Isla Paraiso II

About Isla Paraiso II

Isla Paraiso II suits travellers who want a simple base on Menorca's north coast and do not need a long list of extras. The hotel holds two stars and keeps its facilities practical: an outdoor pool, a garden, a buffet and a restaurant. Arenal d'en Castell, a near-circular bay of pale sand, is 0.8 km away, so days can move between the pool terrace and the water without a long transfer. Couples and families both fit here.

This is a two-star holiday hotel rather than a design address, and it works best for guests who plan to be out on the island for much of the day. It sits in the Es Mercadal municipality, with Fornells 5.4 km away and Es Mercadal and Monte Toro 8.1 km away. A listed kitchenette and wifi make it practical for longer stays; the garden and terrace give somewhere quiet to come back to.

Location: Arenal d'en Castell

Arenal d'en Castell is a near-circular bay of pale sand on Menorca's north coast, in the Tramuntana zone where the rock is older and darker and the sand carries a reddish tone. The bay is the focus of the area, and Isla Paraiso II is 0.8 km from it, a walk of a few minutes along residential streets. High summer fills the curve of sand; in May, June and September the same walk is quiet.

For the bay, walking is enough: Arenal d'en Castell is 0.8 km from the hotel. Anything further needs wheels. Fornells is 5.4 km away and Es Mercadal, at the foot of Monte Toro, is 8.1 km, both short drives. Maó port, 16.6 km off, is the nearest city outing. Local buses and taxis cover the rest, with more lines in summer; check the island bus operator for what reaches Arenal d'en Castell.

Rooms and facilities

Facilities at Isla Paraiso II are listed as an outdoor pool, a garden and a terrace, which give couples somewhere to read and children room to move. The buffet and the restaurant cover straightforward meals, and the bar takes the end of the day. A kitchenette helps families keep breakfast and snacks simple. Internet access and wifi are listed, handy for checking ferry times or an evening's plan.

Reception, a safe and currency exchange are listed, and laundry service covers longer stays. Guests arriving late should confirm desk hours with Isla Paraiso II before travelling, since a two-star property may keep a modest reception. Ask which rooms include the kitchenette, whether the pool and restaurant run for the whole of your dates, and how the tourist tax is collected. The hotel can also confirm arrival arrangements and parking.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 18.2 km from Isla Paraiso II in a straight line. The transfer by taxi or hire car runs in one go, following the Maó ring road and then the north-coast road towards Arenal d'en Castell. Buses from the airport go to Maó first, so a change in the capital is normal before the last leg north; confirm times with the island bus operator.

Maó port lies 16.6 km from the hotel and handles the overnight ferries from Barcelona as well as crossings to Palma. From there the road north passes Es Mercadal, 8.1 km from Isla Paraiso II, and Fornells, 5.4 km away. Collecting a hire car at the port makes the last stretch easy. Flights and ferries thin out between November and April, so check operators before booking a late arrival.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The bay at Arenal d'en Castell, 0.8 km from Isla Paraiso II, is the nearest swim: pale sand in a near-circular curve, with the north-coast wind the Tramuntana is known for. Fornells, 5.4 km away, is a fishing village and the usual base for kayaking along this coast, listed 7.2 km from the hotel. Es Mercadal, 8.1 km off, sits below Monte Toro, about 358 m high.

The Favàritx lighthouse, 8.1 km from Isla Paraiso II, marks a dark slate headland inside S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, the core zone of Menorca's Biosphere Reserve since 1993, where a lagoon, dunes and birdlife sit behind the cape. On the plate, Fornells is known for caldereta de llagosta, lobster stew, and Mahón-Menorca cheese carries a protected designation of origin. Both are north-coast staples worth planning a meal around.

A day from Isla Paraiso II

Start with a swim at Arenal d'en Castell, 0.8 km from Isla Paraiso II, before the bay fills in high summer. Drive 5.4 km to Fornells for the morning, then follow the north coast to the Favàritx lighthouse, 8.1 km from the hotel, where the slate headland sits inside S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park. Return through Es Mercadal, 8.1 km away, and climb Monte Toro, 6.9 km off, for both coasts.

An evening at Isla Paraiso II suits the pool, the garden and the terrace, with the buffet covering dinner. A second day can use the same Tramuntana water: kayaking along the north coast is listed 7.2 km from the hotel. Without a car, keep to the bay 0.8 km away and take taxis or the summer bus lines to Fornells and Es Mercadal, checking current routes with the island bus operator.

Practical tips

Menorca's season is short at the edges: many hotels, beach bars and seasonal buses close roughly from November to April, so confirm the opening dates of Isla Paraiso II before booking, and note that July and August bring the busiest weeks to the bay 0.8 km away. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, is charged by the accommodation per person per night, with rates depending on the type of accommodation and the season, reduced in low season and for longer stays; children under 16 are exempt. Check the current rate with the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Isla Paraiso II