Colom Island is an islet of about 0.58 km² lying some 200 metres off the north-east coast of Menorca, in the municipality of Maó, and part of s'Albufera des Grau Natural Park. It served as a pesthouse and later as farmland. The Roca family of Maó owned it from 1904, and in 2018 it was sold to the American businessman Alex Meruelo. No one lives on the island. It is known for its two white-sand beaches and clear water, reached by rented kayak or boat.
Colom Island
Uninhabited islet off Menorca's north-east coast, with two white-sand beaches reached by kayak or boat.
- Entrance
- No ticket; the only cost is hiring a kayak or boat in Es Grau.
- Accessibility
- Reached only by kayak or boat, with a landing on sand; there is no step-free access and no way in for a wheelchair.
- Parking
- Two free car parks with an asphalt surface, about 1.5 km from the island in a straight line; the rest of the way is by water.
- Difficulty
- A kayak or boat crossing over open sea from Es Grau to an island about 200 metres off the coast; conditions depend on the wind.
- Transport
- Es Grau bus stop (stop 2550), about 1.8 km from the island in a straight line; then by rented kayak or boat.
- Hours
- No opening hours; the island is reached by water whenever the sea allows.
- Address
- Colom Island, Balearic Islands, Spain
What makes it special
Paddle out from Es Grau and the seabed shows through the water well before you reach the island: turquoise over sand, darker over weed and rock. Colom Island has two white-sand beaches, and they are the reason to come. You pull the kayak up onto the sand, swim, and snorkel along the rocks on either side.
No one lives here. Low scrub covers the ground behind the beaches, and across the channel the Menorcan shore sits about 200 metres away, the length of two football pitches. The island has a past to go with the view: it served as a pesthouse before it was farmed, and it has been in private hands since 1904.
Good to know
- The only way across is by water: rent a kayak or small boat in Es Grau.
- There is no drinking water and there are no toilets on the island. Carry water and food for the day.
- Bring a mask and snorkel: the two beaches are popular for snorkelling.
- The island is private property. The house and the land behind the beaches belong to the owner.
- The sea decides the day. Check the wind forecast before you hire a kayak.
Getting there
The last stretch is on the water. Es Grau is the starting point: this is where kayaks and small boats are rented for the crossing. Free car parks lie about 1.5 km from the island in a straight line, and the Es Grau bus stop about 1.8 km. From the shore you paddle or motor out to the island, which lies about 200 metres off the Menorcan coast at its closest, and land on one of its two beaches.
Best time to visit
Best: a calm summer or early-autumn day, setting out in the morning.
Avoid: days of strong north wind.
The crossing runs over open sea on the north-east coast, which takes the north wind head-on, and on Mediterranean coasts the breeze usually builds through the afternoon, so a calm morning gives the flattest water for a kayak.
Access & restrictions
Colom Island lies inside s'Albufera des Grau Natural Park and is privately owned: the Roca family held it from 1904, and it was sold in 2018. The house and the land behind the beaches are private, so keep to the sand. The island is protected ground as part of the park: leave nothing behind, and take no shells, plants or stones away.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Colom Island on the map
The crossing is open sea, and wind can raise waves in the channel while you are out. Check the forecast before you paddle, keep close to the shore and turn back if the wind picks up.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Colom Island?
By water only. Rent a kayak or small boat in Es Grau and cross to the island, which lies about 200 metres off the north-east coast of Menorca.Can you land on Colom Island?
Kayakers and boats land on its two white-sand beaches. The island itself is privately owned, so the house and the land behind the beaches are off limits.Is Colom Island good for snorkelling?
Yes. The two beaches are popular for snorkelling in clear water. Bring your own mask and snorkel.Are there any facilities on the island?
No. There is no drinking water and there are no toilets, and no one lives on the island. Bring everything you need for the day.