Overview
This carefully-crafted itinerary, walking in Costa Brava, is an idyllic mix of Catalonia’s coast, castles and cuisine, with just enough challenges to push those muscles, such as among the glorious land and seascapes of Cap de Creus Natural Park, the easternmost peninsula on mainland Spain. Starting in the coastal town of L’Escala, you soon escape a busy tourism scene for Sant Pere Pescado, and walk to and Palau-Saverdera, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, over eight days. Stay in a mix of small hotels and guesthouses, with luggage transfers.
- Ruins of Empúries
- Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park
- Cadaqués
- Cap de Creus Natural Park
- Monestir de Sant Pere de Rodes
- Sant Salvador de Verdera
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in L’Escala
If arriving via Barcelona, Girona or elsewhere in Spain, travel by high-speed train to Figueres train station, where you are transferred to your accommodation in the coastal town of L’Escala. If flying into Girona-Costa Brava Airport, you are met at the airport and transferred directly to L’Escala. If time allows, walk through the narrow streets of the town’s historic centre and try the famous local dish, anxoves de l’Escala, salty anchovy fillets marinated in olive oil, which is delicious accompanied with pa amb tomàquet (Catalonian tomato bread).
- Accommodation: Hotel Rallye or similar in L’Escala
Day 2: L’Escala – Sant Pere Pescador | 13.8km
Leaving L’Escala behind, follow the Sendero de Gran Recorrido GR92 trail along the coast. It is highly recommended to stop and visit the Greek and Roman ruins at Empúries along the way (payable locally). The Romans founded the ancient city in 575BC and used it as their base for the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. From Empúries, continue walking towards the medieval walled village of Sant Martí d’Empúries, before heading along the southernmost part of the Gulf of Roses. There are several beaches along the route, perfect for a refreshing dip. Arrive in the coastal town of Sant Pere Pescador, your final stop of the day.
**Due to seasonal closure of the accommodation in Sant Pere Pescador, from 01 March till 30 April the accommodation on this day will be in Roses, transfers to and from the walk will be arranged at no extra cost.
- Walking for the day: 13.8km, 4h, ↑25m
- Accommodation: Hotel El Molí or similar in Sant Pere Pescador / Prestige Hotel Mar y Sol Elit in Roses
Day 3: Sant Pere Pescador – Castelló d’Empúries | 15.6km
Today’s walk follows the banks of the El Fluvià, heading to the beach at the river’s mouth and then through Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park. Look out for birds such as ibis, herons, tufted ducks, pochards, snipes, redshanks, marsh harriers and sandpipers, which can be spotted at any time of the year. During the spring and autumn migrations you may also see grey herons, golden plovers, flamingos, black storks and spoonbills. Today’s walk ends in Castelló d’Empúries, a medieval village steeped in history. The landmark of the village and visible from afar, is the Basílica de Santa Maria.
**Due to seasonal closure of the accommodation in Castelló d’Empúries, from 01 March till 30 April the accommodation on this day will be in Roses, transfers to and from the walk will be arranged at no extra cost.
*March 2026 update: due to the heavy rains during winter, the trail is currently under renovation. An alternative tour will be offered instead.
- Walking for the day: 15.6km, 4h, ↑106m
- Accommodation: Hotel Canet or similar in Castelló d’Empúries / Prestige Hotel Mar y Sol Elit in Roses
Day 4: Roses – Cadaqués | 16km
Take a transfer to Roses (15mins), where today’s walk starts. Walk east along the coast and pass many secluded beaches and coves, with ample opportunity for a dip in the sea. Head inland, passing hillsides with tiers of old olive groves, before arriving in Cadaqués. Cadaqués is a whitewashed coastal town surrounded by mountains, and a former favourite of Picasso and Salvador Dalí. The town is known for its fine seafood restaurants.
- Walking for the day: 16km, 5-6h, ↑550m
- Accommodation: Hotel Octavia or similar in Cadaqués
Day 5: Cap de Creus circular walk | 20km
Today’s walk leads to Cap de Creus, the most easterly point of mainland Spain. Follow the route to Cap de Creus Natural Park, where the rock outcrops are one of the most distinctive features of the landscape, with their complex shapes sculpted by the wind and the sea. Another highlight of the day is the lighthouse, Far del Cap de Creus, offering panoramic views of the coastline and out to sea. Stop for a refreshment at the lighthouse’s open-air restaurant, before heading back to Cadaqués.
- Walking for the day: 20km, 6h, ↑812m (optional shorter walk to Salvador Dalí’s house: 3km, or rest day)
- Accommodation: Hotel Octavia or similar in Cadaqués
Day 6: Cadaqués – El Port de la Selva | 14km
Leaving Cadaqués behind, make your way north through the heart of the famous Cap de Creus Natural Park. Follow a rural trail with views of the Catalan countryside and the Pyrenees, before arriving at the fishing village of El Port de la Selva, where you spend the night. Spend the afternoon exploring the local sights, including the archaeological site of Dolmen de Taballera. Serra de Rodes is another interesting medieval site, which consists of Monestir de Sant Pere de Rodes, Sant Salvador de Verdera, Iglesia Santa Elena de Roda, as well as the the ruins of the village of Santa Creu de Rodes and the church, Sant Fruitós de la Vall de Santa Creu.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 3-4h, ↑369m
- Accommodation: Hotel Spa Porto Cristo or similar in El Port de la Selva
Day 7: El Port de la Selva – Palau-Saverdera | 15km
Leave El Port de la Selva and follow the route towards the north-west, before ascending to Monastir de Sant Pere de Rodes, which is considered one of the most important monasteries in Spain (check the opening times before your visit, closed on Mondays). Continue walking, making your way up to the ruins of the castle, Sant Salvador de Verdera, where the views extend over Alt Empordà, across to the Albera Massif mountain range and the Pyrenees, as well as to the Gulf of Roses and the entire Cap de Creus. Finally, walk down to Palau-Saverdera, an old farming village located in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 4-5h, ↑723m
- Accommodation: Niu de Sol or similar in Palau-Saverdera
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast and complimentary transfer to Girona Airport or Figueres Vilafant train station, or extend your stay with an extra night in Palau-Saverdera.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They 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 default hotels
- Hotel Rallye (L’Escala)
- Hotel El Molí (Sant Pere Pescador)
- Hotel Canet (Castelló d’Empúries)
- Hotel Octavia (Cadaqués)
- Hotel Spa Porto Cristo (El Port de la Selva)
- Niu de Sol (Palau-Saverdera)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you 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 your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate and is suitable for moderately experienced walkers (no high mountain experience is required). Daily walking distances range between 12-20km and a good 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 route on day four, from Roses to Cadaqués, is steep in places and so the walk is a little more strenuous than on other days. The hardest walk is on day five to Cap de Creus (950m cumulative elevation gain and loss), but it is optional. The trails are a mixture of GR routes 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 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 early March until the end of June and from the beginning of September until end of October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season.
We do not offer this trip between the second week of July and September, as it is too hot for walking and hotel availability is too limited. On the coast, the climate is Mediterranean, with hot and sunny summers and mild and relatively rainy winters. 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.
Due to seasonal closure of some accommodations, from 01 March till 30 April the accommodation on day two and three will be in Roses, transfers to and from the walk will be arranged at no extra cost.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice on Spain.
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) and Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with railway stations in Girona and Figueres, where you will be met by our local partner. For more details, see the national rail operator Renfe or use the Omio planner above.
- Complimentary transfers to and from Girona Airport or Figueres Vilafant Train Station are included in the tour.
- If flying to Barcelona, take the shuttle train from the airport to Barcelona Sants (20mins), which leave every 30mins. From there, take a train to Figueres-Vilafant railway station (53mins).
- There are also convenient bus connections, including direct lines from Girona and Barcelona. For more information, see Sagalés or Moventis Sarfa
- From Girona Airport or Figueres Vilafant, there are train services to other destinations in Spain, for more information and tickets visit Renfe or use the Omio planner above. For bus services see Sagalés or Moventis Sarfa, or use the Omio planner above
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Transfer on day four to the start of the walk
- Arrival transfer from Girona Airport or Figueres-Vilafant railway station (if travelling from Barcelona)
- Departure transfer to Girona Airport or Figueres-Vilafant railway station (if travelling to Barcelona)
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel
- For 2026: holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and maps (digital copy and one printed copy per party only)
- From 2027: detailed digital travel documents, access to navigation app
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers, other than the complimentary arrival/departure private transfers on day one and six
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- 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 are available upon request
- Optional upgrade to a hotel with an outdoor pool in Cadaqués in a sea-view room with balcony (Hotel Llané Petit or similar)
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.
