Overview
A five day, centre-based walking holiday, based in Tossa de Mar, a coastal town with ancient heritage, a medieval walled Old Town and three beaches. It’s also gateway to Massís de Cadiretes, a mountainous wildlife reserve with trails through valleys and ruined villages, as well as to Puig de Cadiretes (519m), the highest point of the massif. This adventure through ancient terrain also takes you on sections of the Camí de Ronda trail, which was originally created for police to look out for smugglers. Now you just need to keep an eye out for the next heavenly headland or beckoning beach. And, as you are based at the same boutique hotel throughout, you will have plenty more time to chill at the coast after your walks.
- Costa Brava
- Vila Vella in Tossa de Mar
- Camí de Ronda
- Ermita de la Mare de Déu de Gràcia
- Puig de Cadiretes
- Jeroni Cove
- Jardins de Santa Clotilde
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Tossa de Mar
Arrive in Tossa de Mar, a former fishing town nestled between pine-covered hills and a protected bay along the Costa Brava. Its medieval Vila Vella is the only preserved fortified town on the Catalan coast, with cobbled streets, defensive towers and views over the Mediterranean. Below the Old Town, its beach and promenade offer a good spot for an evening stroll or swim of course.
- Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Casa Granados or similar in Tossa de Mar
Day 2: Circular hike in Massís de Cadiretes | 14km
Walk directly from your accommodation into the Massís de Cadiretes, a rugged inland landscape of cork oak forests and granite outcrops. This circular route explores historic ruins like the Ermita de la Mare de Déu de Gràcia and climbs steadily to Puig de Cadiretes (519m), the highest point of the massif, with wide views across the surrounding hills and across the Med. Much of the hike follows quiet forest tracks and simple mountain paths, away from coastal development. The return follows a different line through shaded woodland, descending gradually back to Tossa de Mar.
- Hiking for the day: 14km, ↑500m ↓500m
Day 3: Camí de Ronda south | 23km
Follow a former coastal patrol route on a section of the Camí de Ronda, from Tossa de Mar to Lloret de Mar. Walk along a stretch of coastline following cliff trails to secluded coves such as Jeroni Cove, as well as patches of Mediterranean forest, with several stair-stepped paths and rocky viewpoints along the way. After arriving at Lloret de Mar’s beachfront, we recommend visiting Jardins de Santa Clotilde and then return inland on a separate network of trails through pine woods and open scrubland, passing small chapels and rural estates.
- Hiking for the day: 23km, ↑650m ↓650m
Day 4: Camí de Ronda north | 9.1km
Follow a shorter but equally scenic section of the Camí de Ronda to the north of Tossa de Mar, along woodland trails that take you past various coves. As today’s route is slightly shorter, you have plenty of time for some swimming, or taking time in Murallas de la Vila Vella, in Tossa de Mar, at the start or end of the day. The route also takes you slightly inland towards the Massís de Cadiretes, eventually rejoining the main trail back to Tossa de Mar.
- Hiking for the day: 9.1km, ↑342m ↓342m
Day 5: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour is a boutique hotel. Our hotels have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view sample hotels
- Boutique Hotel Casa Granados (Tossa de Mar)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide you with the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from some hotels the night before. Dinner is available from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy to moderate and is suitable for moderately experienced walkers (although no high mountain experience is required), with daily walking distances ranging between 14-23km. A reasonable level of fitness is required to get the most out of this tour. Walks have a relaxed pace, with time to take in the views and surroundings. The trails are a mixture of secondary roads and local paths (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed digital route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from April to November. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date within the season.
The climate in this region of Catalonia is Mediterranean, characterised by hot, dry summers and mild winters. The most comfortable conditions for hiking are typically found in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October), when temperatures are moderate. During summer, particularly in July and certainly August, daytime highs often exceed 30C, so it’s advisable to begin rides early in the day to avoid the peak heat.
To find out more about when to go, take a look at our blogs, Best time to go to Catalonia and Best time to go to Spain.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
The recommended airport for this tour is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN). The alternative airport is Girona–Costa Brava Airport (GRO), but, while closer to Tossa de Mar, it does not have stable direct connections other than taxi.
By train or bus
- From Barcelona Airport, the best way to reach Tossa de Mar is by bus. Moventis operates different bus schedules a day to Tossa de Mar from both terminals (as well as from Barcelona’s Estació del Nord bus terminal). Bus travel takes around 2h from Barcelona airport.
- From Girona Airport, a taxi will take approximately 30-40mins.
- Private transfers to and from Barcelona or Girona airport and the hotel in Tossa de Mar can be arranged on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 4 nights accommodation
- 4 breakfasts
- Digital tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps, a navigation app for smartphones, GPS tracks. Please note that no printed documents will be provided on-site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights and land transfers
- Transfers to alternate accommodation locations if needed
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Tourist tax
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions, including museums
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
