Menorca’s (almost) Secret Beaches: a Local’s Guide with Naturist Spots and Types of Sand

Cala Escorxada: the wildest postcard on the Migjorn

An unspoilt cove with fine white sand, turquoise water, and an amphitheatre of marés cliffs crowned with pines. No beach bars or sun loungers: just posidonia, silence, and the scent of resin drifting down from the pinewood. As in almost all the southern coves, a ravine carved over millennia into the limestone platform ends here, and that ravine is the reason the beach exists: sand builds up right where the stream meets the sea.

On calm-sea days, snorkelling along the side walls is spectacular: seabream, wrasse and, if you’re lucky, a painted comber among the posidonia patches. Precisely because of that meadow —the one that keeps the water so clear— it’s best not to anchor on top of it or pull away the dry remains on the shore: dead posidonia protects the sand from winter storms.

• Access: Camí de Cavalls from Cala Mitjana (westbound) or from Sant Tomàs via Binigaus (eastbound, longer).
• Walking time: 45–60 min from Mitjana along a dirt path with intermittent pine shade.
• Services: none (bring water and your own shade).
• Ideal for: couples, snorkellers and laid-back travellers.

Cala Fustam: small, shady and very quiet

Next to Escorxada —they’re separated by just one headland— Fustam is even more intimate: barely 30 metres of sand tucked between rock and pinewood. Its name comes from wood (fusta in Catalan): for centuries, coves like this served as natural landing spots to load firewood and timber from inland forests onto coastal boats. Today the pinewood remains, offering proper natural shade —a rare luxury in unspoilt coves— and a small cave on the side that kids love.

The water is usually well sheltered from southerly winds and stays calm when other Migjorn coves have swell. Perfect for a long, unhurried swim.

• Access: Camí de Cavalls from Mitjana, passing Escorxada first.
• Walking time: 60–75 min total from the Mitjana car park.
• Services: none. Patchy mobile coverage.
• Recommendation: start early; the pine shade in the morning makes the walk much more pleasant.

Mini south itinerary: Mitjana → Fustam → Escorxada (a perfect half day)

If you only have one morning, this combo is unbeatable and it’s the one I usually suggest on my guided outings:

1. 8:30 — Park at the Cala Mitjana car park (arrive early: it fills up). Quick first swim in Mitjana or Mitjaneta with the cove almost empty.
2. 9:30 — Camí de Cavalls westbound: gentle climb through pines, viewpoints over the cliffs, and down to Escorxada (~50 min).
3. 11:00 — Short hop to Fustam (another 10–15 min). Long swim, pine shade and a picnic.
4. 13:30 — Easy return. Total: about 6–7 km, suitable for anyone used to walking.

With small kids, plan it only as far as Escorxada; with teenagers, the full route works well. And if the sea is calm, bring your snorkel mask: the rocky stretches between coves are like an aquarium.

Cala Pilar: the wildest north face

We switch worlds. In Pilar the sand is golden with reddish streaks, dunes climb up the hillside, and the landscape feels like another planet: here the clays and slates of the north of the island crop out, Menorca’s oldest materials. The contrast with the white southern coves is so dramatic that on my routes I often say crossing the island is like travelling 300 million years in half an hour by car.

The access walk crosses a shady holm-oak wood —rare on the coast— and ends at a viewpoint where the cove suddenly appears, with the islet of Ses Salines in the background. With tramontana there’s serious swell: that day, the south is better. With a southerly wind, though, Pilar is a mirror.

• Access: signposted trail from the Camí del Pilar car park (Me-1 road, turn-off at Alfurí).
• Walking time: 30–40 min with elevation (the return is uphill).
• Services: none. Closed-toe shoes essential.
• Ideal: nature lovers, geology fans and photographers.

Cala Pregonda: reddish sand and calm waters

The classic of the north. Its name probably comes from pregon, “deep” in the island’s old Catalan: the bay opens wide, deep and sheltered, with a string of islets that soften the swell and create a huge natural pool. The orange colour of the sand comes from the breakdown of local clays and sandstones, and at sunset the whole cove lights up in copper tones that look like Mars.

The walk from Binimel·là is the gentlest on this list and gives you views the whole way, with the old salt pans and the islets on the horizon. Snorkelling among the islets is some of the best in Menorca: mixed rocky and sandy seabeds with lots of life.

• Access: from the Binimel·là car park via the marked Camí de Cavalls trail.
• Walking time: 20–30 min, easy.
• Services: restaurant in Binimel·là — none on the cove itself.
• Snorkel: excellent among the islets.

Sand types: white, golden and reddish

Menorca’s geology splits the island into two worlds, and the beaches tell the story better than any book:

• Fine white sand (south): born from the Migjorn limestone platform, “young” Miocene Menorca (around 20 million years old). Escorxada, Fustam, Mitjana or Macarella are its daughters: turquoise water over a pale seabed, the “Caribbean” effect in photos.
• Golden sand (north and west): a mix of sandstones and stream deposits. La Vall/Algaiarens is the great example.
• Reddish sand (north): Tramuntana clays and slates, the oldest materials in the Balearics (up to 400 million years old, from the Paleozoic). Pregonda, Cavalleria and Pilar owe their colour to this primitive Menorca.

This geological contrast —two islands in one— is one of the reasons Menorca has been a Biosphere Reserve since 1993.

Which cove should I choose today? The wind rule

In Menorca, the wind decides the plan —and if you understand it, you’ll always get it right:

• Tramontana (north): the north turns rough → go south: Escorxada and Fustam will be sheltered and jellyfish-free.
• Migjorn (south): the south gets murky → go north: Pregonda and Pilar like mirrors.
• Dead calm: any of the four; choose based on the walk you feel like doing.

It’s the same rule I explain in depth in the general beach guide, with a wind table and the anti-jellyfish trick included.

Tips and what to bring

• Sports or hiking shoes. Avoid flip-flops for access.
• Water (min. 1.5 L per person), fruit, and something salty. There are no beach bars.
• Sun protection: cap, sunglasses and biodegradable sunscreen (the posidonia will thank you).
• Light towel and bag for your trash. Leave the cove better than you found it.
• Mask and snorkel: in these four coves, they’re always worth it.
• Let someone know your plan: coverage is patchy and in the low season you might be alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go by public transport?

In summer there are buses to Cala Galdana (to access Mitjana/Fustam/Escorxada) and to Es Mercadal or Ferreries for the north, although the last few kilometres to the northern car parks require a taxi or car. Check updated timetables before you go.

Is there mobile coverage?

Variable and sometimes limited in virgin coves. Tell someone your plan and check the weather before leaving.

Are they nudist beaches?

There’s no official signage: they’re unspoilt coves with a mixed vibe where naturism is common and accepted, especially in Escorxada, Fustam and Pilar. Coexistence is natural and respectful.

What’s the best time of year?

May to October for swimming. June and September are the sweet spot: great water, long light, and quiet trails. In peak August, start early: at 9:00 you’ll have the cove almost to yourself; at 12:00, you won’t.

Can I book a guided tour?

Yes. I organise private routes tailored to your pace and level, choosing the coast based on the day’s wind. Message me on WhatsApp or check out our excursions.