Cova des Pardals is a cave in the coastal rock near Son Xoriguer, in the municipality of Ciutadella on Menorca's south-west coast. It lies on the Camí de Cavalls, the footpath that circles the island, about 2 km along the coast from Cala en Bosch. A stairway beside a white wall leads down into the cave, which opens onto a bay where swimmers get into the water on calm days. Pardals is Catalan for sparrows.
Cova des Pardals
Coastal cave on the Camí de Cavalls, reached by a stairway and opening down onto a bay for swimming.
- Entrance
- Free; there is no ticket.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: the approach is a rocky path and the cave is reached by a stairway. Unsuitable for anyone with limited mobility.
- Parking
- Free parking about 1.2 km away in a straight line; a second parking area about 1.3 km away.
- Difficulty
- About 2 km from Cala en Bosch on a fairly flat but rocky coastal path, then a stairway down into the cave; wear hiking boots.
- Transport
- Nearest bus stops: Playa Son Xoriguer and Gran Via de Son Xoriguer, about 1.3–1.4 km away in a straight line.
- Advance booking
- Not needed; the cave is open coast with no ticket.
- Hours
- Open at any time.
- Address
- 07769 Ciutadella, Balearic Islands, Spain
What makes it special
The entrance hides in plain sight. A white wall beside a white house on the coastal path turns out to be the top of a stairway, and it takes you down into the rock to a cave that opens straight onto the bay.
The walk down is easy. At the bottom the sea fills the mouth of the cave, and on a calm day you can rest on the rock and swim out from it. The Camí de Cavalls gives wide views along the coast on the way in, and the rocky path makes the cool of the cave feel earned.
Good to know
- The stairway starts at a white wall beside a white house. When your map says you have arrived, stop and look around before walking on.
- Wear hiking boots: the path is rocky, and the route does not suit anyone with limited mobility.
- There are no toilets or drinking water nearby. Bring water, and more of it in summer, when the path has no shade.
- Swim only when the sea is calm, and look for jellyfish before you get in.
Getting there
The last stretch is always on foot along the Camí de Cavalls. The nearest parking sits about 1.2 km away in a straight line, with a second parking area about 1.3 km away, and the nearest bus stops, at Playa Son Xoriguer and on Gran Via de Son Xoriguer, are about 1.3–1.4 km away.
From Cala en Bosch the walk is about 2 km on a fairly flat but rocky path. Watch for a white house by the path: the white wall beside it doubles as the stairway down into the cave.
Best time to visit
Best: a calm day between late spring and early autumn, in the morning or late afternoon.
Avoid: days when the sea is running high, and the middle of a summer day on the path.
Swimming from the cave only works when the sea is flat, and the coastal path has no shade from the midday sun.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Cova des Pardals on the map
The cave opens straight onto the sea, and swell surges over the rocks at its mouth. Stay out of the water and back from the edge whenever the sea is up.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I find the entrance to Cova des Pardals?
Look for a white house by the Camí de Cavalls: the white wall beside it is also the stairway down into the cave. When your map shows you have arrived, stop and look around; walking on takes you past it.Can you swim at Cova des Pardals?
Yes, from the bay the cave opens onto, but only when the sea is calm. Look for jellyfish before you get in.Is it suitable for people with limited mobility?
No. The approach is a rocky coastal path, the cave is reached by a stairway, and there is no wheelchair access.Where can I park?
The nearest parking is about 1.2 km away in a straight line. The rest of the way is on foot along the Camí de Cavalls.