The Illa de l’Aire Marine Reserve protects south-east Menorca from Punta des Xoriguer to Punta de Rafalet. Its main landmark is the islet of l’Aire, opposite Punta Prima, while the reserve also follows Sant Lluís’s coastline and its rocky seabeds, caves and posidonia meadows.
Where is the Illa de l’Aire reserve?
The reserve covers 719.31 hectares and is divided into a general area and a special diving area around the islet. If you want to get your bearings before visiting, the official plan shows its boundaries and coordinates.
Nearby coastal places include Punta Prima, Biniancolla, Binibeca, Alcaufar and Cala Rafalet. Their beach guides are useful starting points for planning from land.
What makes Illa de l’Aire special?
Around the islet, posidonia meadows meet rock, cavities and areas shaped by currents. This productive seabed supports many species and is a rewarding place to observe marine life, with your camera ready and your hands out of the water.
The reserve also protects the islet’s land environment, home to the endemic Lilford’s wall lizard. The landscape does not end at the shoreline: the islet and sea form one natural space.
Activities and precautions
Swimming, snorkelling and recreational navigation can be enjoyed while respecting markers and regulated areas. Before scuba diving, check the applicable conditions and authorisations: a special diving zone does not mean that every dive is automatically unrestricted.
Fishing and the removal of marine plants or animals are regulated. Do not assume an activity is allowed simply because you are away from the beach. Check the official regulations before setting out.
Specific rules also cover vessel speed and collective scuba diving. Regulations may be updated, so always consult the current version.
Punta Prima as a gateway
Punta Prima is one of the easiest places to understand the connection between reserve and coast. From the beach, you can see Illa de l’Aire and follow the Camí de Cavalls towards Alcaufar and Rafalet. Beneath the surface, the meadows show that the landscape continues underwater.
If you arrive by boat, do not anchor on posidonia or enter bathing areas. Wind and currents can move the chain, even when the anchor appears to have landed on sand.
For both protected areas, return to our overview of Menorca’s marine reserves and compare it with the Northern Menorca Marine Reserve.
Sources consulted
- Balearic Government: marine-reserve description.
- Official Illa de l’Aire plan and zoning.
- Decree 26/2019 establishing the Illa de l’Aire Marine Reserve.
- Basic regulations and updates.
- Menorca Playas content: the linked beach guides.
