There are thousands of reasons for visiting Menorca. That’s why every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors from the UK and across the globe fill up the hotels or rent a self-catered villa so that they can enjoy everything that this island paradise has to offer. But not all these visitors know the truth about Menorca’s natural wonders.
Menorca’s Hidden Secret
One of Menorca’s biggest attractions is the simple fact that for such a small island, it’s only 271 square miles, it has so much to offer its visitors.
Lovers of sun and sea can enjoy miles of beaches, some in secluded bays and coves far off the beaten track. If you’re a foodie or wine lover, then you’ll find a lot to keep your taste buds working overtime. If culture is your thing, then Menorca has a wealth of native customs to explore, not to mention numerous festivals celebrated across the island and in its many small villages. For history buffs, Menorca’s military history and antiquities are a great attraction.
For lovers of nature, the island also has a great deal that will provide hours of interest and excitement. If you’re an avid bird watcher, then the island is a seasonal habitat to many species of migrating birds. The island has stony mountains with many hidden, seasonal rock pools, green woodlands and fertile marshes, providing a variety of ecosystems that makes the perfect home for many diverse species.
Herein lies the island’s secret: since 1993 Menorca has been one of 500 UNESCO biosphere reserves that can be found in more than 100 countries worldwide. These reserves protect unique, natural environments in an effort to preserve their diversity of flora and fauna for future generations.
OK, So What Exactly is a Biosphere Reserve?
In its simplest form, it’s an internationally recognized nature preserve. However, unlike many nature reserves, Menorca faces a problem of gigantic proportions – the hundreds of thousands of visitors who visit the island every year. They need housing, services and facilities so that they can enjoy their holiday. All of this involves an encroachment into the island’s natural beauty and slowly erodes and destroys what nature has spent millions of years creating.
By giving the biosphere international recognition, and imposing a series of strict rules and standards governing how we humans can interact with the reserve, UNESCO is helping to preserve nature’s wonders for the future.
For example, the construction of skyscrapers is forbidden as they have been proven to detrimentally affect wind and weather patterns. New construction projects are strictly controlled and monitored to reduce their environmental impact; specific areas with unique flora and fauna are off-limits to farming; and about two-thirds of the coastline is a bird sanctuary.
The reserve also seeks to protects human history. On Menorca, pre-historic Talaiotic settlements are protected, as are the remains of 17th and 18th-century heritage buildings, including castles and forts from the island’s not-so-distant past.
Getting the Most from Your Stay
One of the best ways to experience all that this magnificent reserve has to offer is to rent a self-catered villa which gives you total freedom to explore wherever you want, and whenever you want.
You can leave in the early hours of the morning to catch a beautiful sunrise or nesting birds, and make yourself a packed lunch or a cup of hot chocolate before you leave.
You can explore the lagoons and marshlands of S’Albufera Natural Park and return to your self-catered villa for a rest and a good meal at your own pace (and a lot more cheaply) than the hotel’s restaurant.
Also, a self-catered villa is a whole lot cheaper than getting a number of hotel rooms if you’re a group. That means your hard-earned cash goes even further and gets you a better and more enjoyable holiday.
Brenda Jaaback, Managing Director of Bartle Holidays, is a renowned Menorca expert. From its history to its people and from its wildlife to its cuisine – no secret of the island remains hidden to her. Personally selecting the finest properties for her clients, Brenda is the go-to person for anyone looking for a self catered villa on Menorca. Bartle Holidays makes no warranty as to the accuracy of information contained in this article and excludes any liability of any kind for the information.
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