Es Barranco

About Es Barranco

Es Barranco is a one-star hotel in the Menorcan countryside, set on the road to Cala Galdana and away from the island's main resort areas. It suits travellers who want a quiet base for the south coast and who are happy to drive to the sand. Cala Galdana, Es Mercadal under Monte Toro and the airport all sit within a short run of the property, so days out are easy to plan and evenings stay calm.

This is a simple, practical stay: one star, open country around it, and the sort of facilities that matter on a driving holiday, with free car parking and a garden listed among them. The appeal lies in the position and the space outside rather than a long list of services. Couples touring the island and families with their own transport fit the profile best.

Location: Ferreries

The address is on the Carretera Cala Galdana Km. 3.5, on Menorca's southern side. Cala Galdana is 3.9 km away in a straight line, Es Mercadal and Monte Toro 9.2 km, and Son Bou beach 9.6 km. The land around is farmland and low hills rather than a built-up strip, so nights are quiet and the nearest neighbours are fields and lanes.

The setting is open countryside, so there is little within walking distance beyond the lane and the fields. Plan on a car or a bike for beaches, villages and restaurants: Cala Galdana, 3.9 km off, is the closest cove with services, and Es Mercadal, 9.2 km away, the nearest town for supplies. In high summer the south coast car parks fill early, while May, June and September bring easier parking.

Rooms and facilities

The facilities listed for Es Barranco point to a self-sufficient kind of stay: a kitchen, a balcony, a fireplace and a garden, plus bars and free car parking. Couples may value the balcony and the quiet; families with a car can use the kitchen and garden to keep the day flexible. Non-smoking rooms are listed, which is worth confirming if smoke is a concern.

Bike rental appears among the services, useful for the lanes towards Cala Macarella and the start of the Camí de Cavalls. Laundry service is listed as well, handy on a longer tour of the island. Ask the hotel directly about room layouts, whether the kitchen is private or shared, what the balcony looks out on, and how check-in works if a flight lands late.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 21.9 km from Es Barranco in a straight line, south-west of Maó. Most guests will want a hire car collected at the terminal or a taxi for the run across the middle of the island to the Cala Galdana road. Buses serve Maó and, in summer, the resorts, but a countryside address means checking the island bus operator before relying on them.

Maó port is 24.3 km away in a straight line, with overnight crossings to Barcelona and sailings to Palma; Ciutadella, the old capital in the west, has its own services to Alcúdia on Mallorca. From either port the final stretch to Es Barranco is by road. Flights and ferries are fewer in winter, so match any crossing to the hotel's opening dates.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala Macarella is 5.3 km from Es Barranco and Cala Turqueta 7.4 km, both sandy south coast coves reached by road and then on foot; access to the smaller coves is limited in summer, so arrive early or take the bus. Cala Galdana, 3.9 km off, is the nearest cove with a full set of services, and Son Bou, 9.6 km away, has the longest beach on the island, backed by dunes and wetland.

Inland, the Naveta des Tudons is 9.7 km away, a boat-shaped prehistoric tomb of the kind that placed Talayotic Menorca on the World Heritage list in 2023. Es Mercadal, 9.2 km off, sits below Monte Toro at about 358 m, with a sanctuary and views of both coasts. Look out for caldereta de llagosta, associated with Fornells, and for the island's Mahón-Menorca cheese, a protected designation of origin.

A day from Es Barranco

Begin early and drive the 5.3 km to Cala Macarella, walking the final stretch before the heat builds. Come back through Cala Galdana, 3.9 km from Es Barranco, for a swim and a coffee. In the afternoon, head inland to Es Mercadal, 9.2 km away, then climb to Monte Toro for the sanctuary and the view over both coasts, returning to the hotel garden before dusk.

A second day can take in Cala Turqueta, 7.4 km off, in the morning, then the Naveta des Tudons at 9.7 km on the road towards Ciutadella. Son Bou, 9.6 km away, suits a longer beach afternoon with the wetland behind it. A car makes all of this straightforward, and a bike, hired through the hotel, covers the shorter lanes.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so check Es Barranco's own opening dates with the hotel before booking a winter stay; July and August are the peak months, when the south coast car parks fill early. Your booking will carry the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, charged per person per night by the accommodation, at rates that vary with season and length of stay, with children under 16 exempt. Check the Govern de les Illes Balears for the current rules.

Questions about Es Barranco