follow: Facebook page Tweet with us
Photo tour of Son Bou
Use the Photo Tour to see high quality photographs of all the information described below.
|
|
|
| A place for you? |
|
For Families
For Couples
|
is located on the South Coast. Approximately 25 mns., from the Airport. To get to Son Bou / Sant Jaime you travel through beautiful countryside and at the eastern end pass through a rock arch to 'suddenly' enter the resort which sits on Menorcas longest beach at around 2.5 k.m. Mahon is about 30 minutes drive and Ciutadella about 35 minutes. Alaior old town is 15 mins.
Use the Interactive Maps to take a detailed visual tour, with ariel views complete with additional photos and useful holiday information.
Son Bou is a holiday resort of mixed private/commercial Villas,Apartments and hotels built behind a nature reserve along the island's longest beach. The resort is more correctly called Sant Jaime(Jaume) but Son Bou, Sant Jaime and Torre Soli Nou blend into each other, though Torre Soli nou extends further inland if you are looking for a quieter location. Much of the resort sits terraced in delightful planted gardens on a tiered wooded hillside which offers spectacular coastline views.
Being one of the larger dedicated Menorcan holiday resorts it has many facilities to offer for the perfect beach holiday. Water sports - Kayaking, Watersking,banana boat rides, snorkeling, pedalos and a long, long sandy beach backed with extensive sand dunes,not concrete hotel blocks. Ideal for families with younger children and those just looking for a relaxing holiday. Night life at Son Bou is varied with restaurants, bars, shops, hotels and a ten pin bowling hall and entertainments centre. Alternatively you can venture into nearby Alaior early mornings and evenings to wander throught the old towns' pretty streets or travel to Mahon or Es Castell with their lively harbours and old towns for a wide range of shops, restaurants and nightlife.
Self caterers: If you are mobile the supermarkets in Alaior old town and Poligno ( Commercial area ) offer much better food selection and prices. Plus there are some good homemade meals(delicatesans) to take away and bring back to your accommodation.
Free Beach side parking, lifeguard, sunbed and umbrella rental, watersports and wheelchair access and facilities. There are three beach bars, (serving hot food+take aways ), some open evenings for sipping drinks as the sea laps the sands and the sun sets.
The favourite beach on the island for beach strollers. While the resort is very popular for families the sheer size of the beach makes it easy for those who prefer to avoid the little ones to find their ideal spots! There is an abudance of natural sand dunes that make a very pleasant backdrop.
The beach is separated from the resort by a nature conservation area which means that access is only from the beach side car park. Son bou can suffer from quite strong water currents, so care should be taken ( keep within 40 meters of shore and make sure your are not 'drifting' down the beach) and keep an eye on the red and green flags.
Further down the coast ( westwards after Santo Tomas) is the huge virgin beach of Playa de Binigaus which is extremely beautiful, natural and less frequented. Its also a favourite location for nudists but everyone is welcome ( no need to strip OR be 'offended' ).
Obviously the areas just in front of the main car park beach entry points get crowded - go left in front of the hotels if you want to amongst families, or better still for more natural surroundings go right where the beach develops little sandy bays-see Photo Tour
Bring bathing shoes to protect your feet from the underwater rocks that are hidden under the sand and can be uncomfortably sharp.
Son Bou beach has good (assisted) wheelchair access/facilities to the beach/sea from the car park.
As the whole resort sits behind a natural marshland so don't forget mosquito protection- Locals will use a fresh lemon cut in half with a dried clove stuck in it on the bedside table/bedside areas. ( Yes bring cloves with you! ) .
The little resort train will take you upto the 'top of resort' - Valentin Hotel where you can sample the view enjoyed by the private Villas and Apartments above the 'valley area'.
The main large commercial area is in Son Bou with a choice of eating places ranging from cheap and plain upwards, though if you want better surroundings and food head for nearby Es Mercadal and Alaior. There are a range of resort style souvenir shops, simple clothing/shoes shops. There is another smaller commercial area at Plaza Sant Jaime. Around the commercial centres are a wide variety of Cafe bars and restaurants for varying clientel. The resort has an ATM (in front of Sol Milanos hotel ) and local chemist and a medical centre. Even in high season expect that some shops will not be open 13-17:00.
The resort has a mix of 'UK tourist' tastes and more mediterranean, spanish cuisine. Spanish favourites include Can Andres Bar Restaurante(Menorcan tapas and seafood dishes). There are also lots of bars selling simple meals if you are not so hungry. High quality restaurants can be found in Alaior.
There are 10 or so bars in son Bou . Bou Hai, a hawian themed cocktail bar. 'Chill out' opens evenings 18:30-24:30 a relaxed lounge style venue.
Late night bars : Mojitos Bar Discoteca, Copacabana and Casablanca.
You can buy pre-paid voucher cards ( at nearby supermarkets,bars,cafe) for one hour 3Eur, day 7Eur , week 14Eur and 1 month 28Eur (prices 2011) offering WiFi internet access where your location shows a Menorca WiFi Hotspot is available.
Newly built entertainment centre with a bowling alley as its main attraction is open from 4pm till late. There is lots to do above the water and below
Local diving centre ( Son Bou Diving ) is located close to Club Sant Jaime at Centro Commercial. Son Bou is close to the Cap Den Font coastal area which contains a lot of spectacular underwater cave dives.
There is delightfull country side around Son Bou and walks along the Nature Reserve and beach to nearby Santo Tomas passing an idylic farm and dramatic rock formations on the way - see Photo Tour
You can wander along a coastal path through pines woods to Santo Tomas. Start at the western end of the beach. Just outside Torre Soli Nou is attractive countryside with little country roads.
As you face out to the sea on the land , that magnificent high headland to your left is Cap de ses Penyes. You can find a unsigned path to this at the far most tarmaced road near the beach of just before the tunnel. Follow this path upwards and you can walk along the ridge for amazing views of Son Bou coastline area along to Santo tomas and Binigaus. Just before the ridge heads out from land you can find a path down the left edge where you will be rewarded with a small hidden beach. But take care! ( Children should NOT be alone and supervised due to the heights and cliff edges )
Sunset Walks: Walk to Santo Tomas about 17:00 (30-40mins) enjoy a drink+tapas there then stroll back to Son Bou in the Sunset. (after 19:00)
Electric cycles can be hired in the resort ( see main map )
A play and relaxation centre in the Son Bou Gardens area and open to all. Attractions include a large difficult wooden maze with water sprinklers during the day and "monsters" to chase you in the evenings (too scarey for the little ones!) , water chutes, various pools including baby/toddler pool. Use of the pools is for anyone who makes use of the bar & restuarant. The two water chutes are on a pay as you go basis. Large bar & two restaurant factilities, inside games room (suitable for older children) and Internet access. Features live acts (music tribute acts/Chinese acrobats-a drink is entrance fee) and other events starting at 21:30 most evenings.
There are grassed gardens area with loungers for parents to sun bath and relax.
Pools are open 10:00-19:00,Waterslides 11:00-19:00,Restaurants 10:00-01:00 www.clubsanjaime.net
Club Sant Jaime often runs events for children in the evenings-see locally for details.
Next door is a small commercial center with Supermarket, chemist,Tabac and souvenir shop.
Open Air history: Torre d'en Gaumes is a pre-historic settlement just outside of Son Bou signposted on the road from Alaior (carrer de son bou). Access is controlled to preserve this extensive site. This is known to be the largest pre-historic town in the Balearic Islands. The village is surrounded by attractive countryside and features many interesting ancient ruins including, a defensive wall guarding three talaiots (stone watch towers), a temple made of stone and pillared naves. It survived from the pre-talayotic period to Roman times.
Open Tues. to Sat. 0915-2045 hrs., Sun. 0915-1500 hrs., Mon. 0900-1500 hrs. Entrance 3 euros, free on Sun.
A beautiful picturesque spot, favoured by visiting yachts and dreamers. Best visited early mornings and evenings, where the light brings out the scenery. An exciting place for youngsters, dreamy of pirates as the local burial caves up in the limestone walls and rambling cove walks let their imaginations run free. Believed to be an ancient burial ground and was in fact the very first recognised port of Menorca as used by the Romans when they occupied the island. Can be reached on foot from Cala en Porter or park and walk at Son Vitamina (approx. 30 mins). Road down is NOT suitable for hire cars unless you want to pay for suspension damage! On the Cami di Cavalls route.
There is a resort train that circulates the resort picking up/dropping off at the main accommodation areas and beach and also upto the 'top of the resort' where there are great views of the coast and resort. You can get off and pickup the train with a return ticket at any point. 10:00-13:00 and 17:00 - 23:00 daily in season every 45 minutes.
Bus, Taxi and Hire Car Detailed getting about infos.
Mahon will mostly be written on timetables, signposts as Maó it's correct local name. Also posted in the local papers eg Ultima Hora Menorca, Menorca towards the back pages are most of the islands bus timetables. You will nearly always find a copy of this in a spanish cafe bar ( any day in season will do ) - make notes, please don't take paper as its there for all to read. If you are staying longer than a week take a trip on this good network and see some of the other resorts/towns first hand.
There are 2 direct buses a day to Ciutadella and 7 to nearby Alaior - Mahon. Alaior is a stopping point for a regular bus that pendles between Mahon and Ciutadella. Mahon/Ciutadella act as a hub to other destinations at their respective ends of the island.
Taxi from the airport should be around 25-30 € depending on drop off point in resort one way and take 20-25 minutes
Live tribute acts tour the island and are on stage at Club Sant Jaime - Free to watch if you buy a drink and some can be very entertaining.
A sunset stroll along the beach.
There are also events posted in the bowling hall.
There are several bars with late opening dotted round the resort each with a different feel and style.
As with most resorts in Menorca, organised evening entertainment here is generally to be found in the resort hotels but there are a couple of bars with regular entertainment. Mahon and ,Es Castell and Ciutadella however offer alot more with something more for everyone, but with none of the "bing drink clubbing" to be found on Ibizia and Majorca. Nearby is Coves Xoroi one of the islands favourite night spots.
Located in huge spectacular natural caves some 25m above the sea at the entrance to Cala en Porter bay. Take a look at our video below for a feel of this magical place.
Cova d´en Xoroi
A double bonus. Undoubtedly the most dramatic nightspot on the island. Set high, literally in the rocks, above the sea it's an atmospheric Cafe-bar areas with fantastic sea views by day. From 19:00 the music is soothing ambient sounds to watch the sunsets by and after 23:00-dawn a disco with one of the most original locations and atmospheres with famous guest DJs. There is a entrance charge during the day which includes a voucher for a drink-It's well worth it.
Opening times: 11:30 'til dawn. Daily May to October and weekends outside of these months.
Just 200 meters from Xoroi is a great Spanish Restaurant La Palette ( Leg of lamb recommended)
This is a great town for wandering early mornings or late evenings when the heat of sun is not around. The "third" capital of the island and a cultural centre. The old town is very pretty and makes a great change to the beach, with a good mix of little shops to browse, Cafes, Bars and Restaurants. And, some great home made ice cream parlours! Childrens playground on the pretty town square (next to ice cream cafes!). Alaior has a weekly market plus an evening artisans market with jewellry and other handicrafts and clothing.
Ladies Alaior is home to the Pons Quintana shoe factory shop. An name relatively unknown in the UK because most of its high quality leather shoes are exported to France and Germany. At the factory shop you will get heavily reduced prices on beautiful high quality shoes.
Arenal den Castell, Son Parc, Son Bou, & Cala en Porter selfcaterers - Visit the larger supermarkets here at the Poligno ( commercial area ) for a much better food and price selection.
Es Castell - is a delightful harbour town with a great mix of little shops, cafes, bars, Restaurants and clubs to suit all tastes, price ranges and styles. Not just the extensive harbour areas but also in the many side streets. In the main Cala Fons harbour the old fishermans caves have been adapted by various Bars and Restaurants. Es Castell is a very popular eating place for lunchtime Menu del Dias and a great place to while away the summer evenings.
Mahon has a great mediterranean charm around the centre and harbour. Busy pavement Cafes and Bars, superb fruit and fish markets and all enclosed in a maze of narrow streets with architecture and many reminders of its Georgian past. In addition to the traditional the town offers a myriad of stylish shops and bars. Along the whole length of the harbour quayside (Moll de Llevant) there is an electic collection of Cafes, Bars and Restaurants for all pockets and styles. A spectacular setting above the huge natural harbour with ships and boats of every shape and sizes.
With locations and Information for :
We have partnered with booking.com as a online hotel and apartment booking system. They offer smaller and more exclusive hotels not just the 'usual' hotels available through tour operators. Complete wth past guest reviews, photos, Google location maps to help you make the best choices for you.
