Along the northeastern coast of Barcelona is the beautiful Costa Brava. Simply translated the ‘rugged coast’ the under-advertised province of Girona renders some of the most breathtaking views of the Mediterranean sea. Approximately an hour drive outside of Barcelona you’ll find secluded white-sand beaches, lush villages, and impressively preserved basilicas.
Costa Brava is to northern Spain, what Saint Tropez is to southern France; only you won’t find mega yachts or your local Hermes store here. In fact, Costa Brava is a slice of the simpler life. As quaint as the region may be, there is plenty to uncover in Costa Brava. It’s fishing villages, secluded beaches, and medieval towns would satisfy any explorers thirst for culture.
If you have aspired to travel to Spain, chances are you’ve set your sights on major tourist destinations such as Barcelona, Madrid, and/or Malaga. If Barcelona is on the bill, then a day in Costa Brava is truly a worthy excursion. Spanish Trails offers excellent all-inclusive day trips to the coast as well as the medieval towns of Girona. What separates this tour group from other great companies like Viator, is the intimate nature of their excursions. Tours are tailored to accommodate no more than 8 persons and luckily my companion and I were the only ones booked. On the day of our Cliffs and Coves Tour, we showed up inadequately dressed for the planned hike. It appeared we were more or less prepared for a stroll. Our guide, Viktor, was very accommodating and modified the tour based on our stated interests. We visited La Boqueria (a Las Ramblas market place). At our coworkers recommendation we got a few ounces of pata negra (Spanish Iberian ham) and a small crate of figs. If you do make it to La Boqueria, you must try the pata negra. It is a bit pricey, but you will thank me for it.
As we made our way into Costa Brava, our first stop was at a local park. With our swim suits in hand, we strolled speculatively through heavily treed woodlands. After a short walk, we came upon a picturesque secluded shore. The air was crisp with small bursts of sea salt and hints of pine. The beach was enveloped by cliffs pitted with shallow holes and cavernous rocks. It was simply striking. We spent little over an hour basking in the Mediterranean sun and diving into the seas cold waters.
Thereafter, Viktor took us further into Girona, and into the coastal town of Calella de Palafrugell. This small resort and fishing village was filled with private vacation homes. Outside of the summer, the town is almost remote and makes for the perfect backdrop to a moderately quiet day. Somewhere along this 1.2 mile coastline of Calella, is Can Palet. Here, we devoured a wonderful three-course meal, took in a breathtaking view, then made our way through the towns shops.
I don’t know about you, but there are few better ways to spend a relaxing day.
All images © 2013-2014 Donnatilda Tabana.