Villa Mares

About Villa Mares

Villa Mares suits travellers who want a base of their own in Cala en Porter rather than a full-service hotel. The property is listed as an apartment or villa with three stars, and the kitchen, washing machine and outdoor space make it a practical choice for families with young children, for two couples travelling together, and for anyone planning a week of swimming, short walks and drives along Menorca's south coast.

Expect a self-catering stay with hotel-style comforts added on: air conditioning for the hot months, a fan, a safe and a smoke detector all appear on the facilities list, alongside an outdoor pool and a terrace or patio. No guest score is published for the property, so the three-star rating and the facilities list are the clearest guide to what awaits before booking.

Location: Cala en Porter

Villa Mares has a Cala en Porter address on Menorca's south coast, in the Migjorn band of limestone and white sand. The resort's own cove, a deep sandy inlet between high cliffs, is 0.4 km away, close enough to walk down for a morning swim. Son Bou, the longest beach on the island, with dunes and a wetland behind it, is 6 km from the property, and the whitewashed hamlet of Binibeca Vell is 9.9 km away.

A car helps here: the airport is 7.2 km off and Maó port 11.3 km, while the sights listed for the property sit between 4.3 km and 13.3 km from the door. Bus services on Menorca are more frequent in summer and thinner outside the season, so check the island bus operator if you plan to travel without a vehicle. Free car parking is listed at Villa Mares, which makes hiring a car straightforward.

Rooms and facilities

The listed layout works for couples who want space and for families who need to cook. A kitchen with oven, microwave, refrigerator and toaster sits alongside coffee-making kit, and a washing machine and ironing board cover longer stays. Air conditioning, a fan and non-smoking rooms are listed, with a bath and hairdryer in the bathroom, plus a TV, wifi and a safe. Terrace and patio space extend the living area outdoors.

Late arrivals should confirm arrival arrangements with Villa Mares before travelling, since reception hours are not fixed here. Ask how the outdoor pool is shared or allocated, how the air conditioning is controlled in each room, and whether a cot needs booking in advance; cots appear among the listed facilities. It is also worth confirming the parking space, the wifi strength inside the apartment and whether bath or pool towels are supplied.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 7.2 km from Villa Mares in a straight line, a short transfer at the start or end of a stay. A taxi covers that distance quickly, while a hire car collected at the airport gives more flexibility for the rest of the week, and free parking is listed at the property. Summer buses reach the south-coast resorts, with thinner timetables outside the season, so check the island bus operator.

From the sea, Maó port is 11.3 km away, where ferries from Barcelona and Palma arrive, the Barcelona crossing taking several hours overnight. Travellers who start on Mallorca can also cross to Ciutadella from Alcúdia. Once settled at Villa Mares, Cala en Porter's cove is 0.4 km down the road, Son Bou 6 km and Binibeca Vell 9.9 km, so a car makes light work of beach-hopping. Flights and ferries are fewer in winter, so plan ahead.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala en Porter's cove is the nearest swim, 0.4 km from Villa Mares, a deep sandy inlet sheltered by limestone cliffs. Son Bou, 6 km away, is the longest beach on Menorca, with dunes and a wetland behind the sand. Binibeca Vell, 9.9 km off, is a whitewashed fishing-village-style hamlet built for wandering. A boat trip round Maó harbour, 11.7 km away, shows the scale of one of the Mediterranean's largest natural harbours.

Food on Menorca is straightforward and regional. Caldereta de llagosta, a lobster stew, belongs to Fornells on the north coast, and Mahón-Menorca cheese carries a protected designation of origin, so it turns up in markets and shops across the island. British rule in the 18th century left a gin tradition in Maó, 11.3 km from Villa Mares, worth knowing when you stock the kitchen. Village shops keep their own hours, so check locally.

A day from Villa Mares

Start with a swim at Cala en Porter's cove, 0.4 km from Villa Mares, before the cliffs lose their morning shade. Drive to the talayotic village 4.3 km away and walk among the stone monuments that put Talayotic Menorca on the World Heritage list in 2023. Lunch back at the apartment, then take the short run to Son Bou, 6 km off, for the long beach and the wetland path behind it.

Late afternoon suits Binibeca Vell, 9.9 km from Villa Mares, when the whitewashed lanes are quieter. Finish with a drive up Monte Toro, 13.3 km away and about 358 m high, where the sanctuary and the view take in both coasts. On another day, head into Maó, 11.3 km off, for the Georgian streets and a boat trip round the harbour, 11.7 km from the property.

Practical tips

Confirm Villa Mares's opening dates before booking: outside the main season, roughly November to April, much of Menorca's tourist business shuts, and July and August bring the island's peak crowds, when south-coast coves and car parks fill early. The accommodation charges the Balearic sustainable tourism tax per person per night; rates vary with the type of property and the season, are reduced in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt. Check current rates with the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Villa Mares