COSTA BRAVA PIRINEU DE GIRONA EN

The Costa Brava’s

coves and marinas
A coast The Costa Brava’s long coastline, with its wide variety of landscapes and ecosystems, rewards mariners that sail its
waters with magnificent scenery, natural parks, long golden sandy beaches and secluded, practically unspoilt coves to

to discover anchor in for a quiet swim in crystalline waters or spend the night soaking up the peace and quiet of spots sometimes
unknown even to many mariners, and some of which can only be reached from the sea.
But besides this, for more inquisitive mariners the Costa Brava is not just a place to pass through on the way somewhere
else, but rather a complete universe to discover at a leisurely pace, enjoying every minute. Here, the Mediterranean
finds its full expression through culture, art and a gastronomy that combines ingredients from the sea and mountains
with superb wines.
Thus, in this guide published by the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board and the Catalan Association of Tourist Marinas
(ACPET), we set out to reflect this complexity and show visitors just how much the province of Girona’s coastline
has to offer boats and their crews during their stays, particularly in terms of technical service, but without forgetting
leisure, pleasure and discovery activities, as well as the comprehensive facilities provided by the 18 sailing clubs and
marinas dotted along the coast.
This guide is not a nautical handbook and it is not designed to replace the sailing charts and the well-known pilot
books, nor can it be used as such. It is intended to give anyone that looks through it or reads one of its sections enough
reasons to stay at any one of the marinas described in detail and to begin a holiday that they will remember for ever.

6 THE COSTA BRAVA 24 NORTH ZONE: 53 CENTRAL ZONE: 76 SOUTH ZONE:

SUMMARY

AS A TOURIST FROM PORTBOU TO L’ESCALA FROM L’ESTARTIT TO PALAMÓS FROM PLATJA D’ARO
DESTINATION 30 Cap de Creus Natural Park. 58 Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter TO BLANES
37 Cadaqués, Dalí, Portlligat. Natural Park. 92 Botanical gardens
21 A MEDITERRANEAN 44 The bay of Roses. 67 Formigues Islands.
PARADISE 46 Aiguamolls de l’Empordà 72 Medieval and fishing villages.
97 TABLE OF DISTANCES
Natural Park. 74 Coastal paths.
BETWEEN MARINAS
22 SUSTAINABLE BOATING 50 The ruins of Empúries. 75 The Costa Brava’s lighthouses.
ON THE COSTA BRAVA
The Costa Brava as a tourist destination
Few places rival the number of
incentives found here for visitors to His audiam deserunt in, Tium, tem est, ut ad et
enjoy one of the most pleasant and
enriching experiences imaginable.
moluptatiis rest aut dusOditio. Nemo conem et
Girona’s coastline is as wild as it is welcoming and always
majestic, stretching over 200 kilometres from Cap Falcó,
in Portbou, to Sa Palomera rock in Blanes. The name Costa
Brava was coined in 1908 by the journalist Ferran Agulló,
who was impressed by the view of its rugged scenery as
he gazed down at it from the chapel of Sant Elm, in Sant
Feliu de Guíxols.
Its profile etches a coastline of varied landscape with
stunning contrasts made up of imposing cliffs topped
with Mediterranean woodland growing down to the sea,
rocky coves with deep crystalline waters, wetlands, natural
parks, dunes and long fine sandy beaches, while the inland
area is characterised by a diverse carefully-farmed rural
landscape bearing witness to all the different cultures that
have left their mark on the region through history.
The north is dominated by the tramuntana wind, at times
gentle and at others very strong, and here the imposing
Cap de Creus defines the coast’s personality, while in the
centre and the south the coast becomes less hostile.
But whatever your destination, whether you come by
land or by sea to any one of the Costa Brava’s 18 marinas,
you will always find a bright, cordial land, a place to stay,
discover and enjoy, where cuisine, wine tourism, culture,
art, music, nature and sport are its main assets and best
ambassadors.

6
LANDSCAPE, CULTURE AND CUISINE
Natural protected areas, with gems like Cap de Creus, the wetlands of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà
Natural Park or the Medes Islands, the bay of Roses, little fishing villages, Iberian, Greek and Roman
ruins, medieval churches, remote secluded coves, long sandy beaches where you can soak up the sun
and the sea breeze, botanical gardens, endless musical, cultural, or sports proposals, art, tradition and
the chance to enjoy some of the best cuisine in the world. The Costa Brava’s coastline is full of surprises
wherever you care to look.

7
 FOOD AND WINE TOURISM

Wining and dining

Land and sea merge in the Costa
Brava’s landscape to produce Wine-growing is at the heart of the
excellent wines and a cuisine closely
linked with the land and seasonal
Costa Brava’s gastronomic identity.
local produce.
The province of Girona’s cuisine is incredibly varied
and tasty, inherited from a long tradition of Mediter-
ranean cultures combined with the latest, exquisite,
revolutionary formulation of a new cuisine, which cre-
ates the most innovative culinary proposals today.
Seasonal produce has pride of place in the top res-
taurants, along with the most delicious everyday
popular food. All sorts of fish and seafood are the pro-
tagonists of superb suquets and traditional rice dishes,
while meat and game are combined not only with in-
gredients from the sea, but also with a wide array of
mushrooms and fruit in true symphonies of flavours.
A whole host of charcuterie, oils made with local va-
rieties of olives from ancient trees, a fine range of
artisan cheeses and a comprehensive selection of so-
phisticated desserts round off gourmet meals based
on freshly-fished and freshly-picked local produce
from the sea and the land which restaurant and hotel
kitchens combine to provide an unforgettable gour-
met experience. Of course, food here is always paired
with DO Empordà wines, many of which have gained
international accolades in their own right.

8
 Cuisine with a strong identity
THE MAGIC OF COMBINING TRADITIONAL COOKING WITH SIGNATURE CUISINE
Girona is one of Catalonia’s top
food & wine tourism destinations,
and has enshrined names like El
Celler de Can Roca, or the defunct
El Bulli, both of which have been
awarded the distinction of being
the world’s best restaurant
on several occasions. With 14
restaurants sharing a total of 18
Michelin stars and dozens of others
acclaimed by the top gourmet food
guides, the province of Girona, and
the Costa Brava in particular, are at
the forefront of the art of cooking.
Visitors can enjoy the most
THE DO EMPORDÀ WINE ROUTE creative food & wine experiences
The Empordà is a wine-growing region, with a long tradition in through innovative gourmet
such grape varieties as White, Red and Grey Grenache and White activities and events organised
and Red Carignan, which are used to make top-quality wines that with seasonal local produce as the
express the Mediterranean’s essence under the DO Empordà label. basis. Oil tourism, visits to farms
and local artisan producers or to
Over the last few decades a new generation of young, excellently-
food and fish markets, gourmet
trained winemakers has emerged and they have succeeded in
routes or going on boat trips with
combining their grandparents’ winemaking know-how with their
local fishermen are just a few of
parents’ hotel and restaurant expertise and turn the Empordà
the hundreds of proposals that
region into a wine tourism paradise.
will make a pleasurable lasting
Thirty wineries open their doors to visitors and, in conjunction
with restaurants, hotels and other companies, provide a creative,
impression on you. The combination of ingredients from the sea
innovative and sustainable range of wine tourism options: the DO
Empordà.
and land creates an exceptional cuisine.
9
 FESTIVALS

Music
by the sea
The Costa Brava offers a wide variety of
festivals covering all types of music in
the most suggestive settings.
Whether in botanical gardens overlooking the sea, public
squares, beaches, monasteries, cloisters or historic sites,
during the summer months the whole province is invad-
ed by theatre, dance, opera, ballet and rock events of such
quality that they have become world famous. These include
the Cap Roig Gardens Festival in Palafrugell, the Castell de
Peralada Festival, the Porta Ferrada Festival in Sant Feliu
de Guíxols and the Torroella de Montgrí Festival, another
leading European event for classical and lyrical music.

Classical music is also the focus of the festival held at the UP-TO-DATE PROGRAMME
impressive Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes,
with stunning views of Cap de Creus, where piano and • Festival Castell de Peralada
chamber music concerts are programmed in the church, www.festivalperalada.com
with its exceptional acoustics. • Festival del Cap Roig
www.caproigfestival.com
Without forgetting the Schubertíada, a festival dedicated • Festival de la Porta Ferrada
entirely to Franz Schubert, held in the medieval monas- www.festivalportaferrada.cat
tery of Santa Maria de Vilabertran. • Festival de Sant Pere de Rodes
www.festivalsantpere.com
There are plenty of other festivals, including Sons del • Festival de Torroella de Montgrí
Món, Vi & Música in Roses-Castelló d’Empúries, Nits de www.festivaldetorroella.cat
Clàssica in Girona, Festival Portalblau in L’Escala, the Jazz • Schubertíada
Festival in L’Estartit-Torroella de Montgrí, the Begur Music www.schubertiada.cat
Festival and Nits de Marimurtra, in the botanical garden • Nits de Marimurtra
of the same name in Blanes. www.marimurtra.cat

10
 MUSEUMS

Discover and learn

The rich historical, archaeological and cultural heritage forged over thousands of years by the
different civilisations and cultures that have settled in Girona and the Costa Brava is displayed
in a broad range of museums. Romanesque
Ethnology, history, archaeology, art…,
but also fishing, crafts and industrial
legacy are featured in museums in the
itineraries
towns up and down the coast. For ex-
Romanesque churches, convents, cloisters and
ample, L’Escala houses the Archaeology monasteries are dotted all over the geography
Museum of Catalonia-Empúries, on the of the Costa Brava & Girona Pyrenees and the
archaeological site of a Greco-Roman arches and carved stones featured by this style
city. Nearby, in Palamós, the Fishing of architecture bear witness to the region’s
Museum offers a tour through the his- history which dates back thousands of years.
tory of this activity which is such an in- The Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de
trinsic part of the Costa Brava’s village Rodes affords breathtaking views of Cap de
life. The Cork Museum, in Palafrugell, Creus and its majestic bell tower crowning
and the Farinera Flour Mill and Ecomu- the church and its cloister make it a superb
seum, in Castelló d’Empúries, are two example of Romanesque architecture, as
are the monastery of Sant Quirze de Colera,
magnificent examples of museums that in the heart of the Albera mountains, and
focus on industrial heritage. the collegiate church of Santa Maria de
Vilabertran. Further inland, visits not to miss
But if it’s modern art that interests you,
include Beget and the monasteries of Santa
then the Dalí Museum in Figueres will Maria de Ripoll and Sant Joan de les Abadesses.
take you on a tour of the Empordà ge-
nius Salvador Dalí’s surrealism, while the
temporary exhibitions of works from the
Carmen Thyssen private collection in
Sant Feliu de Guíxols are another attrac-
tive artistic option.
Neither is the magical world of toys ne-
glected by the Costa Brava’s museums, as
you’ll be able to see for yourself if you visit
the Catalan Toy Museum, in Figueres.

11
 HIKING AND CYCLE TOURISM

On foot or on two wheels

The province of Girona stretches from the Pyrenees to the sea, making it an exceptional
setting for all kinds of outdoor sports.
The whole province, with a special mention of the Costa which are mostly flat as they are built on disused railway
Brava, boasts a network of signposted routes for exploring lines, and the Pirinexus circular loop which links eight
the region on foot or by bike and discovering the nature, land- counties on either side of the border with France and com-
scape, culture and the inland area’s entire wealth in terms of bines Greenways with cycling routes such as farm tracks or
culture, architecture and gastronomy at your own pace. quiet roads.
The destination also enjoys an international reputation for Those who prefer walking are spoilt for choice, with seven
being a great place for road cycling. Numerous cyclists from long-distance GR routes over 50 kilometres long, but which
all over the world come to Girona to train, not only because can be walked in stages, following old pathways from one
of its orography, which includes plains, mountain passes and village to another.
hills, but also because of its extensive network of quiet, safe
secondary roads and the quality of life and services available. Shorter options are the short-distance PR routes and the local THE GR 92: GIRONA’S MOST
SL paths, parts of the Saint James Way, the footpath network HIDDEN SCENERY
There is plenty for families to do, too, with several hundred in La Selva and the Baix Empordà regions, and the Itinerànnia The long-distance GR 92 route
kilometres of cycle paths suitable for all ages. Particularly network, which goes through the Ripollès, Garrotxa and Alt runs along 200 kilometres of
appealing tracks include the 140 kilometres of Greenways, Empordà, linking up the three regions. the Costa Brava’s coastline, at
times along coastal paths and
at others going inland, so hikers
get the best of both worlds with
the best panoramic views of the
Mediterranean and the chance to
visit coves and beaches that can
only be reached on foot or by sea.
You can do the route in stages the
length of your choice, at any time
of year. The GR 92 goes through
the Cap de Creus, Aiguamolls
de l’Empordà and Montgrí,
Medes Islands and Baix Ter
Natural Parks, which is an added
attraction for those interested
in discovering the region’s vast
wealth of plants and wildlife.

12
An extensive network of perfectly signposted routes
means that you can walk through the region in
absolute safety all year round.

13
 WATER SPORTS

Water sports for everybody

Few places can rival Girona’s
coastline in providing so many
different ways to enjoy the wind,
the waves or the plants and wildlife
living on its spectacular seabed.
Whichever sport you decide to try, perfect or simply
have fun doing, you’ll find that all the Costa Brava’s
marinas and towns offer a wide range of water sports
under the guidance of expert instructors that will
turn your holiday into an unforgettable sports ex-
perience.
From Portbou to the mouth of the Tordera river in
Blanes, there are plenty of places to experience all
the thrills of the different types of water sports.
Whether you opt for windsurfing, kitesurfing, sail-
ing in one of the different types of sailing dinghies,
hiring a jet ski or a sailing or motor boat, water
skiing, rowing, kayaking, exploring the seabed by
scuba diving or snorkelling, the list of places to dis-
cover is endless.
Because, in fact, there are few places in the world
that can match the Costa Brava’s wind regime dom-
inated by the northerly tramuntana in winter and
the mostly gentle south-westerly garbí, in summer.
Thanks to them, the bays of Roses, L’Estartit and
Palamós, for instance, have become international
dinghy sailing regatta centres all year round and a
privileged place for sailing with friends and family
in summer.

14
DISCOVER THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA The marinas’ facilities provide all sorts of water sports.
The rugged coast of Cap de Creus, the Medes Islands, the Formigues
Islands and the steep cliffs that trace the coastline, with their rocky
seabed and underwater meadows of Posidonia oceanica seaweed are
the ideal setting for diving.
Diving fans will find over 35 scuba diving centres dotted along
Girona’s coast. Most of them are members of the Costa Brava
Underwater Tourism Centres Association, with a range of courses that
includes first dives for beginners, shipwreck and wildlife discovery
dives and, for more experienced divers, exploration dives in caves and
tunnels or deep diving down fathomless vertical cliff faces.

15
 ACTIVE TOURISM

Where the challenge begins

Nature and active tourism activities
are the best way to discover the
region, to gain an insight into it and
to enjoy it.
Girona’s privileged position between the Pyrenees and
the sea and its gentle orography result in a wide array of
options for enjoying the great outdoors along with activ-
ities designed for adventurous spirits. If you fancy gazing
down at the region from the silence high up in the air,
various companies organise hot-air balloon rides. But if
you prefer adrenalin to the peace and quiet of a balloon
ride, at the Empuriabrava aerodrome you can go skydiv-
ing with an instructor over the bay of Roses or have a go
at free fall in the controlled environment of the Windoor
Realfly wind tunnel. Every year thousands of skydives are
carried out from their facilities, making it one of the top
parachuting venues for skydiving fans.
Rowing on the calm waters of Banyoles lake, kayaking
down the Ter river or along the coast, or exploring the
remote coves and caves dotted along it are other na-
ture options available in the province of Girona, along
with going on an off-road Segway route to discover na-
ture on tracks and paths that will lead us effortlessly
to spots that can only be reached otherwise on foot or
by bike.
Both in the air and on the ground,
Horse riding, cycle tourism on e-bikes, canyoning, there are adventure activities for everybody throughout
climbing and via ferrata routes, both inland and on the
Costa Brava’s cliffs complete the numerous adventure the province of Girona and the Costa Brava.
tourism options available for all ages, escorted by local
guides and in total safety.

16
Few experiences can beat exploring the
region with an expert guide.

WITH EAGLE EYES

Spending a day gazing down at the land with
a bird’s eye view is one of the best ways of
enjoying the region’s vast and varied wealth of
landscape.
Several companies specialising in hot-air
balloon flights offer different proposals ranging
from flying over the steep inland mountains
and soaking up views of rural countryside to
contemplating the majestic Pyrenees, the little
medieval villages or being amazed by the craters
of the volcanoes in Olot, in the inland Garrotxa
region. Nearer the coast, floating gently over
the coastline up in the air, you can’t help but be
captivated by the waterlogged beauty of the
marshes of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural
Park as it unfurls below you.

17
 HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Caring for body and mind

Whether it’s just for a few hours or
a longer getaway, spending time on
yourself and unwinding from your
everyday routine is essential for
achieving integral wellbeing.
Having time to yourself to care for both your body and
mind is not just a luxury but a necessity if you want to
regain the inner balance disturbed by the hectic demands
of everyday life.
Girona and the Costa Brava are the ideal place to get away
from it all and spend some time resting, relaxing and look-
ing after yourself or to take a break with a pleasurable well-
ness experience.
Both inland and on the coast, Girona has historic thermal
and minero-medicinal water spas, urban spas, luxury ho-
tels and spas that offer personalised therapeutic, beauty
and relaxation treatments to regain energy and restore
vitality or simply to give you the chance to unwind for a
couple of hours and recover after an adventure or active
tourism experience.
You can also try your hand at yoga by the sea or in nat-
ural settings, go forest bathing, begin mindfulness les-
sons with expert professionals, set aside a few hours
Girona has numerous
for a relaxing or therapeutic massage, pamper your skin
with natural beauty treatments, or have a steam bath
places for unwinding from
or a sauna in the numerous hotels that include activ-
ities designed to improve physical wellbeing and reduce
the stress of everyday life.
stress and mental fatigue in comprehensive wellness
facilities.

18
 Girona is
exciting
AN INVITING CITY
Walk across the bridges over the Onyar river
to enjoy the bright colours of the houses
lining its banks, wander around the Jewish
quarter, admire the treasures in the cathedral
or look up at the high ribbed vaults of the
imposing church of Sant Feliu, gaze down on
the city from the top of the old city walls or
just stroll in the shade of the thousands of
century-old plane trees in the Devesa park.
These are all experiences that you are bound
to find enthralling.
BUSINESS TOURISM
The province of Girona and the Costa Brava boast a comprehensive Girona city is the capital of the province and
range of conference centres and unique venues, from hotels to offers not only an unforgettable aesthetic
medieval castles and large remote country farmhouses, all of which experience but also a wide variety of cultural
are fully equipped to meet businessmen’s and professionals’ needs for and artistic options all year round, with
business trips, conventions, company meetings and incentive trips. museums, permanent and temporary art
exhibitions, all sorts of music festivals, and
international theatre festivals attracting
top European companies. If you then add
COMBINING GOLF AND WELLBEING first-rate hotels and the promise of great
Girona is home to eight of the best golf courses in Catalonia and to restaurants serving superb cuisine, then there
the Par3 pitch & putt in Gualta, all of which are equipped to host top can be no doubt that it is worth spending as
international competitions and to welcome all sorts of players, whatever much time in the city as you can.
their level. Amid the aroma of pine trees from the Mediterranean
woodland or facing the sea, numerous hotels and holiday resorts also
offer the chance to combine playing golf all year round with the luxury
and pleasure of using their comprehensive wellness facilities providing
endless options: from treatments with grape products to sensory routes
in thermal swimming pools, saunas, Jacuzzis, footbaths, massages and
treatments based on oils and natural active ingredients.
On the Costa Brava and throughout the Girona Pyrenees, besides a
comprehensive range of health and wellbeing options, you’ll also find
all sorts of facilities for taking part in any sports activity that you care to
think of.

19
 Port de Portbou
France
La Jonquera C.N. Sant Miquel de Colera
C.N. Llançà
C.N. Port de la Selva

Cap de Creus
CAP DE CREUS
NATURAL PARK

Figueres
Port de Roses
AIGUAMOLLS
DE L’EMPORDÀ
NATURAL PARK Marina
Empuriabrava
Olot
GARROTXA VOLCANIC
AREA NATURAL PARK C.N. Sant Pere Pescador

Banyoles
C.N. l’Escala

MONTGRÍ, MEDES C.N. Estartit

ISLANDS AND BAIX
TER NATURAL PARK
Lleida
Girona La Bisbal
d’Empordà FRANCE

Girona
C.N. Aiguablava
CATALONIA
C.N. Llafranc
Barcelona

Santa Coloma Marina Palamós Mediterranean

de Farners Sea
C.N. Costa Brava - Vela Palamós
C.N. Port d’Aro

C.N. Sant Feliu de Guíxols

Nàutic Vell

Barcelona C.N. Cala Canyelles

20
Club de Vela Blanes
 CALA CULIP

CALA BONA

A Mediterranean paradise
With hundreds of creeks and coves to anchor in, the Costa Brava is a destination with everything that a mariner or water sports fan
could wish for as far as leisure, restaurants and specialised services are concerned.
The coastline stretches 200 km from the town of Portbou in the north to Blanes in the south, which can blow hard for several days at a time, marking the character of this coast, and, in
and is characterised by rugged scenery and a highly varied coastline, which is almost always summer, due to the south-westerly thermal wind, it is the pleasant, refreshing garbí, which
steep, with high slate, granite and calcareous cliffs and deep coves with a seabed of rock, sand picks up in the afternoon much to sailors’ delight.
and seaweed, most of which can be reached by boat and you can anchor and spend the night
in them. There are also bays along the coastline, including the bays of Roses and Palamós, with In addition to good road and railway connections and the Girona-Costa Brava Airport, Giro-
long sandy beaches that are an absolute paradise for sailing and water sports fans. na’s coastline boasts 18 marinas, all with modern facilities and every service that any mariner
mooring in them could ever want, whether for a long stay or passing through on the way to the
The prevailing wind in winter is the characteristic tramuntana in the north and central areas, Balearic Islands or other parts of the Mediterranean.

21
Sustainable boating on the Costa Brava
Protecting the marine environment

Responsible anchoring
When we talk about anchoring in this guidebook, we mean
anchoring responsibly, never in meadows of Posidonia oceanica
or other species that also need protecting. Always remember
that a change in weather conditions can cause boats to swing
at anchor, so keep a prudent safety distance to allow for this
circumstance.
You should also bear this in mind if you anchor near the edge
of a bathing area, because a change in wind or current con-
ditions could mean the boat swinging into the area, usually
marked with buoys. And, lastly, when you weigh anchor, you
should never drag it along the seabed. You should situate the
boat perpendicular to the anchor and, then, weigh anchor
without harming anything.

Consideration for other boats and bathers

When you go cruising you aren’t the only one at sea. Just as
it’s important to protect the marine environment, it’s also im-
portant to respect others, starting by helping others whenever
asked to do so. You never know what’s going to happen at sea
and help can be needed at the most unexpected times. If your
boat is medium or large, respect smaller boats and pay careful
attention to floating objects and bathers. Avoid unnecessary
noise, as it’s bound to bother other people and cause them
to turn against the boating sector. You should always observe
the speed limit, particularly when approaching the entrance
to coves and when motoring inside ports. Please note that in
these cases the maximum speed is 3 knots. And, as always, be
prudent and make sure you check the day’s weather forecast
before you go out in your boat.
22
 Always allow a large Our marinas are
enough swinging
circle. working to meet
the goals of the
2030 Agenda

Never anchor on
Posidonia oceanica
meadows.

Reduction of Self-produced
greenhouse renewable
Keep up the good work! gase energy
On board, use water carefully and try to save energy whenever The Costa Brava is a privileged environment and by conserving
you can, by making the most of natural light and unplugging it now we’ll ensure that we and future generations can enjoy it.
electrical and electronic devices when not in use. And, of course, Being aware of its fragility is key to helping to preserve it.
don’t throw any kind of waste into the sea. When you get back
on land, put it in the designated waste disposal bins provided at
the marinas.
Use of green Installation of
electric energy electric vehicle
charge points

Save water Save energy Recycle Keep noise to a Use marina toilets Energy Participation
minimum at all times and showers efficiency in biodiversity
certification preservation and
for marina conservation
buildings projects

3
knots
Don’t throw The speed limit Observe a Observe Don’t transfer any type
any waste in harbours and 50-metre distance recommendations of fuel, oil or bilge water Actions in the Alliances to
overboard coves from an A flag made by the marina outside the fuel station area of climate meet the goals
(diver-down) staff pump-out facilities change

23
 France

Port de Portbou
C.N. Sant Miquel de Colera

C.N. Llançà
C.N. Port de la Selva

CAP DE CREUS
NATURAL PARK

Port
From Portbou to L’Escala
de Roses
A wild and captivating coast
Marina
Empuriabrava
AIGUAMOLLS
DE L’EMPORDÀ
NATURAL
PARK C.N. Sant Pere Pescador This part of the coastline is dominated by the mythical, rugged Cap de Creus although it evens out
after Cap Norfeu and opens into the bay of Roses, where the water flowing out of the Muga and
NORTH ZONE C.N. l’Escala
Fluvià rivers creates a vast, 15-kilometre beach of fine, golden sand, which has become an interna-
tional meeting point for windsurfing and kitesurfing fans.
Here, of course, you can explore the dozens of hidden rocky creeks and coves with amazingly clear
water in the Cap de Creus Natural Park, but also stroll through one of the most important wetlands
in southern Europe, the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park, and the ruins of the Greco-Roman
city of Empúries.
CALA PORTIXÓ

24
 Portbou
42o 25.0’ N - 3o 10.0’ E 297

Consorci Port de Portbou

Passeig de la Sardana, s/n
17497 PORTBOU (Girona)
FUEL STATION Tel. +34 972 39 07 12 DEA
[email protected]
OFFICE www.portdeportbou.cat

BOATYARD

Marina website

12 Tm 18 Tm

WALTER BENJAMIN

DON’T MISS
MEMORIAL
Port de Portbou RENT RENT RENT RENT

RENT RENT

Portbou is the first harbour that boats arriving from France come to, after rounding
Cap Cerbère. Surrounded by sparsely vegetated mountains, the marina is sheltered RENT

from the tramuntana and has a very relaxed, family atmosphere.

The marina is just a few metres from the town, where there are plenty of bars, res- The monument and an itinerary
taurants and supermarkets. The harbour entrance is 9 metres deep and faces north- help you trace the footsteps of
west. The marina has berths for boats up to 20 metres long, and inside it there is the German philosopher, who
RENT RENT
a maximum depth of 8 metres. The bay of Portbou, with its crystalline waters, is died in Portbou fleeing from the
flanked to the north by Cala de les Tres Platgetes and Cala del Pi. Nazi persecution in 1940.

25
Colera
42o 24.2’ N - 3o 9.6’ E 145

Club Nàutic Sant Miquel de Colera

Passeig Marítim, s/n
17496 COLERA (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 38 90 95
[email protected]
www.portcolera.cat
BOATYARD OFFICE

Marina website

12 Tm 50 Tm

Club Nàutic
RENT RENT RENT RENT
Sant Miquel de Colera GROSSA ISLAND

RENT RENT

RENT
With berthing for a hundred small and medium boats, the Colera marina offers shel-
ter for up to 15-metre boats, with a maximum depth of 5 metres at the entrance and
3 metres at the end of its two jetties. Like Port de Portbou, it is well protected from
the tramuntana, although when the wind picks up it makes its presence felt. Oppo-
site the entrance to the marina, to the west, you can anchor in the centre of Colera’s
basin in very calm situations, on 6 metres of rock and sand, although the depth soon
RENT RENT
decreases towards the end. The town centre is nearby making it easy to stock up on
provisions.

26
 CALA DEL BORRÓ

Cala Garbet is a particularly popular cove to anchor in, thanks to its CALA BRAMANT

beach, its spaciousness and its superb views of the Pyrenees.

The gems between Colera and El Port de la Selva
Leaving Colera and sailing south, past Punta del Frare and Grossa Island, you’ll come
to the broad cove of Garbet, with a beach of grey sand, shady pine trees and few build-
ings. It is one of the most popular anchorages with mariners due to its spaciousness
and to being sheltered from all the winds except from levanter. You can anchor on 4 or
5 metres of sand, but be careful to give a wide berth to the shallows which emerge in
the north part.
To the south of Garbet, before Punta del Borró and with depths of 2-4 metres, lie the
Borró, or Assutzenes, and Cap Ras coves, both typical places to anchor with southerly
winds, since they are exposed to the tramuntana.
Once past Cap Ras, to the south lies the singular, isolated Cala Bramant, with its surpris-
ing cauldron shape and surrounded by rocky cliffs that enclose a small beach. Then, shel-
tered from the north winds, you’ll come to the 380-metre long, coarse sandy Canyelles
beach, followed by Grifeu beach, the port beach, and Cau del Llop beach, to the south CAP RAS AND CALA GARBET
of Llançà.
27
Llançà
42o 22.4’ N - 3o 9.7’ E 490

Club Nàutic Llançà

Port de Llançà · Moll Jordi Canal, s/n
17490 LLANÇÀ (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 38 07 10 DEA
[email protected] OFFICE
www.cnllanca.cat BOATYARD
FUEL STATION

WAITING DOCK

Marina website
12 ,5 Tm 50 Tm

CHURCH OF SANT

DON’T MISS
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Club Nàutic Llançà VICENÇ

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The Llancà marina’s fully reformed facilities are run by Club Nàutic Llançà, founded
over 50 years ago. With 30,000 m2 of protected waters and 12,000 m2 of facilities on
RENT
land, it has all the services you could wish for and is totally integrated in the town’s
harbour district. It offers a wide range of water sports and its good railway connec-
tions make it the ideal base for visiting the neighbouring city of Figueres, where the
Dalí Museum is. The church was built between
1690 and 1730 and the
The marina has an entrance depth of 7 metres, and has berths for up to 18-metre thirteenth-century keep tower
RENT RENT
boats, with drafts up to 5 metres. The harbour provides effective shelter for boats in of the Abbott’s palace castle
all weather conditions, especially from the prevailing north wind. still stands next to it.
28
 El Port de la Selva
42o 20.28’ N - 3o 12.05’ E 304

Club Nàutic Port de la Selva

La Lloia, s/n
17489 EL PORT DE LA SELVA (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 38 70 00 DEA
[email protected] · www.cnps.cat
SWIMMING POOL

OFFICE
CRANE

FUEL STATION

Marina website
12 Tm 50 Tm

SANT PERE

DON’T MISS
Club Nàutic Port de la Selva DE RODES
RENT RENT RENT RENT

Club Nàutic Port de la Selva lies on the northern edge of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, RENT RENT

in the heart of the traditional little fishing village of El Port de la Selva, of great interest
in terms of tourism, monuments, heritage, cuisine and culture. RENT

The approach and access are easy, between Punta de la Creu to the east and Punta de
s’Arenella to the west, and it is sheltered from all winds. It has berths for up to 20-metre
boats, with drafts up to 6 metres. A beautifully restored
Benedictine monastery dating
The club has modern, functional facilities, with all the leisure services and water sports back to the eleventh-twelfth RENT RENT
you could ever want, including dinghy sailing, kayaking, open-water and pool swim- centuries, with stunning views
ming and scuba diving. of the surrounding region.
29
Cap de Creus Natural Park
Where the Pyrenees plunge into the sea

Wild and rugged, Cap de

Creus is a paradise.

30
 CALA TAMARIUA

Cap de Creus is the last of the Pyrenees foothills and the easternmost
tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It is an area of great beauty, endowed
with a singular geological setting, with rocky structures and outcrops
that make up an absolutely unique landscape. The effect of the tra-
muntana has worn away the rocks to create stunning fanciful erod-
ed shapes and transformed the landscape in a very special way, both
inland and on the coast, where its deep rocky creeks and coves with There are numerous inland itineraries through the park, to walk or CALA GALERA
crystalline waters make excellent havens and captivating scenery. cycle, and they are all extremely interesting from a botanical, geo-
The Natural Park was created in 1998 and is Catalonia’s first logical and scenic point of view. Visitors should always observe the
marine-terrestrial natural park. It covers 13,886 hectares, of which strict regulations that protect them, particularly in the areas classi-
10,813 are on land and 3,073 in the sea. fied as Integral Natural Reserve.
CALA TALABRE

CALA TABALLERA CALA PORTIXÓ

31
 CALA PORTALÓ

CALA CULIP

CALA PRONA

For boats visiting the park and anchoring in its numerous creeks most important historic monument: the monastery of Sant Pere de
and coves there are specific regulations for both the areas classified Rodes.
as Marine Natural Park and for those designated Partial Marine
Natural Reserve. Angling is the only type of fishing allowed and Heavenly coves
anchoring, cruising and diving are all regulated. Mariners should In the north, after El Port de la Selva, there are numerous coves
be particularly careful not to damage the meadows of Posidonia where you can anchor and spend the night in good weather, as long
oceanica. It is also worth noting the only Marine Integral Natural as you watch out for the north wind picking up, in which case you
Reserve on the north side of S’Encalladora Island, where access is will have to seek shelter in El Port de la Selva.
forbidden so as to preserve its natural wealth. Cala Tamariua is the first cove with a good depth of 3 - 10 metres
Visitors can solve any queries or concerns that they may have at and it is big enough for three or four boats to anchor with land-
the Cap de Creus Natural Park Visitors’ Centre, located at the area’s lines. Less than half a mile from Cala Tamariua lies Cala Fornells,

32
CALA GALLADERA
The dozens of creeks and coves scattered around Cap de Creus, with its
rugged rocky cliffs sloping down to the sea, provide safe shelter.
33
CALA GUILLOLA where you can anchor in a depth of 4 or 5 metres of water off its
small beach.
Heading east, you’ll come to one of the best spots to spend the day,
the little bay known as El Golfet, with pretty coves like La Galera,
Cala Talabre, Cala Taballera (the deepest) and Cala Prona (the most
sheltered, even from northerlies), where there is a small fisher-
men’s hut.
Most of the creeks and coves in Cap de Creus can only be When visiting Cala Galladera, it is important to bear in mind the
presence of a native Australian alga, detected in 2019, which caus-
reached by sea or on foot, since traffic is restricted in the es havoc in the underwater environment: Caulerpa cylindracea. This
seaweed grows on the seabed and can spread uncontrollably to
natural park. end up killing off any of the coasts’ native species in its path, such

34
 CALA FREDOSA

as Posidonia oceanica, coral and Gorgonian coral. It is impossible to Rounding the end of the headland in the direction of Cadaqués, the CALA JUGADORA
eliminate as it breaks easily and the remains can take root on the first place you come to is Cala Fredosa, an old fishermen’s shelter,
seabed again. This also means that it is easy to spread with anchors with a wild beauty and high rocky cliffs. You can anchor there in fine
and fishing tackle, so the natural park authorities have buoyed off weather but it is exposed to garbí and to the tramuntana wind but
the affected site and anchoring and fishing are not allowed there in not to its swell. The next cove going south, Cala Jugadora, is very
order to avoid its dispersion. similar and you can anchor on 2-3 metres of sand in its small bay. In
Cala Bona, the neighbouring cove, you can also anchor on sand, but
The section of parkland between Cala Taballera and Cala Guillola has
it is very narrow and you should avoid swinging at anchor at the far
the highest grade of protection: Integral Natural Reserve. This is due
end. It is sheltered from light tramuntana breeze but is very exposed
to the importance of its rich geological heritage, visited by geologists
to garbí.
from all over Europe and from the rest of the world as well. It is for
this reason that you can only visit the area by using the signposted The last cove before reaching Portlligat is Guillola. This is the widest
itineraries and you must not go beyond its beaches or tie up to the cove south of the headland and here the coastline becomes less hos-
rocks with landlines or small anchors. tile, with vegetation sloping gently down to the sea, a good depth at
the entrance and a sandy beach at the far end where you only need
Cala Culip is the splendid last cove that you come to before the tip
to watch out not to run aground in Cala des Jonquet, which is only
of the headland. It is deep and wide, but only practicable in good
accessible for shallow-draft boats.
weather, although at the far end of the cove, where the small quay
is, anchorage is sheltered from the north winds. The quay is only Whichever cove you choose to anchor and spend one or several
for emergencies and authorisation is required to disembark there. days in, weather permitting —and always strictly observing the

35
 CALA BONA

regulations regarding waste disposal by which boats are not al- north-westerly and north-easterly winds, the waves can be enor-
lowed to pump out bilge or black and grey water tanks— all the mous quite far out to sea.
coves to the north and south of the tip of Cap de Creus are bound If you arrive from the north and have no choice but to round the
to leave you with the unforgettable memory of having been in one cape by tramuntana, it is advisable to give it a very wide berth so
of the most fantastic places in the Mediterranean. as to avoid the waves breaking against the north coast and then,
once past the cape, to seek shelter from the swell by keeping close
Rounding the cape to the coastline.
When the tramuntana picks up, both yachts and motor boats have The tip of the cape is marked by the lighthouse which, with flash-
to wait to round Cap de Creus, in Cadaqués, Roses or El Port de la es visible up to 20 miles away, is the best navigation mark in the
Selva. It is by far the trickiest cape on the Costa Brava. By strong area.
36
Cadaqués, Dalí and Portlligat
A singular triangle
CADAQUÉS

The Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Portlligat, with the characteristic

concrete eggs adorning its rooftops, was bought by the surrealist paint-
er in the thirties when he returned from New York. He lived there with
his wife Gala until her death in 1982, making the pretty little bay fa-
mous throughout the world. It is well sheltered on all sides except from
north-easterly winds, and access should be made with great care to
avoid the shoals, keeping to the buoyed channel that leads to the little
quay at the far end of the cove.
Salvador Dalí’s house in Portlligat can be visited with advance booking
at the Dalí Foundation. Former guests to the house included Lorca and
Picasso, along with numerous writers, poets, musicians, artists and
well-known figures from the world of culture, theatre, art and politics.
It is surely one of the prettiest spots on the Costa Brava and it is well
worth stopping off at. It is also the last cove where you can anchor be-
fore reaching the bay of Cadaqués, a superb setting which is perfectly
sheltered from the swell created by the tramuntana and from the wind
itself, although it is exposed to easterly winds and garbí.
Cadaqués was once an isolated fishing village but, with its dark sandy,
pebble beach and whitewashed houses clinging to steep narrow streets
leading up to the church of Santa Maria which presides over the village, CALA PORTLLIGAT
it has now become one of the most attractive, picturesque places on
the Costa Brava. Besides being a leading tourist attraction, its beauty
and singularity have attracted numerous artists and writers, who have
made it their home.
As you see, it is well worth anchoring in the village before continuing
the route southwards, for a leisurely stroll along its seafront, even
though the proliferation of small boats means that you can only anchor
at some distance from the beach in depths of 15 to 20 metres.

SALVADOR DALÍ’S HOUSE

37
 To the south of Cap de Creus the
coastline slopes gently down to the sea
creating wide coves with sandy and
pebble beaches.

CALA NANS
The coves south of Cadaqués
Continuing southwards, before leaving the bay of Cadaqués, just be- two beaches at the far end of the cove are the best option for mooring
low the cliffs of Punta de Cala Nans, with its lighthouse which is the on one of the buoys installed for this purpose.
navigation mark and entrance alignment, lies the cove of the same Cap Norfeu is clearly visible due to its height, and it is followed by
name. Cala Nans is surrounded by high cliffs and is sheltered from a string of singular coves with names like Pelosa, Calitjàs, Montjoi,
garbí’s swell and wind. You can anchor there but should avoid doing Rostella and Murtra which are worth stopping in. However, Cala
so by northerly winds. Montjoi —well-known as the former site of Ferran Adrià’s famous res-
Once you pass the lighthouse, the only cove before Cap Norfeu, which taurant, El Bulli— is the biggest and most suitable for anchoring, despite
is the northern end of the gulf of Roses, is Cala Jóncols. This is a mag- being open to southerly winds. Cala Rostella and Cala Murtra have small
nificent place to shelter, except by easterly winds. It has no danger- beaches where you can anchor in the centre, but at a distance from the
ous shallows and is very deep. This means that the areas around the buoys belonging to the beaches and from those installed in the summer.

38
 CALA MONTJOI

CALA JÓNCOLS

CALA PELOSA

• Cap de Creus Natural Park

WHERE TO GET
INFORMATION
website
CALA ROSTELLA http://parcsnaturals.
gencat.cat/es/cap-creus/

• Cap de Creus Natural Park

office
Palau de l’Abat-Monastery
of Sant Pere de Rodes
17489 El Port de la Selva
Tel. +34 972 19 31 91
CALA MURTRA [email protected]

39
 CANYELLES
PETITES BEACH

To the south of Cap Norfeu the coast becomes less hostile and makes way for the splendid beaches of
northern Roses and, further south, the extensive sandbanks that the bay is so well-known for.

From wild cliffs to beaches L’ALMADRAVA BEACH

After Punta Falconera and as far as Punta de la Bateria, where the Roses lighthouse is,
Canyelles Grosses beach, better known as L’Almadrava, and Canyelles Petites beach offer a
sharp contrast with the wild coves to the north, in terms of both their soft sand and the
services that they provide. This makes them another good alternative for a swim and the
chance to do water sports for both those arriving from Cadaqués and the coves of Cap de
Creus and for those coming from the nearby marina in Roses. The change is so notable that
you could easily say that, once you pass Cap Norfeu, another Costa Brava begins, with very
different scenery from the north, though it is equally attractive.
In summer you can anchor in the buoy fields in L’Almadrava and Canyelles Petites. You’ll only
need to watch out for Els Brancs rocks in Canyelles Petites, which are clearly visible and there
is a deep enough channel between them and the land to pass easily.
Although this part of the bay is well protected to the north, by levanter the waves break heav-
ily because the sea bed drops away quickly on the beaches between Roses and L’Escala. This
means that the Roses marina, located in the centre of the bay, sheltered by Punta de la Bateria
and the breakwater to the north of Roses’ fishing and commercial port, is the ideal place to
moor, rest and enjoy all the services available in the town.

40
 Roses
42o 12.2’ N - 3o 10.5’ E 486

Ajuntament de Roses
Port de Roses, S.A.
Av. de Rhode, s/n
DEA
Port Esportiu · 17480 ROSES (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 15 44 12
[email protected] · www.portroses.com
BOATYARD
RESTAURANTS
SAILING SCHOOL

SLIPWAY OFFICE

WAITING DOCK FUEL STATION

Marina website

12 Tm 50 Tm

Port de Roses
THE CITADEL

DON’T MISS
Just 100 metres from the town shopping centre, Port de Roses is one of Catalonia’s main fish-
ing ports and its modern adjoining marina, with 486 berths, accommodates up to 45-metre RENT RENT RENT RENT

boats with drafts of up to 6 metres.

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The northern part of the bay, sheltered by Punta de la Bateria, has a 500-metre dike and
a basin sheltered from the prevailing winds. Its services include marine staff providing
mooring assistance with tenders, 24-hour fuel service, a sailing school, a summer camp, RENT

restaurants, ship chandlers, regattas all year round…

Roses is the capital of what is reputed internationally to be one of the most beautiful bays The Citadel is a renaissance
in the world and its marina is a leisure centre and a safe place to shelter. In the surrounding fort which encloses an
area, also managed by the marina, L’Almadrava, Bonifaci and Canyelles beaches and Cala archaeological site with RENT RENT
Montjoi, Cala Calitjàs, Cala Pelosa and Cala Jóncols provide safe and easy mooring in buoy Greek, Visigoth, Roman and
fields. modern remains.

41
Empuriabrava OFFICE
42o 14.26’ N - 3o 8.0’ E 5.000
EMPURIAPORT S.L. FUEL STATION
Sector Club Nàutic, Edifici Capitanía, s/n
17487 EMPURIABRAVA (Girona) BOATYARD
Tel. +34 972 45 12 39 TOILETS AND
[email protected] SHOWERS
www.empuriaport.com DEA

WAITING DOCK

Marina website
8-12 Tm 50 Tm

WIND TUNNEL

DON’T MISS
Marina Empuriabrava
RENT RENT RENT RENT

Marina Empuriabrava is located in the heart of the internationally famous bay of Roses,
RENT RENT
on the north coast of the Costa Brava. It has a network of 23 km of navigable canals and
just a few miles away cruisers can find the marvellous coves of Cadaqués and anchor in For those not brave enough to
RENT the crystalline waters of the Cap de Creus Natural Park and the Medes Islands Marine go parachuting with Skydive
Reserve, among the world’s top scuba diving sites. Empuriabrava, the wind tunnel at
Windoor Realfly is the next best
This inland marina has berths in the main port and also at the bottom of the gardens of thing. This free-fall simulator
the houses on the canals. It provides all the services you could ever need for your boat all allows you to experience the
year round. Up to 25-metre sailing and motor boats are welcome in Empuriabrava. It’s a sensation that you would have
RENT RENT
genuine destination with a great range of leisure, sports, cultural and gourmet options if you jumped into the void from
to help you have a great stay. 4,000 metres up in the air.
42
 BOATYARD

INLAND CANALS

MAIN CANAL

Empuriabrava’s central location makes the marina ideal for use as both a holiday base or for stopping
off for one or several days on your way somewhere else.
A marina on a grand scale
Whether you walk, drive, cycle or cruise, it is quite an experience to visit the 600 hectares of Empuriabrava, accommodates up to 26-metre boats. Empuriabrava’s sheltered location,
that make up Empuriabrava residential marina, with its countless canals that run along in the centre of the bay of Roses and just a short boat trip from the stunning scenery of
the bottom of the houses’ gardens. Each house has its own mooring and viewed as a whole Cap de Creus, makes it ideal for discovering both the surprising rural inland landscapes
the canals make up an orderly labyrinth of calm water that is the only one of its kind in and the remote creeks and coves to the north and south within easy reach of it.
the world.
Empuriabrava’s residential area forms part of Castelló d’Empúries, a medieval town whose
Of the 5,000 moorings, 4,300 are private properties next to the canal, with their own impressive gothic church of Santa Maria is considered to be the cathedral of the Empordà
mooring place, and the other 700 are for public use. The privately-run marina, in the centre region.

43
The bay of Roses
A paradise for boating

The bay of Roses, endorsed by UNESCO as one of the most beautiful bays in the world in
recognition of its tourist, scenic and cultural assets, is a unique setting, with fine sandy
beaches stretching over 15 kilometres that are reputed for their shallow water, and ideal
for families and for sailing sports. The bay borders to the north with the Cap de Creus
Natural Park, to the south with the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park,
and in the centre with the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park. There are plenty of
remote peaceful beaches with sand dunes, and perfectly equipped urban beaches with
quality tourist services, flying the Blue Flag and certified as environmentally friendly. In
addition to a wide range of leisure activities, particularly the first-class boating facilities,
there are numerous nature-watching activities in the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural
Park, hiking and cycle tourism. Besides the marinas in Roses (to the north) and L’Escala
(to the south) it also includes Marina Empuriabrava, considered to be the largest resi-
dential marina in Europe, and the river sports port in Sant Pere Pescador. The orography,
climate and favourable wind regime also contribute to making it one of the best places for
skydiving in the world. In this respect, the bay has the Empuriabrava aerodrome, where
every year amateurs and professional skydivers alike from all over Europe make thousands
of jumps in one of the most magical experiences that the Costa Brava has to offer.
The area also has many interesting cultural attractions, with historical, architectural and
archaeological itineraries, particularly the Romanesque routes, with visits to religious
and civil buildings, to small medieval villages or to the archaeological remains of the
Greco-Roman city of Empúries. The northern end of the bay is formed by the Albera mas-
sif, where you can visit the most complete and impressive megalithic monuments in the
Costa Brava region, bearing stony witness to the area’s early inhabitants.

BAY OF ROSES
The extensive plain of the Empordà region
The bay of Roses opens its arms to the sea with breaks up the rugged silhouette of Cap de
Creus and the Albera massif.

15 kilometres of fine sandy beaches and dunes.

44
 ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYBODY
BY LAND, SEA AND
AIR
There are plenty of sports
and leisure activities
available in the bay of
Roses. Besides skydiving
and the wind tunnel, the
region’s wind regime,
dominated by the
tramuntana and garbí
winds, makes it a great
place for water sports,
particularly windsurfing
and kitesurfing, for which
the bay’s long beaches are
one of the favourite sites
in southern Europe and
the venue for international
championships, including
the Catalonia-Costa
Brava Windsurfing Grand
Prix since 1999, which
scores for the worldwide
professional circuit.
Hiking, cycling and
wildlife watching in the
Aiguamolls de l’Empordà
Natural Park complete
the leisure and tourism
options suitable for all
tastes and ages.

45
Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park
Birds, the big protagonists

46
 Aiguamolls de l’Empordà
Natural Park is one of
Catalonia’s main wetland
areas.

The park lies between

the mouths of the
Fluvià and Muga
rivers.

The wetlands include

824 hectares of
integral natural
reserve (Els Estanys,
Les Llaunes and
Caramany Island).

Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park is of enormous • Documentation Centre

VISIT THE PARK

Aiguamolls de
More than 300 species
of birds have been
spotted, over 80 of
biological and scenic interest and is the ideal place for family l’Empordà Natural Park’s
Documentation Centre is
housed in El Cortalet (in
which nest regularly
in the park. and nature tourism. the Castelló d’Empúries
municipal district).

• El Cortalet
The wetlands are on the northern Costa Brava, between the vil- the documentation centre and a wetlands natural history museum. GIV-6216 (ctra. de Sant
Pere Pescador a Castelló
lages of Castelló d’Empúries, Empuriabrava and Sant Pere Pescador, The area is mainly characterised by the presence of alluvial mate- d’Empúries) km 4,2
and once covered almost the entire plain of the bay of Roses. This rials that become marine after passing through a transition area. 17486 Castelló d’Empúries
extensive area decreased in size particularly owing to agricultural It is an extensive area of interesting plants and wildlife which at- Tel. +34 972 45 42 22
expansion, in the form of rice fields, and to livestock farming, with tracts numerous migratory birds that feed there as it is a resting
Fax +34 972 45 44 74
enclosures for cattle. parcsnaturals.gencat.cat/
place on the migratory path of a large number of species from Cen- ca/aiguamolls-emporda
Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park is an area of great biological tral Europe and the African continent in search of better environ-
interest, but it also has an enormous scenic, cultural and economic mental conditions during the periods of harsh weather and scarce
value. It offers various services including the information centre, food.
47
 Several open-access hides allow
visitors to watch the birds in
their habitat.

The best times for birdwatching are first thing

in the morning and at nightfall, in March, May
and August, during the migration period.

The park is one of

Catalonia’s natural areas
with the most diverse The area is great for pleasant walks to discover the great variety The park is a perfect spot for family and nature tourism. The
wildlife. of animal species and the wealth of vegetation, thanks to the con- 40 kilometres of signposted routes running through it, like the
trasts created by the proximity of the sea. Ponds Route or the River Muga Natural Path, are ideal for hik-
There is a wide array of options and routes available to help you ing, cycle tourism and birdwatching, from specially designed
spend an unforgettable day there. hides.
The park has almost 5,000 hectares and numerous pools and El Cortalet is the park’s information and documentation centre.
marshes and it is the permanent home and resting place for hun- It is the starting point for various itineraries suitable for all ages
dreds of species of migratory birds. and it’s the place to go to sign up for activities and guided visits.

48
 Sant Pere
Pescador
42o 18.0’ N - 3o 8.0’ E 150
C.N. Sant Pere Pescador
Ctra. de Sant Pere Pescador a l’Armentera, s/n
17470 SANT PERE PESCADOR (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 52 07 17
[email protected]
www.clubnauticsantpere.com

Marina website

12 Tm 50 Tm

Club Nàutic KAYAKING ON THE

DON’T MISS
RIVER FLUVIÀ
Sant Pere Pescador RENT

RENT
RENT

RENT
RENT RENT

RENT
Club Nàutic Sant Pere Pescador is located in the beautiful setting of the Aiguamolls
de l’Empordà Natural Park, a kilometre from the mouth of the river Fluvià, and its
facilities are right on the river bank. Although access to the sea is difficult and de-
The mouth of the river Fluvià
pendent on sand bar dredging, the river has a special charm, and as you cruise along is a great place for kayaking to
the riverside you’ll find that it is a magnificent place for watching the birds that nest the sea or upstream a couple of RENT RENT
on its banks. The marina also has a restaurant and basic services for small boats and it kilometres to watch the wildlife
is the ideal starting point for kayaking on the river. on its banks.
49
 The group of archaeological sites
in Empúries is one of the most
important in Europe and enables
visitors to gain an insight into Greek
and Roman urban development.

50
 Empúries is the only
archaeological site in the
Iberian Peninsula where
remains of both a Greek and a
Roman city can be found.

Empúries

The ruins of the Roman

Remains of Greece and Rome A VISIT TO THE

USEFUL INFORMATION
Emporiae, dating back MUSEUM
to the first century BC,
reveal what the city was
The bay of Roses was once the entrance to the Iberian Peninsula for the Greek and The monographic museum of
like, how people lived Roman civilisations, and contains first-class archaeological sites, once known as Em- the excavations of Empúries
and what the houses, porion. Empúries is the only archaeological site in the Iberian Peninsula with remains conserves some of the
objects discovered during
streets, squares, markets of both the Greek city of Emporion and of a Roman city (called Emporiae), founded the excavations and houses
and temples were like. at the beginning of the first century BC, on the site of a Roman military camp built a the room dedicated to the
century earlier. Emporion, which means “market”, was founded by Greek merchants Empúries statue of Asclepius.
from Focea and later colonised by Romans, and is situated in the centre of the bay. It was The most important elements
also the gateway to Catalonia for classical culture, a commercial, political and cultural are marked on an itinerary.
phenomenon that transformed the old Iberian peoples that lived there. The Catalonia Ar- • Booking is essential:
chaeology Museum-Empúries plays an important part in disseminating and maintaining [email protected]
this archaeological site’s constant restoration. • www.macempuries.cat

All in all, it is a privileged place for tracing the evolution of Greek town planning in the
western part of the Mediterranean, and also for gaining an insight into urban development
in the last period of the Roman Republic.
51
L’Escala BOATYARD
TOILETS AND
42o 7.0’ N - 3o 8.6’ E 944 SHOWERS
C.N. l’Escala
Port de la Clota, s/n
17130 L’ESCALA (Girona) FUEL STATION
Tel. +34 972 77 00 16 DEA WAITING DOCK
[email protected]
www.nauticescala.com

OFFICE

SAILING SCHOOL

Marina website
6 Tm 60 Tm

ANCHOVY AND

DON’T MISS
SALT MUSEUM
The museum displays the history
of catching and salting fish in
L’Escala since the sixteenth

Club Nàutic l’Escala

RENT RENT RENT RENT century, focussing particularly on
anchovies, an industry which is
still very much alive in the town
RENT RENT
today and for which it enjoys
widespread fame.
RENT
Club Nàutic l’Escala is a pleasant, modern marina in the south of the bay of Roses, in
the heart of the Costa Brava. It is located in the fishing town of L’Escala, near the ruins
of Empúries, and gives access to the Montgrí Natural Park.
The marina is sheltered from southerly winds, has a depth of 5 metres at the entrance
and 3.5 metres at the fuel station and can accommodate up to 22-metre boats. It fea-
RENT RENT
tures a wide range of water sports, with special emphasis on sailing due to the excel-
lent sailing conditions within the bay.
52
 Francia

MONTGRÍ,

From L’Estartit to Palamós

MEDES ISLANDS
AND BAIX TER
NATURAL PARK
C.N. Estartit

Girona The realm of small coves

C.N. Aiguablava Setting sail southwards, we leave behind the long sandy beaches of the bay of Roses and, with the exception
of the gulf of Pals, the coastline is now dominated by high calcareous rock cliffs crowned with pine forests
growing down to the sea, shading the beaches at the far end of the solitary coves where you can stop off on
C.N. Llafranc
the way.

CENTRAL ZONE Marina Palamós

This part of the coast is the site of the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park, with the stunning
Medes Islands off L’Estartit, which is a paradise for divers from all over the world, as well as the group of 16
C.N. Costa Brava -
Vela Palamós small islets that make up the Formigues Islands, a mile from Punta de Castell, between Palamós and Calella
de Palafrugell.
The imposing mass of Cap de Begur and the Sant Sebastià lighthouse preside the coast and are the main
navigation mark for boats.

53
LA FORADADA
CALA PEDROSA

54
CALA MONTGÓ

CALA FERRIOLA

The calm, sheltered coves on this part of the coast are ideal for anchoring in.

Soon after leaving L’Escala’s marina, the first large cove after rounding the Trencabraços board to the Foradada rock. This little gem has a spectacular seabed and a hole big
promontory and Punta de Montgó is Cala Montgó, an excellent wide cove sheltered from enough for small boats to go through and come out on the other side of the promon-
both the tramuntana and garbí winds, with buoys for up to 12-metre boats and the option tory.
to anchor outside them at a depth of 10 metres on sand.
The entrance to the next cove, Cala Pedrosa, is partially sheltered by a rocky islet, making
Continuing southwards, the narrow cove of Cala Ferriola is surrounded by lush vegetation for calm anchorage among rocks crowned by pine trees, when there isn’t much of a swell
with an entrance protected by two islets and a small beach at the far end. It is very ex- outside.
posed to northerly winds but is big enough for several boats to anchor in.
In Cala Ferriola and Cala Pedrosa ecological buoys have been installed to protect the under-
Don’t miss the chance, weather permitting, to make a visit in the tender or on a paddle water meadows of Posidonia oceanica.
55
BAY OF L’ESTARTIT

The imposing looming rock formations of the Medes Islands and the Montgrí massif enclose the broad
basin of beaches and dunes where the Ter river flows into the sea creating an area of marshland.
Cruising through the Medes Islands
The channel between the Medes Islands and the coast is safe. It is wide and deep enough
to get through even in bad weather, although you can expect a swell with northerly winds.
You can pass close to the east face of Meda Gran, the largest island, with its lighthouse, but
you should give the rest a wide berth. The channel between Meda Gran and the smaller Meda
Petita can be passed, despite being very narrow, because it is deep enough, but only if you
keep very close to the wall of Meda Gran. To the southwest lie the Tascons groups of rocks,
with very deep cliffs that are popular with divers from all over the world who come to admire
the spectacular sheer cliff faces that disappear into the depths and the abundant wildlife.
As the Medes Islands are part of the natural park they are surrounded by buoys at a perimeter
CRUISE
SAILING of 200 and 600 metres to indicate that fishing and anchoring are not allowed. Anchoring is
REGATTA IN only allowed on the buoys specifically designated for this purpose, but overnight stays are not
THE BAY permitted.

56
 L’Estartit
OFFICE AND 42o 4.0’ N - 3o 11.0’ E 668
TOILETS AND
SHOWERS BOATYARD RESTAURANT
C.N. Estartit
Passeig Marítim, s/n
17258 L’ESTARTIT (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 75 14 02 DEA
[email protected] · www.cnestartit.com

FUEL STATION
TOILETS AND
SHOWERS
WAITING DOCK

Marina website
7 Tm 60 Tm

MONTGRÍ CASTLE

DON’T MISS
Club Nàutic Estartit RENT RENT RENT RENT

RENT RENT

Club Nàutic Estartit’s privileged geographical location in the centre of the Costa Brava,
facing the Medes Islands and inside the Montgrí Natural Park, make it the ideal marina RENT

for enjoying boating all year round.

Its stunning natural setting, 650 moorings for single-hulled and multi-hulled boats of Montgrí castle is a military fort
up to 45 metres, its completely renovated facilities, quality services and personalised built in 1294 - 1304 by King
attention all go to provide a unique experience for mariners. Boat services are com- James II, with magnificent
RENT RENT
plemented with a wide array of water sports, including sailing, snorkelling, jet skiing, views over the whole Empordà
kayaking, diving and paddle boarding, from the marina itself. region.

57
MEDES ISLANDS

58
The coastal setting, the wetlands and the Montgrí massif merge to create a beautiful landscape of
unique contrasts, integrated in a singular marine-terrestrial ecosystem.

Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park

One park, three ecosystems
MOUTH OF THE TER
RIVER
The mouth of the Ter river
The Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park, which strad- tion much earlier from the scientific community and from the ad- is a protected riverside area
dles the regions of Alt Empordà and Baix Empordà, is a specially pro- ministration itself. of great environmental
tected area because of its environmental, scenic, historical and cul- value. The flat land and
The area’s diversity of scenery becomes patent as we go south- a large network of tracks
tural value, and it covers an extensive area of great ecological value. wards down the coast from L’Escala, first passing the high cliffs, and paths make it easy for
Although the park as such was not officially created until 2010, the headlands, coves, islets and sea caves of Muntanya Gran and Puig visitors to discover on foot
area, particularly the Medes Islands, had already received recogni- Torró, until, once past the Medes Islands, the coast opens into the or by bicycle.

59
large basin formed by the beaches of L’Estartit, Fonollera, El Grau
and Pals.
In the background, presiding over the land’s horizon, the Montgrí
massif, crowned with its medieval castle, towers 300 metres above
the plain and marshes created by the river mouth, and the sandy
dunes formed by the tramuntana and levanter winds between the
beach and the wetlands.
All this beautiful scenery, which visitors can view from the exten-
sive network of country roads, is complemented by the historical
and cultural assets of this peculiar region, which has an impressive
heritage to its name.
The park is outstanding for its plant life adapted to the saline con-
ditions and, very particularly, for its wildlife since it is an important
resting and nesting area for wetland birds, sea and shore birds and
birds of prey.
There are records dating back to the Middle Ages of the importance
of rice farming in the area, especially on the land surrounding Pals,
and this activity has now been revived, after falling into neglect in
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, to become the area’s most
important crop. MONTGRÍ MASSIF

60
 DIVING ON THE COSTA

WHERE TO GO
BRAVA
There are numerous authorised
diving centres and schools
practically all over the Costa Brava
which organise dives in total safety
under the guidance of expert
instructors.

Most of these centres have joined

the Association of Costa Brava
Underwater Tourism Centres which
has over 36 members, from Blanes
to Portbou, offering all the different
types of diving and activities.

They also have more than 40

well-equipped boats, equipment-
hire service and dozens of
specialised shops, along with two
decompression chambers.

Altogether they organise dives at

over 60 diving sites, including two
natural parks and several protected
areas.

Scuba diving in the • Association of Costa Brava

Underwater Tourism Centres
www.submarinismocostabrava.com

Medes Islands www.parcsnaturals.gencat.cat/

es/illes-medes
• Montgrí, Medes Islands
and Baix Ter Natural Park
customer service and
administration office
Passeig del port, s/n.
A diving destination 17258 l’Estartit
Tel. +34 972 75 17 01
[email protected]
The Medes Islands are a paradise that attracts divers from all over the ied wildlife that finds refuge in their rocks and the wealth of underwater
• Cap de Creus Natural Park
world. They have been a protected marine reserve for over 20 years now, vegetation growing there. Palau de l’Abat. Monastery of
making them a leading diving destination that is at the top of every Professional diving instructors with expert knowledge of the islands, their Sant Pere de Rodes
diver’s wish list. caves and seabed are available to take beginners on an introductory dive, 17489 El Port de la Selva
Tel. +34 972 19 31 91
Several diving centres organise dives at the spectacular vertical cliffs snorkelling or free-diving while the more experienced can go on dives at parcsnaturals.gencat.cat/ca/
that plunge down to the depths where participants can admire the var- such emblematic sites as La Vaca, El Cavall Bernat and La Pota de Llop. cap-creus
61
A string of coves You can anchor without difficulty in almost all these little coves, as long as you watch out
for the shallows that crop up here and there, and they are well sheltered from the prevail-
After the 4.5-mile beach that makes up the mouth of the Ter river, which should be given
ing winds. The seabed is generally deep, covered in rock, sand or seaweed, so buoys are
a wide berth as the depth can decrease quickly due to the currents and rains, you’ll reach
installed in many of them in summer.
the beginning of a rocky coast, with reddish cliffs crowned with pine and holm oak forests
which in many places grow down to the edge of the little coves with turquoise waters nest- The first cove that you come to going south is Sa Riera, with a large sandy beach where the
ling among them, which mostly end in coarse, golden sand beaches. little fishing boats are pulled up and where you can anchor in the centre.
On this part of the coast, the most visible navigation landmarks are Cap de Begur and the Between Cap Sa Sal, on which from a distance you can make out a large hotel building, and
Sant Sebastià lighthouse. Before reaching Palamós, there are four sheltered harbours for Punta des Plom, at the far end of the same inlet there are two more pretty, sheltered coves:
small boats and a handful of towns that conserve the architecture of traditional fishing vil- Aiguafreda, with a small quay for going ashore, and the deeper of the two coves, Sa Tuna,
lages, like Llafranc or Calella de Palafrugell, and small built-up areas surrounding the coves, with a beach at the far end, where you can anchor in eight metres outside the buoys. Both
which have managed to retain a special charm. are well sheltered from tramuntana and garbí winds.

SA TUNA

62
AIGUAFREDA

PLATJA FONDA

The thick pine forests covering the hillsides AIGUABLAVA

grow right down to the coves.

Fornells, Begur and Calella de Palafrugell
Cap de Begur’s rocky headland is about a hundred metres high and easily distinguished
from a distance because of the communications mast that crowns it. It marks a change in
course, and leads to Cala Fornells after leaving behind Platja Fonda’s small beach.
Fornells is a sheltered anchoring spot with a small marina on its northern side and Cala
Aiguablava in the south. There are buoy fields so you should drop anchor to the south of
the marina or else on sand in a depth of eight metres sheltered from southerly winds on
the leeward of the high Punta d’es Mut.

63
Aiguablava
41o 56.0’ N - 3o 13.0’ E 61
Club Nàutic Aiguablava
Platja de Fornells, s/n
17255 BEGUR (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 62 31 61
[email protected]
www.clubnauticaiguablava.cat

Marina website

5 Tm 50 Tm

EN GISPERT CAVE

DON’T MISS
Club Nàutic Aiguablava
RENT RENT RENT RENT

RENT RENT
Club Nàutic Aiguablava is a small marina for low-draft boats, since its maximum depth is
1.5 metres and it can accommodate up to 6.5-metre boats. Access is easy and the only thing
to watch out for is the rocky outcrops of Furió d’Aigua Gelida to the south and Furió de Fitó
RENT
to the north of the marina.
En Gispert Cave is 150
The marina provides basic services for small boats, including a five-tonne crane and fuel, as metres long and is the Costa
well as boat repair services. Brava’s longest cave. It is
located between the coves of
Nearby you’ll find the Cala Aigua Gelida, set back from the garbí wind, Platja Fonda, which
Aiguablava and Aigua Gelida,
RENT RENT is also sheltered from the tramuntana, and Cala Sa Tuna. and the best way to visit it is by
The marina has a centre for underwater sports and dinghy sailing. kayak.

64
 AIGUA GELIDA TAMARIU

Scuba diving, snorkelling and kayaking among the rocks are three of the most popular water sports
with visitors to this part of the coast.
Aigua Gelida, the little inlet of Tamariu and Cala Pedrosa are three of the most visited coves the little town of Calella de Palafrugell retains the special traditional charm of the Costa
before reaching Cap de Sant Sebastià, which shelters Llafranc’s marina. Brava’s old fishing villages, with its colourful fishing boats pulled up on the beach in
front of the porticoed whitewashed houses and its church bell tower dominating the old
Although Aigua Gelida is merely a cleft between rocky cliffs, only accessible by sea and only red-tiled rooftops.
explorable by tender, Tamariu’s beach is surrounded by houses, has buoys for local boats and
is sheltered from the tramuntana if you anchor on the leeward of the high northern shore. Watch out when going ashore, even by tender, because of the numerous rocks and
shoals, and anchorage is only possible a long way from the beach and from the large
After La Musclera’s three points, nestles the unspoilt Cala Pedrosa, with a beach at the far buoy field.
end and a rocky seabed, where you can anchor in 10 metres, sheltered from garbí.
The Cap Roig Gardens, the venue for the annual musical festival of the same name, are just
To the south of Llafranc’s marina, after passing the easily recognisable medieval tower, a kilometre down the coast.
65
Llafranc
41o 53.5’ N - 3o 11.6’ E 140

Club Nàutic Llafranc

Port Esportiu, s/n
17211 LLAFRANC (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 30 07 54 OFFICE
[email protected] WAITING DOCK
www.nauticllafranc.net

FUEL STATION

Marina website

6 Tm 50 Tm

SANT SEBASTIÀ

DON’T MISS
Club Nàutic Llafranc LIGHTHOUSE AND
CHAPEL
RENT RENT RENT RENT

Llafranc nestles just below the Sant Sebastià lighthouse and is both a quiet marina and
RENT RENT a family cove in a unique setting, integrated with its white sandy beach, amidst pine
groves and stunning granite cliffs. The entrance channel is 5 metres deep and the marina
RENT can accommodate up to 14-metre boats, with up to 2.4-metre drafts. The cove and the
marina are both sheltered from the tramuntana and you can anchor outside the marina’s Sant Sebastià lighthouse has
breakwater although buoys are installed there in summer. By strong levanter it is not breathtaking views and forms
advisable to go into the marina because of the entrance channel’s shallowness. The marina part of a group of monuments
offers most services but not a repair workshop, which is three kilometres from the beach. that includes a small Iberian
settlement, a chapel, a
RENT RENT In the summer months, dinghy sailing is very popular and there are three diving centres in picturesque little hotel and two
the same cove. restaurants.
66
Formigues Islands Although the Formigues Islands have
A haven for sea birds
no vegetation above water, they have a
great underwater value.
The Costa Brava’s underwater orography does not feature many
islands, although there are plenty of islets that emerge a short dis-
tance from the shore all along the coastline.
Just under a mile out to sea between the coasts of Palamós and
Palafrugell, off Punta de Castell and Cap de Planes, lies the Costa
Brava’s smallest archipelago, the Formigues, made up of four small
islets and 12 calcareous rock reefs.
The whole area covers some 3,000 square metres and its most out-
standing feature is the largest island, Formiga Gran, whose light-
house has a white flashing light with a 6-mile range, indicating its
situation to mariners. In fair weather you can cruise between Cap
de Planes and Formiga Gran, although this is totally unadvisable
with a swell, since the Formigues disappear under the white spray
from the waves. These islands are now considered a valuable eco-
logical area. They are a safe haven for birds like seagulls and cormo-
rants, and they are in the process of becoming a marine reserve.
Their seabed, with depths of up to 45 metres, is an attraction for
underwater activities and until just a few years ago, red coral was
collected here. In contrast, the areas above water have hardly any
vegetation.
Besides the rocks’ interest in terms of nature, there are also nu-
merous legends of shipwrecks and their singular history. The islets
made a name for themselves in history for being the scene of the
battle that bore their name, the Battle of the Formigues, which led
to the Crown of Aragón becoming the Mediterranean’s dominant
sea power in medieval times. On the orders of King Peter II, Admi-
ral Roger of Lauria stopped the sea invasion by the allied fleet from
Genoa and France under the command of the French King Philip
FORMIGUES ISLANDS
III, by attacking at night and lighting bonfires on the islets to make
the enemy believe that they were outnumbered.

67
 CALA BONA
EL GOLFET

Further south of Calella there are more

magnificent coves. CALA ESTRETA

Little coves in a rocky environment

Leaving behind the town of Calella, Cala del Golfet offers magnificent anchorage sheltered
from garbí on sand, just below Cap Roig, and this will be the last practicable place before
reaching the group of islets that make up the Formigues Islands, which are ideal for snor-
kelling. The Formigues should be passed on the outside with a swell or strong wind, or on
the inside with a calm sea, between Cap de Planes and Formiga Gran, which you must keep
close to get through the freu, or channel.
After passing the Formigues, there are still a few more little coves along the stretch of cliffs
to Punta de Castell, where you can see the remains of an Iberian settlement. These small,
rocky coves are only suitable for the small boats that come from Palamós to anchor and

68
 LA FOSCA BEACH

S’ALGUER

The little fishermen’s huts in Cala s’Alguer make it

one of the coast’s most picturesque coves.

have a swim in summer. The first cove where you can anchor is Cala Corbs, in the middle,
with a rocky seabed. After Punta de Castell, as far as Cap Gros, a wide basin contains the
three most popular beaches with the local population: Cala Castell, Cala s’Alguer and La
Fosca.
The contrast with the coast further north is complete, since the coastline evens out, the
cliffs come to an end and the pine forests come right down to the sand. In Cala Castell you
can anchor outside the buoyed-off bathing area below Punta de Castell. At Cala s’Alguer you
CALA CASTELL can only drop anchor outside the cove as access to its three rocky beaches is tricky even for
tenders. At the last of the three beaches, La Fosca, you can anchor on sand by fair weather
at a depth of 5 -10 metres.
69
Palamós
41o 50.4’ N - 3o 8.1’ E 862

Nàutic Palamós, S.A.

C/ Salvador Albert i Pey, s/n
17230 PALAMÓS (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 60 10 00
[email protected] DRY DOCK
www.marinapalamos.com BOATYARD OFFICE

FUEL STATION

Marina website

4 Tm 30 Tm

CASTELL-CAP ROIG

DON’T MISS
COASTAL PATH
RENT RENT RENT RENT
Marina Palamós
RENT RENT
Marina Palamós has a 9-metre deep entrance channel and is a modern pleasure mari-
na providing all the essential services for boats up to 30 metres long. The entrance fac-
RENT
es south so you should proceed cautiously by garbí wind and swell. In the marina there
are three diving centres offering day-time and night-time dives every day of the year,
in addition to a wide range of boats for hire, including sailing and motor boats, small The coastal path from Castell
speedboats, traditional llagut catboats, inflatables and RIBs. There are also boat trips to Cap Roig passes through
and kayaking lessons for beginners. The marina also has a service dock for jet skis, beautiful scenery, with
RENT RENT
where you can also hire an electrical bicycle to discover the area. In the surroundings picturesque coves surrounded by
there are numerous attractions, including the Castell-Cap Roig natural area. pine trees and rocks.
70
 Palamós
41o 50.5’ N - 3o 7.2’ E 223

Club Nàutic Costa Brava - Vela Palamós

Ctra. del Club Nàutic, s/n
17230 PALAMÓS (Girona)
TOILETS AND Tel. +34 972 31 43 24 · Sailing School: +34 972 31 58 71
BOATYARD OFFICE SHOWERS [email protected]
www.cncostabrava.com

FUEL STATION

Marina website

12 Tm 50 Tm

Club Nàutic Costa Brava - FISHING MUSEUM

DON’T MISS
Vela Palamós RENT RENT RENT RENT

RENT RENT

The marina blends in with the town, and has an internationally reputed sailing school. It
RENT
can accommodate boats up to 25 metres long and it has a maximum depth of 8 metres.
Watch out for the isolated danger of the Llosa de Palamós promontory, 0.5 miles south of
the dike lighthouse and clearly signalled.
With a broad programme
The characteristics and weather conditions of the bay of Palamós make it an ideal place for of activities of all sorts,
sailing and it’s not surprising that the club organises different Catalan and Spanish cham- the museum displays and RENT RENT
pionships in its waters throughout the year, in addition to highly prestigious regattas like disseminates the Costa Brava’s
the Palamós Christmas Race and the International Vila de Palamós Optimist Trophy. fishing and maritime heritage.
71
Medieval and fishing villages
The forging of an urban landscape

Fishing is an intrinsic part of the Costa Brava and over the centuries
it has forged the character and culture of the villages up and down
its coastline. This close relationship between man and the sea has
also influenced the architecture of the towns and villages as you
can clearly see in all of them, but also in the little coves which have
always been used by the local fishermen to shelter, especially from
the tramuntana, of which they are on the leeward, or for storing
their fishing tackle. To this day, mariners cruising along the coast
will still come across these typical fishermen’s huts or sheds, al-
though nowadays they are no longer used so much for fishing and
have been converted for private use, as in Cala s’Alguer, in Palamós.
Yet, undoubtedly, it is in urban areas that this relationship is most ob-
vious. Villages like Cadaqués, with its traditional whitewashed hous-
es built right on the water front, L’Escala and Calella de Palafrugell,
with the little boats pulled up in front of the porticoed houses on the
edge of the sandy beach, all bear witness to this past.
The charm of the coastal houses’ dazzling white façades contrasts
sharply, a few kilometres inland, with the rough stone and majestic
buildings that reveal a thriving medieval past.
Whether in the form of ramparts, watch towers, monasteries, clois-
ters, stately mansions, bridges or churches, there isn’t a single town
on the Costa Brava or inland from it that does not conserve traces
of this past.
Castelló d’Empúries with its majestic basilica of Santa Maria, the
capital of the old county of Empúries, but also smaller villages like
Peratallada, Pals or, further inland, Forallac and Besalú, with its Jew-
ish quarter and medieval bridge, are all good reasons for mariners
cruising along the coast to leave it momentarily and visit them.

72
 PERATALLADA

DON’T MISS
FORALLAC

CASTELLÓ
D’EMPÚRIES’
BASILICA
The magnificent basilica
of Santa Maria, known
popularly as ‘the cathedral
of the Empordà’, is an
exceptional example of
Catalan Gothic style, as
can be seen from the
pointed arches, pillars,
buttresses and splendid
stained-glass windows.
It was built on the site
of a former Romanesque
church of which some
vestiges still remain
today, including the lower
PALS BESALÚ’S MEDIEVAL
floors of the bell tower
BRIDGE
and the baptismal font.
CALELLA DE The inside features a
PALAFRUGELL flamboyant Gothic-style
Renaissance alabaster
altarpiece. After the
cathedral of Girona, it is
surely the most important
religious building in
The fishing tradition and a rich medieval past have influenced this area due to its
monumental character
and architectural and
the way the Costa Brava’s villages look today. historical interest.

73
Coastal paths At times the coastal paths are

A different way to explore the Costa Brava unspoilt and at others they go
through urban areas, but they
always take you to places that
you wouldn’t be able to reach
otherwise.
A different way to discover the Costa Brava is by walking along
its coastal paths, itineraries that trace the coastline between the
sea and mountains, enabling walkers to discover the region from
a very special point of view. Perhaps it is the most direct way to
explore and gain an insight into the Costa Brava.
The coastal paths are suitable for all sorts of walkers and can be
walked 365 days of the year. They are the result of a respectful
reconstruction and signposting of the historical paths which were
created between the villages and the different coves from the be-
ginning of the nineteenth century.
Nowadays they are suitable for walking from one village to another,
often along narrow paths with differing levels of steepness and at
other times walking along seafronts, beaches and completely flat
stretches.
The routes that are signposted, with instructions at the start
and maps, overlap in some cases with parts of the GR 92, the
long-distance footpath that goes from Blanes to Portbou. They
are not difficult and they enable you to enjoy a unique spectacle,
with vegetation growing right down to the seashore, pine trees
clinging to the rocky cliffs by their roots and coves that can only
be reached by sea or on foot where you can stop off and enjoy a
refreshing dip in the crystalline waters.

The best way to explore the Costa Brava’s coastline by

land is by following the trails and narrow footpaths
that trace its entire length.

74
 TOSSA
DE MAR
LIGHTHOUSE

S’ARENELLA LIGHTHOUSE.
EL PORT DE LA SELVA

The Costa Brava’s lighthouses TOSSA DE MAR

DON’T MISS
LIGHTHOUSE
Interpretation Centre
The guardians of the sea of Mediterranean
Lighthouses
Tossa de Mar lighthouse
has a double purpose, since
Lighthouses are situated in unique places, and with their One of the best views of the coast is from Roses light- besides its normal signalling
powerful lamps they enable mariners to safely navigate house, which dominates the whole bay. And a few miles functions it is also the
site of the Interpretation
along the coast or approach land from the open sea. They on, the Medes Islands also have their own lighthouse,
Centre of Mediterranean
are also excellent viewpoints when visited by land. Each playing a vitally important part in boats’ safety. The su- Lighthouses.
tower has its own peculiarities due to its location, which perb Sant Sebastià lighthouse in Llafranc is more tour- The centre was created
makes them unrivalled tourist attractions. istic and has breathtaking views. It is the most powerful to provide an instructive,
one in Spain, with a 50-mile range. sensory explanation of the
From north to south, the first lighthouse that you come to role played by lighthouses
is at Punta de s’Arenella, in El Port de la Selva, the design of In Palamós the lighthouse is known as Punta del Molí, nowadays and throughout
which served as a model for the construction of the one in or Mill Point, because originally it was in an isolated history, and it is one of
Tossa. area with a windmill, which is now integrated into the the Costa Brava’s most
interesting cultural and
town.
The next one is at Cap de Creus, the most easterly lighthouse leisure centres.
in the Iberian Peninsula, which towers majestically over a rug- Tossa de Mar’s emblematic and permanently visited Pg. del Camí del Far, 14
ged, isolated landscape, 500 metres from the tip of the head- lighthouse is the site for the Interpretation Centre of 17320 Tossa de Mar
Tel. +34 972 34 33 59
land. Further south is Cala Nans lighthouse, in Cadaqués, the Mediterranean Lighthouses, just a short walk from the [email protected]
destination of a pleasant walk from the village. town. www.tossademar.cat

75
CALA CANYET

Girona

From Platja d’Aro to Blanes

SOUTH ZONE

The coast of contrasts

In its last stretch, the coast truly lives up to its name of “wild coast”, the very quality that has made it so
C.N. Port famous and loved all over the world. You only have to look south from the chapel of Sant Elm, on the top of
d’Aro Punta de Garbí in Sant Feliu de Guíxols on a day when a strong garbí or levanter is blowing, when the spray
Nàutic Vell from the waves crashes deafeningly against the cliff face, to realise this.
C.N. Sant Feliu
de Guíxols The reddish rock outcrops stretch as far as the eye can see, hiding beneath their high walls topped with
thick pine forests magnificent peaceful beaches, sheltered from the prevailing winds, and deep creeks
cleaved in the rock, a few of which are only just big enough for a few boats.
C.N. Cala Canyelles
It is the coast of contrasts. Mariners can choose between the peace and quiet of the smallest, remotest
Club de Vela Blanes coves and wide sandy beaches, or combine both.

76
 Platja d’Aro
41o 47.6’ N - 3o 3.5’ E 545

MARINA PORT D’ARO

Carrer del Nàutic, 8 · 17250 PLATJA D’ARO
BOATYARD (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 81 89 29 /
+34 669 75 31 22
OFFICE [email protected] DEA
RESTAURANT www.clubnauticportdaro.cat

FUEL STATION

Marina website

12 Tm 32 Tm

Club Nàutic Port d’Aro BENEDORMIENS

DON’T MISS
CASTLE
RENT RENT RENT RENT

Port d’Aro is located south of Platja d’Aro’s main beach, occupying the mouth of a creek,
RENT RENT
behind Punta de Pinell. The marina is sheltered from all winds. The depth of the entrance
channel is 6 metres, decreasing to 4.5 metres at the far end and the marina can accom-
RENT
modate boats up to 25 metres long.
Facilities include a comprehensive technical services area, a sailing school, restaurants Benedormiens Castle is a
with terraces, a swimming pool and a chill-out terrace. It is next to a leisure centre, cin- classified Cultural Asset of
emas, restaurants, supermarkets and shops. The club is a couple of kilometres from the National Interest, situated in
main shopping street of the lively town of Platja d’Aro, where the shops, leisure venues and the old town of Castell d’Aro.
RENT RENT
restaurants are open every day of the year. In the surroundings you can visit Benedormiens The earliest written record of it
Castle, various megalithic monuments and the Roman villa at Pla de Palol. dates back to 1041.

77
CALA SA CONCA

The southern Costa Brava is characterised by its coves,

beaches and pine forests with steep cliffs.

Going south from Palamós to Sant Feliu de Guíxols the coast is made up of large beaches,
CALA DE only interrupted by short stretches of rocky coastline.
CAP DE MORT
Punta de Roques Blanques and Torre Valentina —a sixteenth-century watchtower built as
an early warning system for pirate attacks, which is clearly visible from the sea— mark
the end of the beach and bay of Palamós, which are sheltered from the swell caused by
the tramuntana but not from the wind, which makes it a great place for sailing sports even
when the wind is strong.
The sandy beaches of Sant Antoni de Calonge and Torre Valentina stretch 1.5 kilometres along
the end of the bay to the islet in the Cap Roig cove, a characteristic red rock crowned with
pine trees which is an excellent viewpoint. To the south you can see the 2.1-kilometre-long
beach belonging to the dynamic town of Platja d’Aro, with Port d’Aro marina at the end of it.

78
 CALA DE SANT POL

After Sant Feliu de Guíxols the coast is sheltered from the tramuntana by the cliffs.

From Port d’Aro to Sant Feliu de Guíxols the little coves making shallow inlets in the rocks The realm of the garbí wind
are only accessible to small boats, although larger vessels can anchor off the other two The town of Sant Feliu de Guíxols and its marina mark an inflection in the meteorology.
large beaches in this area: the deep Cala Sa Conca, surrounded by pine trees and split in This is because once past Punta de Garbí, the site of the chapel of Sant Elm, which is the
two by a rocky island, and the majestic 700-metre-long Sant Pol beach, with its coarse sand. viewpoint where the Costa Brava is said to have been christened last century, you enter
the realm of this thermal south-westerly wind, whereas the tramuntana loses its intensity.
At one end you can see a characteristic art nouveau house and at the other end the col-
ourful bathing huts. In summer, at the north end of this beach anchoring is only allowed It is a high and sometimes wild coastline of red cliffs covered in pine and holm oak forests
outside the large field of mooring buoys. that drop vertically into the sea.

79
Sant Feliu
de Guíxols
41o 46.5’ N - 3o 1.9’ E 98
OFFICE
Nàutic Vell, S.L. RESTAURANT
Av. del Fortim, s/n
17220 SANT FELIU DE GUÍXOLS
Tel. +34 972 82 07 88 / 628 01 56 91 DEA
[email protected] · www.nauticvell.com

Marina website

12 Tm 50 Tm

SALVAMENT

DON’T MISS
BUILDING
RENT RENT RENT RENT Nàutic Vell
RENT RENT
Nàutic Vell is the town’s old marina and is at the end of the seafront promenade below
RENT the emblematic Salvament building, next to the fishing port and the fish market.
It is a pleasant, sheltered corner at the end of the beach where the small fishing boats
are pulled up. It has three jetties with a 5-metre depth at the end but this gets shallower
fast, and at the land end there is a restaurant with a terrace and the clubhouse. The Salvament building is an
old nineteenth-century lifeboat
Nearby there are plenty of leisure options, including the coastal path, or the greenway station, the town’s maritime
RENT RENT
cycling path to Girona, the chapel of Sant Elm, the monastery, the Espai Carmen Thyssen, history museum’s secondary
La Constància casino with its neo-Mudejar façade and the excellent municipal market. venue.
80
 Sant Feliu
de Guíxols
41o 46.5’ N - 3o 1.9’ E 430
RESTAURANT
SAILING C.N. Sant Feliu de Guíxols
SCHOOL RESTAURANT OFFICE Escullera del Port, s/n
BOATYARD 17220 SANT FELIU DE GUÍXOLS
FUEL STATION Tel. +34 972 32 17 00 DEA
[email protected] · www.cnsfg.cat

Marina website

10 Tm 50 Tm

C.N. Sant Feliu de Guíxols ESPAI CARMEN

DON’T MISS
THYSSEN
RENT RENT RENT RENT
Sant Feliu de Guíxols marina is one of the most sheltered harbours on the Costa Brava.
The sailing club offers a wide variety of berthing options: daily fee, weekly, monthly or
RENT RENT
long-term rates. There is also a jetty that caters for superyachts up to 80 metres long,
with drafts up to 12 metres. The marina is a few metres from Sant Feliu de Guíxols, which
is a quiet town with a sailing tradition. It’s worth visiting the fruit and vegetable market RENT

and museums, going for a stroll through the old part and along the seafront promenade
and enjoying the wide range of great food available.
The club stands out for its excellent professional team, unbeatable location and setting, The Espai Carmen Thyssen
well-kept dock with first-class facilities for over 400 vessels and modern clubhouse in- is a temporary art exhibition
RENT RENT
tegrated in the landscape. Additional services include a sailing school and boat, kayak, gallery set in the town’s old
paddle board and bike hire. Benedictine monastery.

81
CALA DEL VIGATÀ PUNTA D’EN BOSC

CALA CANYET

82
 CALA FUTADERA

CALA DEL SENYOR

RAMON

Between Cala Giverola and the town of Tossa de Mar there are a number of underwater caves.

The seabed of its coves is at times pebbles and rock and at others coarse sand. Many are The so-called Cala del Senyor Ramon, further south, is a beach with a magnificent seabed
difficult to reach by land, making them ideal for those looking for uncrowded coves. In any rather than an anchoring place, although some small local boats go there to spend the day.
case, they are all safely sheltered from the tramuntana and most from garbí, as well.
Cala de Salionç, with its clearly visible white tower and its chapel of Sant Grau, is only
After passing Punta de Garbí you’ll come to Cala del Vigatà, which by land can only be suitable for anchoring if the wind is coming off the land, so if you want to drop anchor
reached on foot and is recommended for mooring on ecological buoys. The first cove where it’s better to head for Cala Futadera, just under two miles from Cap de Tossa if the wind is
you can stop off sailing south is Cala Canyet. Although it isn’t very deep, you can drop garbí. It should be avoided by northerlies and in this case it’s advisable to head for nearby
anchor in 4-5 metres of sand and it is sheltered from the tramuntana and north-easterly Cala Giverola, which is only separated from the former cove by a small spur. This cove is
winds. sheltered from the tramuntana and provides anchorage in depths of five metres.

83
 CALA GIVEROLA
Small, quiet and empty off-season, Cala Pola and Cala Bona
are two of the most popular coves with boaters.
Before reaching Tossa there are two anchorages not to be missed: Cala Pola and Cala Bona,
both very close to one another. Although they only have room for a few boats and are ex-
posed to levanter, they are empty off-season. Cala Pola is more open and, like Cala Giverola,
has a campsite behind it, but Cala Bona is wilder, cutting deep into the cliffs and providing
safe anchorage with landlines.
On this stretch of coastline, between Cala Giverola and the bay of Tossa, there are a number
of caves which are a diver’s paradise.

The bay of Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar has no marina and nor is it a recommended anchorage, although it is a superb
spot to stop momentarily. You can anchor in the bay by tramuntana, off the beach in some 9
metres of sand, or under Punta de Morro de Porc, though the best place is south of Sa Pal-
ma Island, even though in summer it’s packed with small local boats and you should watch
out for shoals. The channel between the island and mainland is not advisable. CALA POLA

84
 CALA BONA

85
 BAY OF TOSSA

It’s well worth going ashore as Tossa is an old enclave, occupied since pre-Roman times.
The Roman Turissa became a town which was first mentioned in the ninth century with the
name of Tursam in a donation to the counts of Barcelona, who in turn handed it over to the
Benedictine monastery of the city of Ripoll, in the Girona Pyrenees, in the tenth century.
The bay of Tossa, with its walled old town,
From cove to cove is one of the most attractive bays on the
Going south from Tossa de Mar, before reaching the cove and beach of Canyelles, with
its pretty harbour where the little fishing boats still tie up, there are several coves, like Costa Brava.
Morell and Llevador, which are a great place to spend some time, before seeking shelter
in Canyelles marina itself.

86
 TOILETS AND
SHOWERS Cala Canyelles
OFFICE 41o 42.0’ N - 2o 52.0 ‘ E 134

C.N. Cala Canyelles

Av. de Canyelles, s/n
BOATYARD 17310 LLORET DE MAR (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 36 88 18 DEA
[email protected]
www.cncanyelles.com

Marina website

10 Tm 50 Tm

SANTA CLOTILDE

DON’T MISS
Club Nàutic Cala Canyelles GARDENS
RENT RENT RENT RENT

RENT RENT
Canyelles’ pretty little marina provides safe shelter from the tramuntana and garbí
winds. It is important to keep a safe distance from the point at the end of the beach be-
cause of the shallow rocks known as Els Bullents. Surrounded by vegetation and with RENT

high cliffs nearby, the marina provides basic services for smaller boats and water sports
like paddle boarding, kayaking with an instructor and water skiing. It has a depth of 3 These gardens are set on
metres and can accommodate boats up to 8 metres long. Please note that the marina an impressive clifftop and
sculpture plays an important
has no onsite fuel station or technical services.
role in them. They are an
RENT RENT
In the surroundings it is worth visiting the Santa Clotilde Gardens, the Gothic church of example of Catalonia’s
Sant Romà and the Sant Joan castle. Noucentisme movement.

87
CANYELLES BEACH

FENALS BEACH

Sa Boadella, Santa Cristina and Canyelles beaches

are very popular because of their turquoise waters
and sandy seabed.
In Canyelles, you can only anchor outside the buoy field and it is very exposed, making it
recommendable to find a mooring in the marina if you want to visit the surrounding area.
The bay of Lloret de Mar has a long beach in front of the town which is very busy, but not
suitable for anchoring except on the northern tip, where there is a small cove below the
Castell d’en Plaja and the Iberian settlement of Turó Rodó, a very popular spot in summer
and highly recommendable in fine weather. You will have to go on to Blanes to find the first
stopping place, Fenals beach, even though you will need to exercise precaution due to the
shallow sandy seabed and to the fact that there is no shelter from winds here.

88
 CALA DE SA BOADELLA

SANTA CRISTINA BEACH

CALA DE SANT FRANCESC

You have to go on towards Blanes to find the first place to stop, Fenals beach,
although you should watch out for the shallow sandy seabed and the cove is very
exposed.
As far as Blanes you’ll only find very well-equipped beaches which, although you
can anchor in them, are very exposed to levanter and south wind. By north wind, as
they are in an area of low hills, they do not provide shelter from strong tramuntana,
although again in this zone it is not as frequent or as strong as in the centre and
north.

89
 SA PALOMERA
These beaches are Sa Boadella, Santa Cristina and Treumal, Cala de Sant Francesc where
you can anchor on sand off the beach, and the small, secluded Cala de Sa Forcanera, be-
neath the Marimurtra Gardens and the Linné temple, which you can only reach by sea,
since on land you have to cross private property.
Blanes marina is the beginning and the end of the Costa Brava, and the imposing Sa
The imposing Sa Palomera rock marks the
Palomera rock, connected to the land by an isthmus of sand and earth, is the point that
marks the line where everything begins and ends for boaters who have spent their holi-
southern end of the Costa Brava.
days in its destination or who are passing through this impressive coastline.

90
 Blanes
41o 40’ N - 2o 47’ E 309

GYM Club de Vela Blanes

Esplanada del Port, s/n
OFFICE 17300 BLANES (Girona)
Tel. +34 972 33 05 52 DEA
FUEL STATION [email protected]
www.cvblanes.cat
BOATYARD
RESTAURANT

Marina website

3 Tm 50 Tm

BLANES

DON’T MISS
FIREWORKS
Club de Vela Blanes FESTIVAL
The Santa Anna International
RENT RENT RENT RENT
Fireworks Festival held every
summer in Blanes attracts over
Club de Vela Blanes was founded in 1943 and lies to the east of Sa Palomera rock. It is the half a million people. RENT RENT

gateway from the south to an exceptional coastline, making it both the beginning and the
RENT
end of the Costa Brava.
The marina has a maximum depth of 8 metres in the entrance channel and 6 metres inside,
and can accommodate boats up to 24 metres long. With over 300 berths, Club de Vela Blanes
is an environmentally-friendly, sustainable club and registered Sports Tourism Destination
(STD) following the renewal of its concession and the opening of its new facilities in 2015.
RENT RENT
It is totally integrated in the Costa Brava’s unique setting and provides a wide range of ser-
vices including its modern Fitness Centre & Spa and a variety of water sports and activities.

91
Botanical gardens
Nature made orderly
MARIMURTRA GARDENS. BLANES.
Marimurtra is a balcony over the Mediterranean for Blanes, housing
everything from spectacular species to artistic African trees.

There are four main botanical gardens not to be missed on the Costa
Brava. They display plants of great value, a unique explosion of unparal-
leled aromas and colours, with breathtaking views of the sea. Each one
is an oasis of pure nature inviting visitors to take a peaceful stroll.
The Cap Roig Gardens in Calella de Palafrugell, created by Nicolai
Woevodsky and his wife Dorothy Webster in 1927, are home to over
1,000 species of plants. One of its symbols is the castle built of local
ferruginous stone and it is one of the gardens with most varieties in
Catalonia. There are five guided visits to the gardens and in summer
there are exhibitions, the international festival of music which bears
their name and numerous cultural events.
The Santa Clotilde Gardens are situated in a very beautiful setting, on a cliff
on Lloret de Mar’s coastline. They were designed in 1919 by the architect
and landscape gardener Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí and are an example
of the spirit of the Noucentisme movement in Catalonia. They stand out for
their clear Italian influence, in line with the architectonic setting. The gar-
dens feature several marble sculptures that contrast with the wide variety
of plants.
The Marimurtra Botanical Garden is a balcony over the Mediterranean for
Blanes. It was created in 1921 by the German scientist Karl Faust, and years
later it was to become one of the most important gardens in Europe. It
houses over 4,000 plant species from all over the world, most of which are
exotic, including examples like the Chilean wine palm, bamboos and African
trees.
Ferran Rivière de Caralt was the creator of the Pinya de Rosa Botanical Gar-
den in 1954. Its 50 hectares of garden contain almost 7,000 species of differ-
ent genera brought from their natural habitat, plant nurseries and private
collections. Of particular interest are the collections of aloes, agaves, yuccas
and opuntias, many of which are considered to be the best in the world.
92
PINYA DE ROSA GARDENS. BLANES.
These gardens feature tropical and
Mediterranean plants, particularly cacti.

The botanical gardens are breathtaking clifftop viewpoints

that dominate the horizon.

• Cap Roig Gardens

INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS

Camí del Rus, s/n
17210 Calella de Palafrugell
[email protected]
www.obrasociallacaixa.org/
ca/centros/jardines-de-
cap-roig/
Tel. +34 972 61 45 82

• Santa Clotilde Gardens

Santa Clotilde site
17310 Lloret de Mar
[email protected]
www.lloretdemar.org
Tel. +34 972 37 04 71

• Marimurtra Gardens
Pg. de Carles Faust, 9
17300 Blanes
[email protected]
www.marimurtra.cat
Tel. +34 972 33 08 26

• Pinya de Rosa Gardens

Camí de Santa Cristina s/n
17300 Blanes
[email protected]
www.pinya-de-rosa.es
CAP ROIG GARDENS. Tel. +34 972 35 06 89
SANTA CLOTILDE GARDENS. CALELLA DE PALAFRUGELL
LLORET DE MAR Cap Roig Gardens are a top
The clearly Italian style, in line with the venue for cultural occasions, the
architectonic setting, determines the beauty international music festival and
of this place. other events.

93
 Sant Pau
de Segúries

FRANCE

Girona

CATALONIA

Barcelona

Mediterranean
Sea
 Distances between marinas

Nàutic Vell/C.N. Sant Feliu de Guíxols

C.N. Costa Brava - Vela Palamós
C.N. Sant Miquel de Colera

C.N. Sant Pere Pescador

Marina Empuriabrava
C.N. Port de la Selva

Club de Vela Blanes

C.N. Cala Canyelles
Marina Palamós
Port de Portbou

C.N. Aiguablava

C.N. Port d'Aro

Port de Roses

C.N. Llafranc
C.N. Estartit
C.N. l'Escala
C.N. Llançà
Port de Portbou 2.1 3.9 6 20.8 22.5 23.4 25 27.3 33.9 37.1 41 42.4 45.2 47.6 55.7 59.8
C.N. Sant Miquel de Colera 2.1 2.4 4.8 19 20.2 22.1 24.4 26.7 33.3 36.5 40.7 41.8 44.7 47 55.1 58.5
C.N. Llançà 3.9 2.4 3.2 19.3 21.1 21.8 23.5 25.4 32.4 35.6 32 39.2 43.5 46.2 54.2 58.4
C.N. Port de la Selva 6 4.8 3.2 17.7 19.5 20.5 21.9 24.3 30.9 34.1 37.9 39.3 42.2 44.6 52.6 56.8
Port de Roses 20.8 19 19.3 17.7 2.9 5 8.6 12.8 20 23.2 27.4 28.5 31.4 33.8 41.8 45.9
Marina Empuriabrava 22.5 20.2 21.1 19.5 2.9 3.7 8.5 13.25 20.5 23.7 27.9 29 31.8 34.3 42.3 46.5
C.N. Sant Pere Pescador 23.4 22.1 21.8 20.5 5 3.7 5.8 11.2 18.4 21.7 25.9 26.9 29.8 32.1 40.3 44.5
C.N. l'Escala 25 24.4 23.5 21.9 8.6 8.5 5.8 6.4 13.8 16.9 21.1 22.2 25 27.5 35.5 39.7
C.N. Estartit 27.3 26.7 25.4 24.3 12.8 13.2 11.2 6.4 7.4 10.5 14.5 15.9 18.8 21.1 29.2 33.3
C.N. Aiguablava 33.9 33.3 32.4 30.9 20 20.5 18.4 13.8 7.4 3.7 7.8 8.9 11.7 14.1 22.1 26.3
C.N. Llafranc 37.1 36.5 35.6 34.1 23.2 23.7 21.7 16.9 10.5 3.7 4.5 5.9 8.8 11.1 19.2 23.3
Marina Palamós 41 40.7 32 37.9 27.4 27.9 25.9 21.1 14.5 7.8 4.5 1.5 4.5 6.9 15 19.1
C.N. Costa Brava - Vela Palamós 42.4 41.8 40.9 39.3 28.5 29 26.9 22.2 15.9 8.9 5.9 1.5 3.9 6.4 14.4 18.6
C.N. Port d'Aro 45.2 44.7 43.5 42.2 31.4 31.8 29.8 25 18.8 11.7 8.8 4.5 3.9 2.6 10.8 15
Nàutic Vell/C.N. Sant Feliu de Guíxols 47.6 47 46.2 44.6 33.8 34.3 32.1 27.5 21.1 14.1 11.1 6.9 6.4 2.6 8.8 12.9
C.N. Cala Canyelles 55.7 55.1 54.2 52.6 41.8 42.3 40.3 35.5 29.2 22.1 19.2 15 14.4 10.8 8.8 4.5
Club de Vela Blanes 48 46.6 45 44 46 38 44.5 30 29 26.3 23.4 20 18.6 16 13.5 4.5
The distances are based on the most direct course and are not designed for navigational purposes.

Coves and marinas on the Costa Brava

Published by: Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona – Associació Catalana de Ports Esportius i Turístics (ACPET) — Coordination: Germán de Soler — Production: La Factoria
Nàutica — Texts: Luis Bosch. Germán de Soler. Panxo Pi Sunyer. Magalí D.S. Pinart — Ports infographic: Estudi Pàmies — Design and layout: Celia Mínguez
Photography: Ajuntament de Castelló d’Empúries. Ajuntament de l’Escala. Ajuntament de Sant Pere Pescador. Ajuntament de Santa Cristina d’Aro. Ajuntament del Port de la Selva.
Albert Duch. Alex Tremps. Alfred Farré. Antonio Garrido. Arxiu Imatges Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona. Brazo de Hierro. Carles Reig. Celler Espelt. Dani Salvà. David Carbó.
El Celler de Can Roca. Espelt Viticultors. Esther Torrent. Francesc Tur. Fundació Carl Faust. Fundacio Gala Salvador Dalí Figueres. Grand Recosind. Hecktic Travels. Itinerànnia. Jaume
Campderros. Javi Cabrera. Joan Guitart. John Carter. Jordi Chias. Jordi Gallego. Jordi Mas. Jordi Renart. Josep M. García Batlle. Josep Miquel Guasch. Julián Guisado. Kris Ubach.
Laurence Norah. Lloret Turisme. Lola Akinmade. Manel Arpa - De Aerial Productions. Maria Espinàs. Maria Geli - Pilar Planagumà. Martí Artalejo. Mike Burdon. Museu de l’Anxova.
Oficina de Turisme d’Empúries. Oficina de Turisme de Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Panorama Trails. Patitucci Photo. Pep Botey. Pere Carreres. Pere Duran. Ports de Catalunya. PWA Costa
Brava.Rafa Pérez Rita Andreu. Sherry Ott. Steve Carr. The Col Collective. Toni Leon. Toti Ferrer. Vol de Coloms. Windoor Realfly. Xavi Arnau. Xevi F. Güell.
Published by: Alzamora Gràfiques
The Costa Brava’s
coves and marinas
www.costabrava.org • www.acpet.es • www.ports.gencat.cat