Costa Smeralda – One of Many Beautiful Regions of Sardinia

We started our Sardinia vacation by flying (from Frankfurt) into Olbia on the northeast coast of Sardinia. This was a great place to begin (and end) our Sardinian adventures. Olbia is ideally situated near the famous Costa Smeralda and the La Maddalena Archipelago, as well as other costal towns, archeological sites and beaches. (See here for an overview of regions we visited in Sardinia, we toured the island in a counter-clockwise route).

Olbia

While not a major tourist destination itself, Olbia has a lovely old town and is situated on a beautiful harbor. We spent our first night here, enjoying dinner in one of the many restaurants on the main pedestrian street and browsing the vendor booths lining the harbor promenade – a very festive atmosphere.

The next morning we drove north toward Porto Cervo, the heart of Costa Smeralda, stopping at beaches along the way. Our first day started out cool, windy and slightly rainy, but by the afternoon it was warm and sunny. The weather didn’t stop us from enjoying the sights along the coast and wasn’t a factor for the rest of our trip.

Costa Smeralda

Costa Smeralda got its name and started becoming fashionable in the early 1960’s, due to development efforts led by Prince Karim Aga Khan. It’s maintained that status ever since. Our stay here was brief, given the many areas of Sardinia we wanted to visit. Below are a few images of the beautiful coastline of this region.

*Spiaggia Principe, considered Sardinia’s most famous beach (although it’s only one of hundreds as beautiful), on Costa Esmarelda.*

*Porto Cervo, the center of Costa Smeralda, was pretty quiet in early October. We enjoyed walking around the harbor and the town, with many expensive shops.*

*The calm, clear waters of La Celvia Beach, south of Porto Cervo.*

*La Celvia beach (left and above), was just a short distance from our hotel in the Costa Smeralda resort area of Cala di Volpe (above right), and near a golf course as well as Capriccioli and Spiaggia* *Principe beaches. What more could you ask for!*

Although not directly part of Costa Smerelda, Spiaggia Cala Brandinchi, near San Teodoro, not far south of Olbia, is another great beach and park, with some lawn area just behind the beach for games or picnics. We were flying out of Sardinia shortly after our visit here and so we didn’t get to enjoy this beach for long!

*Real pink flamingoes near San Teodoro!*

As with any region of Sardinia, it would be easy to spend your whole vacation right in (or around) Costa Esmeralda. If you want to live here, be ready to open your checkbook. It’s one of the most expensive regions in Europe and given its allure, it’s easy to see why.

10 Surprising Things about Sardinia

As I have mentioned is previous posts, we LOVE the islands of the Mediterranean. They are some of my favorite destinations in world. After visiting Mallorca and Menorca (which belong to Spain), the next island on our list was Sardinia (part of Italy). We had been to Sardinia’s northern island neighbor, Corsica (part of France) years ago and from the beautiful southern coastal town of Bonafacio we could see Sardinia in the distance, only about 12 km (7.5 miles) away. We visited Sardinia in October, which is a great time to go – the water was still warm and the crowds were limited.

*This map of Sardinia shows the five main regions we visited in Sardinia.*

I will be sharing more posts on our Sardinian adventures soon, but first here are some things you may not know about about this beautiful island.

1. Sardinia is part of Italy

Although an autonomous region, Sardinia is definitely Italian. Some Americans have never heard of Sardinia and really have no idea that it’s part of Italy. The Sards have their own language but of course speak Italian, English, and other European languages quite fluently. It was easy for us to get by on English and a few Italian phrases. The food and gelato are wonderful, as in other regions of Italy.

2. Sardinia is big, and a relatively sparsely populated island

This is important to keep in mind when planning a trip – allow two or three weeks to see the whole island or if you have less time, perhaps concentrate your time in one region. Sardinia is the 2nd largest island in the Mediterranean (just slightly smaller than Sicily) but has just 1/3 of Sicily’s population. It is about 170 miles long and 90 miles wide. We covered a lot of ground in two weeks, but still did not see everything (see map above), including the southwest coast.

3. Sardinia boasts some of the most stunningly beautiful coastline (and water) in the world

*Cala Goloritze, Gulf of Orosei, accessible only by boat or a 3.5 km hike. The color of the water was the most incredible turquoise hue I’ve ever seen.*

Sardinia has an embarrassment of beaches – no matter where you are on the island, you’re close to some of the best beaches in the world. The Gulf of Orosei on the eastern side of the island has a breathtaking coast although it’s not easily accessible, except by boat or via some steep hiking trails.

4. There are hundreds of incredible beaches, many of which are undeveloped and uncrowded

*La Pelosa Beach, near Stintino, Sardinia. You must make a reservation for this beach if visiting during high season. It is worth the hassle (which is not a big deal nor expensive).*

Some beaches might have a refreshment stand, a few might be close to some resorts, but often there are no hotels or condos anywhere to be seen. Admittedly, there are (just a few) beaches that are so popular you must have reservations during the high season or can only be accessed with a guide, and there a few beaches that are not accessible at all – due to preservation efforts, speaking of which…

5. Sardinians take their beach sand seriously

From pink sand beaches to shiny quartz sand beaches to powdery white sand, the sand is beautiful everywhere. However, don’t even think about taking a sample home with you. You will be fined. You are also required to have mats underneath your beach towels so as to not inadvertently trap sand and take it home in your towels.

Spiaggia Rosa, on Budelli Island (near La Maddalena). You cannot set foot on this pink sand beach, they are protecting it for future generations. However you get a view of it from a boat tour, as in this photo.

*Example of the fine quartz sand and pebbles found in Sardinia.*

6. A car rental is essential

Unless you plan to go straight from the airport to a resort and straight back to the airport or plan on a tour by a group bus, a car is the only way to really see the island and reach some of the beaches and tourist sites. Some sights or hiking trails are remote. Since the island’s population is sparse, driving was not a problem – I did not feel rushed or on edge with crazy drivers pushing me to speed up or forcing me to get out of the way.

7. Sardinia offers something for everyone

Friendly, welcoming locals – check. Beautiful beaches – check. Warm, clear water – check and check. Charming medieval towns – check. Fascinating ancient historical sights – check. Remote mountains, rock climbing, forests and hiking trails – check, check, check and check. Diving – check. Excellent food – check. What more could a person want?

*A view of Alghero, on the northwest coast of Sardinia, a beautiful medieval town, one of our favorites on Sardinia.*

*Nurhage La Prisigona Historical Site (14th century BC), near Arzachena, Sardinia.*

8. Sardinia has its own island get-aways

As funny as it may sound, Sardinia can be considered a ‘mainland’ and just off its coast (such as the northeast coast) lie an archipelago of islands (the main island is La Maddalena – see map above) accessible by only ferry and smaller boat, some of which are part of a national park. These islands are home to some of the best beaches and best hikes anywhere in Sardinia.

*The island of Spargi, part of the La Maddalena Archipelago. We could have stayed here our whole trip!*

9. Sardinia is not just for the jet-setting crowd

In the 1960’s Coasta Esmeralda was popularized and has since become a jet-setting hotspot. This part of the northeast coast (near Olbia) certainly has some beautiful beaches and coastline. While you will find big yachts, high-end real estate, retail and eating establishments here, this is just one small enclave of the island. The rest of the island seems unfazed (and untouched) by the movie star and billionaire crowd.

*View of Porto Cervo, the center of Coasta Esmeralda.*

10. Go Now

Sardinia isn’t quite on the main tourist map yet, although posts like this don’t help! The majority of visitors are Italian (this is their backyard!), followed by French and Germans. On one of our boat tours, we were with some Swiss and Belgian tourists. We ran into a few tourists from the U.S., but not many. Very few tourists seem to explore the whole island, there are lots of “untouched” little mountain villages and quiet beaches to find solitude if that’s your thing.

*The cute little village of Gavoi in north central Sardinia.*

Word is getting out, so go now! Here’s one of my recommended websites for great information on Sardinia tourism. I read almost every post Claudia has written, very helpful. Of course, I will be publishing information on each region of Sardinia we visited over the course of the coming weeks.

Note: Featured image – Cala Marilou, Gulf of Orosei

A Short Visit to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Overview

After a few days in Yosemite National Park in California we drove south through Fresno and then east, climbing the hills up into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks via Highway 180 that enters Kings Canyon National Park from the northwest. These two Parks adjoin one another. We spent two nights in Sequoia National Park and that was just enough time to see the major sights. Sequoia National Park felt very quiet compared to Yosemite, even with pretty full campgrounds and regular shuttle buses operating. It’s all relative!

*Map of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.*

The giant sequoias are unique to this area, with climate conditions that are perfect for their growth over thousands of years. These trees are also naturally resistant to fire, disease and insects due to the high concentration of tannin in the sequoia’s bark. In the Parks, you will see evidence of fire and how the trees have survived.

Below are a few highlights of our visit.

General Grant Tree (Kings Canyon NP)

The General Grant tree was not far from the entrance to Kings Canyon and we made this our first stop. General Grant is 40 feet wide at its base, the widest-known sequoia tree and “just” 1,700 years old (some sequoias are 1,000 years older!). It was proclaimed to be the Nation’s Christmas tree in 1926. Good thing they didn’t cut it down! Other fun facts are shown in an image below.

*The General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park is the 2nd (or 3rd, depending on which literature you read) largest tree by volume in the world.*

*A few facts about the General Grant Tree.*

*Left and Middle Images – Fallen sequoia trees near General Grant. Right – near General Sherman.*

Since we arrived late in the afternoon, after visiting General Grant we drove to Lodgepole Village and Campground in Sequoia National Park, passing through a small burn area at the entrance.

*The Northwest entrance to Sequoia National Park, on the Generals Highway.*

After getting settled in camp, we enjoyed a great park ranger talk that evening at the nearby amphitheater where we learned a great deal about the local black bear population (we learned that that black bears can be white, brown as well as black!).

General Sherman Tree

During the summer, shuttles operate between Lodgepole Village/Visitors Center and Moro Rock, so rather than drive and try to find parking at each stop, we took the shuttle, a very convenient way to go.

Our first stop was the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world by volume, it’s 2,200 years old. A half-mile trail from the shuttle stop leads to General Sherman and provides access to other nearby trails.

*A few fun facts about the General Sherman tree.*

Big Trees Trail

A short distance south of General Sherman is the Big Trees Trail, a 1/2 mile loop that will take you on a tour of some of the other massive sequoias in the Park. Everywhere you look are these giant trees, making you feel very small! Also, along another 1/4 mile path, you can visit the Giant Forest Museum where the geology and history of these trees and area is explained.

*Examples of the giant sequoias, note in the right image how the tree has swallowed up part of the huge boulder!*

*Additional images of the Big Trees trail. On the right – Robyn is standing next to a very young sequoia that will probably outlive me by 2,000 years or more!*

*Near the Big Trees trail we saw a couple bears – we were a little way off and they didn’t pay much attention to us.*

Moro Rock & Tunnel Log

Continuing south from Big Trees Trail, and a short drive off the main road is Moro Rock. You can climb to the top via a 1/4 mile stairway taking you 300 feet up this granite dome for some amazing views of the surrounding mountains.

*View from the top of Moro Rock, looking east. Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental U.S., is at the eastern edge of Sequoia National Park (not quite visible here).*

*The shuttle also travels past “Tunnel Log” near Moro Rock. Our camper van is too tall to take this tunnel, but if you have a car, go for it!*

We camped at Lodgepole Campground in Sequoia NP, a good location for visiting the primary sights in the Park. Lodgepole Village has showers (although they are not the cleanest showers I’ve seen), laundry facilities and a small cafe and convenience store. As with Yosemite, we planned ahead (3-4 months) to ensure we got our campsite reservations.

Unfortunately we did not have time to really explore Kings Canyon National Park, I wish we could have. Please note there is really only one road into the primary area of Kings Canyon National Park (north of Sequoia NP) and it’s a pretty long drive. My recommendation would be to spend a least one night in Kings Canyon and then two nights in Sequoia National Park. Plan enough time for your visit, the roads are not fast, as with other roads in the area, they are windy, narrow and slow. We exited the Park on the southwest corner via Highway 198 towards Visalia and Bakersfield.

Visiting Yosemite National Park – Some Images and Tips

As much as I’ve traveled within the U.S., once place I’d never visited until this year was Yosemite National Park in California. When we bought a camper van last year we put Yosemite on our list as one of the places we definitely wanted to visit. Yosemite is certainly one of the most stunningly beautiful places I have ever been, and the world knows it. You will find many Californians here (of course), plus people from around the world – we heard a lot of different languages being spoken on the trails and around the sights.

*Views of Yosemite National Park, entering the Valley from the west.*

Left-Bridalveil Fall. Right – El Capitan – it’s difficult to capture in an image the sheer size of this granite monolith! We thought of Alex Honnold and his unbelievable free solo climb here in 2017. You can hike to the top via a tough 16+ mile trail.

Yosemite Falls

*You can hike to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls if you don’t mind scrambling over big granite boulders – it was fun!*

*At the pool below Lower Yosemite Falls.*

*We hiked up to Columbia Rock, on the trail that leads to the top of Yosemite Falls. It was steep, so be prepared! A view of Half Dome in the distance.*

Merced River

Glacier Point Road

This 30 mile (or so) drive from Yosemite Valley is so worth it! The views from Glacier Point are awe-inspiring. If you plan ahead, you can get a tour shuttle up to the Point and take a steep one-way hike down to the Valley (about 4 miles). If I had been smart, we would have done this – the shuttle was already full when I called just a day or two in advance. There’s lots of parking at Glacier Point, but it does fill up – the good news is that people are coming and going all day long. There’s also a small gift shop and restrooms at the Point.

Views from Glacier Point – a great shot of Half Dome from here. If you really plan ahead and have the stamina, you can hike (about 8 miles) up to Half Dome and take the incredibly steep ladder/cable ascent to the top, we saw people at the top of Half Dome from Glacier Point. Permits are required. My nephew and his family did this just shortly after our visit.

From the Glacier Point road, you can take a hike (less than 2 miles) to Taft Point (highly recommended!) with another great view of western Yosemite Valley. Right image – that’s me out on the rock looking straight down 3,500 ft. to the Valley floor at Taft Point!

*This was the view (called Tunnel View) coming down from Glacier Point- every spot is a “Kodak Moment!”*

Mirror Lake

Tips for Camping In Yosemite

If you want to camp within Yosemite and especially within Yosemite Valley, you need to plan (way) ahead. We started looking at campgrounds in February for a July trip and learned there is a four month rolling reservation window, meaning we had to book our campsite in March for July dates. We wanted to be in the Yosemite Village area, right in the heart of Yosemite Valley for my first visit (my wife had visited Yosemite as a child with her parents on several occasions). We spent 3 nights/2 full days in the Park. This was long enough to give us a good introduction to Yosemite. If you wanted to hike a lot of trails and explore the far reaches of the Park, then you might want to spend a week here.

Camping in Yosemite Valley has its pluses and minuses. The main plus is that you are very close to the well-known Yosemite attractions, the main minus is the lack of solitude. Even if you book (on recreation.gov) at the right time and date (at 7 am Pacific exactly 4 months from the date of your planned visit) there is no guarantee you will get a camping spot, they fill up within seconds of being released. We were lucky and were able to get a spot in Upper Pines Campground, right next to the Merced River, almost directly below Half Dome and within minutes of many Valley attractions. I wish I had taken photos of the campground. Don’t expect privacy – the campgrounds are always full, the spots are close together with a few pine trees scattered about. Bear lockers are provided and essential. While the campgrounds have the standard restrooms and water spigots, I don’t believe any of the campgrounds have RV hookups (e.g., water, electricity, sewer), but they do have dump stations where you can take care of your RV’s needs. There are several small stores in the Valley where you can get supplies and snacks, and several restaurants as well.

In addition to typical tent/RV campgrounds, you will find other accommodation options in the Park – from luxurious lodges to cabins, established tent communities and prison-like bunks in semi-open cinder block structures that have a table and not much else (the least appealing option in my mind, these are located in Housekeeping Village).

*Some of the canvas tent accommodations available at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park.*

Since we were on an extended camping trip (having also visited Lake Tahoe and Sequoia National Park as part of the same trip), access to laundry and shower facilities was helpful, these can be found at Curry Village and Housekeeping Village.

Getting Around

Given the volume of traffic and day trippers into Yosemite, car parking can be a challenge. If you can, bring your bicycle and leave your car or truck at the campsite, bikes are a great way to get around Yosemite Valley, the Village and adjacent hiking trails. I was glad we brought our bikes. You can also rent bicycles there.

Other Tips

The roads in Yosemite National Park are narrow, steep and windy, so driving is slow–it’s a big Park, so plan your time accordingly. During the summer months, if you do not have a camping (or other accommodation) reservations inside the Park you will need a timed reservation just to enter the Park, even for a day visit. The lines to enter the Park on a summer morning can be long (miles long). We came in via the Big Oak Flat entrance on the western side of the Park in the afternoon and had no wait. We left via the southwest entrance (Wawona, near Fish Camp) and saw a very long line of cars waiting to enter the Park at around 9 am. There are public buses that come to Yosemite as well from neighboring towns, and this might be an option depending on how long you want to stay.

I know my comments above may scare you away from visiting Yosemite, but in spite of the crowds, it is definitely worth the effort, just plan ahead and figure out your best options.

Exploring Menorca’s Unique and Fun Coastal Towns

In addition to beautiful beaches, Menorca, Spain has some interesting and scenic towns to explore. During our short visit, we mixed in visits to the island’s towns, historic sites and beaches. The island is small and it only takes about 45 minutes by car to get from one end of the island to the other. Since the island is not large, any of these towns would be a good “home base” during your stay in Menorca. We decided to say in Cala Galdana, more of a resort area for our first time in Menorca which was also a good choice.

*Map showing the relative locations of the major towns in Mencorca.*

Ciutadella de Menorca

Ciutadella is located on the western end of Menorca and was a busier town than Mahón (discussed below), although that may have been due to the time of day we visited (early evening). Ciutadella is home to the main ferry route connecting Menorca to Mallorca. The town is ancient, dating back to the Carthaginians (~300 BC), and has a long (and at times sad) history, particularly in the 1500’s when the town came under siege by the Turks, who took the survivors and sold them into slavery in Constantinople (Istanbul).

*This windmill stands out as a primary landmark as you enter Ciutadella.*

*Street scenes in Ciutadella. There are some lovely pedestrian arcaded streets and shops and interesting architecture to be admired in Ciutadella.*

*We enjoyed a great tapas meal in Ciutadella!*

Mahón (or Maó)

Mahón is the largest town in Menorca and the island’s capital, located on the eastern edge of the island. It’s also the location of the island’s airport if you fly here. The town is quite pretty, with a lovely setting and harbor. There are some rumors that the word mayonnaise originated here! We found the town to be pretty quiet, with few tourists wandering about. Numerous boat tours are available from Mahón and perhaps most tourists were out for the day.

We had fun wandering the streets along the harbor and admiring the yachts at berth and enjoying some great gelato! Nearby are a number of prehistoric sites that may be visited.

Binibeca (or Binibeca Vell)

Binibeca is a white town on Menorca’s southeast shore that is relatively new but looks like an old fishing village! It reminded me a bit of the Greek islands. It certainly makes for a postcard view. The town was built in 1968, and is in a great location – close to Mahón and yet it feels somewhat remote. The area near Binibeca is a growing tourist spot, with many small hotels/resorts and homes popping up nearby in the years since the village was built. In addition, there are numerous beaches and coves within a short distance if you want to enjoy the warm clear water.

*View of Binebeca and its small harbor.*

*Views of Binibeca. It would be hard to find a more uniform-looking town anywhere in Europe!*

*A short walk from Binibeca will take you to some amazing coves and clear water – inviting you to stay and take a dip! We came back on another day and took advantage of these clear, warm waters.*

Fornells

Fornells is the only major town on Menorca’s north shore and would make a great home base for visiting Menorca, if you want to enjoy a quieter experience and slower pace. Unlike Binibeca, this is an authentic fishing village and it’s known for its great seafood restaurants.

*Residences and vacation homes near Fornells on Menorca’s north shore – this area had a “California coast” feel.*

*One doesn’t have to go far from Fornells to find a great beach – Cala Tirant is just a couple kilometers as the crow files from Fornells, or an 8 km (4.5 mile) drive.*

The Beaches of Menorca, Spain

Like the other Balearic Islands, Menorca, Spain is blessed with some amazingly beautiful beaches and coves. Since we were in Menorca for only 4 days, we couldn’t visit all of its glorious beaches, but we did get to swim at several and see others during our (too) short stay. Listed below (in no particular order) are beaches & coves we were able to visit.

*Primary beaches we visited are shown in red font.*

Note: Someone asked me about encounters with jellyfish in Mallorca and Menorca – there was only one place we saw any jellyfish and that was at Cala Mitjana on Menorca (described below). They were brown (not the technical name) jellyfish and harmless.

Cala Galdana

We stayed in Cala Galdana on the southern shore of Menorca–it is a lovely large cove, with a wide protected sandy beach, hotels, restaurants and tourist activity businesses nearby, a perfect spot to call home while you explore the island. The beach has numerous chairs and umbrellas for rent and the water is shallow and calm, making this a very family-friendly place to swim and enjoy the sun. Another plus of this location are the walking trails (part of the historic Cami de Cavalls) along the coast in either direction from Cala Galdana to other amazing places such as Cala Turqueta or Cala Mitjana. The trails are well signposted and point out the distance and direction of your destination (it’s a good idea to get a local island map). Make sure you are adequately prepared if you walk these trails – have plenty of water, sun protection, sturdy shoes and energy snacks.

*The Comitas Florimar hotel where we stayed in Cala Galdana. The rooms were large and had kitchen facilities.*

*Additional views of Cala Galdana’s beach area.*

*Walking along Menorca’s coastal trail (**Cami de Cavalls**).*

Cala Turqueta

This may be Menorca’s most famous beach. From Cala Galdana, it is just a few kilometers (6.4 km, or 4 miles) west by trail if you’re up for a little hike. The advantage of taking the trail to Cala Turqueta is that you avoid the parking problem. The Cala Turqueta parking area fills quickly (we arrived before 8 am and were turned away) and if you can’t get a spot you must drive back to the island’s main road and then down another road to another car park (Son Suara Beach – see below) and then hike from that car park along the coastal trail back to Cala Turqueta. I know this sounds a bit complicated, it’s because there is no coastal road connecting many of the beaches by car, you must use the main east-west road in the middle of Menorca as the main car route and then take the north-south spur roads that lead to the various beaches and coves. It’s not a huge issue, just be prepared to sometimes walk at least a couple of kilometers on the trails as noted above. The only route that connects the entire coastline is the non-motorized trail circumnavigating the island. In fact, a number of beaches can only be reached via the trail.

Bottom line, however you manage to get to Cala Turqueta, it is worth the effort!

*Cala Turqueta – get here early if you want a little quieter experience.*

*Above and below – views of Cala Turqueta, Menorca.*

Cala Mitjana

Cala Mitjana is less than 2 km (~1 mile) east of Cala Galdana via the walking trail and is very beautiful also. Since we walked, I’m not sure about the car park situation, but probably similar to Cala Turqueta – arrive early to get a spot if you need to drive here.

*Cala Mitjana – just another lovely day at the beach!*

Binibèquer Vell (Binibeca Vell)

I’ll share more about this unique town in another post, but this region of Menorca (southeast coast) has some great beaches and coves. It was one of my favorite spots on Menorca. We found this beautiful cove (below) just outside of the town of Binibeca Vell as we were exploring the area. It looked so inviting we came back another day specifically to swim here!

*A cove near Binibeca Vell – the water is so clear – bring your snorkel gear!* *There are several ladders on the cliffs making it easy to get into and out of the water.*

*Yours truly enjoying the warm, clear water near Binibeca Vell!*

Some of Menorca’s Other Beaches

There are so many stunning beaches in Menorca – below are a few others we visited during our various exploration travels.

Cala Tirant – this beach is on the north shore, near the town of Fornells. Wide, open and I’m guessing it wouldn’t feel crowded even on a busy day.

*Views of Cala Tirant, on the north shore of Menorca.*

Son Bou – this popular beach is on the southern shore of Menorca, and close to the Torre d’en Galmés prehistoric ruins if you want to mix a little culture in with your beach day. There are also some 6th century church ruins right next to the beach.

Cala des Talaier – another beautiful small cove and beach on the southern coast, between Son Saura and Cala Turqueta.

*Cala des Talaier – just off the walking path on the way to Cala Turqueta from Son Saura beach and parking area.*

Son Saura – another amazing, wide, shallow and calm beach area on the south coast of Menorca.

*Son Saura Beach, on the path from the Son Saura parking area to Cala des Talaier and Cala Turqueta.* *One really needn’t go any further than here to have a perfect beach experience!*

I hope I have convinced you that you don’t have to go to Hawaii for great beaches – the Mediterranean Sea and specifically Mallorca and Menorca are blessed with an abundance of beautiful, safe, white sandy beaches and some of the clearest, warmest water you will ever find!

The Best Places to Visit in Egypt for Active Travellers

(Guest post by Colton Davis).

(Post Featured image credit: Photo by Osama Elsayed on Unsplash)

Many holidaymakers flock to Egypt for its pretty beach resorts which offer sun, sea, sand, and plenty of relaxation. For active travellers who prefer to stay busy, these quiet beach resorts are less appealing. Let’s take a look at three destinations in Egypt that have lots of fun activities on offer to appeal to energetic travellers.

1. Cairo

Cairo is Egypt’s capital city and it has a huge array of attractions to visit. Those who love to be on the go will certainly stay busy in Cairo. The Giza pyramid complex, which lies on the outskirts of the city, is by far the most popular historic site, but wandering around the ancient structures in the baking heat is not for the fainthearted. There’s also the Fortress of Babylon, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Abdeen Palace, Giza Zoo, and a vast range of museums to explore. Even strolling around the Egyptian Museum in Cairo requires some stamina due to the sheer scale of the collection; there are around 120,000 antiquities on display here. Cairo’s position on the Nile also allows for active travellers to try their hand at kayaking and rowing to see a different side to this sprawling city.

2. Marsa Alam

*Photo by Pascal van de Vendel on Unsplash*

Marsa Alam is a scenic resort town that lies on the Red Sea’s western shore and although its beaches are lined with sun loungers and umbrellas, there’s far more to do than simply relax. The town is considered one of the best destinations in the world for kitesurfing. Its waters are relatively flat and see plenty of sunny, windy days that are perfect for kitesurfing, particularly between September and April when average temperatures range between 18 and 29.5°C (64 – 85 F). The waters in Marsa Alam are very clear and there are beautiful natural barrier reefs to explore if you’re into diving or snorkelling. You might even get the chance to see sea turtles, dolphins, and dugongs (sea cows). If you love water sports or enjoy trying new activities, Marsa Alam is a fantastic destination.

3. Luxor

Luxor is a fascinating city best known for its proximity to the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, two royal burial sites that have played an important role in our understanding of ancient Egypt. More than 150 tombs have been excavated across the two sites, including that of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. On the opposite bank of the river, there’s the Karnak temple complex to explore. This is an enormous 247-acre site that was developed over the course of 1,500 years by 30 successive pharaohs. There are many more temples and monuments in Luxor to explore, such as the Ramesseum, the Colossi of Memnon, and the Memorial Temple of Hatshepsut, as well as some excellent museums such as Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum. You’ll need to be on the go throughout your stay in Luxor for a chance to see all the sights.

Egypt is the perfect destination for an active holiday

There’s so much to see and do in Egypt that it’s the perfect holiday destination for active travellers. Choose one of these three cities as your base or consider travelling around the country to experience all that Egypt has to offer.

Menorca’s Amazing Prehistoric Ruins

Menorca, Spain has about 1,500 prehistoric sites – a higher concentration per square kilometer than any where else in the Mediterranean Sea, this is why Menorca is known as an “open air museum”. Numerous ancient stone structures dot the island, especially the southern half. A map of many of the sites can be found here. A number of these sites have been quite well preserved, considering they’ve been around for nearly 3,000 years! The Talayotic (or Talaiotic) period (when many of these structures where built) was lasted from about 1200 B.C. to 123 B.C. (when the Roman conquest took place).

*The locations in brown font indicate the four prehistoric sites discussed below.*

While Menorca’s beaches are incredible (more on these in a future post), it’s also fun to explore other sights on the island, and we decided to visit four of these prehistoric ruins during a “day off” from the beach. These archeological sites typically charge a small fee and provide informational brochures for your visit. Why did I choose these particular sites? I just did a little research on Menorca’s prehistoric ruins and decided on these four as reasonable sampling of what can be visited relatively easily. The road signage on the island to these historical sites is quite good.

Naveta des Tudons

This ruin is on the western side of the island, not far from the city of Ciutadella. Navetas are tombs that are unique to Menorca, and are typically one to two levels high and round or elongated. Naveta des Tudons is the largest of all known Navetas on the island and is considered the oldest existing building in Europe. It dates from 1000 – 800 BC, and was in use for about 500 years. Archeologists found the remains of over 100 individuals inside. We had the site to ourselves late one afternoon.

*A view of the front of the Naveta. Note the careful stone fitting and placement work.*

*This image shows the burial ceremony and process and the layout of the interior of Naveta des Tudons.*

*These images show a side view and end view of the Naveta. Interesting stone work can be noted in both views.*

Trepucó

The settlement of Trepucó is one of the largest on the island, covering an area of around 49,240 square metres. However, what can be viewed today is only a small part of the site, dating from 1200-700 B.C. It is located near Mahón (or Maó) on the eastern side of the island.

*Other views of Trepucó, showing the domestic dwellings. Some areas were occupied into the Middle Ages, and still retain much of their original structures.*

Talatí de Dalt

This ruin is only 4 km (or about 2 miles) from the city of Mahón (or Maó) on the eastern side of Menorca. It’s about the same age as the other talaiotic ruins on the island, and reached its peak between the 4th and 2nd century B.C.

*Talatí de Dalt is interesting because there are a number of cave-like chambers and corridors to explore.*

This talayot (or talaiot) at Talatí de Dalt is representative of those found in many of Menorca’s ruins – their function is not completely understood – they may have been watchtowers, meeting places, or related to other ceremonial events.

Torre d’en Galmés

Torre d’en Galmés was probably my favorite of the Talayotic prehistoric sites we visited, due to its immense size and location. Lots of ruins to explore here. It is located in south-central Menorca, not far from Son Bou beach. It is believed that Torre d’en Galmés was a principal site and had oversight of many of the other settlements.

*I loved these hypostyle chambers with the stone roof supports. However, I’m not sure I’d want to be in one of these rooms during an earthquake!*

*Above – Other views of Torre d’en Galmés.*

*In addition to above-ground structures, there are a number of below-ground chambers in Torre d’en Galmés as shown above.*

If you get a chance and can tear yourself away from the beach for a day, don’t miss Torre d’en Galmés, or any of the other Talayotic sites on Menorca – they are the premier prehistoric ruins in the Balearic Islands, if not the entire Mediterranean Sea.

Tips for Visiting Menorca, Spain – Mallorca’s Somewhat Quieter (Yet Beautiful) Neighbor Island

When planning our trip to Spain’s Balearic Islands, we decided to visit Menorca in addition to Mallorca and I’m so glad we did! Menorca is quite different than Mallorca – much smaller in geographic size and population, with rolling hills (vs Mallorca’s mountains) and fewer, quieter roads. Yet Menorca has amazing beaches, quaint towns and other interesting sights definitely worth checking out. I will be sharing posts on all these sights in the coming weeks!

*This map shows the locations of places we visited while on Menorca. More information to come soon in future posts.*

I say “somewhat quieter” in this post’s title because even though the local population is only 1/10th of Mallorca’s (about 100,000 people live on Menorca vs. about 1 million on Mallorca), tourists (especially Europeans) have discovered Menorca and some of the most popular beaches can get pretty crowded during the summer months. You need to plan ahead (like going to the beach early (7 am) to get close parking spots or waiting until the late afternoon (5-6 pm)). That said, there are so many beach/cove options you won’t have trouble finding a spot to lay down your towel, even if it’s not where you originally planned to go.

*This gorgeous beach, Son Saura, was largely ignored as tourists walked further on the coastal trail to the more famous Cala Turqueta (we’re guilty as charged!).*

Menorca Travel Tips

Menorca is on of the three primary Balearic Islands, and only 43 nautical miles (80 km or 50 miles) from Mallorca. The other primary island is Ibiza, which is a little more geographically separated from Mallorca and Menorca (although closer to mainland Spain) and we did not visit it.

*Location of Menorca relative to Mallorca, Ibiza and mainland Spain.*

Getting There: Menorca is a short flight (about 20-30 minutes) or ferry ride from Mallorca. We flew to save time, and the flight was enjoyable because you could see a lot of the island from the flight path. You can also fly to Menorca directly from Barcelona and other locations.

Transportation: We rented a car on Menorca and this was a convenient way to get around, since we wanted to explore as much of the island as we could in 4 days. The roads are in good condition and fairly quiet, there’s not a lot of traffic. There is a bus system, but since we didn’t use it I don’t know how convenient or frequent the buses are.

Where to Stay: There are many options and we decided to stay in an apartment in the Cala Galdana area on the south coast. Besides being a beautiful location with a lovely beach, it was easy to get from Cala Galdana to almost anywhere on the island in less than an hour, including some amazing coves and beaches that are just short hikes away along a coastal trail.

*View of Cala Galdana from the pool area of the Comitas Floramar Aparments, where we stayed.*

There were a number of hotels, restaurants and shops in Cala Galdana, including various tour agencies for diving and other water-related activities. I think the best swimming beaches are on the southern coast, since they seem more protected than the north shore.

Menorca’s main towns of Ciutadella and Mao (or Mahón) are on either end of the island and seemed less tourist-oriented. However, they were both fun to explore and lovely towns. It seems that most tourists make their home base in one of several main resort locations on the south coast, except for the town of Fornells on the north shore, which has its own vibe and is a tourist hub as well. We noticed at least one campground not far from Cala Galdana.

Island Trail System: There is a trail system (Cami de Cavalls) than circumnavigates the island along the coast and provides access to many of the beaches and coves. There are signs along the trail indicating distances (in kilometers) between major beaches and towns.

*The coastal trail is shown on this map – the green route that circles the entire island on the coast. No motorized vehicles allowed on this trail system.*

We found the trails very useful. If one parking area was full, then we just parked at another accessible parking area and took the trail back to our desired beach – it may mean a slightly longer walk, but the tradeoff is enjoying the coastal scenery.

*View from the south coastal trail on the way to Cala Turqueta.*

If you want a little quieter getaway in the Mediterranean Sea, Menorca may be your spot! In future posts, I will share information on the island’s sights – beaches, towns and amazing prehistoric ruins.

Note: Featured Image is Cala Mitjana, just a few kilometers east of Cala Galdana.

Mallorca’s Magical North Coast

Our final stop in Mallorca was the north coast. We based ourselves near Alcúdia and were very happy with the location.

*Alcúdia and the various sites mentioned below are located in the northern part of Mallorca.* *The starred locations indicate our places of stay.*

The old walled town of Alcúdia is at the base of a small peninsula that divides the northern coast into the Bay of Pollença and the Bay of Alcúdia. The peninsula itself has some lovely beaches (more on this below). On the eastern side are many hotels, modern shops and busier beaches, kind of like a Miami beach area. We decided to base ourselves on the quieter western side of Alcúdia, at the PortBlue Club Pollentia Resort. The resort is right across the coastal road following the bay of Pollença and is only a couple kilometers from Alcúdia.

*The Port Blue Club Pollentia Resort & Spa pool.*

Alcúdia

Nothing like having medieval walled towns next to glorious beaches – my perfect combination! The late 13th century walled town of Alcúdia is really lovely and sits in a prime location, between two bays with picturesque coves and beaches close by. It’s no wonder this town was a target of pirates in the 16th century. You can spend the day at the beach and then wander into the old town for dinner. There is a large car park on the eastern side of the town walls.

*You can walk a good portion of Alcúdia’s walls for views of the surrounding countryside and town.*

Beaches and More Beaches

*S’illot Beach is on the peninsula near Alcudia. Its pebbles make for a clean beach experience (no sand to get trapped in your clothes or towel!) and the little island is fun to snorkel around.*

Mirador de Es Colomer

A popular thing to do in the evening before the sun sets is to take a drive past the Bay of Pollença to the very northwest corner of the island for some spectacular views of the Bay of Pollença and Formentor area. We did this on a whim one evening and really enjoyed the amazing setting and views. The road is steep and narrow – be forewarned. Parking can be a bit of challenge, but be patient and you’ll find a spot. There is a lighthouse further out on the point, but the road to it was closed during our visit.

*It’s hard to capture the height of the cliffs at Mirador de Es Colomer – it’s probably 1,000 feet straight down to the water.*

The Ruins of Pollentia – A Roman City

Just outside the walls of Alcúdia are the ruins of the Roman town of Pollentia. Pollentia was the most important Roman settlement in the Balearic Islands and was founded around 121 B.C., a strategic location for a port city. It’s definitely worth a visit.

*Views (above) of Pollentia Forum (main plaza) Ruins.*

*Left to Right: Pollentia’s theater, water drainage system and medieval-era necropolis.*

Lluch Monastery

A little further from Alcudia south and west (about 30 km or 19 miles) is the 17th century Lluch Monastery, a major pilgrimage site and important religious sanctuary in Mallorca. We visited Lluch Monastery on our way back to the Palma airport as we were leaving Mallorca. It is located in the rugged Tramuntana Mountains. As the informational image notes below, the monastery receives more than a million visitors a year!

The north coast of Mallorca really is magical – with its nice hotels, beautiful beaches, a medieval walled town, Roman city ruins, a historic pilgrimage site and dramatic coastline drive and views, I’m not sure how it gets any better than this for an independent tourist!