A Gorgeous Hike Along the Seaside of Costa Brava, Spain
Camí De Ronda is located along the seaside of Costa Brava, Spain. It was once used by Policemen and Spanish Military, during the 19th century to control illegal activities and smuggling, which was common to the coast. Today, Camí de Ronda is a true paradise for hikers, uphill and downhill on ancient steps, through fishing villages, affluent seaside communities, across rocky beaches and sandy beaches, winding through forests, fields of flowers, and along cliff top trails with spectacular views of the magnificent turquoise Mediterranean Sea.
A Very Special Thanks to Dani!
Dani is the mastermind behind the Camí de Ronda. As a native to the area, and a former Archaeologist, he contributed to planning this wonderful hike, taking in to consideration the history, paths, lodging, and restaurants.
Dani shared his thoughts with us:
“Tourists have a list with many points to visit. They arrive at the sight, take a few pictures and go to another point. Travelers want to arrive at a destination, explore the area, speak with the local people, share the time with the people, taste the meal, and experience the traditional culture. The BEST way to know a country is by hiking, because you can appreciate the local people, their lives, their landscape and their sense of living”.
Girona
Girona, an ancient city located in Northeastern Catalonia, beside the River Onyar, is just 99 km (62 miles) from Barcelona, Spain. We met up with Dani during our pre-hike overnight stay in Girona. He brought us our welcome pack which included a GPS, guide map, head wear, bracelet, water bottles, Kyrocream (recovery cream), stickers, and finisher T-shirts. He had made arrangements for us to have dinner at Restaurant Txalaka, and returned to transport us to the mouth of the hike the following morning. Our luggage was transferred each day to the next accomodation.
Restaurant Txalaka, Girona
Txalaka provides an excellent choice of tapas including seafood, meat, cheese, croquettes, salmorejo, potatas de tortilla, hot and cold pinchos, etc. BEST TAPAS EVER !!! Save room for the endless selection of desserts as well.
Day 1: 17.4 km (10.8 miles)
We began our hike at the Village of Sant Felix de Guixols and trekked along the coast, through the village of Platja d’Aro. As the path twisted between cliffs, every turn was a Kodak moment with breathtaking views of turquoise waves crashing on the rocks. We stopped for lunch along the coast at Restaurant La Palmera, followed by continued hiking of unspoiled villages, quiet coves, and long sandy beaches.
We settled in for the evening at Hotel Trias in Palamós, with a magnificent view of the Mediterranean, a fabulous sea breeze coming from our balcony, and an amazing dinner and breakfast.
Day 2: 13.1km ( 8.14 miles)
The views from Palamos were spectacular on the way to La Fosca Beach, as we hiked into a stretch of fishing villages, traveled uphill to peaks above the Mediterranean, on our way to Llafranc.
Restaurant Hostel La Fosca serves Mediterranean and seasonal cuisine based on the products they produce such as wine, oil, cheese, and local fish from the port of Palamos. The clams were spectacular.
Authentic, breathtaking, and picturesque, S’Alguer is a traditional Mediterranean fishing village, dating back to 1521, made up of colorful houses along the beach.
We settled in cliff top, Hotel Sant Roc, overlooking Calella de Palafrugell town and bay. The panoramic restaurant, with terrace seating, provided a delicious dinner and breakfast with local freash produce, and outstanding service.
Day 3: 12.5 km ( 7.76 miles)
Leaving Llafranc, we hiked a narrow path, over the cliffs, into the countryside, beside flower fields, through the forest, to Aigua Blava Beach, and to Tamariu for lunch.
El Clot dels Mussols, located in Hotel Tamariu, provided the peace and relaxation, beautiful view, and fresh seafood, that we appreciated to prepare us for our final ascent to Begur.
As we approached our final destination, we were welcomed by the view of the castle of Begur, which dates back to the 11th century. Watchtowers were added in the 16th and 17th century to guard against attacks from the Moor pirates.
We were ecstatic to arrive at historic and charming Hotel Aiguaclara in Begur. Feeling proud to have completed the Cami de Ronda 3 Day Hike, we put our flip flops on and we chatted with the friendly staff.
As the sun began to set, we realized that we had one more hike to complete. Placing our hiking boots back on, we headed to the Castle of Begur to watch the sun set. The 360 degree panoramic view looked out over the Medes Islands, the Bay of Roses, the Pyrenees, Palamós and Playa Sa Riera. The sun set in slow motion and the sky lit up in florescent colors.
The Cami De Ronda hike took us off the beaten path, away from the hustle and bustle of busy life, and provided an opportunity to appreciate the unspoiled beauty of Costa Brava’s jagged coast. We will always treasure the feeling of achievement, the picturesque memories, and the fabulous conversations with Dani, who shared his passion for the history of his homeland.
Thank you Dani.
