Cala Galdana Glass-Bottom Boat Trip

Cala Galdana, the jewel of the south coast

Cala Galdana is a wide, horseshoe-shaped bay of fine white sand on the south coast of Menorca, sheltered by high cliffs covered in pine trees. A small river flows into the sea at its western end, where fishing boats moor under a little bridge. Its calm, shallow water makes it one of the most family-friendly beaches on the island, with hotels, restaurants and a promenade behind the sand.

Your glass-bottom boat trip leaves from the boat jetty in Cala Galdana; the exact boarding point is on your voucher. If you are wondering how to get to Cala Galdana, it is about 10 minutes by car south of Ferreries and about 40 minutes from Mahón, with buses in summer and a large car park above the beach.

Cala Mitjana and Cala Mitjaneta

Just east of Cala Galdana lies Cala Mitjana, a small, untouched cove with soft white sand, turquoise water and tall cliffs where daring swimmers jump into the sea. Beside it hides tiny Cala Mitjaneta, often reached only by swimming or by boat. There are no buildings or services here, only pine trees and rock, which is what makes the place so special.

From the boat you see how the cliffs frame the coves and how the colour of the water changes from emerald near the rocks to bright turquoise over the sand. Is Cala Mitjana worth visiting? Absolutely, and seeing it from the sea on this trip gives you a perfect idea of whether you want to return on foot along the coastal path.

Cala Trebaluger and its hidden gorge

Cala Trebaluger is one of the most remote beaches in Menorca. It sits at the mouth of a deep, green gorge, the Barranc de Trebaluger, where a stream reaches the sea through reeds and woodland. Getting there on land means a long walk through the countryside, so most visitors see it only by boat, which keeps the beach wild and peaceful even in August.

The boat passes close to the coast so you can admire the gorge opening between the cliffs and the long strip of pale sand. The rock walls along this stretch are dotted with caves and overhangs carved by the sea. Your guide shares stories about the coast, its nature and the old paths that once linked the farms of the interior with these coves.

Cala Macarella from the water

Further west the boat reaches Cala Macarella, Menorca's most famous cove, a bowl of white sand surrounded by pine-clad cliffs and water so clear that the boats seem to hover over the seabed. Next to it, around a rocky point, lies the smaller Cala Macarelleta. In summer the road access is limited and the car park fills early, so a Cala Macarella boat trip is a relaxed alternative.

Seen from the water, the cove reveals its full shape and the layers of colour in the sea, from deep blue to pale green. The best time to visit Cala Macarella is early summer or September, when the sea is warm and the light is golden in the afternoon, exactly when this 15:00 departure reaches the coves.

Sea life through the glass bottom

The highlight for children is the glass panel in the hull, which turns the boat into a floating aquarium. As you glide over the sandy patches and rocky reefs, you can watch shoals of bream and saddled bream, colourful wrasse, starfish and sea urchins, and the waving meadows of Posidonia sea grass that keep Menorca's water so clear.

Posidonia is a protected underwater plant found only in the Mediterranean; it produces oxygen, shelters young fish and protects the beaches from erosion. Your guide explains why Menorca, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, works so hard to protect it. Snorkel and mask sets are available on board in limited supply, with a deposit, if you want a closer look when the boat allows.