Menorca is full of tiny, hard-to-reach coves but picking your way down to them is always well worth the effort. Pilar Cove is one of the most incredible, unspoilt places in the north of the island. The long walk down to the sea is impressive too and plenty of beachgoers stop along the way to take photos of the views and forest.
Remember that this beach doesn’t have any facilities, so you’ll only be able to eat and drink what you bring with you.
- Around Pilar Cove
- How to get to Pilar Cove
- The cove and its facilities
- What to do at Pilar Cove
- What to see nearby
- Where to stay in Menorca
Around Pilar Cove
The cove is in the Marine Reserve off the north coast of Menorca, in an area of dunes that nestle in front of one of prettiest forests in this part of the island. There’s a good chance you’ll spot different species of mammal and birds along the way.
The beach is 100 m long and protected by a tiny island called S’Escull, but the island is too small to prevent huge swells when the tramuntana wind is blowing.
There’s no shade here, except for a tiny cave that can be used as shelter if you haven’t brought a sun umbrella.
How to get to Pilar Cove
The cove is part of the El Furi d’Alt estate that was once grazed by livestock and had an oak grove. These days you can park in its car park before setting off on the 30-minute walk down to the sea. Along the way you pass through one of the best forests in the area, one reason this zone has been made a Natural Area of Special Interest.
Make sure you don’t wander off the path when you walk to the sea to avoid damaging the ecosystem here. There are wooden steps at the end of the path to make it easier to get down to the sand.
The cove and its facilities
The beach doesn’t have any shade or facilities, so you’ll have to bring everything you need with you: sun umbrella, water…and lots of sun cream. It’s a pristine beach with incredible golden sand that contrasts with the reddish clay tones around it.
Unfortunately, one of the problems with the cove is the wind. If the tramuntana wind is blowing it can be hard to appreciate the incredible views, crystal clear water and golden sand. If it’s windy, leave your trip to Pilar Cove for another day because when the sea has large swells it often brings in lots of jellyfish.
When you do make it here, it’s worth knowing that there’s a freshwater spring behind the beach that is handy for refreshment if the water supplies in your backpack run out faster than expected.
The beach is surrounded by hills, such those at Marina de Santa Elisabet, that have the dark reddish colour typical to northern Menorca, and this makes a beautiful contrast with the golden mixture of sand and shingle on the beach.
What to do at Pilar Cove
As well as going for a refreshing swim and enjoying the beautiful views, snorkelling is one of the best things to do at Pilar Cove; the seabed is rich in marine flora and fauna because it’s part of a nature reserve where fishing is prohibited. The best area to explore with your mask and tube is around the rocks – but be careful because the seabed has lots of jagged cliffs and reefs that can be dangerous.
One thing that you should never do at Pilar Cove is use the clay for a mud bath: it’s become very trendy, but experts have warned that it erodes the cliff rocks and damages this wild, unspoilt beach.
What to see nearby
If you’d like to enjoy more of the surrounding nature, the cove is right in the middle of an impressive trail called Camí de Cavalls that runs along the cliffs and joins up with other lovely coves in the area. You can also visit a nine-metre-high ancient holm oak that is firmly protected and grows in the same estate as Pilar Cove, as well as appreciating all the flora and fauna that inhabit the area.
If you fancy a bit of city life, make sure you visit Ciutadella and explore its historic centre, a maze of narrow streets lined with bars, terraces and shops where you can enjoy fantastic views of the Mediterranean at any time of day.
Where to stay in Menorca
There are several great accommodation options near Pilar Cove. If you’d like the peace of an adults-only hotel, the Barceló Hamilton Menorca is the place for you. Right on the seafront in Mahón Bay, it has 160 recently refurbished rooms with the new B-Room concept and most have a balcony. The hotel has several restaurants and its Blue Sky Bar has wonderful 360˚ views of Mahón Bay. It also has two outdoor pools, a solarium, six hydromassage baths, a U-Wellness centre and a fitness room.
Another incredible option is five-star Barceló Nura in Biniancollet in the south. Just 1.5 km from Punta Prima, this amazing place has 45 large rooms with semi-private pools or a shared garden.
Other facilities include three outdoor pools, and a next generation wellness centre with a spa and gym. The hotel has a buffet restaurant, an à la carte restaurant with show cooking (Sa Tanca), a lobby bar and the B-Heaven terrace.
The Occidental Menorca in Punta Prima is nearby. It has spacious rooms with a variety of facilities such as a kids’ water park and a fun mini-club run for younger visitors that is run by monitors. What’s more, there’s a fantastic spa with a full range of massages and beauty treatments for your face and body.
