Camí de Cavalls

Route of the path 'Camí de Cavalls'

The Camí de Cavalls is an ancient path of 186 km (116 miles)[1] that encircles the
island of Menorca, Spain. This long-distance walking route is the GR 223 of the
Senderos de Gran Recorrido network in Spain and it is also used to reach some of
the most inaccessible beaches of Menorca.

History[edit]
Camí de Cavalls: section from Es Talaier to Cala en Turqueta
It is widely accepted that the Camí de Cavalls was built in order to connect the
watchtowers, fortresses and cannons distributed along the coast of the island and
to make the transport of troops and artillery easier. However, the date of its
origin is not so clear. The most accepted theory attributes it is the French
invaders during the different periods they lived in the island, but according to
some studies, it could have been created in the 14th century.[2]
Since its original function was the defence and the control of the island, it was
patrolled by soldiers mounted on Menorquin horses, hence the word cavalls (meaning
"horses" in Catalan) in the name of the path.[citation needed]

Restoration[edit]
During decades part of the path belonged to private properties and could not be
used by everybody. However, after an agreement between the island's government and
the landlords, the path became public. Then, the Government started the restoration
of the whole path, spending €934,977.37 in a first stage and €800,159 in a second
stage completed in May 2011.[3]

Stages[edit]
The path is divided in 20 different stages, each of them between 5 and 14 km. All
the start and arrival points can be gained access to by road traffic, making
possible to cover only one or some stages of the path at a time.

Stage

Start

Finish

Duration

Distance

Difficulty

Maó

Es Grau

3 h 30 min

10.0 km (6.2 miles)

Medium
2

Es Grau

Favàritx

3 h 30 min

8.6 km (5.3 miles)

Medium

Favàritx

Arenal d'en Castell

5 h

13.6 km (8.5 miles)

Medium

Arenal d'en Castell

Cala Tirant

4 h

10.8 km (6.7 miles)

Easy

Cala Tirant

Binimel·là

4 h

9.6 km (6.0 miles)

Medium

Binimel·là

Els Alocs
5 h

8.9 km (5.5 miles)

Difficult

Els Alocs

Algaiarens

4 h 30 min

9.7 km (6.0 miles)

Middle

Algaiarens

Cala Morell

2 h 10 min

5.4 km (3.4 miles)

Middle

Cala Morell

Punta Nati

3 h

7.0 km (4.3 miles)

Easy

10

Punta Nati

Ciutadella

4 h

10.5 km (6.5 miles)

Easy
11

Ciutadella

Cap d’Artrutx

5 h

13.2 km (8.2 miles)

Easy

12

Cap d'Artrutx

Cala en Turqueta

5 h

13.3 km (8.3 miles)

Medium

13

Cala en Turqueta

Cala Galdana

2 h 30 min

6.4 km (4.0 miles)

Easy

14

Cala Galdana

Sant Tomàs

4 h 30 min

10.8 km (6.7 miles)

Medium

15

Sant Tomàs

Son Bou
2 h 30 min

6.4 km (4.0 miles)

Easy

16

Son Bou

Cala en Porter

3 h 30 min

8.0 km (5.0 miles)

Medium

17

Cala en Porter

Binisafúller

4 h 30 min

11.8 km (7.3 miles)

Easy

18

Binisafúller

Punta Prima

3 h 30 min

8.1 km (5.0 miles)

Easy

19

Punta Prima

Cala de Sant Esteve

2 h 40 min

7.3 km (4.5 miles)

Easy
20

Cala de Sant Esteve

Maó

2 h 20 min

6.0 km (3.7 miles)

Easy

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 1, Carrer d'Isabel II, Port Mahon.

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 1, Costa de ses Voltes, Port Mahon.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 1, near Cala Mesquida.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 1, Macar de Binillautí.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 2, Cala de Sa Torreta.

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 2, on the way to Cala des Tamarells del Sud.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 3. Ses Salines de Mongofre

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 4, Boscos de s'Albufera des Compte

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 4, Platges de Fornells, close to Cala Tirant.

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 5, Platges de Cavalleria.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 5, Cala Mica.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 6, near Cala Pregonda.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 7, near Els Alocs

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 7, on the way to Cala Pilar

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 7, Cala Pilar

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 7, near Pla de Mar.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 8, lookout in Ses Fontanelles.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 9, well and troughs near Punta Nati

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 12, Son Saura.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 12, Es Talaier.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 12, access to Cala Turqueta

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 13, path to Macarella.

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 13, Macarella.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 14, near Cala Escorxada.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 14, near Binigaus.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 15, Barranc de Son Boter o de sa Vall.

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 15, Sant Tomàs.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 16, Cala Llucalari.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 16, Llucalari.

Camí de Cavalls. Stage 16, Barranc de Cala en Porter.

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 17, near Cales Coves.

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 18, Binibèquer.

Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 19.

Events[edit]
Since the whole path is restored, activities and events around it are arising.
Between April 28, 2012 and May 1, 2012, the world champion in adventure racing
Arnau Julià went in 82 h 30 min three times around the path, one running, one in
mountain-bike and the last one in kayak, covering in total more than 500 km (310
miles).[4]
The Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls was held for the first time between 18 and 20 May
2012 and 140 participants took part in the five different races of this event:
Trail Cami de Cavalls 185.3 km, Trail Costa Nord – 94.2 km (North coast only),
Trail Costa Sud – 91 km (south coast only), Trekking Costa Nord – 46.6 km and
Trekking Costa Sud – 43.5 km.[5]

References[edit]

^ "Tres cuartas partes del Camí de Cavalls ya están señalizadas" (in Spanish).
Menorca.info. Archived from the original on 25 August 2009. Retrieved 19 September
2009.

^ "Camí de Cavalls". VisitMenorca.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.

Retrieved 23 March 2008.

^ "El Gobierno central concluye la segunda fase de las obras del Camí de Cavalls"
(in Spanish). Menorca.info. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved
21 May 2011.

^ "El reto 360ºx3, la triple vuelta a Menorca de Arnau Julià" (in Spanish). Camí de
Cavalles 360. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.

^ "Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls Website". Retrieved 19 May 2012.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Camí de Cavalls.

Menorca Walking Holidays. Camí de Cavalls

The Camí de Cavalls stage by stage. Hiking in Menorca. Discovering Menorca
Information about Camí de Cavalls GR223 Includes high detail maps in PDF available
to download.
Menorca the Guide Information, maps and directions for sections of the Cami de
Cavalls and other walks in Menorca.
Maps of the Came de Cavalls Menorca Official maps in an easy to use 'Google' like
format. Please note I have found some of these maps are not very accurate.
Durations, lengths and difficulty of all 20 sections
Authority control
VIAF
Coordinates: 39°55′35″N 3°54′33″E / 39.92639°N 3.90917°E / 39.92639; 3.90917