Will you join Kiko to visit the oldest place in Menorca?

We are walking down a very narrow road. On one side you can see the rural roads and the typical shrubs of Menorca, called socarrells, which are shaped by the force of the north wind. On the other side, the landscape is completely different: dark gray rocks that form small cliffs which the sea breaks against. As it is a little windy today, the waves form white foam.

There it is!

The lighthouse Favaritx is the most modern lighthouse on the island. It was built in 1922 and lies 47 meters above sea level, on a rocky spit that protrudes from the coast, Cap de Favàritx.

You get the impression that we are not in Menorca. The dark colours of the rocks and their whimsical shapes are cut out by the bright blue sea. We are in the Natural Park of the Albufera de es Grau but here, in this lonely place away from the most inhabited areas, the landscape is very different from the rest of the island.

Hooky does not like the Tramuntana​On one side of the path, before arriving at the lighthouse there is a small lagoon. Hooky corrects me:

• "It is a " temporary bassa ", a kind of natural basin in the ground that is filled with rainwater. Here are many underground streams because we usually have rainwater almost all year long. "
• "The sign indicates that it is called Es Cós des Síndic and that it is very important because it is a nature zone, a feeding and breeding area for different species of birds"

We walk towards the lighthouse. It was built with rocks that have been removed from the surrounding area and they say that the rest can still be seen in the quarry. We have not gone there because of the Tramuntana wind blowing from the north and Hooky does not like the dry cold of this wind.

Stack stones?

We see some signs, that prohibit removing the stones or making stacks with the stones. It is a habit that some visitors, who do not realize that they can change the ecosystem of the island and damage the fauna and flora, still do. We need to be aware of the impact these stacks of stones cause for the environment.

• "After all, this place is very special," Hooky says. “Legends of the Favàritx say that if you come here when the moon rises and you walk barefoot through the sea patches which the waves fill with sea water, you will receive all the strength and energy that the sea and the moon accumulates"
• "I like that. We should do it to start the year of well! When will we be coming back? "

Are we on the Moon?

Hooky laughs and says we'll be back soon but first we are going to go to the back of the lighthouse. The scenery is amazing. It looks like another planet. Black slate rocks, shining because of the dampness of the sea, with curious holes which the forces of the waves have formed. Could the Moon look like this?

Between the slates you can find fossils of Menorca’s first inhabitants: crustaceans and small marine animals of thousands of years ago.

From the tip of the Cape of Favàritx we take a look with our binoculars towards the east. Here we see some clear sandy beaches in the distance.

• "Look, Hooky, There is Cala Presili and Cala Tortuga. When spring starts we will come here on a field trip and go swimming”.
• "Okay, but now we're going to stroll along the north coast. There were many wrecks here before. I want to show you the rocky reefs. "

What are the pitfalls?

We go parallel towards the road, between the rocks, until we find a beach. Now we are in S' Escala. It is very easy to access, even though part of the bay is surrounded by cliffs. You can see large sharp rocks in the sea right in front of the beach.

• "You can’t see these rocks when the sea is rough and it can be very dangerous for those navigating at sea", Hooky says.
• "But, look, there are two people in a kayak over there and they look very calm."
• "Today there are not many waves and the pitfalls look great. These are called Esculls de Portitxol. They are the sharp rocks that protrude out of the sea. Around these rocks there are usually many fish that live in the recesses of these small inlets. It's an excellent place to snorkel."

We continue along the road and we see the beach Es Portitxol very close by.

A good route for cycling

We return to the lighthouse and see a group of cyclists taking a rest. We are told that this trail is part of one of the many cycling routes in Menorca. Cyclists like to reach the lighthouse and rest here while looking at the sea.

Some are taking pictures. The black and white stripes painted like a spiral around the tower of the lighthouse, 28 meters high, are drawn in the clear blue sky that we have today.

Hooky tells us that it's time to return to Club Kikoland. He has also taken photographs because he wants to have a collection of the 7 lighthouses of Menorca. Do you remember the excursion we made to Cavalleria? Which one did you like the most?

BASIC DATA

• Favàritx is part of the municipality of Mahón. It lies 31 km’s away from Son Bou. To get there, take the main road until the entrance to Mahón and from the first roundabout, go down to the port and drive along the road from Mahon to Fornells. After 8.5 km’s, there is a detour you can take to the lighthouse. It is well signposted.

• There is no public transport to the lighthouse.

• The lighthouse is usually closed, although several visits are made throughout the year. If you are interested, you can call the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, the entity that manages it, by calling 971 363 066 for more information.

• Remember to wear appropriate shoes for walking between the rocks and the water.