Cala Pregonda
Best for. Walkers and value travellers who want a wild, free, postcard different bay of red sand and rock stacks, and who will trade a 30 minute hike for far fewer people.
Best spot. The far end by the rock stacks for the clearest swimming and the famous view back across the bay, with the shallow red shallows nearer the path for an easy paddle.
Know this. The whole day turns on the wind, so check the forecast, go on a calm spell, and on a northerly save Pregonda and pick a sheltered south coast cala instead.
Cala Pregonda is the beach that proves Menorca is two islands in one. Forget the soft white horseshoes of the south, because the north coast is older, redder and wilder, and Pregonda is its showpiece. Coarse rusty sand runs down to clear water studded with volcanic rock stacks, the whole bay glowing a strange Martian red in the afternoon light. It is genuinely one of the most distinctive beaches in the Mediterranean, and crucially for a value traveller, it is completely free. There is no entry fee, no sunbed concession and nothing to buy, just sand, sea and rock.
The catch, and the reason it stays quiet, is that you have to walk for it. There is no road and no bus to the bay, so you park free at Binimel la and follow the Cami de Cavalls coast path for around half an hour over rocky ground. That barrier is exactly what keeps Pregonda calmer than the famous south coast calas, and it is a fair trade, but it does mean coming prepared. Wear real shoes rather than flip flops, carry enough water and shade for the day, and accept that once you are out there the only thing for sale is the view.
Here is the honest warning that most guides bury. Pregonda lives and dies by the wind. On a still day it is paradise and the swimming is glorious, but when the tramuntana blows from the north the exposed bay turns rough, cold and murky, and the long walk becomes a poor reward. So check the forecast before you set out, treat a calm spell as the whole point, and on a windy day do the smart thing and switch to a sheltered south coast cala such as Cala Galdana or Cala Mitjana. Get the timing right and Pregonda is the best free day on the island. Get it wrong and you walked an hour for chop.
Clubs near this beach
Pregonda has nothing on the sand at all, which is its whole appeal, so the nearest food and the daybed scene sit elsewhere, and we point you to both.
Restaurant near Binimel la, to be confirmed
The closest food and drink is back at the Binimel la car park, where a seasonal beach restaurant and toilets serve the wider bay, roughly summer season with hours and operator to be confirmed. It is your last chance to fill water bottles and grab supplies before the walk, as there is nothing at Pregonda itself.
No club on the sand
At Pregonda there is nothing, by design, as the bay is wild and protected. For sunbed hire, a full restaurant or a sunset bar you head to the developed south coast bays such as Cala Galdana, or to Cova d'en Xoroi for the evening, all read honestly in our Menorca club directory.
North coast, on foot from Binimel la
Cala Pregonda sits on the wild north coast near Es Mercadal, with no road and no bus to the sand. You drive to Binimel la, follow signs from the Cavalleria road, and park in the free area by that beach, which has a restaurant and toilets for a last stop before the walk.
From there it is a signposted walk of about 25 to 35 minutes along the Cami de Cavalls coast path, rocky in places, so wear proper shoes. Carry water, shade and a picnic, set out on a calm morning, and remember there is nothing to buy once you leave Binimel la, which is part of why the day stays so cheap.
Photo: Jordi S via GoogleNot ready to book?
Keep the good shorelines coming. Shore Notes is our occasional letter on the best beaches and the clubs worth your day, sent straight to your inbox. One field, unsubscribe any time.
Book a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a table or sunbed at a Menorca beach venue. No obligation, and we reply by email within 24 hours.
Independent and honest · 1,340 beaches ranked across 103 destinations · We answer to no resort
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Cala Pregonda
How do you get to Cala Pregonda?
There is no road and no bus to the beach itself. You drive to Binimel la on the north coast near Es Mercadal, park in the free area by the beach, then walk about 25 to 35 minutes along the signposted Cami de Cavalls coast path. The terrain is rocky in places, so wear proper shoes rather than flip flops and carry water for the walk.
Is Cala Pregonda worth the walk?
On a calm day, very much so. The red sand, the volcanic rock stacks offshore and the clear water give it a wild, almost Martian look that the south coast calas cannot match, and the walk keeps the crowd thinner. The honest caveat is the wind, because a northerly turns the bay rough and cold, so check the forecast before you commit to the hike.
Are there facilities at Cala Pregonda?
Almost none at the beach, which is the price of its wildness. There is a restaurant and toilets back near the Binimel la car park, but nothing along the path or on the sand at Pregonda, so bring all the water, food and shade you need. That also keeps the day cheap, as there is nothing out there to spend money on.
When should you avoid Cala Pregonda?
Avoid it when the tramuntana wind blows from the north, as the exposed bay then picks up real waves and the water turns cold and murky, which makes the long walk a poor trade. On those days the sheltered south coast calas such as Cala Galdana or Cala Mitjana are the smarter choice, and you save Pregonda for the next calm spell.
Is Cala Pregonda good for families?
Only for prepared, active families. On a calm day the shallow red sand shallows are lovely for older children, but the long rocky walk in, the lack of facilities and the exposure to wind make it hard work with toddlers or a lot of gear. Families wanting an easy day are far better served by Cala Galdana or Son Bou on the south coast.
