Canutells

The beach is small and sandy but tends to have abundant seaweed. Its peculiarity is that just behind the beach there is a dense reed bed, which becomes a small lagoon when winter rains are abundant, leaving the roots of the reeds submerged in water. Next to the beach, on the side where the stairs allowing descent to the sand are located and under a house built on a rock, there is a tiny boat slipway, where ducks often hang around at sunset looking for their portion of food, generally provided by tourists' children.

Urbanization: until a few years ago, there were a few houses, but neighbors have grown as if by magic. Near the original houses, a new residential and commercial complex with a pool and sports area has been built, increasing complementary services for the growing tourism in the area, a little further away another residential complex called Ses Tanques.

Ses Tanques: View of the burial caves of the primitive Menorcans, the necropolis of Cala Canutells, and the villas of the Ses Tanques urbanization right above

It is a relatively young urbanization, about 20 years old, fundamentally made up of apartments and villas, and its tourist activity, beyond accommodation, is directly related to the beach of Es Canutells.

Prehistoric remains, Canutells necropolis:

Just past the houses of the Ses Tanques urbanization, there is a dirt path, not very long, about 200 meters. Looking to the right, there are the remains of a prehistoric settlement; it is not very visible given its poor conservation, but the rock where it is located, Morro d'en Toni, is a magnificent watchtower to see, first, a series of caves on the cliff side that appears just below the houses of Ses.

Descending a little through the barranco, on the right side of the cliff, we will see, at mid-height, on the vertical wall of the cliff, a series of caves; these are the caves of the Canutells necropolis.

If we contemplate the barranco from the side opposite the necropolis, we will see a curious image: below, the caves of the prehistoric cemetery, and just above, the new constructions of the modern tourist development townhouses.

These prehistoric caves of Es Canutells have had various uses over time, including, as it is said of most caves on the coast of Menorca, rumors from the people of Menorca suggest they have been storehouses for corsairs.

Currently they are unoccupied, and they have easy access for visiting them; it is even common to see young people having picnics in the caves or simply walking through them.

Excursion:

From this same point, a coastal path begins that runs through a large part of the cliff cornice, allowing one to reach Binidalí in a leisurely walk, enjoying the different coves and inlets and the views of the approximately forty-meter-high cliff. One can take an hour and a half to return without breaks.

Access:

Starting from Maó in the direction of the airport, we will continue until San Clemente, two km away via the Me12. We pass the airport roundabout and continue to the town of San Clemente; here, just as you reach the houses, and without crossing the town, we will take a left, traveling about three km until the exit on the right hand side to Cala Canutells and the Ses Tanques urbanization. Take the right turn that ends at Cala Canutells, about two km away.

For Ses Tanques, just upon reaching the Canutells urbanization, you must take a left, and about 500 meters away is Ses Tanques. After passing the villas, the path turns into a dirt road and ends in 150 or 200 meters. It has no outlet, so to return we must look for the exit to Canutells and then to Maó.

It is also possible to come along the coast from San Lluís, following the itinerary proposed for the south coast of San Lluís, meaning you must take the Me 8 and pass through: Punta Prima, Biniancolla, Binibeca, Binisafuller, Bala Blanc, Biniparratx, Binidali, Cap d'en Font, and then you will see the crossroads for the entrance to Cala Canutells and Ses Tanques.

Map of the entrance to Canutells from the San Lluís to San Clemente crossroads.

The main access path has been marked in yellow.

The section of the descent to the Canutells beach parking lot.

And the route you must take in front of or behind the accommodation complex to reach the necropolis and the remains of the prehistoric settlement behind the Ses Tanques apartments.