lobster stew). If you want a special night out we recommend Es Cranc near the church but you will need to book and check the price of the fish before you order!! Our favourite is El Pescador, with the tree growing through the terrace. They do a great value set menu or choose from a full range of delicious dishes.

In 2011 there were no free mooring buoys in Fornells harbour but you can anchor for free within the harbour. Moorings are available from the Port Authority www.portsib.es Tel: +34 971 376 604 Hours 08:00 - 15:00, 08:00 - 20:00 or VHF Channel 9. Alternatively, Club Nautic Fornells has 31 berths for craft between 5 and 12 m, with a maximum depth of 4 meters. www.cnfornells.com Tel: 971 37 63 28

Day Six

Short sail to Isla Colom where you can anchor for lunch behind the island 11nm. In 2011 there were no free mooring buoys but it is free to anchor. This area is Menorca's Biosphere reserve.

If you wish to go ashore for dinner you can anchor off Es Grau 2nm. You will need to sail around the far side of Isla Colom as the water is very shallow between the island and the shoreline. Recommended restaurants: Can Bernat and Es Moll.

On leaving, look out for the rock 1m down 200m E of Isla Colom’s Cap de levant.

Day Seven
Leisurely morning and lunch. Sail to our mooring base at Marina Mahon, Mahon Harbour for 18.00 hrs 12nm. Don´t forget to refuel at the Repsol station close to the pontoon before returning to your mooring.

Day Eight
Marina Check. Please vacate the yacht as you found it at 09.30 hrs

Please Note.
The above is totally subject to suitable sea and wind direction and should be read in conjunction with and subject to the recommendations of Imray Islas Baleares Pilot Guide by Graham Hutt

These are only a small selection of the beautiful coves you can explore around the coast of Menorca. The Pilot Guide gives details of over 80 calas for you to explore.