Cova des Coloms by boat: what you can really do in Menorca

I'll say it straight away, no beating about the bush, because it's the question that reaches me most often on WhatsApp: the Cova des Coloms that shows up in nearly every "by boat" tour online is the one in Mallorca, a sea cave near Porto Cristo that you go into in a wetsuit and helmet. The one we have here, in Menorca, is something else. It's ours, the one in the Barranc de Binigaus, and that one you don't enter under way: it's a land cave, reached on foot.

That said, it doesn't mean the boat has no part to play. What we do at Sea Travel is show you that southern coast, the Es Migjorn Gran one, from the sea: ochre cliffs, sea caves at water level and an anchorage at Binigaus to swim where almost no one reaches by land. And if you like, I'll tell you how to combine it with the walk to the cave. Let's take it step by step.

Is the Cova des Coloms by boat in Mallorca or Menorca?

Both exist and share the name, which is where the confusion comes from.

• Mallorca: a sea cave next to Porto Cristo, the "boat tour with caving" one. If what you were after was going inside by launch, that one isn't in Menorca.
• Menorca: the Cova des Coloms, in the Barranc de Binigaus (municipality of Es Migjorn Gran, south coast). They call it "the Cathedral of Menorca" for its size. It's on land and freely accessible on foot.

If you've got this far looking for Menorca, read on, this is the part for you.

How we get there from Es Canutells

We leave from Es Canutells in our 9-metre llaüt, a Capeador 43, and set a course west along the south coast. It's a genuinely lovely stretch: you leave cove after cove behind until you reach the area of Sant Tomàs and Binigaus, which is where the cave's ravine opens to the sea.

Here I have to be honest: it's the open south coast and the sea has more say than I do. With an easterly or a swell, that course gets tricky and you can't always reach Binigaus in good conditions. If the day isn't right, I tell you before we cast off and we find a more sheltered plan B. I'd rather do that than sell you a postcard the wind then won't let me deliver.

As we go with a maximum of 7 people plus the skipper, this isn't a mass-tourism boat: we stop where we feel like it, in no hurry and without fighting for a spot to anchor.

What you'll find on the Binigaus coast

Binigaus beach is the longest unspoilt beach on the south of Menorca, more than a kilometre of fine sand in white and golden tones. There are no beach bars or buildings: just ochre cliffs and a pine wood that comes almost down to the shore. It's a naturist beach, in case you're coming as a family and would rather know in advance.

Behind that beach the Barranc de Binigaus begins, and the cave is in there. To see why they call it the Cathedral: a cavity about 24 metres high, 15 wide and over 100 long, with a great central chamber. It's also a post-Talayotic burial site and has been protected cultural heritage since 1966; some of the finds are in the Museu de Menorca. There are centuries of history behind it.

From the boat you'll see the cliffs and the odd sea cave at water level along the coast. Inside the Cova des Coloms, I'll say it again, you don't go under way: that's done on foot.

Snorkelling and swimming

The water part is where the boat comes into its own. We anchor off Binigaus, where the water is clear and shallow, over rock and posidonia meadows, the seagrass that keeps it so clean. You drop in off the stern bathing platform and, with the snorkelling kit we carry on board, spend a while watching fish. From the beach you can see the islet of Binicodrell, and the area is good for an easy swim. The bottled water is on us.

And if you want to see the cave inside: combine boat and walk

As the cave is on land, the thing to do is split the day. One option that works very well:

• In the morning, the boat: south coast, cliffs and snorkelling at Binigaus.
• In the afternoon, the cave on foot. You reach it down the ravine from the path by the cemetery of Es Migjorn Gran (you can leave the car around there) or from Binigaus beach along the Camí de Cavalls. Around 30 to 60 minutes depending on the route.

A couple of tips from someone who knows the ground: wear closed shoes, take water and a torch or a charged phone for the part inside, and don't go right after rain, as the floor of the ravine turns slippery.

Which trip to choose

If you're clear on the times and the coves, take a look at our boat trips along the south coast of Menorca and tell me what fits. If you have time, this area combines beautifully with neighbouring coves like Cala en Porter or the nearby Cala Mitjana, which we also do from Es Canutells.

You'll find the rates on boat hire prices in Menorca, per whole boat and with no surprises, and once you've seen them, book your trip here or write to me and we'll sort it out.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go into the Cova des Coloms in Menorca by boat?

No. The Menorcan one is a land cave, in the Barranc de Binigaus, and is reached only on foot. The "by boat" version you see online is usually the one in Mallorca.

So what do I do by boat with you?

We follow the south coast of Es Migjorn Gran to see the cliffs and sea caves from the sea, and anchor at Binigaus so you can swim and snorkel. The visit to the cave is done on foot, separately.

How do I reach the cave on foot?

Down through the ravine from the cemetery of Es Migjorn Gran, or from Binigaus beach along the Camí de Cavalls. Between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the route. Bring closed shoes, water and a torch.

Do you always reach Binigaus by boat?

I can't promise it. It's open south coast and, if there's a rough sea or an easterly, I find a more sheltered alternative. I always tell you before we set off.

How many of us go on the boat?

A maximum of 7 people plus the skipper. We leave from Es Canutells and go at our own pace, with no crowds.