A compact strip of sand at the head of a narrow sea inlet on the far western tip of Menorca, on the boundary between the Los Delfines and Cala en Blanes resorts. Rocky cliffs flank the channel and shelter the water, which stays clear and turquoise; underfoot in the water it is rock. Three access points lead down from the streets above, all of them by steps or path. A beach bar and sun loungers for hire appear on the sand in the summer season.
Cales Piques Beach
Small cove beach at the head of a long, narrow rocky inlet on Menorca's western edge, reached by steps.
- Entrance
- Free. Sun loungers and the beach bar are paid separately.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair-accessible entrance and no accessible parking. Every way down involves steps or a rocky path; the access further along the road is the easier one.
- Parking
- No car park at the beach. Two car parks in the resort streets, about 260 m and 315 m away in a straight line; neither has a wheelchair-accessible bay.
- Difficulty
- Steps and paths down from the streets above. The hotel-side path is steep and rocky; the town square route is about ten minutes on foot and easier.
- Transport
- Bus stop Cales Piques (6730) about 180 m away; Pl. dels Dofins (6725) about 300 m.
- Advance booking
- Not needed.
- Hours
- Open at any time, every day.
- Address
- Carrer Valladolid, 49, 07769 els Delfins, Illes Balears, Spain
What makes it special
The water is the reason to come down. The sand sits deep inside a rocky canyon, so the channel stays glassy and sheltered from swell and wind, and the turquoise strip running between the cliffs looks more like a fjord than a Mediterranean bay.
Snorkelling is what keeps people in. Swim along the cliff edges and there are fish and underwater rock formations to follow, and the channel lets you swim well out from the sand. Space on the sand is limited, so the cove takes only so many people and does not feel overrun even in August. In peak summer a chiringuito sets up right on the beach, with cold drinks, ice creams and light snacks and loungers for hire.
On a windy day the mood changes and the cove takes hard waves.
Good to know
- Swim shoes are worth packing — the seabed inside the cove is rock.
- No toilets and no drinking water at the beach or nearby — bring what you need with you.
- Three ways in. The steps on the hotel side are steep and rocky; the access further along the road and the town square route, about ten minutes, are easier.
- The steps are hard work with a pushchair, with small children or for anyone unsteady on their feet.
- Sun loungers and a beach bar sit on the sand in the summer season, and both cost money.
Getting there
The cove sits inside the resort streets, so most people arrive on foot. The Cales Piques stop is about 180 m away and Pl. dels Dofins about 300 m, and two car parks lie about 260 m and 315 m off in a straight line. An information office stands about 290 m away.
What decides your route is the drop to the sand. Three entrance points lead down from above. The one on the hotel side is a steep, rocky path. The walk in from the town square takes about ten minutes and is much easier going, and there is another, gentler access if you carry on along the road.
Best time to visit
Best: evening. The cove faces the sunset, and the sand quietens down as the day ends.
Avoid: the middle of the day if you want space — the beach is busy through the daylight hours, though even in peak August it stops short of crowded.
For the sunset, stay up on the top rocks and walk across; going down to the beach puts the cliffs between you and the view.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Cales Piques Beach on the map
The rocks above the inlet are unfenced, and the path down on the hotel side is steep and rocky. When waves are running into the cove, stay out of the water.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you get down to the beach?
Three entrance points lead down from the streets above. The steps on the hotel side are steep and rocky; the way in from the town square takes about ten minutes on foot and is much easier, and a gentler access lies further along the road.Is the swimming good?
Cliffs shelter the inlet, so the water is usually calm and clear and you can swim well out along the channel. The seabed is rock, so swim shoes help. On a windy day the cove takes hard waves — then stay out.Is there anywhere to eat or drink on the sand?
A small beach bar sets up on the sand in the summer season, with cold drinks, ice creams and light snacks, plus sun loungers for hire. There is no drinking water nearby, so bring a bottle.Are there toilets?
No toilets at the beach, and none nearby.Does it work for young children?
The sheltered water suits children, and the sand is enclosed enough to keep everyone in sight. Getting down is the catch: the steps are hard work with a pushchair, so use the easier access along the road.