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.

Route of the path 'Camí de Cavalls'

History
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.

Restoration

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

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
1 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
3 Favàritx Arenal d'en Castell 5 h 13.6 km (8.5 miles) Medium
4 Arenal d'en Castell Cala Tirant 4 h 10.8 km (6.7 miles) Easy
5 Cala Tirant Binimel·là 4 h 9.6 km (6.0 miles) Medium
6 Binimel·là Els Alocs 5 h 8.9 km (5.5 miles) Difficult
7 Els Alocs Algaiarens 4 h 30 min 9.7 km (6.0 miles) Middle
8 Algaiarens Cala Morell 2 h 10 min 5.4 km (3.4 miles) Middle
9 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

Once the whole path is restored, activities and events around it are arousing. 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 the 18th and the 20th of 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
  1. "Tres cuartas partes del Camí de Cavalls ya están señalizadas" (in Spanish). Menorca.info. Archived from the original on 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  2. "Camí de Cavalls". VisitMenorca.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  3. "El Gobierno central concluye la segunda fase de las obras del Camí de Cavalls" (in Spanish). Menorca.info. Archived from the original on 2011-06-25. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  4. "El reto 360ºx3, la triple vuelta a Menorca de Arnau Julià" (in Spanish). Camí de Cavalles 360. Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  5. "Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls Website". Retrieved 2012-05-19.

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