Racó Blau

About Racó Blau

Racó Blau suits families and couples who want a quiet base on Menorca's south-east coast, close to the airport but away from the busiest stretches. The four-star hotel stands in Binibeca Vell, a whitewashed hamlet of lanes and steps by the sea, and the beaches around Sant Lluís and Cala en Porter are a short drive away. Guests travelling with children, grandparents or a dog have room here, with free parking on site and an outdoor pool in the garden for afternoons back from the coast.

Racó Blau is a four-star hotel rather than a full-service resort. The listed facilities point to self-catering comfort: a kitchen with oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine, air conditioning and fans, a fireplace for the cooler months, and a terrace or patio for outdoor meals. Wifi and internet access are listed as free, as is car parking. The pool sits outdoors in the garden. Confirm the layout of your unit with the property before booking, since the listed facilities cover the hotel as a whole.

Location: Binibeca Vell

Binibeca Vell is a hamlet built in the style of a whitewashed fishing village, a knot of lanes, steps and low buildings beside the sea on Menorca's south-east corner. Racó Blau sits at Plaça Des Rinco Fondo 6, about 2.1 km from the hamlet's seafront in a straight line, so the walk is realistic in cooler weather but a car is easier in July and August. Sant Lluís, a white village of windmills, is about 5 km away, and Cala en Porter about 8.1 km.

The figures are straight-line distances, and the lanes behind Binibeca bend, so allow a little more time by road. Maó port is about 8.4 km from Racó Blau and the airport about 4.1 km, which puts the capital's restaurants and the departures hall within a short taxi ride. Buses run on the island, with more lines in summer, and the hotel's free car parking makes a hire car straightforward. High summer brings heavy traffic on this south coast; May, June and September are calmer.

Rooms and facilities

The listed facilities at Racó Blau read like a well-equipped self-catering base. Couples get air conditioning, a fan, a TV and radio, plus a kitchen with oven, microwave, toaster and coffee making, and a washing machine for longer stays. Families can ask about cots and high chairs, both listed, and about how the sleeping arrangements work in each unit. A fireplace, hairdryer, iron and board, and toiletries are listed too, along with a terrace or patio and garden access.

Late arrivals should confirm arrival arrangements with Racó Blau before travelling, particularly outside the main season. Pets are allowed, which is worth mentioning when you book, and smoking is confined to a listed smoking area. The outdoor pool and garden are shared. A smoke detector and first aid supplies are listed for safety. Ask the property which facilities belong to your particular unit, since the list applies to the hotel as a whole rather than to every room.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is about 4.1 km from Racó Blau in a straight line, the shortest of the distances on the hotel's list. A taxi or a hire car collected at the airport covers the run to Plaça Des Rinco Fondo 6 quickly, and the hotel lists free car parking on site. Buses serve Maó and, in summer, some of the resorts; check the island bus operator for the line that comes closest to Binibeca Vell, as routes change with the season.

From Maó port, about 8.4 km from Racó Blau, the drive runs past Sant Lluís and down towards the coast. Ferries from Maó link to Barcelona and Palma; check the operators for timetables, which thin out in winter, and reserve a hire car in advance if you land on an evening sailing. Flights also drop in frequency outside the season. Check with Racó Blau before booking a late crossing so the drive south does not finish too late.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Beaches first. Racó Blau is not on the sand, so plan on a short drive: the seafront at Binibeca Vell is about 2.1 km away, Cala en Porter, a deep cove between high cliffs, about 8.1 km, and Sant Lluís about 5 km. The south coast here is limestone with white sand under pine, and car parks at the popular coves fill early in summer, with limits at some. Carry water and shade.

Sights within easy reach include a boat trip round Maó harbour, about 8.4 km from Racó Blau, and the La Mola fortress guarding the harbour mouth, about 10.4 km. A talayotic village about 12 km away is a good introduction to the prehistoric sites inscribed by UNESCO in 2023. On the food side, look for Mahón-Menorca cheese with its protected designation of origin, and the lobster stew associated with Fornells in the north.

A day from Racó Blau

Start early with coffee on the terrace at Racó Blau, then drive the short distance to Binibeca Vell, about 2.1 km, to walk the white lanes before the coaches arrive. Carry on to Sant Lluís, about 5 km, for bread and cheese, then take the coast road to Cala en Porter, about 8.1 km, for a swim in the deep cove. Return to the hotel's outdoor pool in the afternoon heat.

Later, head to Maó, about 8.4 km from Racó Blau, for a boat trip round the harbour, then drive out to the La Mola fortress, about 10.4 km, for views over the water. On another day, a talayotic village about 12 km away fills a morning. Evenings back at the hotel are quiet: a meal on the patio, a swim, and an early night before the flight home, about 4.1 km away.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so check Racó Blau's opening dates before booking a winter stay; July and August are the peak, with the busiest roads and beaches, while May, June, September and October are easier. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax is charged per person per night by the accommodation. At Racó Blau the rate varies with the season and the length of stay, is reduced in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt, so check the Govern de les Illes Balears for the current rules.

Questions about Racó Blau