Where is Menorca?

Menorca, the smaller neighbour of the Balearic island of Mallorca, lies off the coast of Spain and draws in thousands of visitors seeking sun, sea and sand every year. It is a great place for a traditional beach holiday – many of the most popular hotels in Menorca are dotted along the coastline – but for the more adventurous traveller who wants to do more than dip their toes in the water, this island is home to some of the best snorkelling hot spots in the Mediterranean.

In 1991, Menorca became a UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) designated Biosphere Reserve, which means Menorca has been recognised as an area of natural beauty and conservation and is now protected as such. This is great news for visitors, as the landscapes, ecosystems and features which helped Menorca gain its reserve status have been protected during the surge in tourism over the years.

The lagoons, marshes, wetlands, caves, dunes and islets are just some of the features which have been preserved, and it is here where snorkelers and divers will find real the gems. Some of the top snorkelling spots are Cales Coves, Es Grau, Macarella and Cala Galdana and it’s these areas which are home to hundreds of exotic fish and sea life.

Whether you’re an amateur snorkeler or avid diver, you will find the underwater wildlife surrounding Menorca incredible. Damsel-fish, Perch, Sea Bass, Cardinal fish, Barracuda and Octopus are just some of the species which call these waters home and with sea temperatures barely dropping below 20c in the summer months, you can swim with these fish in just your swimsuit or speedos – no wetsuit required!

If it is beaches which float your boat, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Cala Pregonda. This bay, which lies completely unspoilt, is surrounded by woodland and can be quite difficult to get to. For those that do venture to this part of the island however, why not pack a picnic of local delicacies and make a day of it? Sparkling blue waters and pristine sands are your reward and it would be a shame not to make the most of them.

This post is part of a monthly Spanish Series sponsored by www.hotels4u.com, where you’ll find plenty of Menorca hotels suitable for all tastes and budgets.

The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Menorca

One Great Reason to Visit Menorca

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for snorkeling and diving the hideaway inlets of the island offer.

Menorca Holiday Guide – My Travel

For More Information

• Wikipedia
• Guide to Menorca

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 12th, 2011 at 1:15 am and is filed under Europe. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.