Massive boulders litter the shore near the point of sa Cigonya
Follow the wall onwards to a little inlet, and look carefully to spot a rocky path climbing to the top of the cliffs. There is a lot of rock and scrub around, so find and follow a vaguely trodden path. If in doubt, then keep the cliff edge in view, but don’t get too close to it, and continue carefully across bare and broken rock. A wall reaches the cliff edge, and a stone step-stile crosses it. Follow the path downhill, passing carefully around an inlet where the cliffs overhang. Marvel at the house-sized boulders in the sea.
Pass between the end of a wall and a cliff edge, where the path squeezes between bushes, and walk uphill to go through a gateway gap in a wall. There is a slight dip along the cliff edge at Penyal Alt des Sòtil, with lots of euphorbia bushes dotted around. Limestone pavement reaches the cliff edge; then there is a stone stile over a wall. Pass through a cleared, grassy, stony space surrounded by bushy scrub. A trodden path squeezes into the bushes and runs downhill, rocky underfoot. Do not go down the cliffs using a trodden path, but head inland a bit to pick up a wide, trodden earth path instead. Follow this carefully downhill, crossing steep rock, continuing down to a tiny sandy beach hemmed in by wonderfully attractive cliffs at Caló de Rafalet.
The narrow, rocky inlet of Caló de Rafalet is reached before s’Algar.
There are two ways to leave this inlet. One is to walk directly inland, up a well-wooded valley, linking with the GR223, then turn left for Alcalfar, or right to return to Cala de Sant Esteve. The other way is to climb back from the sand, over rocks, and as soon as the path levels out, turn left and climb up the steep, rocky wooded slope. A winding path leaves the woods and rises on a more open slope of scrub and bushes. A stone step-stile crosses a wall close to some houses.
Walk down a road running parallel to the cliffs. The rock alongside is savagely eroded and generally too difficult to walk across. When the road later turns right inland through the resort of s’Algar (hotels, shops, bars, restaurants, summer buses, taxis), go down Carrer d’es Sol and turn right to pick up another coastal road with a promenade path and palm trees alongside. Stay on the promenade and pass seawards of s’Algar Diving, passing a curious blend of mock-paved concrete and low rocks.
A notice reads ‘Playa Beach Strand Alcaufar’ and a path follows a wall past rampant mixed bushy scrub. Squeeze between a couple of houses and turn right up a road, Carrer de Xaloc, into the village of Alcalfar. Turn left to reach a junction, then turn right to reach a bus stop opposite the Bar Via Maris. The GR223, Stage 1, can be followed onwards.
WALK 3
Maó and Trebalúger
| Start/Finish | Plaça d’Espanya, Maó |
| Distance | 15km (9½ miles) |
| Total Ascent/Descent | 100m (330ft) |
| Time | 5hrs |
| Terrain | Mostly gentle roads, tracks and paths, with one short stony stretch. |
| Refreshment | Plenty of choice in Maó. |
| Public transport | Plenty of bus services to and from Maó. |
The city of Maó quickly gives way to gentle countryside, where drystone-walled roads and tracks runs through fields and link quiet little villages. This route visits interesting talaiots at Trebalúger and Trepucó in a circuit from the centre of Maó. By studying maps, quiet lanes can be identified to link this walk with Walks 4 and 5. This allows longer walks to be created, taking in more villages and ancient sites, with no need to return to Maó.
There are many ways to leave the Plaça d’Espanya in Maó, and a street map (such as the one at the front of this guide) will prove useful. Walk into the adjoining Plaça del Carme and keep right of the large building, Claustre del Carme. Turn left at the Plaça del Princep to walk through Plaça de la Miranda. A fine viewpoint overlooks the inlet of Port de Maó.
Turn right to follow a road along the top of a cliff and/or wall. This is the Costa de la Miranda, becoming the Passeig Marítim. At times there is a path running parallel that can be used. The road turns right and passes the Casino Marítim, overlooking the small inlet of Cala Figuera. Turn left along a road to reach a roundabout. Turn left again, not down the road called Costa de Corea, but along a paved path that continues above the inlet. This leads to the busy Me-2 road. Turn left along it, then quickly right along the Camí Verd.
Watch for a narrow path on the left, which leads to steps climbing quickly to another road, the Camí de Biniatap. Turn left up the road, levelling out among fields. Continue straight along a track signposted as a cycle route. The track is flanked by walls and bushes, then continues as a road, passing a square tower and houses at Son Vilar. Keep straight ahead as signposted at a junction, passing fields to reach a crossroads. Go straight ahead, with an industrial site to the left, staying on the Camí de Biniatap.
Turn left along a track signposted for Trebalúger, following it gently down past overgrown fields and bushes. A junction is reached where our route, the Camí de Biniatap, heads right. The Camí de Rafal heads left. When a road is reached at Toraixer, cross over and follow a track past houses, keeping left and quickly joining another road. Turn right along this bendy road, which later makes a pronounced bend to the right. Turn right along a track called the Camí Fosc.
The track rises and falls, worn to lumpy bedrock, and then it narrows. Later it broadens to become a gentle track again; follow it straight ahead, ignoring other tracks to right and left. Keep straight ahead as signposted along a tarmac road, reaching a junction with the Camí de Rafalet in the village of Trebalúger.
Turn right to reach another junction, then turn left along Carrer de sa Torre. Pass the torre, which is a square white building. Keep straight ahead at junctions until Sant Lluís is signposted to the left. However, don’t turn left, but turn right instead, then turn left up the Camí d’es Talaiot. A gate on the left leads to the Talaiot de Trebalúger.
The Talaiot de Trebalúger is one of the oldest talaiots on Menorca
The bouldery structure sitting on a rocky outcrop is Talaiot de Trebalúger, one of the oldest talaiots on Menorca, dating from around 1500–100BC. It occupies the site of an earlier structure. The view from the top, barely rising above 50m (165ft), takes in much of south-east Menorca, including parts of Maó, the headland of La Mola, the villages of Trebalúger and Sant Lluís and the airport.
Retrace your steps back into Trebalúger via Carrer de sa Torre and turn left along the Camí de Rafalet, passing a supermarket. Cross the busy Me-6 road to continue along a track, the Camí de Trepucó a Trebalúger. This passes the ‘Menorca Clearance Centre’ and later narrows dramatically. Now little more than a path, the surface is covered with loose lumps of rock for a while. A firmer stretch meanders through fields, eventually reaching a junction with another track. Keep left and join a road on a corner.
Turn right as signposted for Maó and follow the road straight ahead past other roads and tracks around Son Amar. A series of roads is signposted for ‘Poblat de Trepucó’, so follow these one after another, always turning left. However, after passing a ceramics studio, it is also possible to take a short cut up a path on the left, called Camí des Moro, then turn right along a road to reach Trepucó.
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