Visit the 8 most beautiful beaches in the South of Menorca Marenostrum

The best thing about this Marenostrum trip is simple: a boat reaches beaches that would take a long walk to find. Over about three and a half hours, you cruise past Menorca’s southern coves, stopping to swim at places such as Cala Turqueta and Cala Escorxada when weather and beach conditions allow.

I like the small boat, limited to 12 passengers, and the chance to use snorkeling gear and a paddleboard rather than just sit and look. I also like the friendly, multilingual crew. Captain Juan Antonio has been especially praised for explaining the coves in several languages and keeping the group involved.

The main consideration is that this is a sightseeing cruise, not a beach-hopping tour. You usually swim at two coves, while most beaches are viewed from the water, and rough seas or busy conditions can change the plan.

Key points before you book

• Two main swimming stops: Cala Turqueta and Cala Escorxada are normally used for swims, subject to weather and local conditions.
• Small-group setting: The boat carries no more than 12 people, giving you more room than a large excursion boat.
• Water gear included: Snorkeling equipment and a paddleboard are available during the outing.
• Hard-to-reach coves: Cala Escorxada and Cala Trebalúger are far easier to see by boat than on foot.
• Short scenic pauses: Several coves receive about 15 minutes of viewing time rather than a full beach visit.
• Good language support: Guides have provided explanations in English, Spanish, French, German, and other languages.

Why this south-coast boat trip works so well

Menorca’s southern shore is a chain of pale sand coves, pine-covered cliffs, and clear water. The trouble is getting between them. Some beaches have roads or walking paths, while others require a long hike from another cove. A boat lets you see the whole stretch in one outing without spending your morning following coastal trails.

Marenostrum’s tour begins at the bus stop near Cala Galdana Playa, at Passatge Riu 2 in La Serpentona. Cala Galdana is both a resort cove and a practical starting point, with services nearby. The activity ends at the same point, so you do not need to arrange a second transfer.

The boat holds a maximum of 12 passengers. That matters here. The southern coves feel more personal from a small vessel, and you have a better chance of getting a clear view of the shoreline. The boat also has padded areas at the front where you can stretch out, although a small boat can rock in unsettled water.

The crew is one of the strongest parts of the outing. Juan Antonio has been singled out for being warm, funny, and able to explain the coast in several languages. Other guides, including Juan and Noe, have also been praised for their friendly manner. If your group includes people who speak different languages, the crew has shown that it can switch between them and keep everyone included.

Cala Turqueta and Cala Escorxada: the main water time

Cala Turqueta is usually the first major bathing stop, with about 25 minutes set aside. Its name fits the scene: clear turquoise water, fine sand, and pine trees framing one of Menorca’s best-known coves.

This is a good place to snorkel. The supplied equipment means you do not need to bring your own mask and fins, though you may still prefer your own gear for comfort. Twenty-five minutes passes quickly, so plan on choosing between a brisk swim, a short snorkel, or simply floating near the boat.

Cala Escorxada is the other important bathing stop, also generally around 25 minutes. The cove sits at the mouth of the Torrent de sa Torre and has a rounded, U-shaped form. It is difficult to reach from land, with a walk of roughly an hour and a half from Cala Mitjana, so arriving by boat is the sensible choice.

This is where the paddleboard and appetizer usually come into play. You can take a turn on the board, swim in the calm water, and have a snack before moving on. The exact order can change with conditions, but Escorxada is the kind of stop that gives the cruise its value: you see a remote beach without giving up a large part of your day to hiking.

Do not assume these are beach landings. The boat experience centers on swimming from the boat and viewing the coves. One useful warning is that you may admire a beach from offshore without walking onto its sand.

Macarelleta and Macarella: Menorca’s postcard pair

Cala Macarelleta is one of the most photographed coves on the island. It is small, with fine white sand and bright blue-green water. From the sea, you get the classic view of a tiny beach tucked below the trees.

The stop at Macarelleta is brief, and the boat may only pause offshore. That is enough for photographs, but not enough for a relaxed shore visit. If your goal is to plant your towel on Macarelleta, this cruise will not replace a dedicated beach outing.

Next comes Cala Macarella, its larger neighbor. Macarella is also a natural beach with pale sand and clear water, though it is heavily visited in summer. The boat generally allows about 15 minutes here. You can take photographs, listen to the guide’s explanation, and see how the two coves sit beside each other.

From offshore, several of Menorca’s coves can look alike. That is not a flaw in the coast, but it does make the guide’s commentary useful. The different coves have distinct access, shape, exposure, and nearby natural features, even when the view from the boat is another sweep of white sand and blue water.

Trebalúger, Son Saura, and the value of seeing more

Cala Trebalúger is one of the most isolated stops. A small river reaches the sea here, adding a freshwater channel to the white sand and turquoise water. The cove is hard to reach by land or other transport, so even a 15-minute pass gives you a look at a part of the coast many visitors never see.

The short stop also keeps the boat moving. This is a tradeoff. You cover more ground, but you will not have time to explore every cove at leisure. I would treat Trebalúger as a scenic viewing point, not a swimming stop unless the captain changes the plan.

Platja de Son Saura is broader than the tiny coves and is divided into two sections. It is one of the more accessible virgin beaches in the south, though summer brings plenty of people. The wider sweep of sand gives you a useful contrast with the narrow, pine-framed inlets.

Some departures have used Son Saura as an early swimming stop, while others have spent more time at Turqueta and Escorxada. This variation appears to depend on the sea, occupancy, and the captain’s judgment. If a particular beach is your main reason for booking, ask about the likely swim stops before setting out.

Cala Galdana, Mitjana, and Mitjaneta

Cala Galdana is the starting cove and one of the most developed beaches in this part of Menorca. It has a broad shore, cliffs, and a wide range of services, yet the water and surrounding rock still feel distinctly Mediterranean. Starting here is convenient, but it also means the first view is not the most remote one.

Cala Mitjana sits next to Cala Galdana and is more natural in character. Cala Mitjaneta is the smaller neighboring cove. Together they form one of the prettiest sections of the southern coast, with clear water and pale sand beneath pine-covered slopes.

The area supports a range of wildlife, including peregrine falcons, bats, frogs, toads, and shrews. You may not spot these animals from the boat, but the detail helps explain why this coast feels more than a series of swimming spots. It is a protected-feeling natural stretch, even when summer activity is high.

A nearby unnamed coastal corner is described as a tiny inlet with one west-facing beach and a narrow eastern arm separated by a wedge-shaped rock. It has white sand, a pine forest, dunes, calm water, and a sandy, algae-covered seabed. Reefs near the natural mouth, known as Esculls, make anchoring unsuitable there. The practical point is that your captain must choose stopping places with care.

Cala Fustam and the last look at the coast

Cala Fustam is another very small inlet, shaped like a quarter circle. Pine forest reaches close to the shore, while cliffs frame the fine white sand. The water is usually calm and clear, and the cove tends to have fewer bathers than the larger beaches.

The seabed is suitable for anchoring when the wind is not coming from the south. Southern winds can create strong waves because the cove is open in that direction. This is one more reason the exact itinerary cannot be fixed in stone.

The published route names eight principal beaches, but the full coastal circuit can include additional small inlets and viewpoints. You may therefore see more than eight coves, while still having only two proper swimming stops. Think of the experience as a moving tour of the coast with selected water breaks.

Snacks, drinks, and onboard equipment

Appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks are included. That is a useful touch on a three-and-a-half-hour trip, especially when your day includes swimming and paddleboarding. The food is not a meal, so eat beforehand if you need a substantial lunch.

Several accounts also describe cold beer, and one birthday group had champagne. Those extras may depend on the departure, celebration, or arrangement, so I would not book this expecting alcohol to be part of the standard package. The confirmed inclusion is non-alcoholic drinks and an appetizer.

Snorkeling gear is provided, and a paddleboard is carried onboard. These make the swim stops more active and help the tour feel like more than a coastal ride. Since the stops are short, you will get the most from them by deciding in advance what you want to do first.

The boat has room for 12 people and padded seating at the front. That is comfortable for a small group, but it is still a boat. One account found the ride slow and prone to rocking, especially in rougher conditions. If you are sensitive to motion, sit where the movement bothers you least and check the sea forecast.

Who gets the best value for $84.69?

At $84.69 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Menorca’s beaches. Its value comes from access and time. You are paying to reach remote coves, avoid a long walk to places such as Escorxada, use water equipment, and receive snacks and drinks in a small group.

I think the price makes sense for a first visit, a family that wants a simple half-day outing, or a couple who would rather see many coves than spend the whole day at one beach. It also works well for solo visitors, since the small group gives you company without the scale of a large boat excursion.

The value is weaker if you want long swims, beach walks, or hours on the sand. A 15-minute viewing stop is enough for a photograph, not a beach day. You should also allow for the possibility of missing some coves if the sea is unsettled or the route needs to change.

The tour is offered in English, and the crew has also handled multilingual groups. Most people can take part, service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. There is no different price for children and adults.

This experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. For your own plans, keep the cancellation rule in mind: free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Timing tips for a smoother outing

The advertised duration is about three hours and 30 minutes. That is long enough to cover a wide section of coast, but short enough to fit into a morning or afternoon.

The route can be affected by wind, waves, beach occupancy, and the captain’s choice of safe anchorage. One departure with rougher weather missed several advertised coves, while another changed the swim order. I would judge the trip by the overall coastal route, not by a promise that every named inlet will receive equal time.

The tour returns to Cala Galdana. If you are coming from a cruise ship, allow about 45 minutes to reach the meeting point, plus enough time to return to the ship. A taxi can be arranged for the return in some cases, but you should coordinate this before the outing rather than rely on a last-minute transfer.

Should you book the Marenostrum cruise?

Book it if you want an easy way to see Menorca’s southern coves, especially the remote ones, and you are happy to swim from a boat rather than walk onto every beach. The small group, multilingual crew, snacks, snorkeling gear, and paddleboard give the trip more substance than a simple sightseeing ride.

Skip it if Macarelleta or another single beach is your main goal and you need time on the sand. You will see many beautiful coves, but the boat does not turn a three-and-a-half-hour cruise into eight separate beach visits.

For most first-time visitors, I would consider this a strong half-day choice. Just go in expecting a scenic coastal circuit with two main bathing stops, not a full beach landing at every cove. With that expectation, the $84.69 price buys access to Menorca’s south coast in a relaxed, friendly format.

FAQ

Where does the Marenostrum boat tour start?

It starts at the bus stop near Cala Galdana Playa, Passatge Riu 2, 07750 La Serpentona, Illes Balears, Spain. The activity returns to the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes.

How many people can join the boat?

The boat carries a maximum of 12 passengers.

Which coves are used for swimming?

Cala Turqueta is usually one bathing stop, and Cala Escorxada is generally the second. Weather, sea conditions, and how busy the coves are can change the plan.

Are snacks, drinks, and water equipment included?

Appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks are included. Snorkeling equipment and a paddleboard are also available onboard.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose another date or receive a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather. Free cancellation for other reasons is available up to 24 hours before the start time.