Meet The Menorca National Park
The island of Menorca has a lot of green spaces. Apart from the coastline, the inner parts don’t have many settlements. Only some small villages here and there, but when it comes to Menorca, everything happens on the coast. There is however a part on the northeast side that’s dedicated to the Menorca national park.
It is called the Parc Natural de s’Albufera des Grau. The national park was established in 1995. However, already before this, the local population has worked hard to protect this marshland area.
The park itself is around 5000 hectares big. Considering the small size of Menorca, it covers quite a large area! Little known fact, but the whole island of Menorca falls under Natural Area of Special Interest.
Visiting the Menorca National Park
Opening Times
The Parc Natural de s’Albufera des Grau is open all-year-round. The official opening times are 9 AM to 3 PM. This is of course only for the official amenities like information, permanent exhibitions, and guides.
The hiking and walking areas can be visited any time.
Rules to keep in mind
When you visit, you have to remember that you are in a protected natural environment. This means that you should keep yourself from disturbing the peace.
Please do not pick any flowers or any rocks that you think look cool. It’s not allowed to take them out of the park. You should always stay on the marked paths and refrain from disturbing the Menorca wildlife.
You also have to leave your dog at home. As dogs are not part of the natural biosphere in the park, they might disturb the local animals. Also, you will stumble upon some farms and probably cattle. While you can admire the animals, keep in mind that they are on private property. It is best not to go close or try to pet them.
Menorca Wildlife
When you go to the nature park, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to observe the Menorca wildlife. The marshlands of the park have a great diversity of animals living in them.
One of the main standout features of the park is the wild bird population. From aquatic birds like ducks and coots to prey birds like the booted eagle, you will find many different species here.
You can also check out a reptile species which are only found on Menorca and Mallorca. It’s called the Balearic Wall Lizard. When you walk the trails around the park, you can also encounter mammals and other mainland animals.
Great for Snorkeling
If you are looking for Menorca wildlife under the sea, the national park is a great option. The water at Es Grau port is extremely clear and full of life. You don’t even have to search that much to find underwater wonders and snippets of life.
Hiking
This Menorca national park is also a good place for hiking. You will find out that there are 3 main hiking routes. These are marked with red, green, or blue signs.
The two shorter ones are the blue and red hiking paths. They both take around 40 minutes to complete. The green trail is the longest of them all. It takes around 75 minutes to complete it.
Far de Favà ritx
Regardless of all the natural wonders and the wildlife to enjoy, Far de Favà ritx is the most known attraction within the park.
It’s a classic lighthouse with black and white striped paint. The location is very picturesque. When you visit it you will be able to look at the beautiful shore of Menorca and the sea. We think it’s definitely worth the visit.
Have Fun in Nature
When you visit the Parc Natural de s’Albufera des Grau you will get lost into nature. You will observe a variety of wildlife and have fun hiking the trails of the park. Perfect for families or anyone who wants to do something other than the beach.
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