Pals Beach, between Begur and Pals, near Medes Islands, in Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

In Pals Beach, the Costa Brava is for a few kilometers no more “brava” arriving at l’Estartit harbour, where, again, begins the succession of rocky coves to the north.

However, precisely because of its width and for its warm sand, this wide beach, commonly known as Platja de Pals, actually still belongs to the Begur village,  and is very visited in summer, especially by the inhabitants of the area who prefer to enjoy a wide and spacious beach before staying in the little creeks, perhaps the most beautiful in a natural sense, although less comfortable for the space to share.

Pals Beach has many attractions. Facing toward the Medes Islands, in the background, they are a reference point that is never lost. The beach also allows interesting walks through the coast: to the south, toward the Begur massif, begins a coastal path that, through the nudist beach Illa Roja, brings us to the cove of Sa Riera. North along the beach takes you to the mouth of the river Daró and, a little further to the Ter.

To the south, from Pals Beach, we can visit in ten minutes the beautiful beach (nudist) Illa Roja, also in Begur

Another of the natural characteristics of this beautiful beach are dunes, real ecosystems that develop in accumulations of wind-borne sand. In these regions they are due to the strong north wind, the Tramuntana, which manages to carry large amounts of sand from the bay of Roses until just before the mountains of Begur. Therefore the plant species who grow here are of high scientific value and are studied with great interest, so it was decided to protect them from human action and, walking along the coast, you will find their access restricted by strings. Please do not pass them to not harm this delicate habitat.

Pals dunes are protected ecosystems created by the Tramuntana wind action on the beach sand

The Raco beach is 400 meters long and 40 meters wide, and it is a continuum of several kilometers of beach that reaches l’Estartit village. In it there is always space for everyone, even in summer, making it the perfect choice for visitors to the small coves of Begur who prefer sunbathing with some extra space in the sand. It also has showers, several bars, hire pedalos and bars and restaurants very close to beach. In addition there are several sailing sports centers that offer the perfect opportunity to get started in sports such as sailing and windsurfing, taking advantage of the excellent wind conditions offered by Platja del Racó.

Platja del Racó is a wide sandy beach that allow many leisure activities for children and adults

Cala d'Aiguablava, in Begur, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

This cove is superbly conditioned, and the access is really easy, as it has a large car park at its entrance. To get there, take the road that connects Begur and Palafrugell villages and take the signposted deviation.

Cala Aiguablava is really lively in midsummer. It has excellent services, as showers, parking, kayak rental and a bar-restaurant.

Aiguablava is 75 meters long and about 25 meters wide. You will find showers. The cove is surrounded by greenery, and a fairly privileged geographical position, as you will be able to admire, far away in north direction, the Cap de Begur, as well as the mountains surrounding the village of Begur in the east.

Crystal blue underwaters in Cala Aiguablava is really impressive

To the right of the creek, before descending the stairs of access, in the parking, begins a beautiful coastal path that, protected by the shade of pine trees and a wooden railing, and after offering beautiful views over the water, will lead you to an imposing hotel located next to this cove, in the Punta des Mut cape: we are talking about the Parador Nacional Aiguablava, the only hotel of this kind in the province of Girona. It was inaugurated in 1966, and its creation reflects the objective of the government to boost tourism in the area. The Parador is open throughout the year and broadens the demand of tourists who wish to visit Begur in winter.

North of the creek begins another coastal path that, after a succession of small coves and little ports, brings us finally to Fornells port and Platja Fonda. This way can be taken through the coastal path that starts on the left side of Cala Aiguablava.

North Aiguablava you'll find Port de Fornells and Platja Fonda, but the better views of Cape of Begur are actually in Aiguablava creek

From Aiguablava leave many canoes and small boats to the south of its coast, right to the most attractive sea caves of the Costa Brava and the entire Catalan coast, including the most famous, the Cova d’en Gispert, which allows passage of a canoe until the end of it, 150 meters long inside.

Platja del Moll Grec, l'Escala, Girona, Costa Brava

And this is because, as the name suggests, on the right side of the beach are, still standing, part of the Greek harbor from I century BC, a stone wall built by the ancient inhabitants to protect the boats on the beach from the waves. This wall is fully accessible and visitors can walk through it. The environment is really lovely, as this beach is next to the coastal path that serves as a boardwalk that crosses the coves of l’Escala, with a pine forest just behind the beach, and typical dune formations that forms in a natural way in this area.

Old greek dock stone in Playa del Moll Grec, in l'Escala, Costa Brava, Spain

The Moll Grec beach is 400 meters long, 40 meters wide and is composed of fine sand. Beside the creek you will also find small islands which can be reached by swimming, given the small distance between the shore and these rocky outcrops. Often many fishermen take advantage of this great location to throw their fishing rods.

Little rocks in Platja del Moll Grec, an excellent place for children to explore and play

This beach, despite its unspoiled nature, offers all types of services you can expect from a great one. It has been awarded with the blue flag quality. Indeed, Moll Grec beach has showers, bins, snack bar, hire pedalos, kiosk, sunbed and a rescue and surveillance team in the summer months.

Playa del Moll Grec offers excellent facilities to the bathers

As mentioned, the beach is opposite the center of Sant Martí d’Empúries, which is about 200 meters north, and that was the first greek historical center, from ancient Phocaea, before the people who occupied the ruins of Empúries (which are in turn just a few meters south from our beach). Sant Martí d’Empúries is today a charming medieval village that has excellent restaurants, perfect to complement a great day at the beach and that are not far from it.

Sant Martí d'Empúries medieval village, just a few meters from Moll Grec beach

And just few meters south of Moll Grec you’ll find more beautiful beaches as the Portitxol, 400 meters far away, once you pass another beautiful one: the Muscleres Beach.

Therefore the Moll Grec beach is an excellent opportunity for a fun day with family,  a perfect place to enjoy not only a coastline with clear water of high quality, but also a cultural and natural environment of great importance in the history of the Ampurdan.

Night image of Platja del Moll Grec, with shape of the old harbor wall and, backwards, l'Escala

Cala Treumal, in Lloret de Mar, next to Blanes, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

This cove is truly paradise. After going down to the beach from the public car park, on a well-conditioned trail, you can check its beauty. It is about 200 meters long and 25 meters wide. Remark the deep slope in sand, about 10%. This could make waves to be perceived with greater intensity, but when sea is calm Cala Treumal is an excellent place to bath inside its transparent waters.

Descent to Cala Treumal is a through a well-conditioned trail

The quality of this beach is warranted by Blue Flag. That means that in Cala Treumal we find excellent facilities, as the bar restaurant that has the same name of the cove, showers equipped with footbaths, sunbeds to hire, pedalos to hire, and even a rescue post in the middle months of summer.

Cala Treumal is a quiet familiar beach next to another one: Cala Santa Cristina, with excellent facilities

A rocky creek separates Cala Treumal and Cala Santa Cristina into two, making them look even more savage. This huge rocky cliff anchored in the sand allows the passage perfectly through it.

Crossing the rocky cliff in the left side we can reach Cala Santa Cristina from Cala Treumal, in Lloret de Mar, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

Not only that. The tropical Botanical Garden Pinya de Rosa allows more alternative activities for those wishing to spend the day in this unique beach and surroundings, very familiar in summer. Another interesting visit near it is the Santa Cristina Hermitage, a beautiful fishermen’s sanctuary located at the top of the hill in a pine forest, and which can be accessed by walking through a path from Cala Treumal itself.

Cala Treumal, in Lloret de Mar, is separated from Cala Santa Cristina by nice rocks in the middle of the beach

Gola del Ter beach, in Torroella de Montgrí, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

The area is located south of the Basses d’en Coll, near Pals beach, on the south bank of the Daró river, that in facts marks the beginning of this long beach, about 5 km long, up to the end of another river, the Ter, along a protected nature reserve. From there, another 5 kms to the north, the beach arrives to l’Estartit.

Natural gaps on Ter river mouth, just in front of Medes Islands

You can arrive to this area through a road about 4 kms that starts in Torroella de Montgrí, for example right under the bridge across the Ter, coming from Pals. It’s a track that can be traveled by car, although if you cycle or walk you’ll enjoy much more what it offers. This road offers the chance to enjoy the end of the river, the quietest part of it, the characteristic vegetation, the typical local crops such as rice or fruit, etc.

Catalan farm among rice fields, near the Ter river mouth

Finally, as we approach the sea, we will see how the river begins to form gaps in the beach sand, mingling with it. Here nature has created a curious mixture of fresh and salt water. The name of the beach from a little mound, Fonollera, located just a few hundred meters inland, where some experts believe in the presence of a prehistoric settlement called Cypsela, and probably witnessed by ancient travelers. However, we still have no real proof of its existence.

Exact point where Ter river ends, forming gaps and a very interesting landscape

On the beach, the nearby presence of the Medes Islands is majestic. Around the area, only a few farmhouses, typical Catalan houses, and most from the XIXth century, are the only evidence of human presence. We are in a rich area of dunes and the associated vegetation: the reeds. It is important to respect this plants as they are part of the fragile ecological balance that forms this area.

Gola del Ter, just in front Medes Islands, is a beautiful protected zona, with a delicate ecosystem, extremely beautiful

Cala Sant Francesc, en Blanes, Girona, Costa Brava

Cala Sant Francesc has a length of 220 meters and a width of 35 meters, so it is of medium size. Its surface is made of fine golden sand, and it is equipped with excellent facilities as you’ll find showers, skate and hammocks rentals, Red Cross lifeguards, and snack bar.

Cala Sant Francesc, in Blanes, Costa Brava, is a very familiar cove, with interesting possibilities for the children

In fact it is a semi-urban cove, surrounded by a pine forest, but also of villas and apartments that form the urbanisation of the same name. For this reason Cala Sant Francesc is well connected to Blanes center, either by the city bus and through the tourist train that runs through the streets and beaches of the village. It is also likely that you find a sightseeing cruise service that helps you get closer to other nearby beaches of Lloret de Mar.

On the right side of Cala Sant Francesc starts a coastal path

This cove also has a free parking, although in the summer months it risks to be filled. In that case there is another underground one next to the creek, to be paid.

Summer sunset in Cala Sant Francesc, Blanes, Costa Brava, Spain

The scenery of Cala de Sant Francesc is very nice. As shown in the photographs the beach offers a number of rock groups near the shore that allow snorkeling in shallow waters, with a varied fauna and flora under these clear waters. In the southern part, and located offshore, about 120 meters, you’ll find some rocky shoals called Niells de Cala Sant Francesc. A coastal path begins in the creek and you can reach the rocky cove of Sa Llapissada, in a little difficult access.

Cala Sant Francesc offers nice nooks where blue waters and plants combine

As we mentioned Cala Sant Francesc and the hermitage from XVIIth century, on top of the promontory, that can be reached by a path from the beach, are the settings, every July 28, of the end of the local festival in Blanes, the so-called l’Aplec de l’Amor, where concerts, games and other events of a family nature are organised.

L'Aplec de l'Amor is one of the most beloved and popular parties for Blanes people.

Portitxol Beach, in l'Escala, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

You can access to the Portitxol beach from the Paseo de las Dunas, a coastal path (a natural boulevard) very well conditioned that runs about 2.5 km along from L’Escala center to the nearby medieval village of Sant Martí d’Empúries, in the north. Along this path we will find an interesting succession of coves and also a set of coastal dunes that shape the landscape of some of these natural beaches in the Costa Brava center. This dunes also contribute to keep the typical flora and fauna in the area.

Scenic view of Platja del Portitxol, in l'Escala

To the right of the beach, overlooking the sea, we find a series of steep rock ledges. They are called the Pedrigolet and Les Coves, beyond which lies the beach Playa del Rec, in front of a forest which has the same name. Because of its peculiar morphology and shallow rocky, it offers an excellent opportunity to explore its crystal clear underwater world, just even snorkeling.

Right side of Portitxol Beach offers to bathers curious rock ledges

To the left of the beach, with the incomparable view offered by the landscape of Cap de Creus and the bay of Roses, we find the rock ledges of the Muscleres Petites, belonging to the beach of the same name, another of the beautiful beaches spread along the Paseo de les Dunes. Just opposite you’ll find one of the entrance door of the Greek ruins of Ampúrias.

Aerial view of Portitxol Beach, that shows its location next to Ampurias Archeological Ruins

In front of Portitxol beach we can see the historical building that today is the Hostal Empúries. Of clean, white facade, it was built in 1908 by the Paradis family, from L’Escala, to host the archaeologists team who, under the command of Puig i Cadafalch, worked on the excavations of the above mentioned ruins. The building has from there remained here, looking always Portitxol beach throughout the 20th century until, in 2003, it was reformed and today is a very nice spa hotel of great ecological interest, adding a new attraction to this natural zone.

Nice sunset in Portitxol Beach and Hostal Empúries, l'Escala, Costa Brava, Spain

One of the best pleasures in Canadell is, after having the lunch, to lay about two hours on the sand under a boat

Josep Pla, the great writer of the Costa Brava and Ampurdan, wrote this impression from the beach in which he spent so many summers, in the family villa, still standing. He wrote this feelings almost a century ago in his early work “The Grey Notebook”. Today we recall the same spirit and visit this beach, also close to other great places to visit, as Llafranc, Port-bo, or Sant Sebastia Lighthouse.

Canadell beach is small and very familiar. It has a length of 200 meters and about 27 meters wide. The sand is somewhat grainy. Access is easy, and you can arrive on foot, by car or even public transport.

Canadell beach was originally, centuries ago, a little village of fishermen

One of the main attractions of the beach is the seaside boulevard. Superbly conditioned, it offers to the visitors views of the villas, some of them some centuries old, as that historically linked to writer Josep Pla, which belonged to his family and where they enjoyed together the summer. The winter villa is in Llofriu: and it’s called the Mas Pla. As the sunny and warn weather approached in summer many families in those years used to move out next to the sea, to the coast of Palafrugell.

The villa in red, in the left side, belonged to Josep Pla family

Other special feature of this landscape is the large rock that sits on your right, “the chair”, a projection of rock from which many young people plunge into the sea.

Rock called "la Trona", located on the left side of Canadell beach

In Canadell beach many people know each other. This beach is so familiar and small that many visitors repeat every summer and have the opportunity of meeting the same passionated people of the place.

Canadell nights are special. It's time for a marine "ron cremat" drinking, based on rhum.

Don’t miss the elegant coastal path that, on the north side of the beach, leads to Llafranc bay, just 15 minutes away.

Playa Rubina, in Empuriabrava, Girona, Costa Brava

Rubina Beach, in Empuriava, has a length of 1800 meters and offers many services. The beach comes alive especially during the summer. The south end side of the beach coincides with the exit gateway in the Empuriabrava water channels. You can walk to the end of this dock and see the departure of many yachts and pleasure boats, almost continuously in summer.

South side of Platja de la Rubina, boats from Empuriabrava channels start their sea journey

Next to that side of the beach there is also the Empuriabrava Municipal School of Sailing. In this area, young and not so young make their first steps in learning the mastery of sailing boats (children enjoy Optimist ships).

Sailboats on Rubina Beach

We go further to the north and we find more attractions on Platja Rubina. We encounter dunes, protected and properly marked by some wood sticks: they form a small ecosystem integrated into the natural marshland region of l’Empordà. These dunes have a protective effect on the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Park and surroundings, because they allow the conservation of specific flora and fauna adapted to this environment. Please respect the dunes, entrance is not allowed (not even the dogs!).

Informatino panel about protected dunes on Rubina Beach, Empuriabrava, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

But that’s not all in Platja Rubina. Finally, a small beach area which is marked allows swimming with dogs and another zone allows kitesurfing, all with the Cape of Creus mountains background in the north direction, clearly visible. You can move along the beach through a well-conditioned flat pedestrian way behind the dunes (they are not so high), so you wan’t have to step over the sand if you just want to walk by the beach.

Platja Rubina has all the facilities that a large and important beach offers in Costa Brava, as snack bar (chiringuito), lifeguard services, toilets, showers, sun beds, rescue boat, etc. This beach is wide and familiar with many activities to do, and therefore and excellent place for a great summer day to spend together.

Platja Rubina offers excellents facilities to the bathers, as snack bars or bike parking

Cala Canyet is in Santa Cristina d'Aro, Girona, Costa Brava

To get there we have to take from the GI-682 road, another road that leads to Rosamar urbanization, so that we can approach to the creek easily in a private vehicle. Once inside you’ll see that the left is the beach itself. With clear and transparent water, Cala Canyet has a length of 70 meters and a width of 15, and is made of very fine sand. Given its proximity to the above urbanization it has all the services you can expect from a good beach as showers, restaurant, bar, a nautical club which organizes courses, etc.

Scenic view of Cala Canyet, near Tossa de Mar. Over the big rock, the rocky bridges over the shore of the cove

La Cala Canyet, as mentioned, is in an urbanized area resort where, for example, we can find a tennis court. In this area we are surprised by the presence of a beautiful  Ava Gardner statue. It is another tribute from the town of Tossa de Mar that the actress visited in 1950, when she shot the film “Pandora and the Flying Dutchman,” with James Mason as main actor.

Ava Gardner statue next to Cala Canyet, in Rosamar urbanization, in Tossa de Mar

During that visit to Spain Ava Gardner had a notorious affair with the torero Mario Cabré. It was polemic because the actress still kept a relationship with her husband, the famous singer Frank Sinatra.

Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra & friends in Tossa de Mar, in the 50's

On the right side of the creek there is a large rock. On the other side of it there is a coastal path that leads to a rocky area with a beautiful rocky setting, where stands a little stone bridge over the water: they are the “puentes de Canyet” (Canyet bridges). In this nice area it is also possible to swim, so we recommend the bathers to walk to it from Cala Canyet and discover the landscape beauty it offers.

Canyet, bridges over the beach, in Cala Canyet, Costa Brava