Agroturisme Son Vives, Menorca: Founder Interview & Local Recommendations

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Meet Paqui (centre), Founder of Agroturisme Son Vives, and Michelle Bosch (far left), who manages the front desk and day-to-day operations.

What is Agroturisme Son Vives’ Story?

Michelle (Son Vives, Adults Only) : Explain their (Son Vives’) story a little.

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only): Quite a long time ago, between ten and twelve years ago, we started this family project little by little, and well, with a lot of enthusiasm and a strong desire to work. It’s the whole family working here - my children, my daughters-in-law, me, and my sister-in-law Marga as well. A family.

My children started making cheese from the very beginning. They began with very few cows, just a small number. They started making cheese and experimenting, and they were lucky to win an important award in Madrid. From there, they began producing a bit more, getting more animals, and testing out the process. The truth is they won several important awards at the European level, which are held in different European cities. 

Their cheese is considered among the best in the world. Yes, they had - I believe there are 74 varieties - they are among the best. From that point, they started increasing production and expanding the business a bit. At the same time, up here with the agritourism, my sister-in-law and I also started doing the cooking - all the breakfasts, dinners - it was a lot of work.

Nefelie (Eco Travel Inspo): So the cheeses that we had for breakfast this morning, and that you serve for dinner, are local on site, essentially, the business of your sons or your children, yes.

Michelle (Son Vives, Adults Only) : Yeah, amazing. Here at breakfast, we have two types or three types of cheese. The soft ones that we grill. And then the semi ones and curado, which are the strongest. 

Yes. Until six months, it's like a semi, is not so strong the flavour of the cheese. 
And for six months, it's stronger.

The Values and Ethos at Son Vives

Michelle (Son Vives, Adults Only): What are the values or missions we have here in Son Vives? 

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only): That people - especially tourists when they come - feel comfortable, like they’re at home, without feeling crowded. For example, if you don’t eat certain things, I prepare something personalised for you so you feel good and relaxed. No stress, just as comfortable as possible so you feel well personally. Also mentally.

Nefelie (Eco Travel Inspo): Yes, we were saying yesterday - since we arrived yesterday - that genuinely since we came how calm that we felt. 

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only): Many people say that. They say, I don’t know, it’s like a more special place. When you’re up here, you see the landscape and there is calmness. More or less. There is always peace. It’s not a crowded place. Even if all the rooms are full, there are only 24 or 20 people. It’s not like there’s a big crowd.

Michelle (Son Vives, Adults Only): Yes and I think that here we can - it’s like a rescue. It’s like a family. A community, the most important thing here is that we are like a family. The guests see that. 

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only): And the people, especially those who've known us for years. And those who are returning and new people who come. They always say that you can tell we're a family. You can tell the different atmosphere. That we exist in a relaxed, positive environment. They say they notice it. You'll say that when you leave.

Food at Son Vives and Culinary Expertise

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only): At the same time that we started this project - well, as I told you, we’ve been open for nine years now - and about ten or eleven years ago, I went to study in Barcelona at a hospitality school to train as a cook. So, I went when I was 50 years old. Yes, 50 years old. I went every weekend to Barcelona to study cooking a bit, to have some ideas.

Nefelie (Eco Travel Inspo): Your Huevos (eggs) were very good this morning - I will say! 

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only) Yes, to take charge a little of how to prepare breakfasts, how to prepare dinners especially, and so on. Well, very well. And then, at the same time, we planted the vegetable gardens and started picking tomatoes, vegetables, and fruit from there. Melons, watermelons. Melons, watermelons - they are down below. And over here,  we have the vegetables: tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini.

Michelle (Son Vives, Adults Only): We try to use all these vegetables and fruit here in the kitchen. 

Nefelie (Eco Travel Inspo): You couldn’t get more fresh!

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only): And always trying to use local products from the farm.

Sustainability at Agroturisme Son Vives

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only): 

At Son Vives, we have solar panels that generate energy for the property. We also have a vegetable garden where we grow vegetables and fruits, which are then used for the hotel's own consumption. We also strive to raise awareness about responsible water consumption, which is a scarce resource due to the lack of rainfall.

Because now that we have installed solar panels, we are going to put more. The problem we have here - up here - is that we currently have little water. So, we all need to be aware not to waste water because the well is very deep down. 

And then, for sustainable energy, well, we have installed. Can you see the panels down there? Yes. And soon we will install a few more. To take advantage of solar energy for materials. 

Nefelie (Eco Travel Inspo): The furniture - such as tables and chairs - are they local?

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only): Yes. Everything is made in Ferreries (the location of Son Vives). All of this, all of this. I usually buy from locals from Ferreries. I prefer to pay local people rather than on the internet.

What Guests Love the Most

Michelle (Son Vives, Adults Only): Guests love being in contact with nature and animals. One of the activities they can do at the hotel is an excursion with Tomeu, a family member from the farm, who shows them around the property and the animals, and explains the work in the fields.

Local Restaurant Recommendations and Supporting Local Businesses

Michelle (Son Vives, Adults Only): We recommend local businesses more. Always

We also recommend always in Ferrerías or restaurants recommend most of them in Ferrerías. For example Rías Baixas. We are friends of the family. And for the boats. For example we know where companies are in the south en Cala Galana, also from ferrerías. So we always try to contact local Menorca people well.

But yes, there are many activities to do in Menorca, especially in summer. Most weekends there are village festivals with Menorcan horses, as well as craft markets. About beaches, for me, one of the most beautiful is Pregonda, on the north coast.

Things to do nearby Agroturisme Son Vives

Michelle (Son Vives, Adults Only): What kind of recommendations you give to guests when they come here.

Paqui (Founder - Son Vives, Adults Only): They can go horseback riding, they can go for a boat ride, they can go to dinner at places we know. We send them to dinner in Ciudadela, to eat lobster. The ones who come more during the low season go hiking, they do the Camí de Cavalls (Menorca’s famous coastal trail). We also recommend that.

Hotel Location - Ferrerías

Michelle (Son Vives, Adults Only): Located at the centre of the island, Son Vives is quite near many sites of interest that must not be missed on a visit to Menorca. The airport and the Port of Mahón are just 30 minutes away by car, and just a 7 km bike ride away are the northern beaches of Binimel·là, Pregonda and Cavalleria, as well as the Far de Cavalleria lighthouse.