S'Algar Holidays

S'Algar Holidays – Menorca’s top watersports destination

S'Algar is arguably the best resort in Menorca for watersports. Club S'Algar Diving offers a range of water activities including jet skiing, water-skiing, parascending and windsurfing, and arranges dive trips to the spectacular underwater caves along the coast. Rather unusually for a Menorcan town, there is no beach here, but the soft, white sands of Cala Alcaufar are around a 20 minute walk away. This is a small, peaceful resort with a handful of hotels and low-rise apartment blocks, and an abundance of attractive white-washed villas. Nightlife tends to be hotel based, but there are a couple of low-key bars. For a livelier night out, the town is well-placed for visiting nearby Mahon and Es Castell. If you hire a car, the pretty villages of S'Ullastrar, Trebaluger and Torret are close by, nestled amongst beautiful countryside.  A great choice for an active family holiday.

When to go

Arguably the best time to visit S’Algar is the spring (April-May). The beautiful surrounding countryside will be coming into bloom; it’s criss-crossed with hiking and cycling paths, and is a lovely area to explore. What’s more, the weather is pleasantly warm, with cool, fresh air lingering from the winter, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities. Early spring can see an increase winds as the tramuntana blows from the north, making this a good time for windsurfing and sailing. Prices during spring and autumn (September-October) will be much cheaper than the peak summer period (June-August). If you travel around the beginning of September (7th-9th), you’ll get to see the lively Fiesta de la Mare de Deu de Gracia in nearby Mahon; a riotous two-day  festival of dancing, live music, street parties, parades and fireworks.

If you visit in summer, you’ll get the best weather for a beach holiday (although bear in mind that S’Algar does not have its own beach) but also the most expensive prices. From late July through August is the annual Music Festival of Mahon, with live blues, jazz and classical music around the city.

The weather in S'Algar

S’Algar holidays will enjoy the clement Mediterranean climate that characterises the Balearic Islands, with a long, hot summer period. Spring sees average maximum temperatures of 18-21C, before heating up in the summer months of June-August to between 25-28C on average. The autumn remains pleasantly warm well into October, with the mercury hovering between 22-26C. Between November and March the temperatures will drop right down to 14-18C, with an increased chance of rainfall and buffeting northerly winds. The resort is virtually closed to tourists during this time.

Getting the best deal

For the best deals on holidays to S’Algar you should book up early. There is limited hotel accommodation in the resort, so the best-priced rooms for the peak summer period are likely to sell out fast. Avoiding the notoriously expensive school holidays periods of Easter, July and half-term will save you money.

Booking holidays ‘off-peak’ in either spring or autumn will be far cheaper than booking for the summer period. Consider opting for self-catering accommodation to lower the overall cost of your holiday. Take a look at our best deals on package holidays to S’Algar below or check out our late offers here. 

Airport and transport need to know

Flying into Menorca, you will land at the island’s only international hub, the Menorca Mahon airport (MAH) - also known as the international Aeropuerto de Menorca. This is a small, compact and bustling place, with just one terminal set across 2 floors and a limited amount of shops and restaurants.You can fly from London Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, as well as Manchester and Liverpool and a number of other regional UK airports such as Bristol and Exeter.

S’Algar is located conveniently close to the airport, meaning transfer to the resort only takes around 15 minutes by car. Taxis wait outside the Arrivals hall, seat up to 4 people and operate on a fixed price basis. You should expect to pay around €25 for 4 people plus luggage.

You can also arrange a shared shuttle bus from the airport to the resort relatively inexpensively, at around €25 for a return ticket. Menorca Airport Transfers is one such coach company that operates out of the airport.

The least expensive way to reach S’Algar is by public bus. You take the Airport-Mahon bus from outside the Arrivals hall to Mahon central station in Plaza Explanada, Mahon. The fare is approximately €1.50 and it takes 15 minutes. From the central bus station, you can catch a connecting bus to S’Algar. The journey takes around 25 minutes and costs around €1.60. You can download a PDF of the bus timetable for Mahon here.

The best beaches in S'Algar

As mentioned previously, S’Algar does not have a beach. Sand and sea lovers need not despair, however, as the resort is well placed for visiting some of most popular beaches in the area. The southern coast of Menorca is widely regarded as having the best beaches on the island, with wide, sandy bays that have gently sloping sands and shallow, warm waters. Ideal for families with young children. Beaches of note in the area include Cala Alcaufar, Punta Prima and Binibeca.

Cala Alcaufar Beach

This is the nearest beach to S’Algar, at around a 20 minute walk away. It is essentially a narrow, rocky inlet lined by a number of attractive traditional fishermen’s cottages. Complete the sheltered from the rolling waves of the open ocean, the water is shallow and calm. A small restaurant with alfresco dining deck overlooks the cove. You can hire out canoes and pedaloes, but don’t expect to find any more watersports than that here. A great beach for quiet relaxation, peace and quiet.

Punta Prima Beach

Punta Prima is one of the largest and most popular beaches on the south coast. It is just over a mile down the coast from S’Algar and easily accessible by car. Here you’ll find an expansive stretch of white sand, gently shelving into the sea to create warm, shallow waters. The beach was one of the first ever to be awarded the EU Blue Flag for cleanliness. A number of beach bars and restaurants are found to the rear of the beach, and you can hire out sea kayaks for exploring the sea caves along the coast. Those with small children should be aware that the current can be strong here at certain times of year; a warning flag system operates above the Red Cross building to indicate when it’s dangerous. Windsurfing and sailing are popular pastimes.

Binibeca Beach

Binibeca is a small, attractive cove that’s well sheltered from the sea and incredibly popular during the summer months. Located a mile or so westwards along the coast from Punta Prima, you can reach Binibeca within 10 minutes by car from S’Algar. The beach here is well equipped with parasols, sun loungers and motorised pedaloes. An outcrop of rocks in the shallows is a popular spot for children to try and catch the tiny fish that dart through the clean, clear water. Around 10 minutes’ walk from the beach is the pretty fishing village of Binibeca Vell, with its charming harbour. And when you feel like a bit to eat, the resort area of Cala Torret behind the beach has a number of excellent restaurants with panoramic sea views.