How to Get to Cala Macarella & Cala Macarelleta in Menorca

The neighbouring beaches of Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta are two of Menorca’s ost beautiful coves.

They’re both protected beaches, so there’s no developments allowed, no loud music or beach bars, and hardly any facilities. They’re largely untouched and that’s what makes them so special.

To get to both of the beaches, you’ll need to hike or arrive by boat, as there’s no access by road. I’ll tell you exactly how to get to both Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta in this short guide.

A scenic view of Cala Macarelleta with turquoise waters, surrounded by rocky cliffs and lush green pine trees. A small sandy beach is visible below, where people are sunbathing and swimming. — View over Cala Macarelleta

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Where are Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta?

Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta are located next to each other on the southern coast of Menorca, about a 25 minute drive from Ciutadella.

Why visit Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta?

Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta are two of the most beautiful beaches in Menorca, with bright turquoise water and large, imposing cliffs surrounding them.

They are both considered “virgin beaches”, meaning they’re untouched by commercial development, and have hardly any facilities.

These definitely aren’t the beaches for you if you want to have cocktails delivered to your sun lounger.

But the peacefulness and stunning scenery is what makes them more than worth the extra effort required to reach them.

A breathtaking aerial view of Cala Macarelleta with crystal-clear blue waters, encased by forested cliffs. Several boats, including a catamaran, float in the bay. — Cala Macarelleta

A note about Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta

Something that’s good to know before you visit these beaches, is that to get to Cala Macarelleta, you’ll first need to hike to Cala Macarella.

You’ll literally need to walk across Cala Macarella beach to access the path to Cala Macarelleta.

So I’ll go through the instructions for reaching Cala Macarella first, before covering the last part on to Cala Macarelleta.

How to get to Cala Macarella

There are a few options for getting to Cala Macarella, which largely depend on what time of year you’re visiting.

By car

There’s a free car park at Cala Macarella (google maps location here).

The parking lot at Cala Macarella with multiple cars parked in neat rows, surrounded by trees and greenery under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. — Cala Macarella car park

During the summer months (June to September), the car park is closed off to cars, and only taxis and buses are allowed down.

Outside of this time, you can park here. BUT, make sure you’re there early. Once it’s full, they close off the road and you won’t be allowed down.

From the car park, it’s a 15 minute walk to the beach through a shaded woodland area.

A natural dirt trail to Cala Macarella, leading through a dense pine forest, enclosed by wooden posts and ropes. Sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. — Walk to Cala Macarella

I’d recommend hiring a car for your trip to Menorca, as it’ll give you more flexibility to explore the island in your own time.

I booked my hire car for Menorca through Discover Cars, and it cost £40 for 4 days. They compare the costs of loads of different providers to help you find the cheapest option for your trip.

By bus

During the summer months, you can take the number 69 shuttle bus from the centre of Ciutadella to the car park at Cala Macarella.

If you’re travelling from Mahón, you’ll first need to take the number 1 bus from Mahón to Ciutadella, followed by the number 69 shuttle bus.

The bus drops you off in the same car park I mentioned above, so you’ll do the same 15 minute walk through the woodland to the beach.

Hiking from Cala Galdana

If you prefer more of an adventure, you can hike from Cala Galdana to Cala Macarella along a section of the Camí de Cavalls, a 185km hiking trail that runs along Menorca’s coastline.

The walk takes around 40 minutes from Cala Galdana to Cala Macarella, with many beautiful viewpoints along the way.

Looking for more beautiful beaches in Menorca? Read my guides to Es Canutells and Cala Macarelleta

Facilities at Cala Macarella

Cala Macarella is a large sandy beach, with a wide stretch of sand and lots of trees providing plenty of shade.

There’s a restaurant and bar where you’ll be able to buy food and drinks, and life guards on the beach making it a great choice for families.

A small, sandy entrance to Cala Macarella with colourful kayaks lined up along the shore. The clear blue water reflects the surrounding cliffs and trees. — Cala Macarella

How to get to Cala Macarelleta

Once you’re at Cala Macarella beach, head to the back right (with the water on your left), and you’ll see a staircase. This is the way to Cala Macarelleta.

You’ll follow a narrow path along the coastline for about 15 minutes, but allow more time for the inevitable photo stops you’re going to make (the views here are incredible!).

A picturesque cove with a white yacht floating in the transparent turquoise water, surrounded by rugged cliffs covered in lush greenery. — Views on the walk from Cala Macarella to Cala Macarelleta

This path isn’t very wide and can get very busy during peak season, so take it slow and step aside to let people pass.

The final part of the walk is a short descent down, and then you’ll arrive at Cala Macarelleta, one of Menorca’s most beautiful beaches!

A vertical aerial shot of a Cala Macarelleta with sunbathers and colorful umbrellas. The clear shallow waters transition into deeper blue as the cove opens to the sea. — Cala Macarelleta, Mallorca

A woman in a white crochet dress stands at a wooden railing, gazing at the turquoise waters of a secluded cove below. The cliffs and pine trees frame the tranquil beach scene. — View over Cala Macarelleta

Facilities at Cala Macarelleta

Unlike Cala Macarella, Cala Macarelleta has no facilities. There’s no life guards and no restaurants – not even a little chiringuito to buy water from. So make sure you bring plenty of water and snacks!

A stunning aerial view of Cala Macarelleta with boats anchored in its crystal-clear waters. The cove is surrounded by forested cliffs with rugged coastal scenery extending into the horizon.

If you’re driving, I’d recommend stopping for lunch at Morvedra Nou on the way back from the beach.

This stunning hotel is about a 10 minute drive from the Cala Macarella car park, on the same road, so you’ll pass it on your back.

It’s a beautiful setting amongst the countryside, and it was one of my favourite meals I had on my trip to Menorca.

An inviting outdoor dining setup with a table covered in a striped cloth, featuring gourmet dishes, bread, and two glasses of orange-colored drinks. The table is surrounded by lush greenery. — Lunch at Morvedra Nou

Boat trips to Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta

One of the best ways to see Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta is by taking a boat trip.

This group boat trip will give you the opportunity to swim at Cala Macarella, and they provides snorkelling equipment and paddle boards.

Final thoughts

Cala Macarella & Cala Macarelleta are two of Menorca’s most beautiful beaches, and they’re a must visit on your trip.

Although they are trickier to reach than some of the other beaches on the island, they’re well worth that little extra effort for the incredible reward of spending your day relaxing in that incredible bright blue water.