Cala Macarella
Best for. Travellers chasing the classic Menorca turquoise and white sand, who are happy to come early or walk in to enjoy it before the crowd and the heat arrive.
Best spot. The sheltered left side under the pines for shade and the calmest water, then a short scramble over the rocks to smaller Macarelleta when the main cove fills.
Know this. There is only one beach bar and it charges for its monopoly, so the value move is to bring a picnic, water and shade and treat Susy as a cold drink rather than lunch.
Cala Macarella is the beach that sells Menorca, and on a calm morning it lives up to every photo, a small scoop of white sand under dark pines with water the colour of a swimming pool. It is genuinely lovely, and it is also no secret, which is the whole honest story of the place. In July and August it is busy from late morning, the sand disappears under towels, and the single beach bar has a captive audience and prices to match. None of that ruins it, but it does change how you should play the day.
The value savvy read is that Macarella rewards timing far more than spending. Come on the first bus from Ciutadella or walk the coast path in from Cala Galdana early, claim a shaded spot on the sheltered side, swim while the water is still and clear, and you get the cove close to its best for the price of a picnic. Linger over lunch at the bar if you like the convenience, but know that you pay for the location, so the smart move is to carry your own food and water and keep your euros for a cold drink in the shade.
Who should skip it? Anyone after solitude in peak summer, who will be happier at quieter Cala Mitjana a short walk away, with the same turquoise water and no crowd. And anyone expecting to drive up and park between June and September, because you simply cannot. Treat Macarella as a half day done early, pair it with neighbouring Macarelleta over the rocks, and it earns its fame. Arrive at noon in August with no plan and it will test your patience.
Clubs near this beach
Macarella keeps a single simple beach bar and nothing more, which is exactly why it stays beautiful, so the daybed scene lives over at the developed bays where we point you.
Photo: Davide Ferreira via GoogleSusy, Cala Macarella
The only food and drink on the sand, a simple seasonal beach bar with sandwiches, salads and a children's menu in a setting money cannot beat. Open roughly June to September, with prices that reflect having no competition for miles, so locals bring a picnic and keep Susy for a cold drink.
No other club on the sand
Beyond Susy there is nothing, by design, as the cove is protected. For sunbed hire, a full restaurant or a sunset bar you head to the developed bays such as Cala Galdana nearby or to Cova d'en Xoroi for the evening, all in our Menorca club directory.
Southwest calas, by bus or on foot
Cala Macarella sits on the southwest coast near Ciutadella, in the same protected pocket as Macarelleta and Cala Turqueta. From June to September the access road and car park are closed to private cars, so you reach it by the regular bus from Ciutadella, which runs through the day in season, or on foot.
The free alternative that locals favour is to park at Cala Galdana and walk the signposted coast path through the pines, around 40 minutes with lovely viewpoints on the way. Bring water, shade and a picnic, wear proper shoes for the walk, and start early to enjoy the cove before it fills and the midday sun hits.
Photo: Thomas Nussbaumer via GoogleNot ready to book?
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Common questions about Cala Macarella
How do you get to Cala Macarella in summer?
From June to September the road and car park are closed to cars, so you reach Cala Macarella by the regular bus from Ciutadella, which runs through the day in season, or on foot. The popular free option is to park at Cala Galdana and walk the signposted coast path through the pines, about 40 minutes each way with fine viewpoints along it.
Is Cala Macarella worth visiting?
Yes, on the right terms. It is one of the most beautiful coves in the Mediterranean and genuinely lives up to the photos on a calm morning. The honest caveat is that it is busy and the one beach bar is pricey, so come early, bring a picnic, and pair it with quieter Macarelleta next door to enjoy it at its best.
Are there facilities at Cala Macarella?
Few, by design, as the cove is protected. There is one beach bar, Susy, open roughly June to September, plus basic seasonal toilets, and that is about it. There are no shops, so bring your own water, food and shade, which also keeps the day cheap, and take all your litter home.
Is Cala Macarella good for families?
It can be lovely for families on a calm day, with shallow, clear and usually gentle water and soft sand, but it needs planning. The summer bus or walk in, the limited shade and the lack of facilities mean it suits prepared families more than those wanting an easy drive up day, for which Cala Galdana is the simpler choice.
What is the difference between Cala Macarella and Macarelleta?
Macarella is the larger cove with the beach bar and the bus stop, while Cala Macarelleta is the smaller, quieter twin reached by a short rocky scramble over the headland, popular with naturists and with no facilities at all. Many people swim and sunbathe at Macarella and slip over to Macarelleta when the main cove gets busy.
