Hiking on the Costa Brava: 5 routes to take

Make a hiking on the Costa Brava is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

One of the great assets of the Costa Brava is its beauty, with many areas still totally unspoilt.

Today, I'm taking you with me to discover the different hiking trails on the Costa Brava.

Hiking on the Costa Brava: article summary

Hiking on the Costa Brava: the Cami de Ronda

If you want to stay on the coast, the camí de ronda runs from Blanes on the Costa Brava to Portbou on the French border.

The camí de ronda consists of over 200 km of coastal paths dating back to the 19th century. They were originally used to keep an eye on smugglers. The Guardia Civil used the paths as recently as Franco's dictatorship when such things as food, tools and cigarettes were scarce after the civil war.

Although nowhere as rugged as they once were, these winding coastal trails often change elevation. They are extremely narrow in places, which is not recommended if you're not afraid of heights. There are cliff-top and beach sections, stone steps and some dirt paths.

Sant Feliu de Guixols to Begur

A popular itinerary along the camí de ronda is a two- or three-day hike from Sant Feliu de Guíxols to Begur. Three-day eventThe 43 km course comprises the following stages:

• Sant Feliu to Palamós (17 km) via S'Agarò and Sant Antoni de Calonge.
• Palamós to Llafranc (13 km) via Cap Roig and Calella de Palafrugell.
• Llafranc to Begur (13 km) via Sant Sebastià lighthouse.

Calella de Palafrugell

For me, the section along the Platja d'Aro seafront is not particularly interesting. Although the section between Sant Pol and Sa Conca is spectacular, it's best to stick to the section from Llafranc to Begur. This is one of the best stretches of coastline in the entire Costa Bravaa landscape of steep cliffs and pine trees.

Hiking on the Costa Brava: Sant Pol beach in Sa Conca

After leaving Sant Feliu, you'll arrive at Sant Pol beach. Here you'll see a number of Catalan modernist houses and a long beach that stretches all the way to S'Agarò, a place dating back to the early 20th century.

This itinerary is relatively easy, even if you're not afraid of heights. Here, you can admire the large gardens belonging to the manor houses overlooking the Mediterranean, or simply enjoy the view.

Along the way, you'll encounter a lot of uneven ground, but there are handrails all along the way. If you suffer from heights, you may find it difficult.

The former military zone at L'Escala

Until recently, the area between the L'Escala marina and Montgò was a military base. Today, it's a protected area where you can stroll in the off-season.

The area has been used by the army until the late 1990s. It is now part of the nature park that encompasses the Medes Islands after the local council bought the land from the Spanish Ministry of Defense to prevent any further construction projects.

A large part of the path is on a cliff face and can be very demanding. a bit windy in winterBut the path leads down to a very rocky beach. It's the perfect place to stretch your legs. A much longer walk takes you over the top of the Montgrí massif to l'Estartit. North of L'Escala are the Greco-Roman ruins of Empúries and the remains of the Greek port. Find out more about Empuries, read the article here!

Hiking on the Costa Brava: from Port de la Selva to Cala Tavallera

This hiking trail is probably not part of the Camí de Ronda, but it's a 7 km walk that you shouldn't miss on the Costa Brava.

The landscape here is quite austere, with lots of rock, low scrub and pine trees, and most of the time. The hermitage, Sant Baldiri de Tavallera, is still in a reasonable state of repair. it's worth stopping for a few minutes.

Now you know the main hiking spots on the Costa Brava. If you'd like to relax your legs during your stay around Barcelona, I'd advise you to get out there and take advantage of one of its magnificent paths in the heart of nature.