Cala Macarella & Macarelleta, Menorca

Cala Macarella and its smaller companion Cala Macarelleta are twin coves on the southern coast of Menorca, widely considered the most beautiful beaches in the Balearic Islands and among the finest in the entire Mediterranean. Enclosed by soaring limestone cliffs covered in dense Aleppo pine forest, the horseshoe-shaped bay of Macarella opens onto water of extraordinary clarity — shifting from pale jade at the shoreline to deep sapphire beyond — thanks to the absence of freshwater run-off and the protection afforded by Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows below. The beach consists of fine white pebble and sand with a natural cave cut into the cliffs on the eastern side, providing shade and a striking photogenic backdrop. Macarelleta, a ten-minute walk over a low pine-forested headland to the south, is smaller and more intimate, with slightly coarser sand and a tradition of naturist bathing. Both coves sit within the protected Ciutadella Natural Reserve and are accessible only on foot, which limits visitor numbers and preserves the pristine environment even at the height of summer. The nearest car parking is at Son Saura (roughly 45 minutes' walk) or via a forest path from the Camí de Cavalls coastal route. A seasonal beach bar operates at Macarella from May to October, offering basic refreshments and kayak hire for exploring the sea caves along the cliff base. Snorkelling directly off the beach over the seagrass is excellent, rewarding visitors with bream and occasional octopus.