Binigaus, Menorca by Boladevidre

The Port of Mahon

The capital, Mahon or Mao, is situated at the world’s second-largest harbour. The historic town is a scenic gem, with the sapphire-blue sea providing the ideal backdrop for a remarkable collection of buildings.

If you fancy a trip out of town, visit the S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park, a huge park around three miles from Mahon, which is renowned for its range of flora and fauna. A haven for everything from turtles to olive trees, it is ideal for those seeking a change from the usual sun holiday experience.

Binigaus Valley

Another site of immense and varied beauty, Binigaus Valley is best known for Cova des Coloms, one of the island’s biggest cave complexes. Nearby is an idyllic beach, which is perfect for swimming.

Algendar Gorge

Stretching over four miles, this vast limestone gorge is one of the most impressive natural features on the island. A surprising variety of flowers and wildlife thrives in the limestone fissures, and the area is also home to a range of rare birds and reptiles. Keep an eye out for the kites and kestrels that prey on the lizards and turtles that dart from the cracks in limestone. Algendar Gorge is certainly one of the most impressive areas in the whole of Menorca.

Beaches

As a sun-holiday paradise, Menorca has all the beaches you could ever want. If you’re looking for sand and sea, Menorca doesn’t tend to be as crowded as the other Balearic Islands.

One of the island’s favourite spots for swimming and sun bathing, Son Bou is a beautiful, long beach with fine sands. Resorts and villas nearby tend to be highly popular among families. In comparison, Punta Prima is more adult-orientated, offering a range of water sports facilities, bars, and restaurants. With some of the strongest currents on the island, it is not suitable for children who want to swim.

Diving

The island is one of the most impressive places in the Mediterranean for scuba diving and offers over 15 schools for would-be divers. If you don’t have PADI certification, this could be the perfect opportunity to get it and see some amazing sea life in the process.

Menorca is one of the most naturally beautiful places in the entire Mediterranean, and, although it is famous as a sun holiday destination, it is relatively unspoiled. It represents the ideal mix of amenities and pristine beauty, something few other places can offer.

So, why not enjoy yourself and see the sites with car hire in Menorca. The island is deceptively large, so car hire means you can see the area’s natural beauty quickly and easily.

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When the High Tatras National Park was first established, it was the first national park of its kind in all of Slovakia. Shortly after its establishment, Poland followed suit and established a similar protective area on their side of the border. Today, both the Polish and the Slovakian portions of the High Tatras National Park are considered a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Štrbské Pleso, High Tatras National Park, Slovakia by Petr Vilgus

So the most interesting species that can be found within the High Tatras National Park include many different plants which can only be found along the highest summits of the mountains in the region. There are also a number of rare animal species which call the national park their home including the eagle, bear as well as the marmot. But perhaps the most precious of all species that lives within the High Tatras National Park is that of the chamois which lives in complete isolation among the glaciers of the park; there are more than 1000 chamois currently alive there.

The High Tatras National Park is also a home to some of the tallest mountains in all of Europe. One of the highest peaks that can be found within the mountain range is that of the Gerlachovský štít which stands at an amazing 2655 meters above sea level. There are also more than 100 different lakes and waterfalls that can be found throughout the High Tatras National Park. The largest, as well as the deepest lake that can be found within the mountain range is that of Veľké Hincovo pleso covering an area of 20 hectares, 53 metres deep. The highest situated lake is that of Modré pleso which is situated 2192 meters above the sea. Then of course there are also Popradské pleso and Štrbské pleso lakes which are located at lower altitudes, and as a result are some of the most visited lakes in the mountains. Zelené pleso lake is considered to be the most beautiful place in High Tatras mountains as well as in all of Slovakia.

Zelené pleso, High Tatras National Park, Slovakia by Michal Kabát

It is interesting to note that while there are a number of excellent caves that can be found throughout the High Tatras National Park, there is only one which is open to the public today. Anyone choosing to visit the mountain range can stop by and also check out this cave known as Belianska jaskyňa. It can be found in the resort of Tatranská Kotlina.

Due to the altitude of many of the summits and peaks of the High Tatras National Park, many of the hiking paths throughout the uppermost regions of the Park are closed between November and June. This is done so for safety reasons on account of the extreme winters that can be experienced in the mountain range, but also to protect the nature and animals in the park. For the remainder of the year, one can visit just about any part of the mountain peaks with the help of mountain guides and officially marked routes.

There are many towns and resorts to stay at when you choose to visit the High Tatras National Park which includes that of Štrbské pleso, Starý Smokovec, Tatranská Lomnica as well as Ždiar. Tatranská Lomnica is also home to the only museum dedicated to the park; which first opened up back in 1957. You can also visit cities of Poprad and Kežmarok that are found nearby.

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