Menorca hosts three coastal challenges in January 2027

Plan your race pace

On Jan. 24, 2027, the coastal trails of northern Menorca will once again host a trail-running event with three distances and one shared destination: Ciutadella. Known as the Marathon Trail dels Fars, the race follows much of the GR-223, the Camí de Cavalls, and offers routes of 46, 21 and 12 kilometres, starting respectively at the Far de Cavalleria, Algaiarens and Camí de Son Morell. All three finish at the Piscina Municipal Tita Llorens.

The date and format make this a point-to-point mountain race, rather than three laps on a shared circuit. The seascape is central to the experience, but it also affects the effort: wind, trail conditions and weather can greatly alter an exposed route. Organisers plan mandatory transport from Ciutadella to the start areas, along with cut-off points and specific rules to protect several fragile natural sites.

A route along the Camí de Cavalls

The course mainly follows the GR-223, the trail that circles Menorca and links coastal sections, historic tracks and access points to coves. In this edition, the longest distance starts at the Far de Cavalleria and heads towards Ciutadella; the other two options begin closer to the finish. The route combines surfaces and elevation changes typical of trail running, so the kilometre count alone does not tell the whole story. Uneven ground and exposure to the elements can matter as much as planned pace.

Northern Menorca’s coastline gives the race a character unlike an urban event. Some sections are open to the wind, with dunes and paths beside coves and cliffs; runners should not rely solely on the inviting landscapes seen in photographs. Accounts of earlier editions in the available information illustrate that contrast: sunshine can give way to cold, northerly winds and rough sea conditions. In January, being prepared for changing weather is part of the challenge.

Course marking uses the Camí de Cavalls signs, tape and arrows on some sections. The race also uses MyLaps electronic chip timing. Runners without a compatible yellow chip can buy a reusable one for 3 euros during registration, according to the event information. Staying on the route is not just a matter of navigation: several sections cross protected environments, and leaving the trail can bring penalties.

Three distances, three starting points

The long-distance race covers 46 kilometres, starting at the Far de Cavalleria and finishing at the Piscina Municipal in Ciutadella. It is the most demanding option and has a seven-hour time limit. Regulations set cut-off points at locations including Binimel·là, at 6.8 kilometres, and Al·locs, at 15.7 kilometres. Published information also lists checkpoints at La Vall, Son Morell and Faro Nati before the finish. Anyone who misses a cut-off must surrender their race bib if they choose to continue on their own.

The Mitja Marató Trail dels Fars covers 21 kilometres from Algaiarens to Ciutadella. Its start is scheduled for 10:30, two and a half hours after the 46-kilometre race. The middle-distance option keeps the point-to-point format and coastal setting while reducing total time on the course. Participants must have turned 18 on race day, as must those entering the longest event.

The Cursa Popular covers 12 kilometres, starting at Camí de Son Morell and also finishing in Ciutadella. It is scheduled for noon and is open to participants aged 15 and older on the event date, provided minors submit the required parental authorisation when collecting their bib. Although it is the shortest option, it still crosses a natural environment and requires runners to stay on the route. All three races are individual events, with no team entries.

Start times, transport and bib collection

The 46-kilometre race is scheduled to start at 08:00 at the Far de Cavalleria; the half marathon begins at 10:30 in Algaiarens, and the 12-kilometre race starts at noon in Son Morell. All finish at the Piscina Municipal Tita Llorens in Ciutadella. Because the starts are in different locations and some areas are considered environmentally sensitive, organised bus transfers are compulsory and included in the entry fee. According to the event information, private vehicles are not allowed at the start areas.

For the longest distance, buses leave the municipal pool at 06:45, with an additional service from the Es Mercadal tennis courts at 07:00. Transport for the 21-kilometre race is scheduled for 09:15; the bus for the shorter distance leaves at 11:15. Runners should check the official details before travelling, as transport determines arrival at each start and race bibs will not be distributed on event day.

Bib collection is scheduled in several towns in the days before the event. On Thursday, Jan. 21, runners can collect their bibs in Maó from 17:00 to 19:30; on Friday, Jan. 22, in Es Mercadal during the same hours; and on Saturday, Jan. 23, in Ciutadella from 17:00 to 20:00. Organisers also plan a short briefing before each start. Minors entered in the 12-kilometre race must bring the completed authorisation form when collecting their bib. Planning collection and transport in advance avoids relying on event-day arrangements.

Registration and tiered prices

The stated registration period opens on Aug. 20, 2026, and closes on Jan. 15, 2027, unless places sell out earlier. Prices change according to total entries across all three distances, not just the number of places in one event. Published fees for the 46-kilometre race are 50, 65 and 80 euros; the 21-kilometre race costs 30, 40 or 50 euros; and the 12-kilometre race costs 20, 27 or 35 euros.

The first tier covers the first 200 entries overall. The second applies to entries 201 through 500, until Dec. 31, 2026; the third begins once that volume is passed and runs to the planned limit of 1,000 participants. The eventual price therefore depends on when a place is confirmed and how registration numbers progress. There is no single entry fee: each distance has three price tiers.

Transport between Ciutadella and the start areas is included in registration. Runners who are not members of the Federació d’Atletisme de les Illes Balears can purchase one-day insurance for 5 euros during registration or when collecting their bib. A reusable timing chip costs an additional 3 euros if needed. These extras should not be confused with the base entry fee. The chosen distance and current price tier determine the main cost.

Equipment, cut-offs and course rules

For the 46- and 21-kilometre races, the stated mandatory equipment includes a hydration system with a minimum capacity of 0.5 litres, a mobile phone with battery and credit, a thermal blanket, race bib and chip. Gels and bars must be marked with the runner’s bib number, and their wrappers must be carried to an aid station. Cups will not be provided at aid stations, making a personal drinking container essential. Equipment may be checked before the start.

Organisers may add protective clothing, such as an extra thermal blanket or waterproof jacket, if conditions make it necessary. Poles are permitted if their tips have rubber caps. The longest race has a seven-hour overall limit and intermediate cut-offs; published information sets, among others, one hour to reach Binimel·là and two and a half hours to reach Al·locs. The available checkpoint details contain information that cannot be confidently interpreted for every time limit, so the current regulations should take precedence.

The route crosses environmentally sensitive areas, including dune systems and coastal and wooded sections. Leaving the marked course, littering and making shrill noises that could disturb the surroundings are prohibited. Runners must carry waste to aid stations, and wrappers marked with bib numbers allow waste to be linked to individual participants. Breaches can lead to time penalties or disqualification. Following the course markers protects both the landscape and the sporting integrity of the race.

Changes, transfers and potential disruptions

Under the published conditions, cancellation requests are accepted until Jan. 6, 2027. Registration may be transferred to the following year for a 3-euro administration fee. Bib transfers are also permitted until that date and cost 10 euros; if the incoming runner moves to a more expensive distance, they must pay the difference. For a shorter distance, the conditions provide for a refund of the price difference if the request is handled before the deadline. Different transactions have different deadlines and fees.

Distance changes are allowed until Jan. 6 and incur a 5-euro administration fee. Moving to a more expensive race also requires payment of the difference; for a shorter distance, the conditions provide for a refund of the difference for requests made before the deadline. These transactions are subject to the organiser’s rules and availability. Reviewing the full regulations is important, particularly because conditions may vary depending on the type of change.

The event information also allows for changes to the course, removal of sections or cancellation if weather alerts, safety issues, fires, damage to the trail or other circumstances beyond the organiser’s control make it necessary. The regulations say compensation or a refund is not guaranteed in these situations, although alternatives will be considered. For a winter coastal race, that provision is not merely administrative: safety and environmental protection can change the plan.

A race shaped by Menorca’s winter

The event’s character is about more than linking lighthouses. January adds a variable that a map cannot show: the coast may feel bright and open or turn into a cold, windy and exposed corridor. Memories of earlier editions in very different conditions help explain how two days on the same route can deliver contrasting experiences. Weather is part of the real difficulty, especially on the most exposed sections.

The event brings together a 46-kilometre race, a half marathon and a 12-kilometre popular course in a shared landscape, though the demands differ. Compulsory transport, staggered start times, equipment rules and cut-offs are all part of a setup that takes runners to different coastal starting points and brings them back to one finish in Ciutadella. The Camí de Cavalls provides the geographic thread; care with the terrain and weather shapes the experience.

With its date set for Jan. 24, 2027, the race offers a way to discover Menorca through its trails rather than an asphalt course. Its three distances broaden the options, but all require respect for the environmental rules and race conditions. For those drawn to trail running by the sea, the appeal lies in the balance between beauty and exposure: a spectacular landscape that remains mountain terrain.