2018-08-11 Marina Amarres Poniente, Mahon to Cala Santa Galdana, Menorca, Islas Baleares, Spain

With a new part for our motor ordered and installed this morning, we say goodbye to our friendly acquaintances, Stephen & Barbara who were berthed beside us

Our French neighbours on the other side also bid us farewell as we depart the marina

Marina Amarres Poniente has been a very convenient and a reasonably priced marina in Puerto Mahon

Once again we pass all the wonderful old buildings as we leave the marina

A small luxury cruise ship which we have seen a few times in the Mediterranean over the years, happens to be in port for the day

A fuel tanker is also docked at the commercial pier on the other side of the harbour

Looking back to the marina, the conspicuous bougainvillea plant on the wall, marked where we had been berthed for a few days

A few nights ago we had drinks and dinner in this lovely area by the harbour

Il Porto has it’s usual row of smart motorboats lined up along the pier

The large super yacht, Icon which came into the port a few days ago appears to be heading out once again

We continue south down the long harbour passing a traditional gaff rigged ketch on anchor in the port

We encounter boat of all sizes here

There is a 3 knot maximum in the port however some boats do not take any notice of this restriction

Again we pass Es Castell

Some yachts are under sail as they leave the port

Others are in a hurry!!

Once we are out of the port we continue south down the south east coast

It is not long before we approach Punta Prima

In the distance we see Isla del Aire the small flat island on the south eastern coast of Menorca

Playa de Punta Prima is a very popular beach and holiday destination near the south eastern tip

The water here is an amazing beautiful turquoise blue

Once around the point we continue west along the southern coast of the island

Approaching Cala Binibeca

Cala Binibeca is one of the most popular anchorages in all of Menorca. Very rarely during the busy season is there space available for anchoring

Next we pass Cala Fust with the interesting holiday village called Binibeca Vell

Every cove we pass has numerous boats on anchor

We continue along the rugged less inhabited coastline

This barren coastline is amazing with incredible caves carved into the cliffs … it is amazing to think that prehistoric people lived here

We decide to anchor for a while and swim to the caves

After our swim we continue west along the coast

We arrive at the busy Cala Covas which is one of the most spectacular bays in the Balearic Islands. It has approximately 150 caves carved into the cliffs in the bay. Some of these caves were inhabited in prehistoric times

The next cove along the coast is the delightful Cala Porte which has caves cut into the cliffs. These ancient caves however have been transformed into a restaurant and a nightclub!!

Cala Porte is a very pleasant small anchorage with a beach and lovely houses overlooking the bay

The scenery of this coast is quite phenomenal

We arrive at what is known as Son Bou which is a few miles of sandy beach coastline that has high rise hotels and apartments which is very popular for tourists visiting the island