The lonely, scrubby road to Hotel Cap Menorca, flanked by crumbling stone walls and olive trees, offers no clue to what lies beyond the dead end. Perched over the Cova de Sa Calç is a long-nosed cannon from the Menorcan property’s days as a military battery – and, as of 17 May, 15 suites on a kilometre of coastline.

Nestled on 30 hectares with panoramic views of the Mediterranean, the Menorcan hotel represents the Balearics at their most rustic and exclusive.

Laurent Morel-Ruymen of the luxury hotel group Mare e Terra, took on the project a decade ago, bringing in 24,000 native plants and renovating the classic limestone finca in a look he calls ‘blanc-beige-vert’. He tapped Atelier Deux-Cé to oversee the art and commissioned custom furnishings in teak and leather from island makers. The bathrooms were outfitted in matt white marble, with Menorcan tilework and accents in hammered copper and terracotta.

Each suite has its own garden and private pool among the olive trees, palms, and umbrella pines. Near the breakfast room, an immense seawater pool awaits guests, and the spa offers massages in the open air.

Lunch is served poolside in the shade and dinner is taken around a shared table, with the option of dining in a private villa setting. The menu—big on local produce, with grilled fish and beef for heartier fare—changes every two weeks.

Cap Menorca has direct access to the Cami de Cavalls, a 185-kilometre hiking route that circles the island where indigenous Cavall Menorquí horses still roam. Guests can use the hotel as a base for an epic hike, or take a private excursion in one of a fleet of classic midcentury boats.

Read next: “Made in Ibiza” – why the White Island is a creative playground

Son Blanc Hotel is a restored Menorcan finca set in a 240-hectare nature reserve