Our day started in Ciudadela, at the very northwest part of Menorca. The day was planned to be filled with lost cultures (the Talaiots), incredible landscapes, and hidden coves.

After dividing guests into three groups, depending on their cultural and environmental interests, we set out. Our group headed to the northeast part of Menorca, where we were about to hike along the Cami de Cavalls. This is an old military path that circumnavigates the island, with a total length of 185 km.

As our hike began, our local guide, Luis, explained the itinerary. The 8 km we planned to walk would be crossing 3 different beaches, ending in the village of Es Grau. The morning was bright and sunny, but the cold breeze made the walk very enjoyable. While hiking through the Mediterranean forest we encountered Egyptian vultures, red kites, and some colorful bee-eaters. We overlooked a lagoon wherein some great-crested pochards were resting, until they were disturbed by an angry couple of little grebes. This little, but fierce, waterbird inhabits the coastal lakes of Menorca. Audouin’s gulls were also having a freshwater bath at the lagoon, cleaning their feathers of the oceanic salt. Pressing forward, we left behind this wetland, reaching one of the beaches.

The beach was covered with Podisonia oceanica. This flowering plant, normally mistaken for seaweed, is usually known as Neptune seagrass or Mediterranean tapeweed. Endemic to the Mediterranean, it forms large underwater meadows that are a very important part of the ecosystem. Balls of fibrous material from its foliage, known as egagropili, wash up to nearby shorelines, and protect the beach from potential erosion.

After enjoying a few minutes at the beach, we continued to the last part of the hike, where we crossed the last handmade olivewood door-fence. These doors, made from olive trees, are traditional to Menorca and found in every field. On our way to National Geographic Orion, we did not miss the chance to stop at a Talaiotic village. There, we saw the mysterious Taulas and Navetas.

Sunbathing lizards watched us return to our ship. Maybe, over the years, they’ve been listening to the rocks, and know the secrets they have to tell.