Not all of Menorca’s beaches are as popular as Cala Mitjana, Cala Macarella or Cala Galdana. These are some of the names most often uttered by the island’s hotel staff when they attend to tourists who ask for a recommendation before taking the car to a dream beach.
Visiting them is great because they don’t disappoint, unless you’re looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, with less tourists sharing the sand just a few centimetres away. However, I always recommend escaping to lesser known beaches such as Sa Mesquida, which is close to MahĂłn, on the north coast of Menorca.
How to get to Sa Mesquida
Getting there is not at all complicated. You can do it by car from MahĂłn taking the ME-3 until you reach Sa Mesquida. In about 10 minutes you will arrive at the car park right next to the beach, where you can leave your car on tarmac if you are going early or in a small dirt field if the sheets have stuck to you.
From Ciudadela you can also go across the whole island. You will have to go in the direction of MahĂłn and it will take you about an hour. What does that mean? That you shouldn’t go to Sa Mesquida specifically, but it can be a good plan for two or three hours of entertainment and relaxation before visiting the capital of Menorca.
It is not as crowded as the beaches in the south.
I talk about relaxing because it is not usually a very crowded beach. In July it is very easy to find places to lay your towel near the shore, although it is true that in August things get a little more complicated. In any case, it is a relatively quiet beach.
Perfect for snorkellers
When you get into the water you will realise that it is not like other sandy beaches. It is not the kind of beach that allows you to go 50 metres with the water up to your waist. In Sa Mesquida the water covers quite a lot after a few metres. It is ideal for snorkelling due to its rocky seabed, and it is even suitable for scuba diving as it reaches a depth of 40 metres without having to go too far from the shore.
Lifeguard and a couple of beach bars
As far as services are concerned, there is no shortage of lifeguards and there are two beach bars with decent prices to enjoy a soft drink, a milkshake or an ice cream. There is also a long-established restaurant called Cap Roig which offers privileged views of the place.