Turqueta, Macarelleta & Menorca's South Coves

Drop your bags at your hotel and get into holiday mode — you have a full beach afternoon ahead of you.

Punta Prima sits on Menorca's south-east tip where the water runs a deep, transparent blue. Spread out on the sand, wade in for a long swim and let the journey dissolve. The beach is wide enough that you can always find a quiet stretch of shore to yourself.

A short drive inland takes you to this much-loved restaurant on Camí des Pujol, where the cooking leans into honest Menorcan produce. A perfect pit-stop between morning and afternoon beaches.

Cala Llucalari rewards the short coastal walk to reach it with an intimate horseshoe of sand and shallow, glassy water. Arrive mid-afternoon when the sun still lights the whole bay and the crowds from the morning have thinned. Float, snorkel over the rocks at the edges, or simply sit and watch the light shift.

Back in Mahón, Ca'n Juanet sits right on the harbour — one of the longest natural ports in the Mediterranean. Order something from the sea and watch the last boats come in as evening falls.

Son Saura is one of the south coast's grandest beaches — a broad double arc of pale sand backed by juniper and pine. Get here early, claim your spot and swim out into water that shifts from turquoise to deep green. The bay is calm enough for a long, unhurried breaststroke well away from the shore.

PAPUT is a reliable choice for a proper midday meal between beach sessions — fresh, unfussy food photographed beautifully, exactly what you want when you're still half-thinking about the water.

On the way back towards the coast, stop at Torre d'en Galmés — one of the largest Talayotic settlements on the island. Walking among the ancient stone circles and chambers gives the afternoon a different kind of depth before you return to the sea.

Cala en Turqueta lives up to every photograph — a perfectly sheltered inlet with water so clear you can count the pebbles at three metres. Arrive in the late afternoon as the pine trees throw long shadows across the sand and the light turns everything amber. One last swim before the sun drops.

Mediterranium on Mahón harbour is the place to pull up a chair and let the evening stretch. The harbour view is extraordinary at dusk — order something slow and savour it.

Cala Macarelleta is Menorca's most dazzling small cove — a tight crescent of white sand, cliffs dropping straight into the water and a colour you won't entirely believe when you first see it. Walk the short path down from the car park, pick your spot early and swim as long as you like. The rocks on either side are worth exploring at low depth.

BANDIDU on the Muelle de Levante brings a young, creative energy to the harbour-front lunch. Photographed plates, genuinely good cooking and a terrace that makes the most of the Mahón waterfront — a fitting reward after a morning of swimming.

Menorca's ancient coastal path rings the whole island. Pick a short section in the south-west for a post-lunch walk — the views down to the water are exceptional and you'll work up an appetite for the evening without exhausting yourself.

Cala Trebalúger is one of the least-disturbed coves on the south coast — reachable only on foot or by sea, which keeps it gloriously quiet. Wade in for a last long swim on your final afternoon, let the sun dry you on the rocks, and take your time saying goodbye to the water.

Akelarre on Mahón harbour is a fine place to spend a last evening in Menorca — right on the water, the smell of salt still in the air. Order well, take your time and raise a glass to three days very well spent.