Cala Macarella: Menorca’s Twin Coves, Explained
The pine smell hits before the water does. You walk down through a corridor of trees, the ground turning from dirt to sand to limestone underfoot, and then the trail opens and there it is — Cala Macarella, white sand pinched between cliffs, water going from pale green to something closer to glass. This is the beach that shows up on every “best of Menorca” list, and for once, the reputation holds.
Two Beaches, One Walk
Cala Macarella doesn’t stand alone.
It lies between Cala Galdana and Macarelleta beach, a nudist beach that can be reached on foot from Macarella, and stretches 140 meters with a wide rocky section.
Most people treat the pair as a single destination, and honestly, they should.
You can reach Macarelleta from Macarella by following the Camà de Cavalls toward Cala Turqueta, or by taking the more scenic footpath carved into the cliff that connects both beaches.
The two coves have different personalities. Macarella is the wider, more social sibling — sand you can actually stretch out on, families setting up for the day.
Macarelleta is the smaller and more secluded sister beach, unspoilt and especially popular as a nudist beach.
Neither is a secret. Both are worth the walk anyway.
What makes the cliffs here feel almost engineered is the scale.
Cala Macarella features a wide sandy beach framed by vertical limestone cliffs up to 30 metres high on both sides.
Stand at the waterline and look up — it’s the kind of geometry that makes a place photograph well without anyone trying too hard.
Macarella sits within the Natural Area of Special Interest of the South Coast of Ciutadella, which is part of why it’s stayed this intact.
Getting There Without Losing the Whole Day
Driving is the standard approach.
Cala Macarella is located 15 km from Ciutadella, and after roughly 8 km on the road toward the south-coast beaches, you’ll reach the car park, about a 15-minute walk from the beach.
That walk through the pines is not incidental — it’s the filter that keeps the place from turning into a resort strip.
This is one of the most visited beaches in Menorca during summer, so access is regulated by the capacity of the car parks.
Arrive late morning in July and you may simply be turned away. Arrive at 8am and you’ll have the sand mostly to yourself for an hour.
There’s exactly one place to get food or a drink without hauling it in yourself.
The only service available at Cala Macarella is Susy’s Beach Bar & Restaurant, tucked in the shade.
Macarelleta has nothing — no kiosk, no shade structure, no bathroom.
As a protected virgin cove, there are no public showers or freshwater taps on the sand.
Bring water. Bring everything, actually.
What to Know Before You Walk Down
- Pack a battery pack, not just sunscreen —
mobile coverage is extremely limited or non-existent once you descend the cliffs. - Stick to the marked paths on the dune side.
Once you’re in Cala Macarelleta, avoid walking over the dune system so it can regenerate naturally. - If you’re tempted to swim the gap between the two coves instead of walking, know your limits.
Some swim from Macarella to Macarelleta around the cliff that separates them, but this is suitable only for experienced swimmers able to handle open water.
Why It’s Worth the Effort
Cala Macarella isn’t hidden, and I won’t pretend it is. What it offers instead is friction — a walk through pine forest, a car park that fills up, a sister cove with nothing to buy and nowhere to plug in. That friction is doing more conservation work than any sign could. Go early, carry your own water, and let the two coves stay exactly as inconvenient as they need to be.
