Menorca / The verdict

Is the Cami de Cavalls worth hiking?

Yes, with eyes open: the Cami de Cavalls circles Menorca's coast for 185 km and is free to walk, and its sections reach the island's best coves. The catch is sun, stony ground and busy beaches near the famous coves, so most travelers do better with one or two sections outside high summer than the full loop.

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Why this verdict

The Cami de Cavalls is free to walk and reaches coves that are hard to see any other way, which is why the verdict is go. The official site describes a 185 km route around Menorca in 20 sections, and its FAQ describes the trail as a free public right of way. Five of the 9 reports in the log single out the coves and coastal scenery as the payoff, from the south-coast beaches near Cala Galdana to the cliffs and heath of the north.

The reports are just as clear about the costs. Four describe sun and heat as a real factor, including two trail runners who found their first day longer and tougher than expected and a race runner who struggled with the humidity. Four describe crowds near the famous coves: one walker found the beaches around Cala Galdana unpleasantly busy in early May, and another on a loop near Ciutadella in June found both trail and beaches too crowded. Three describe long stony or rocky stretches. None of that makes the walk a mistake, but it does make it a hike rather than a stroll.

The way around most of those problems is timing and section choice. An April walker on the north coast found mild temperatures and few tourists, and a couple who hiked in late November and early December found most trails empty, at the price of poor weather and thin bus services. Walkers who want the famous southern coves should expect company on the beaches, while the quieter stretches lie away from the car parks.

Timing and tickets

There is no fee to walk. The TIB express bus from Mao to Ciutadella costs 5.75 euros on the official fare list, and one walker used buses for several south-coast sections, though she notes the harder stages cannot be reached by bus. For the full loop, plan beds in advance: the official FAQ says tent camping is prohibited, and one walker who did the trail section by section used a logistics company to move luggage between hotels and fincas. Self-guided packages with luggage transfers start from 822 euros per person on one operator’s site.