2026 Menorca – Day 1 Es Grau to Cala Pudent  05 04 2026

2026 Menorca Circumnavigation – Liverpool Canoe Club

Day 1 Es Grau to Cala Pudent – by Keith 05 04 2026

We all rose early and packed, ready to go to Es Grau. Racheal had found a great little café to have breakfast before we walked to the Eroski Supermarket 2 km away. We had 45 minutes to shop for our food for the week before Ricardo, from Menorca en Kayak, would pick us up and take us back to the hotel to collect our 20kg bags.

We arrived at Es Grau, which was only a short drive away, and were introduced to Agnes at the shop, who gave us advice on the weather, the route and explained the maps that they had kindly provided. We then went down to the kayak store to select our kayaks, Perception Essential 16, 17 and Wilderness Tempest 170`s. These proved ideal for our trip. The next 45 minutes were spent packing and testing our kayaks. We were able to purchase items, including bottled water, in the local supermarket a few doors down from the kayak shop. Most had 12 to 18 litres. Our travel bags/cases and spare clothes were locked in the store, ready for our return, and we were off on our way.

Our route took us north (anticlockwise) towards Cap de Favaritx, the northeast corner of the island marked by a prominent black and white lighthouse. Conditions were ideal with settled and calm weather for the next 5 days or so.

The group gelled well, and all paddled at a similar pace. We followed the shoreline, exploring the rocky coast. Before long, it was time for lunch, and we pulled into a sheltered, unnamed sandy beach with a few boats and tourists. There was a small dumping wave, and Racheal managed to slice the end of her finger while getting out. Was it her new Mitchell blades, the corner of her laminated map or something on the beach or kayak? We may never find out, but Andy immediately got out his first aid kit and administered the appropriate care. Eventually, “gaffer tape” secured the dressing on the end of her finger and again proved to be the most versatile piece of safety equipment on any trip.

After lunch, we paddled on between the Illa Gran d’Addaia and around the headland and into the semicircular bay of Arenal den Castell, where distance swim training was taking place. The safety kayakers supervising were clearly English, as were most of the tourists at this resort. Keith headed up to the shop, hoping to replace the small jar of coffee he had left in his main bag at Es Grau. It was now late in the day, and we paddled the last few kilometres to Cala Pudent, where we intended to spend our first night.

The bay was occupied by a few locals sunbathing, but we were able to put up the tarp against the rocks and using a kayak to anchor out on the seaward side. We cooked the evening meal and chilled out until the sun started to go down and the locals left. Chris erected his sleeping tarp while others put up their tents on the sand. Camping is not allowed in Menorca, and most groups sleep on the beach under tarps during the summer. At this time of year, we never had any problems and always waited until dusk before putting up our tents. All had left the beach at this time. We all used free-standing tents and used tent pegs put horizontally in the sand, where guys were needed. Stones or bags full of sand can also be useful where available.