Hiking holiday in the Costa Brava, Spain

About this tour

This walking holiday combines the South and the North of the Costa Brava, with 4 nights in Calella de Palafrugell and 3 nights in Cadaques: experience the region’s stunning coastal landscapes, charming medieval villages, and artistic heritage. Over the course of eight days, you’ll explore some of the most beautiful stretches of the Mediterranean shoreline, wander through history-rich stone towns, and discover why great artists like Dalí, Picasso, and Matisse were drawn to this special corner of Catalonia.

Your journey begins in Calella de Palafrugell, a postcard-perfect fishing village where whitewashed houses overlook turquoise waters and small golden beaches. You’ll walk through pine-scented Mediterranean forests, explore secluded coves, and uncover Iberian ruins. Inland, you’ll step back in time in perfectly preserved medieval towns like Pals and Peratallada.

Midway through your trip, you’ll head north to Cadaqués, a dazzling white village nestled between mountains and sea, at the edge of the Cap de Creus Natural Park. Here, dramatic rock formations, crystal-clear bays, and striking headlands create an otherworldly coastal landscape. You’ll visit the easternmost point of mainland Spain, follow in Dalí’s footsteps, and enjoy panoramic views from ancient monasteries.

Highlights

The beautiful Costa Brava trail between Calella de Palafrugell and Palamos
Cala S'Alguer and the beach of Es Castell
The villages Pals and Peratallada
The amazing unspoiled nature of the Costa Brava
The village of Cadaques and the museum of Dali
The spectacular landscape of the Cap de Creus Nature Reserve

Included/Excluded

Transfer from Girona Airport/City or Palafrugell bus station to Calella de Palafrugell to the first hotel upon arrival.
Welcome meeting with a local guide speaking English, Spanish, French and German
7 nights of accommodation 3* hotels as mentioned above
B&B or Half-board
All the tourist information, tracks and maps through an app personalized for your trip
The transport of belongings from Calella Palafrugell to Cadaqués
Assistance telephone number 24/7
Transfers of the group from the departure or arrival points related to the walks, as detailed in the program

Transfers from and to the airport except the one from stated above
Hotels touristic tax
Flights
Travel insurance
Extra drinks
GPS and maps on paper: 35€ per pack
Any other activity not described in the present file

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Arrive at Palafrugell bus station (direct bus from airport to Palafrugell) from where you will be transferred to your accommodation in Calella de Palafrugell. The old centre of the town still retains the character of a typical Spanish coastal town with its bustling narrow streets and good selection of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. There are two small, popular beaches in the old town that add to the overall charm and atmosphere of the area.

Day 2: Calella de Palafrugell - Es Castell Beach - Calella de Palafrugell

11km

Distance: 11km

Today we are going to cross the Natural Area of Castell-Cap Roig, which houses one of the last unspoilt corners of the Costa Brava, with some small creeks like Cala Estreta or Cala del Crit. We will arrive at the magnificent beach of Es Castell with its Iberian ruins and the small creek of S’Alguer. We walk back through a fantastic example of Mediterranean wood.

Day 3: The south coastline

12.0 km

Distance:12.0 km

Our transfer service takes you to the typical Mediterranean village of Begur, where your walk starts. The path penetrates into the Mediterranean forest, crosses small and virgin coves, goes through paths with breath-taking views of the Mediterranean Sea and crosses the charming villages of Tamariu and Llafranc before arriving back at Calella de Palafrugell.

Day 4: Medieval villages

21.0 km

Distance:21.0 km

The walking route of today takes you away from the coast and into the peaceful countryside of the Emporda region. Our transfer service takes you to the village of Peretallada, where your hike starts. Distance: 21km but we can shorten the route by taking you to the village of Pals: 11km Peratallada is one of the best preserved medieval villages and also listed as one of the most beautiful villages of Spain. Its fortified center and market places with its archways are well worth a visit. From Peratallada you cross the wonderful countryside direction Pals, another stunning medieval village that commands spectacular views over the area and the Mediterranean Sea. From Pals the path continues back to Calella de Palafrugell.

Day 5: The North Coastline

10.0 km

Distance:10.0 km

Our transfer service takes you to the beach of Cala Montjoi, from where you start your walk to the village of Cadaqués. From Cala Montjoi you head north, deep into the nature reserve of Cap de Creus, the rocky peninsula that hides some incredible geological phenomena that can be found in some of Dali's paintings. Throug the lunar landscape of the Costa Brava, where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean, you arrive at Cadaqués, a beautiful whitewashed coastal town surrounded by mountains and a favourite of both Picasso and Salvador Dalí where Salvador Dalí once famously said in 1920: “I have spent a delightful summer, as always, in the perfect and dreamy town of Cadaqués. There, alongside the Latin sea, I have been quenched by light and colour”.

Day 6: Cap de Creus

16.0 km

Distance:16.0 km

Today you embark on a beautiful walk out to the Cap de Creus, the most easterly point of mainland Spain with some spectacular coastal views; the rock outcrops are one of the most significant features of the Parc Natural, with its complicated and beautiful forms which often cause the visitor’s imagination to get carried away. One sees images of real or mythical animals in the area (lions, dragons, camels, eagles, cats, rats…), despite the fact that it is the wind and the sea, and not the Gods, which have gone on shaping the geological landscape of the Creus cape right up to the present day. On your way back towards Cadaques, we would highly recommend a visit to the Museum of Dali in Port Lligat (10 minutes from the town center of Cadaques), where you can immerse yourself in the bizarre world of Dali.

Day 7: Departure

End of your walking holiday. We can arrange a transfer service for you to Figueres, Gerona or Barcelona. You can also extend your stay and enjoy a few days at the beach or visit the historic towns of Gerona and Barcelona.