Fustam, Escorxada, Trebalúger, Es Talaier and Macarelleta all have something in common: you cannot drive down to their sand. That does not mean they are only accessible by boat. All five can be reached on foot, and the important difference is the approach: where you start, how much walking you add and what you need for the return.
As a skipper based in Cala Galdana, I find the distinction between reaching a cove and spending the day on its beach particularly useful. A walk brings you to the shore; a boat outing lets you enjoy the coast from the water, with stops chosen for the conditions. These are different plans, even when the name on the map is the same.
This guide looks at the access choices for those five coves. For a wider comparison of landscapes and locations, start with our guide to Menorca’s south-coast beaches. “Hidden” is not a promise of solitude: even a beach without a road can be busy.
1. Cala Fustam: plan the walk before adding a second cove
Fustam is a small sandy inlet between Trebalúger and Escorxada. Approaches on foot include the coastal paths from the Mitjana side, passing Trebalúger, or from Binigaus on the Sant Tomàs side. Neither means parking beside Fustam and walking a few metres. Choose your starting point before leaving and check the full outward and return route.
Its proximity to Escorxada makes combining the two tempting. The extra stretch between coves is only part of the day, however: you still have the longer approach and the return to your starting point. I would treat Fustam as a destination within a planned walk, rather than another name to add to a beach checklist. Carry what you need; there are no beach services to rely on.
2. Cala Escorxada: the approach from Sant Tomàs and Binigaus
For a walking day starting around Sant Tomàs, the approach via Binigaus is an option to examine. The route continues beyond the easier beach frontage onto natural coastal terrain. Uneven ground, exposed sections and what you are carrying matter more than the straight-line distance shown on a map. This is not a paved seafront stroll.
Escorxada has more sand than neighbouring Fustam, but arriving there does not give you an easy road exit if someone is tired. Choose a turnaround time before you set out, rather than waiting until everyone has had enough. The local access description for Escorxada and Fustam identifies the approaches from Binigaus and Mitjana; check the route and any signs on the ground before continuing.
3. Cala Trebalúger: beyond Mitjana, with a separate return to plan
Trebalúger lies east of Mitjana, at the mouth of a wooded ravine. A walking approach starts from the Mitjana side and continues over natural terrain with changes in level. Reaching Mitjana is therefore not the end of the walk. If that is your starting point, our guide to Mitjana and Mitjaneta explains the initial access.
The stream mouth is part of what makes Trebalúger different, and its condition can change. Do not assume that a crossing shown in an old photograph will be suitable when you arrive. Wear footwear for the path, keep enough water for the return and avoid turning a swim stop into an unplanned extension towards Fustam.
4. Es Talaier: choose Son Saura or Turqueta as your approach
Es Talaier sits between Son Saura and Cala Turqueta. Both sides offer walking approaches, but choosing the starting beach changes the day: you first need to reach that beach’s access area, then follow the coastal route. The small size of Es Talaier does not tell you how easy the walk will be or whether you will find space on the sand.
On the Turqueta side, allow for rocky ground and changes in level. If you plan to start there, check how to reach Cala Turqueta before adding the onward walk. Do not arrive at a full parking area with a second beach plan that depends on exactly the same access.
5. Macarelleta: reaching Macarella is only the first stage
Macarelleta is the smaller neighbouring cove of Macarella. The usual approach links the two on foot, so you need to plan both the journey to Macarella and the connecting path. Seasonal transport and access arrangements for Macarella affect the first part; they do not remove the last walk to Macarelleta.
The connecting path is not a step-free promenade, and the small beach can fill quickly. For the detailed walking options and transport checks, use our Macarella and Macarelleta access guide. Here the key decision is whether everyone in the group is comfortable with that final stretch, including the return after a day in the sun.
Can you visit these coves without walking?
A boat can avoid the coastal hike, but seeing a cove from the water, swimming nearby and landing on its sand are three different things. None should be assumed from a beach name on an itinerary. Wind, swell, available space and the group’s mobility all affect what is appropriate. A boat trip is not automatically a beach transfer or a step-free option.
From Cala Galdana, the five coves lie in different directions: Fustam, Escorxada and Trebalúger to the east; Es Talaier and Macarelleta to the west. I would not plan a relaxed outing around collecting all five. Choosing a suitable stretch of coast leaves more time to enjoy the stop and more room to adapt to the sea.
If that is the kind of day you want, our boat trips along Menorca’s south coast depart from Cala Galdana, with the boat reserved for your group of up to five passengers and a professional skipper. Tell us beforehand about any boarding or swimming difficulties so we can discuss the practical requirements; a specific cove or landing is not guaranteed.
Choose the access that fits your group
For a day on the sand, choose one walking destination and organise the return first. For a day afloat, choose the departure point and type of outing, leaving the precise stops flexible. If somebody needs easy access and nearby services, a more developed beach may be a better match than forcing one of these five into the plan.
Our practical guide to visiting Menorca’s harder-to-reach beaches covers the wider choice between walking, road transport and the sea. Once that choice is made, the five examples above help you check the part that is easy to overlook: the last stretch to the cove and the journey back.