S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park (Menorca)

S’Albufera des Grau is Menorca’s only natural park, a protected area of lagoon, wetland, wild olive scrub, coast and islets on the north-east of the island, just north of Maó. To visit, drive the Maó–Fornells road (Me-7), turn onto the Es Grau road (Me-5) and at km 3.5 take the turning for Llimpa to the Rodríguez Femenías reception centre, about 1 km on; from there short marked trails lead to bird hides and viewpoints over the lagoon. Entry is free and the park is open around the clock. It suits birdwatchers, walkers and families who like an easy nature walk; skip it if you want a swim, as bathing in the lagoon itself is not allowed.

Quick facts

• Names: Parc Natural de s’Albufera des Grau (Catalan), Parque Natural de s’Albufera des Grau (Spanish); often just “the Albufera des Grau”.
• Where: north-east Menorca, in the municipality of Maó, between the Es Grau road and the coast up to Cap de Favàritx and Addaia.
• Coordinates: 39.9402, 4.2517 (the reception centre, OpenStreetMap). The lagoon lies just north of it.
• Protected since: 4 May 1995 (Decree 50/1995); enlarged in 2003.
• Size: the Balearic government’s park page gives two figures, 5,066.95 ha (about a third of it sea) and 5,183.61 ha, both for the area after 2003.
• Status: the core area of the Menorca Biosphere Reserve; part of the Natura 2000 network.
• Entry: free; the park is open 24 hours.

Access and parking

By car: take the Me-7 from Maó towards Fornells, then the Me-5 towards Es Grau. At km 3.5 turn left for Llimpa; the reception centre is about 1 km along that track (Govern de les Illes Balears: park page). We found no official information on parking spaces or charges.

By bus: there is no public transport to the reception centre. In the tourist season, bus line 23 runs from Maó to the village of Es Grau, and line 43 runs from Maó to the Cap de Favàritx area, according to the park’s own FAQ. Otherwise come by car or taxi.

On foot: the Camí de Cavalls coastal path (GR 223) crosses the park on its stages 1 to 3. The stage from Es Grau to Favàritx, 8.6 km, starts at the sa Gola trailhead at km 6 of the Es Grau road, just before the village, or from Es Grau beach.

By boat: anchoring on seagrass (Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa) is banned; the park has regulated mooring buoys that must be booked.

What to expect

The lagoon of s’Albufera des Grau is brackish: it connects to the sea by a channel called sa Gola and also takes in fresh water from several streams, so its salinity varies. Around it, wild olive scrub covers most of the interior, with lentisk and other shrubs, small patches of holm oak in damper hollows, dune plants on the beaches, and cushion-shaped spiny plants on the rocky shore, a community with many Menorcan endemics (Govern de les Illes Balears).

The park is best known for birds. The official page lists ducks, coots and great cormorants on the water, and birds of prey such as the osprey, red kite and booted eagle; Spain.info counts more than 100 bird species (Spain.info). On the islets lives Lilford’s wall lizard, found only in Mallorca and Menorca; other animals include the Balearic toad, land and freshwater tortoises, the weasel, the pine marten and the garden dormouse.

From the reception centre there are three short, signposted self-guided trails, two bird hides and viewing screens along the way:

• Mirador de Cala Llimpa (a viewpoint trail).
• Santa Madrona.
• Sa Gola: mostly adapted for reduced mobility, with pleasant views of the lagoon.

The park also takes in the plains and lighthouse of Cap de Favàritx, the Addaia area and the islet of Illa d’en Colom. Farming is part of the landscape: much of the park is private land with cattle and sheep. The Talayotic village of Sa Torreta de Tramuntana, with a talayot, a taula enclosure and the base of a naveta, can be visited on Thursdays from 9:00 to 13:00; access is by the sa Boval track at km 4.5 of the Me-7.

Practical details

• Reception centre (Centre Rodríguez Femenías): open daily 9:00 to 15:00 all year, tel. 971 17 77 05 (checked November 2026). Free exhibition and audiovisuals, binocular loan and pocket bird guides, maps, and Joëlette all-terrain chairs. Outside opening hours, information boards at the centre describe the trails.
• Bring your own: the centre has toilets but no bar or drinks machine, so bring water, some food, sun protection and suitable shoes.
• Guided activities: the park team runs guided visits for small groups of 20 to 25 people; sign up in advance through the park’s activity calendar.
• Permits: groups of 25 or more, drone flights, spearfishing, camping and bivouacking need prior written permission from the park.

Accessibility and safety

Best time to visit

For waterbirds, the park recommends October to February, when the lagoon is the main wintering site for many species, and the spring and autumn migrations. The reception centre closes at 15:00, so come in the morning. Whatever the season, bring water: there is no café at the centre.

Nearby alternatives

• Illa d’en Colom, 3.2 km: the islet off Es Grau inside the park; only its two beaches are open to visitors.
• Camí de Cavalls, 5.5 km: the coastal path around Menorca that crosses the park.
• Maó Harbour, 5.8 km: the island capital and its long natural harbour.
• Binibeca Vell, 13.2 km: the whitewashed holiday village in Sant Lluís.
• Fornells, 16.4 km: the fishing village on the north coast.

Distances are in a straight line from the reception centre.

FAQ

How do I get to s’Albufera des Grau?

By car from Maó: take the Me-7 towards Fornells, then the Me-5 towards Es Grau, and turn left for Llimpa at km 3.5; the reception centre is about 1 km on. There is no bus to the centre; line 23 goes to Es Grau village in season.

Is there an entrance fee for s’Albufera des Grau?

No. Visiting the park and the reception centre exhibition is free.

Can you swim in the Albufera des Grau?

Not in the lagoon: bathing and other recreation there are prohibited. The park’s beaches are a different matter; ask at the reception centre which ones to use.

When is the reception centre open?

Every day from 9:00 to 15:00, all year (checked November 2026). The park itself is open 24 hours.

Can I bring my dog?

Not to the lagoon area, the three trails from the centre, Favàritx, the Addaia salt pans or Illa d’en Colom: dogs are banned there to protect nesting birds.

Sources and freshness

• Govern de les Illes Balears: Parque Natural de s’Albufera des Grau (history, size, access, centre hours, trails, rules, FAQ)
• Spain.info: S’Albufera des Grau (bird species, free entry)
• OpenStreetMap: reception centre and park boundary
• Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The Menorca island council (cime.es) and Visit Menorca sites could not be opened from our research setup. Parking details and current bus timetables are not given because we could not confirm them.