Minorca is the ideal setting for a great number of sports: no high mountains but trekking along the many paths and valleys that take you to wonderful bays and sandy beaches that would be inaccessible by other means. For mountain bike enthusiasts, the rather flat island offers many country roads, far from traffic and surrounded by fields and woods. Another means for visiting the virgin coasts of Minorca is the kayak, thanks to which you can glide over tranquil waters to visit caverns, grottos, beaches and bays of great beauty that would otherwise be difficult to reach. Snorkelling in the transparent and crystalline waters of Minorca reveal underwater caverns and wrecks. Kayak and snorkelling is the ideal combination in discovering the coast of the island and the sea bed. Visibility is more than 20 metres, so the transparent waters clearly reveal the sea bed populated by multi-coloured fish, without having to go under water.

  Minorca has a population of 73,000, distributed over its 8 municipalities: Es Castell, Sant Lluis, Maò (the capital), Alaior, Es Migjorn, Es Mercadal, Ferreries and Ciutadella. There are another three resorts: Sant Climent and Llumacanes in the municipality of Maò and Fornells in the municipality of Es Mercandal. The island extends over 701 square kilometres with 215 kilometres of coast. The eastern coast is the first to see the sunrise in Spain.

  Minorca's climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild temperatures and the northern wind, the Tramontana, characterising the island. Rain falls sporadically, usually in the autumn, while summer months are very dry. Geologically, the island can be divided into two tracts: the North with a deeply indented coastline, with scarce vegetation, numerous dark red sandy beaches and the South, which is flatter, with limestone cliffs embraced by pinewoods and white sand beaches. Monte Toro is the highest point of Minorca at 357 metres above sea level, and at its top, there are still the sanctuary and church erected in 1670 to house the image of the "Virgen de Toro", an emblem to protect the inhabitants of Minorca.

  Minorca gastronomy is totally Mediterranean, based on natural and fresh ingredients from the land and the sea. It is outstanding for the delicious meat coming from local farms, fresh fish and other sea produce. Local cheeses are excellent, not to mention the various types of salami, jams, honey and patisserie. The typical liqueur is Gin, distilled from juniper berries as learnt under English domination, and still produced using the same ancient techniques.

  Since ancient times, thanks to its strategic position, Minorca has always been a point of encounter for distinctive cultures, chosen as a place of refuge. All have left rich historical testimonials and scholars have declared that Minorca constitutes a true and proper open air museum. Its history has been so intense that it seems impossible for an island so small.