Son Bou

Son Bou Urbanisation Area of San Jaime Mediterráneo Torre Solí Prehistoric settlement of Torre d'en Gaumés and Cala Llucalari

It is the longest and straightest beach area of Menorca, with a significant level of footfall that, despite everything, does not feel overcrowded given its size. It is a beautiful open-sea beach, and as part of the dunes that run behind the beach, they act as a barrier separating it from the wetlands (albufera), an area that traps water from the stream. This wetland area has also constituted an impassable barrier between the beach and the urbanisations of Son Bou, San Jaime Mediterráneo, and Torre Solí Nou. Today it is a protected area for being a wetland, La Albufera de Son Bou. The villas are generally located on the mountainside and, being among the pine forest, soften the visual impact. There are several large hotels, a water park, supermarkets, and a wide variety of gastronomic offerings to satisfy all palates, as well as varied leisure and nautical leisure offerings along with diving courses. Furthermore, there are shopping centers and rentals for cars and boats. Although topless bathing is practiced on almost all beaches on the island, if one prefers something less, it is necessary to head towards the islets that can be seen to the right of the beach, which is the established limit.

Excursions:

The first, located on the beach itself, is the Paleochristian Basilica of Son Bou, which is found between the two hotel towers and the cliff edge; it is distinguished by having its perimeter fenced off. In the large wall formed by the cliff, one can also see various caves inhabited by modern troglodytes, some even with a TV.

Son Bou Viewpoint: one of the most beautiful sunsets you can see from Son Bou, and the best place to find it is by taking the access road to the Son Bou residential area. After passing the tunnel, leave the road on the right-hand side, looking for the trail that leads to the cliff if you are walking. If you are driving, you must go a bit further, and on the left, there is a turn-off that ends in a roundabout with no outlet after three hundred meters. Now you must leave the car and cross a small area of forest; the path is very visible because it is well-traveled. If you do this excursion at sunset and go to the end of this mountain ledge, you can enjoy one of the best sunsets in Menorca, with the sun setting into the sea not far from the beach line. Its beauty is worth the trip, and if you arrive early, you can see the bay of Llucalari on the other side.

Another recommended excursion is to take a hike following the beach until you reach Santo Tomás, an hour away and separated by a small area of rocks of low height above sea level. If it is already sunset when you return, take the opportunity to sit in the dunes and relax, listening to the hundreds of birds that flutter and chirp in the wetland behind the dunes; most are migratory birds that return to continental Europe in the early to mid-spring.

Leaving Alaior on the road that leads toward the coast and before reaching Son Bou, on the left there is a signposted turn-off that takes us to the remains of a large prehistoric settlement: Torre d'En Gaumés, which is also one of the best-preserved on the island. It is very awe-inspiring to contemplate these stone remains perfectly worked many centuries ago.

If you prefer, taking advantage of this stop at the settlement, you can visit the remains of the Llucalari military battery, where you will find two of the five largest cannons installed on the coasts of Menorca to defend it from landings. To see the ships, you need good views of the coast, and from this cliff, as expected, they are magnificent. It is said that the cannon shots could reach a distance of ten kilometers. To access this site, about three hundred meters before the talaiotic settlement, a narrow path appears on the right, somewhat overgrown with vegetation, which ends at the Llucalari military battery.

Access: to Son Bou from Alaior, heading toward Es Mercadal there is a turn-off to the left, which is the Me1 regional road, the old C721, or the Maó-Ciutadella general road. If you are coming along the general road from Maó, the exit ramp is taken on the right at the 12 km mark. The road is wide and is about 4 km from the Alaior junction to the Son Bou beach itself.

Direct access to the SON BOU BEACH AREA MAP

Access map to the Son Bou area.

San Jaime Mediterráneo and Torre Solí Nou

Description of the points displayed on the Son Bou Area Map and the San Jaime Mediterráneo and Torre Solí Nou residential areas, in addition to access to the Son Bou Camping and the archaeological site of Torre d'en Gaumés and the Llucalari Military Battery.

1 - ) Access point to the Son Bou Beach road, next to the town of Alaior. If driving along the general road (Me1) that connects Maó with Ciutadella, the exit is well-signposted at the 12 km mark, and the beach is 4 km away.

2 - ) Kilometer point 15 is where the road to San Jaime Mediterráneo begins; after passing through the Torre Solí Nou residential area, it reaches Son Bou beach about 6 km from the Me1, the Maó to Ciutadella general road.

3 - ) Exit to the Torre d'en Gaumés talaiotic settlement, point 4 on the map, 2 km away. 500 meters before on the right is the road that leads you to the old Llucalari military battery, point 11 on the map.

4 - ) Torre d'en Gaumés, one of the largest and most important prehistoric sites in Menorca. The talaiotic settlement of Torre d'en Gaumés is point 4, 2 km away. 500 meters before on the right is the road that leads you to the old Llucalari military battery, point 11 on the map.

5 - ) Son Bou residential area next to the beach.

6 - ) San Jaime Mediterráneo residential area, where chalets are interspersed in the pine forest on the hills.

7 - ) Son Bou Beach, the most extensive beach in Menorca.

8 - ) Son Bou wetland area; next to it is the free public parking area.

9 - ) Torre Solí Nou residential area, this new residential area features large hotels and apartment complexes.

10 - ) Son Bou Camping, halfway between the city of Alaior and Son Bou Beach; it is a modern campsite with all amenities and services, including a swimming pool and supermarket.

11 - ) Old Llucalari military battery, today military installations that are disused and abandoned, but which preserve some impressive cannons. Point 11 on the map.

12 - ) Son Bou Viewpoint, a point from which you can see the best sunsets in Menorca and the most beautiful views of Son Bou beach, for example, the first image in this guide.

Excursion:

Description of the route for the excursion indicated on the map of the Son Bou Viewpoint area.

The itinerary marked in red is a road circuit.

In green, a route along trails, visible and very wide, low difficulty. The distance is about 1500 meters minimum for the excursion, 40 minutes to 1 hour.

1 - ) Assuming we have spent the day at Son Bou Beach and want to see the beautiful sunset, this excursion starts from the beach parking area.

2 - ) Public and free vehicle parking for Son Bou beach, next to the wetland and facing the beach.

3 - ) Son Bou commercial area next to the beach road.

4 - ) Roundabout at the exit of Son Bou; we must go up. On the other side, we go to San Jaime and Torre Solí.

5 - ) Son Bou tunnel; you must pass through and take the exit to climb up and go over the tunnel.

6 - ) At this point, you must take the exit toward the town of Alaior to the left; the road on the right is a residential area that has not been developed.

7 - ) Here you must turn left, almost in a "U" shape, to take the upper part of the cliff.

8 - ) Here you will pass over a bridge; it is the top of the tunnel we passed when leaving the Son Bou residential area.

9 - ) At this roundabout, we must leave the car and continue the excursion on foot, taking the path toward the cliff.

10 - ) Here we can now appreciate the spectacular view of the beach and the residential areas. Son Bou and San Jaime

11 - ) At this point there is a small forest; we must pass through it, leaving the view of the cliff for a moment, to climb a little, and from now on we will continue along a very wide path, without danger and with spectacular views.

12 - ) If we complete the entire route to the end, we will have a splendid view of Cala Llucalari in its more open part facing the sea and its narrow gorge further inland

Do not hesitate, you must take this excursion; it is worth it.

See the viewpoint excursion map