Villas del Sol

About Villas del Sol

Villas del Sol suits families and small groups who want a self-contained base on Menorca's south coast rather than a full-service hotel. The complex is a three-star apartment and villa stay in Cala en Porter, with a kitchen, a terrace and a garden among the listed facilities, so days can run at your own pace. Couples who prefer quiet evenings and their own cooking settle in well here, and the cove at Cala en Porter is 0.4 km away.

The stay is classed as an apartment or villa rather than a hotel, and it holds three stars. Self-catering is the point: kitchen, microwave, refrigerator and coffee are listed, together with air conditioning, a TV and a safe. There is an outdoor pool and a garden for the hours between the beach and dinner, and self parking is listed for guests travelling with a hire car.

Location: Cala en Porter

Cala en Porter is a deep sandy cove held between high limestone cliffs on Menorca's south coast, and the complex sits about 0.4 km from it in the Llebeig urbanisation. The immediate surroundings are low-rise and calm, with the cove as the main draw. Son Bou, the longest beach on the island, is 6 km away, and the whitewashed lanes of Binibeca Vell are 9.9 km away. A car helps for those two; the cove itself is a short walk.

High summer brings the busiest weeks at Cala en Porter, when the cove fills and the car parks at the popular southern coves go early. May, June, September and October are gentler, with cooler walking and easier parking, though some seasonal businesses wind down outside those months. Distances stay the same: Maó port is 11.3 km away and Son Bou 6 km, so taxis, a hire car or the seasonal bus network cover the longer hops.

Rooms and facilities

Air conditioning, a safe, a TV and a hairdryer appear on the listed in-room facilities, with an iron and board for smarter evenings. Kitchens come with a microwave and refrigerator, which lets families eat early and cheaply, and adjoining rooms are listed for groups who want to stay close without sharing a wall. Terraces are listed too, and the outdoor pool and garden give children room while adults unpack. Late arrivals should arrange key collection with Villas del Sol in advance.

Self parking appears on the listed facilities, which matters for reaching Son Bou at 6 km or the talayotic village at 4.3 km without relying on buses. The pet policy is worth settling before booking, since the facilities include both pets allowed and pets not allowed. Credit cards are accepted. Confirm check-in and check-out times, deposit arrangements, any cleaning supplement and whether pool towels are provided with Villas del Sol directly.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) lies 7.2 km from Villas del Sol in a straight line, so the transfer is quick at the start and end of a stay. Taxis wait at arrivals; a hire car picked up at the airport gives the most flexibility for the week ahead, and self parking is listed on site. Local buses connect the airport with Maó and, in summer, with the resorts. Check the island bus operator for current lines and times.

From Maó port, 11.3 km away, the drive to Cala en Porter crosses the south of the island and passes the turning for Son Bou at 6 km and Binibeca Vell at 9.9 km. Ferries reach Maó from Barcelona and Palma, and Ciutadella has its own crossings, so arrivals by sea are possible at either end of Menorca. Winter brings fewer sailings and fewer flights, and seasonal buses thin out, so check operators and the island council before fixing dates.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala en Porter itself is 0.4 km away, a deep sandy cove between high limestone cliffs. Son Bou, 6 km east, is the longest beach on Menorca, backed by dunes and a wetland. Binibeca Vell, 9.9 km away, is a whitewashed fishing-village-style hamlet of lanes built for wandering. A talayotic village stands 4.3 km from Villas del Sol, one of the prehistoric sites that put Talayotic Menorca on the World Heritage list in 2023.

Farther out, a boat trip round Maó harbour is 11.7 km away, a good half day among the inlets of one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, and Monte Toro, the island's highest point at about 358 m, is 13.3 km away with a sanctuary and views of both coasts. Menorca's food is worth planning around: caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew associated with Fornells, and Mahón-Menorca cheese, a protected designation of origin product. Maó also keeps a gin tradition from the British years.

A day from Villas del Sol

Start early at Cala en Porter, 0.4 km away, before the cove fills in high summer, and swim in the morning calm. Then take the car or a taxi 4.3 km to the talayotic village to see the talaiots and taules before the middle of the day. Lunch back at Villas del Sol, using the kitchen and the terrace, keeps costs down and gives children a break from the sun.

Spend the afternoon at Son Bou, 6 km away, walking the dunes and the wetland behind the sand, or drive 9.9 km to Binibeca Vell for the white lanes. In the evening, head 11.3 km to Maó port for a walk along the harbour, or stay local and eat on the terrace. Monte Toro, 13.3 km away, is better at the end of the day, when the light softens over both coasts.

Practical tips

Ask Villas del Sol about opening dates, since much seasonal business on Menorca closes roughly from November to April and the cove 0.4 km away goes quiet. The busiest weeks fall in July and August. The property adds the Balearic sustainable tourism tax to the bill per person per night; the rate follows the season and the category of the lodgings, longer stays cost less, and under-16s are exempt. Rates and exemptions come from the Govern de les Illes Balears, so check there before booking.

Questions about Villas del Sol