Welcome to paradise
Now the new year started, we can finally think about summer again and many families are already planning their next holidays. Many of us love the Spanish beaches and, specifically, on a small paradise in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula: the Costa Brava. What has this coast in Catalonia where all domestic and foreign travellers fall in love with?
Well first of all, because this area of Girona is like a large natural reserve, formed by parks and a varied coastline where the waters of the Mediterranean always have an intense turquoise colour. And this sea is the main reason why so many people love the Costa Brava. It has so many charming beaches and coves where tourists can find the relaxation they are looking for in a vacation.
If you’re also going to spend a few days in this Catalan area this summer, you should know what the secrets of the Costa Brava are – in order to get the most out of your trip. Read them all!
Footbridges over the Mediterranean
If you are going to visit the Costa Brava and you would like to enjoy an amazing sunset, you must go to Cala Canyet. It is an area located between the towns of Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols where the landscape is formed by different bays, among which this special cove. Here you will feel like you’re walking on the waters of the Mediterranean through its stone walkways that run along the coastline. If you also want to enjoy a day of sun and sand, here you will find one of the most recommended places to dive, sunbathe and enjoy nature without so many tourists.
The ‘Catalan Venice’
In the Costa Brava we find a great variety of small towns by the sea that are worth visiting, but if you have doubts about where to stay, we would like to recommend you Empuriabrava. It can be considered as the ‘Catalan Venice’ due to the network of canals that surround it. In this way you will not only be able to enjoy a holiday home in the heart of the Costa Brava, but you will also have the possibility to rent a boat and explore this picturesque town – or bring your own boat! You can find beautiful beaches and coves, a variety of shops, taste the best cuisine of the region and do all kinds of outdoor activities.
Journey to the Middle Ages
Although Costa Brava is always seen together with the Mediterranean sea, in this Catalan area we also find many small villages that we should not miss to explore. One of our favourites is Peratallada because it allows us to take a trip back to the Middle Ages, hand in hand with its streets, buildings and squares. Its stone houses, balconies and facades decorated with different vegetation or the tranquillity that you can breathe in on each corner are the main features that make it one of the most beautiful villages of Girona. It is located only 15 kilometres from the coastal town of Begur and it is perfect to visit during your holidays where we not only want to enjoy sun and beach.
Medes Islands
Do you want to get to know a natural paradise without having to leave the Costa Brava? We recommend you go to the beautiful town of l’Estartit and from there discover one of the most charming places in the Mediterranean: the Medes Islands. It is an archipelago formed by 7 small islands where leisure and marine activities are guaranteed. The more adventurous can perform different water sports such as diving or snorkelling and the more cautious will also have the possibility to discover this Nature Reserve by going on board one of the boats that travel along these islands.
Monastery of San Pedro de Roda
But there is no better way to enjoy a vacation than combining days of beach and leisure with days discovering the culture of the places we visit, nothing better than spending a few hours to get to know one of the jewels of the Costa Brava: the Monastery of San Pedro de Roda. It is located in the north, inland and only 7 kilometres from Port de la Selva. This great monument is surrounded by a halo of legends and mysteries such as the belief that the body of San Pedro could have been here. It has more than 10 centuries of antiquity although many of the structures in its architecture seem to be of Roman origin, which gives us an image of the importance of this place. You can visit it from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am for a price from 2 to 4.50 euros.
Cabo de Creus
Considered a unique place in the world, Cabo de Creus is one of those corners that can not be missed in the guide of any traveller who is going to spend a few days on the Costa Brava. This great Natural Park is formed by a perfect combination of steep cliffs in the Mediterranean and its proximity to the Pyrenees. We recommend you to make different hiking or cycling routes to dive into the fauna and flora of this green area that has been preserved from the tourism and massive urbanisation that characterises other areas of the Costa Brava.
Even though it is difficult to stay in only a few places of the Costa Brava, we selected the ones that we consider as most important and therefore essential to visit. Nevertheless, there are many more places that are worth the visit such as the charming town of Pals, the spectacular Calella de Palafrugell or the old town of Cadaqués. If you still had doubts about where to spend the holidays this summer, do not wait any longer and book your accommodation in the Costa Brava to enjoy a few days where nature, culture and leisure are combined perfectly resulting in a great paradise to discover.