Firstly, a bit of a confession.

Before visiting Menorca I wasn’t exactly “keen” on horse riding… I mean, horses can be quite scary creatures to many people. “What if you fall off?”, “What if your horse is crazy?” Are the two most common questions from people when you mention you’re off horse riding.

Travel insurance is hardly reassuring either, the fact that a horse trek is on there as an adventure sport didn’t fill me with confidence!

“What if you fall off?”, “What if your horse is crazy?”

Well, I’ve tested out horse riding in Menorca with three different stables, so I can tell you exactly where to go in Menorca if you want to go horse riding.

The first time I tried horse trekking in Menorca I wasn’t actually looking forward to it at all, it had been a long day and the thought of struggling to get myself up and over the back of a six foot horse wasn’t filling me with joy.

But sometimes when traveling, at a time you least expect it, something will take you by surprise. Horse riding in Menorca did just that. There’s something quite unique about horse riding and having an understanding with a horse… even if that is “Please don’t throw me off”. One person in our small group described it best when I overheard her saying “you get a buzz when you come back to the stables and you’ve had a positive trek with a horse, you’re on a bit of a high, you know?”. I now know exactly what she means after trekking with horses three times on the island.

I had such a mind blowing experience on my first horse ride in Menorca. We didn’t trek far, we didn’t make it to the beautiful coastline or even through the forests. We trotted into an empty field before my guide, Alex, stopped then whistled. From behind trees and bushes, around ten horses appeared galloping excitedly towards us (I captured some of this experience in my video below).

The Cami de Cavalls, is a historic path that stretches 186km around the entire island

After dismounting nervously I waited until some of the more inquisitive horses to come over. One horse nicknamed “Brad Pitt” for his blond flowing mane that sweeps across its eyes took an interest, nibbling at my t-shirt and following me around the field. It was after this experience that I understood why some people really love horse riding, it’s not just simply about riding the animals but about the connection and relationship you have with them. I loved the experience so much that I thought I’d try it again whilst seeing a little bit more of the island.

The Cami de Cavalls

Menorca is the perfect island to go horse trekking. The Cami de Cavalls, is a historic path that stretches 186km around the entire island providing a way to reach remote coves, beaches and lookout points. It’s originally thought that the path was used to connect defensive towers and fortresses that helped transport troops, supplies and artillery. The path varies across the island with steep rocky terrain, tree-lined forests, sandy beaches and cliffs.

Although I’ve only horse trekked parts of the Cami de Cavalls both sections provided contrasting and equally dramatic landscapes.

If you’re thinking about visiting Menorca and are keen to try horse trekking, here’s the experiences I had with three different stables.

Menorca a Cavall

Situated between Ferreries and Cala Galdana, Menorca a Cavall stables sit on top of a hill a the farm of Es Calafat, looking out onto lush green fields. It’s here where I first took a horse trek in Menorca. I was quite nervous having not been horse riding since traveling in Chile in 2007, but Alex my guide reassured me that I was paired up with a reliable friendly old horse called Violeta.

Menorca a Cavall offer full day rides, weekends and longer routes along the Camí de Cavalls, depending upon your experience.

Website: Menorca a Cavall
Where: Between Ferreries and Cala Galdana

Rutas Ecuestres Cami Cavalls

I met my guide from Ruta Ecuestres Cami Cavalls on the Northern coast of Menorca for a horse trek along part of the Cami de Cavalls around the beach at Binimel-la to Cala Pregonda. The landscape was so different here, with steep rocky climbs and winding paths down to sandy beaches and coves where waves crashed down. It was an experience just to ride a horse on this type of terrain, figuring out where to balance my weight. Thankfully my horse took it all in its stride and pretty much all I had to do was cling on and hope for the best.

Rutas Ecuestres Cami Cavalls only use the Menorcan breed of horses, they are known for their strength and nobility. You can spot a Menorcan horse because they have a dark black coat and perform in Spanish fiestas. The company offer a variety of routes along the Cami de Cavalls from 1 hour, 1 whole day to much longer trips across a week. They cater for all levels of experience too.

Website: Rutas Ecuestres Cami Cavalls
Where: Cami de Binimel la

Cavalls Son Angel

I arrived at Cavalls Son Angel late in the afternoon just as the sun was shining down, it was the perfect weather to trek out through the woodland to the coast. Unlike previous occasions, I was part of a group for our trek and in ways it was a different experience. In a small group, you find yourself meeting new people (and their horses) even if it’s only for an afternoon. As we reached the cliff edge the view was stunning, so much so that it was difficult to truly capture in a photograph.

Cavalls Son Angel specialise in tours of the Cami de Cavalls and customise their routes depending on your level of experience. They offer treks between one and three hours if you are a beginner, if you’re more experienced your can take a full dive day route.

Website: Cavalls Son Angel
Where: Near Cuitadella

After my first experience horse riding in Menorca, I knew I’d have to give it another go. The Cami de Cavalls offers so many of different scenic experiences that is perfect for exploring on horseback. There are beautiful beaches, coves and rocky lookouts only accessible via the route, so it’s an opportunity to explore the really remote areas. No tourists, no crowds but just horses and nature.

All three horse riding stables provided an excellent experience with safety being a priority. I felt that they all selected the right horse and route for my very newbie horse riding level which meant I could relax and make the most of the experience. If you’re planning a trip to Menorca I’d definitely recommend horse trekking the Cami de Cavalls, it really is a memorable experience.

If you’re thinking of going horse riding in Menorca and have a question or maybe you’ve been before? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

 

Disclosure – I travelled to Menorca as part of the #MustSeeMenorca project managed by iambassador and in association with the Spain and Menorca Tourism Boards. TravMonkey maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site.