Menorca Guide: Luxury Yacht Charter in Menorca

Menorca is the Balearic island that time seems to have been treated more kindly. While Mallorca grew into a cosmopolitan capital and Ibiza became a global brand, Menorca chose a quieter path. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993 (expanded in 2019 to include its marine waters, now covering 514,485 hectares), the island has kept development in check and its southern coastline virtually unspoilt – a succession of pine-fringed calas where the water glows in shades of turquoise and teal that would look exaggerated in a photograph. There are no beach clubs pumping music across the bay, no jet-ski rental stands, and very few fellow boats. For yacht charter guests who want to feel as though they’ve discovered something, Menorca is the answer.

The island sits roughly 40 nautical miles east of Mallorca’s northern tip – under two hours on a motor yacht. At just 50 km long and 22 km wide (with over 200 km of coastline), it is compact enough to explore thoroughly in three or four days, yet every cove feels different. The south hides the famous white-sand calas – Turqueta (110 metres of fine white sand fringed by pine and holm oak), Macarella (framed by 30-metre limestone cliffs), Macarelleta (its more intimate neighbour, a 15-minute walk over the clifftop), Mitjana (90 by 75 metres, high cliffs, emerald water) – while the north offers russet-red beaches shaped by Palaeozoic rock (Cala Pregonda’s red sand and sculpted offshore stacks), dramatic headlands and fjord-like inlets. Mahón, the capital, boasts one of the largest natural harbours in the world – nearly 6 km long, up to 900 metres wide, with Georgian architecture left by the British (who ruled between 1708 and 1802) and a gin-distilling tradition that dates to the 18th-century Royal Navy. Ciutadella, the old capital on the western end, has a honey-coloured old town with a Gothic cathedral, baroque palaces, and a narrow harbour lined with restaurants that is one of the most photographed in the Mediterranean.

Whether you’re adding Menorca to a Mallorca charter or devoting an entire trip to the island, you will leave wishing you had stayed longer. Start planning your Menorca charter with Boatcrowd.

Why Charter a Yacht in Menorca

Pristine, Protected Coastline

Menorca’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status means development is tightly controlled and large swathes of the coastline remain in their natural state. The southern calas are backed by pine and holm-oak forest, with no roads leading directly to many of the best beaches. By yacht, you have front-row access to coves that land-based visitors can only reach after a 20–30-minute walk through the forest – or not at all. Arrive early by yacht and you’ll often have a world-class beach entirely to yourself.

The Finest Calas in the Mediterranean

Cala Turqueta, Cala Macarella, Cala Macarelleta, Cala Mitjana, Cala Pregonda – the names read like a roll call of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful swimming spots. Visibility regularly exceeds 18 metres on calm days, the sand is fine and white (or red-gold on the north coast), and the water colour shifts from pale aquamarine in the shallows to deep sapphire just a few strokes out. These calas are best experienced from a yacht: arrive before 10 a.m., anchor in solitude, and swim ashore before anyone else appears.

Mahón’s Grand Harbour

Mahón harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world, stretching nearly 6 km inland with an entrance roughly 900 metres wide. The narrow entrance is flanked by La Mola fortress (built 1848–1875 to guard against British invasion, with underground tunnels, gun emplacements and panoramic views open to visitors) and opens into a wide, deep basin surrounded by Georgian townhouses (a legacy of British rule from 1708), waterfront restaurants, the Hauser & Wirth art gallery on Isla del Rey (opened 2021, with eight galleries, an outdoor sculpture trail and a Piet Oudolf garden), and the Xoriguer gin distillery (established 1736, using copper stills over 250 years old and distilling from wine rather than grain – tastings available). It is a spectacular place to start or finish a charter.

Peace, Quiet and Slow Tourism

Menorca receives roughly 1.5 million visitors a year, compared to Mallorca’s 10 million and Ibiza’s party-season crowds. The island actively promotes slow tourism – local food, walking trails, cultural heritage and nature-first experiences. For charter guests, this translates into empty anchorages, unhurried restaurants, and a genuine sense of escape that the busier islands cannot match. And the value is remarkable: accommodation and dining ashore cost roughly 40% less than equivalent quality on Ibiza, without sacrificing an ounce of natural beauty.

Key Destinations in Menorca

• Mahón – The capital and primary charter base, with one of the world’s largest natural harbours (nearly 6 km long). Full marina facilities, Georgian waterfront architecture, the Hauser & Wirth art gallery on Isla del Rey, the Xoriguer gin distillery (British legacy, 1736), Mercat del Claustre fish market, and an airport just 10 minutes away.
• Ciutadella – Menorca’s former capital on the western end, with a compact, honey-coloured old town, a Catalan Gothic cathedral (14th century, built on the site of a mosque, belltower reusing the original minaret), the neoclassical Palau Salort (open to visitors, with a Room of Mirrors containing 12 Louis XVI mirrors), and a narrow harbour lined with restaurants that is one of the most beautiful in the Med. Port de Ciutadella offers 170 berths for yachts up to 23 metres; larger vessels anchor off and tender in. If your charter coincides with the Festes de Sant Joan (23–24 June), you’ll witness one of Spain’s most dramatic festivals: 100+ horses galloping through sand-covered streets, medieval equestrian games, and candlelit processions.
• Cala Turqueta – A south-coast cove of almost impossible beauty. Fine white sand, 110 metres long, divided by a small rocky outcrop, with pine and holm-oak forest reaching to the beach edge. Anchoring depth 4–5 metres over sand. Best snorkelling on calm days when visibility exceeds 18 metres.
• Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta – Twin coves on the south-west coast. Macarella is the larger (100–130 metres of sand framed by 30-metre limestone cliffs) with Susy’s beach bar in the pine forest behind. Macarelleta is a 15-minute clifftop walk away – smaller, more intimate, reached only on foot or by tender. Both are postcard Menorca.
• Cala Mitjana – A secluded south-coast cove (90 by 75 metres) flanked by high cliffs, accessed by yacht or a 15-minute walk from Cala Galdana through the forest. Emerald-green water, rocky snorkelling edges and very few people.
• Cala Pregonda – On the north coast, Menorca’s most dramatic cove: red-gold sand coloured by ancient Palaeozoic sandstone and clay, sculpted rock stacks offshore, and a wild, windswept beauty that feels a world away from the southern calas. Best reached by yacht (the overland walk is long and rugged). Protected from strong waves by its offshore islets.
• Fornélls – A small fishing village on the north coast famous for its caldereta de llagosta (lobster stew). Anchor in the wide bay and tender ashore for what is arguably the best single dish in the Balearics at Es Cranc (lobsters from their own tank at the harbour) or Sa Llagosta (thicker stew style, Repsol guide recommended). The bay is also excellent for kayaking through fjord-like inlets.

Best Time to Charter in Menorca

Peak Season: July and August

The warmest months (29–32°C / 84–90°F), with sea temperatures of 25–27°C and long sunny days. Even at peak, Menorca’s anchorages feel quieter than Mallorca’s or Ibiza’s. The southern calas can get busy in the afternoons when day-trippers arrive on foot – arrive early by yacht and you’ll have them largely to yourself. If your charter coincides with the Festes de Sant Joan (23–24 June) in Ciutadella, it’s an unforgettable spectacle.

Shoulder Season: May–June and September–October

Many Menorca regulars swear by June and September. Temperatures of 22–28°C (72–82°F), warm seas (22–26°C), and anchorages that are genuinely empty. The island’s restaurants and markets are open, the Camí de Cavalls coastal path is in perfect walking condition, and charter rates are 15–25% below peak. The light in September is particularly beautiful – golden, warm, and low enough to make every photograph a postcard.

Early and Late Season: April and November

Mild and uncrowded. April can be breezy but sunny, with wildflowers carpeting the countryside and the Naveta d’es Tudons (a Bronze Age tomb from 1200–750 BC, the oldest preserved building in Spain) at its most atmospheric. November is quieter still, with some restaurants closing for winter but the calas at their most serene. Ideal for guests who want nature, walking and gastronomy without any crowds at all.

Signature Experiences

• Cala Turqueta at Dawn – Arrive by yacht before anyone else and swim ashore to a beach so perfect it looks staged. Pine-scented air, water that shifts from aquamarine to sapphire in the space of a few strokes, and not a single footprint. Your crew has coffee and warm ensaimadas waiting on the aft deck when you paddle back.
• Mahón Harbour by Tender – Glide the full 6 km of one of the world’s largest natural harbours, passing the La Mola fortress, Georgian townhouses, traditional llauts (wooden fishing boats), and the Xoriguer gin distillery. Stop at Isla del Rey for the Hauser & Wirth gallery (Chillida, Bourgeois, Miró in a restored 18th-century naval hospital). Finish with a pomada (gin and lemonade, the local drink since the British era) at a harbour bar.
• Cala Pregonda by Sea – Approach the north coast’s most dramatic cove from the water. The red-gold sand (coloured by ancient Palaeozoic sandstone), sculpted rock stacks and wild northern beauty are far more impressive from the sea than from the clifftop trail. A cove that feels more like Iceland than the Med.
• Ciutadella Harbour Dinner – Tender ashore to the old capital’s harbourside restaurants for caldereta de llagosta (lobster stew), Mahón cheese with local honey, and a pomada to finish. The harbour at sunset – narrow, stone-fronted, lined with boats – is one of the most beautiful in the western Mediterranean.
• Camí de Cavalls Coastal Walk – This ancient bridle path (established 1330 by King James II, restored 2010, now a 185-km GR 223 trail) circles the entire island. Your captain drops you at one cove and picks you up at the next – a 2–3 hour clifftop hike with wildflowers, stone walls, and views over empty turquoise water. The sections near the southern calas (stages 13–14) are particularly beautiful and accessible.
• Naveta d’es Tudons – A Bronze Age collective tomb (1200–750 BC) shaped like an upturned boat, the oldest preserved building in Spain. When excavated in the 1950s, it yielded over 100 graves with bronze bracelets, bone buttons and pottery. A short detour from Ciutadella for history-minded guests – 3,200 years of Menorcan story in a single stone structure.

Yacht Types Available

• Motor Yachts (68’–98’) – Ideal for covering Menorca’s compact coastline. A motor yacht can visit four or five calas in a single day, with the speed to reposition for sunset at the best anchorage.

• Superyachts (100’+) – Mahón’s deep harbour accommodates the largest yachts. A Menorca superyacht charter offers the ultimate in privacy: entire coves to yourself, crew-arranged beach dining on pristine sand, and exclusive snorkelling experiences.

• Luxury Catamarans (60’+) – A catamaran’s shallow draft is a natural fit for Menorca’s coves, many of which have sandy shallows ideal for anchoring close to shore. The stability and deck space suit families and multi-generational groups perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Menorca for a yacht charter?

Menorca’s airport (Mahón, MAH) receives direct flights from London, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and several German hubs during the summer season (roughly May–October). The airport is just 10 minutes from Mahón harbour, where most charters embark. Alternatively, your yacht can collect you from Mallorca – the crossing from Port d’Alcúdia to Mahón is roughly 40 nautical miles (under 2 hours on a motor yacht). Private jets can land at Mahón airport.

Is Menorca good for children?

Menorca is arguably the most family-friendly of the Balearic islands. The southern calas have gentle, sandy entries into shallow, warm water – perfect for young swimmers. There are no jet skis, no loud music, and the overall pace is calm and safe. Snorkelling in the crystal-clear shallows is a natural adventure for children of all ages, and the Camí de Cavalls offers manageable coastal walks between coves. Your crew can organise treasure hunts on deserted beaches, paddleboard lessons and kid-friendly menus.

How does Menorca compare to Ibiza and Mallorca?

Menorca is quieter, greener and less developed. Where Ibiza offers nightlife and beach clubs, and Mallorca offers a cosmopolitan capital and dramatic mountains, Menorca offers pristine nature, empty anchorages and a slow-tourism ethos protected by UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status. Visitor numbers are roughly a tenth of Mallorca’s, the calas are genuinely unspoilt, and dining ashore costs roughly 40% less than equivalent quality on Ibiza. If you want peace, crystal water and no crowds, Menorca is the Balearic island for you.

What is caldereta de llagosta?

Caldereta de llagosta is Menorca’s signature dish: a rich lobster stew made with fresh local spiny lobster, tomatoes, onion, garlic and a splash of brandy, served with thin toasted bread for dipping. It is best eaten at a harbourside restaurant in Fornélls (a small fishing village on the north coast famous for the dish) – Es Cranc sources its lobsters from the restaurant’s own tank at the harbour, and Sa Llagosta is recommended in the Repsol guide for its thicker, more intensely flavoured version. If you ask your onboard chef, they will almost certainly have their own take. Pair it with a local pomada (gin and lemonade, the local drink since the British era) for the full Menorcan experience.

Can I combine Menorca with Mallorca on a single charter?

Easily. Mahón to Port d’Alcúdia (Mallorca) is roughly 40 nautical miles, which a motor yacht covers in under 2 hours. Many guests spend 3–4 days in Menorca, cross to Mallorca for 3–4 days, and return to Palma at the end of the week. The two islands complement each other perfectly: Menorca’s pristine calas and slow pace, followed by Mallorca’s mountain drama, cultural capital and Michelin-starred dining.