XIV Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls ConectaBalear 2026
Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls
Ciutadella
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls is a 185 km circumnavigation of Menorca following the historic GR-223 coastal path — the Camí de Cavalls — that once served as a military patrol route around the island's entire perimeter. The 2026 edition, the fourteenth running of the race, starts and finishes in Ciutadella and takes runners on a near-complete loop of the coastline, accumulating just 2,501 m of total positive elevation gain across terrain that rarely rises above its high point of 128 m. Do not let the modest climb figures deceive you: the course is relentlessly technical underfoot, constantly dipping in and out of rocky ravines (barrancs) and coves, and the sheer distance — with a hard cut-off of Day 3 00:30 at the finish — demands respect at every stage. Fifteen crew-accessible checkpoints are spaced across the route, giving support teams frequent access and giving runners a structured ladder of cut-offs to race against across approximately 52 hours of moving time.
Course & Terrain Overview
The route traces Menorca's coastline almost without interruption, meaning the terrain is dictated by the island's geology rather than any mountain range. The northern coast, covered in the first half from Ciutadella to roughly Favaritx (77 km), is characterised by rugged limestone and sandstone, with short but steep rocky scrambles down into and out of sea-level coves. The paths are frequently narrow, loose and eroded. The southern coast, from Es Grau through to the finish back in Ciutadella, offers slightly less dramatic relief but introduces long sandy beach crossings, dune fields and equally technical rocky headlands. Throughout both halves, dense low Mediterranean scrub (garriga) lines the trail and can make navigation demanding in the dark. With 16 checkpoints — each of which is also a crew point — the route is exceptionally well served for logistics, but the gaps between some checkpoints stretch to over 15 km, so never rely on crew access alone for hydration planning.
Decisive Sections: Where the Race Is Won or Lost
Despite the low maximum elevation of 128 m, several sections stand out as race-defining. The stretch from Binimel·la (43.3 km) to Arenal d'en Castell (65.8 km) covers approximately 22.5 km of the island's most rugged northern coastline; it arrives in the late afternoon of Day 1 when heat and accumulated fatigue combine, and the cut-off at Arenal d'en Castell (Day 1 21:50) catches runners who have gone out too hard in the first 43 km. The second critical passage is from Es Grau (85.3 km) through to Es Castell (100.4 km), a 15 km section run entirely at night with a cut-off at Day 2 05:41. Navigational focus drops sharply after 20+ hours on feet, and the rocky coastal path demands sustained concentration. The long southern haul from Cala en Porter (129.6 km) to Cala Galdana (155.5 km) — covering 25.9 km through the second afternoon — is where many runners' pace collapses; the cut-off at Cala Galdana (Day 2 17:45) is tight for anyone who has been banking time rather than earning it.
Pacing Strategy
With a finishing cut-off of Day 3 00:30 from a Day 1 start, the race window is approximately 52.5 hours. The relatively even spacing of crew points creates natural pacing segments, and the smartest approach is to build a small time buffer during the first 65 km of daylight running while conditions are manageable, rather than arriving at Arenal d'en Castell with nothing in the bank. Plan to run the first 53 km to Platges de Fornells conservatively — the cut-off there (Day 1 19:14) is generous — and use those early hours to eat, drink and settle into a rhythm. From Favaritx (77 km) onwards you will be running through the night; reduce pace expectations, switch to a hike-run strategy on technical ground and protect your ankles. By the southern half, from Binibequer (115 km) onwards, any attempt to make up large time deficits on flat sandy sections can work temporarily but drains the legs before the final 20 km back to Ciutadella.
Fuelling & Hydration
The climate on Menorca in the race season means Day 1 temperatures can be significant, and the open coastal exposure offers little shade. Carry a minimum of 1.5 litres of fluid capacity between checkpoints, particularly on the longer northern-coast gaps. With 15 manned crew points across 185 km, the average gap between resupply opportunities is roughly 12 km, which is manageable — but several northern-coast sections between checkpoints involve significant detours off the path, so never count on topping up until you physically arrive at the checkpoint. In terms of caloric strategy, target consistent solid food intake during the first 12 hours while your gut is still cooperative; transition to more liquid calories and easily digestible snacks from midnight of Day 1 onwards. The crew-point structure is your greatest asset: use each stop for a deliberate 3–5 minute reset — eat, refill, check feet — rather than passing through empty-handed.
Conditions to Expect
Menorca's coastal microclimate means conditions can shift significantly between the northern and southern coasts. The northern shore is exposed to the Tramuntana, the island's prevailing northerly wind, which can be fierce on headlands and create genuine cooling or, in its absence, oppressive heat with no shelter. Night temperatures drop noticeably, so carry a light insulating layer for the overnight section between roughly Favaritx and Es Castell. The southern coast is generally more sheltered but accumulates heat on sunny afternoons. Underfoot, the Camí de Cavalls alternates between compacted earth, loose rock, smooth limestone slabs (which become treacherous when damp), sand and occasional short sections of tarmac near villages. Grippy trail shoes with rock protection are strongly advised; gaiters are worth considering to keep sand out during the southern beach sections. Headtorch batteries and a backup torch are essential — you will run multiple hours in full darkness across both nights of the race.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
⚠ Auto-researched from public sources — aid stations and cut-offs may be incomplete. Confirm against the official roadbook before race day.
0 km · 20 m · —
8.8 km · 26 m · —
13 km · 32 m · —
17.1 km · 86 m · —
29.4 km · 26 m · —
40.6 km · 12 m · —
50 km · 8 m · —
61 km · 21 m · —
74.9 km · 8 m · —
83.7 km · 10 m · —
100 km · 27 m · —
118.5 km · 37 m · —
132.7 km · 29 m · —
150 km · 4 m · —
158.7 km · 25 m · —
168 km · 5 m · —
176.9 km · 9 m · —
185.1 km · 17 m · Sunday 01:00
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Course data researched from public sources — verify against the official roadbook.