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.

Cala de Sa Riera, in Begur. Background, Medes Islands.

Cala Sa Riera can be reached from the center of village by car (no more than 10 minutes), through a road that starts near Carmen Amaya villa, Mas Pinc. The descent down the road, about 5 minutes, offers some incredible views of Medes Islands in the distance, which are always present in the landscape of the creek. The road crosses the geographic feature that gives name to the creek: a little river (riera) that comes down from the mountain of Begur seaward, always dry in summer. At the entrance, this ancient mosaic welcomes us.

"Friend: it's not a pure mirage, not even a fable... SA RIERA is a beautiful place in Costa Brava. Welcome, enjoy it"

One of the reasons why Sa Riera is so popular, in addition to its amplitude, is the huge number of services it offers to its visitors. This creek is very familiar and children and adults will feel comfortable. The sea view boulevard has banks where you can sit and admire the wonderful view of the bay as a whole. It is also possible to sit in one of its many terraces, restaurants or bars, where you can enjoy a good drink in the shade.

Cala de Sa Riera is wide, with golden sand and very familiar, with good facilities

Sa Riera has services to a shower and boardwalk to the sand about, so that people in wheelchairs can also enter.

The creek has traditionally been a fishing village, and therefore still remain at the forefront some of these houses, evidence of a past still alive in direct contact with nature. If you look with attention you will verify the typical structure of a ground floor in which the vessel is often introduced to protect the storm, and a first floor that was proper housing. This seafaring past still lives on in the form of the little harbour, located in the southern part and adapted for little sport or traditional boats.

From Sa Riera begins, both sides, two separate coastal paths. To the south, further the small cove of Port del Pi, the path leads to a long stretch of unspoilt coastline forming the Natural Reserve of Ses Negres, a protected marine area of a great ecological value.

On the right side of Cala Sa Riera starts a coastal path that goes over a good stretch of Ses Negres Marine Reserve

To the south, once we cross the creek called Cala del Rei, with its excellent viewpoint, another walkway leads over the wonderful Illa Roja creek and, later, the beach of Pals.

Sa Riera image, once we walk over Cala del Rei, to Cala Illa Roja, through the coastal path

Cala Salionç, in Tossa de Mar, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

The urbanisation, of the same name as the cove, has all kinds of services, so that in front of the creek we found a restaurant, a supermarket, showers, public phone, etc. Cala Salionç has thick, golden sand. Its dimensions are small, only 80 meters long by 50 wide, but its geographical position makes it a cove very well protected from the wind stakes. In the center of the cove we can guess a little stream, always dry in summer, that comes from the Cadiretes massif.

Cala Salionç is a golden sand cove surrounded by pines, even on the rocks next to the shore

On both sides of the beach there are rocky outcrops ideal for scuba diving and enjoying the underwater. In addition, to the left of the cove, always looking out to sea, we find a coastal path very well conditioned where we’ll enjoy a pleasant walk.

On the left side of Cala Salionç starts a brief but very interesting coastal path

Thus, we find a small entrance of transparent sea water in the rock that can be crossed by a beautiful wooden bridge. In this hidden place you can have a nice bath. Following the coastal path we see that some rocks have a greenish color: it’s the result of iron oxidation, in which these rocks are rich. The end of the coastal path, just 500 meters away (you cannot go further), leads us to contemplate part of the other northern coves that we can find before arriving to Sant Feliu de Guixols.

Little but modern wooden bridge that is part of the coastal path in Cala Salionç

Cala Salionç is therefore an interesting cove within the set of coves that lies between Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guixols but has the disadvantage that, being located in a private urbanisation that doesn’t allow motor vehicle entrance for non-residents, makes your visit more difficult. We’ll leave the car next to the road and walk down along a paved road (no danger) with slope for about 2 km. Return will be harder, because you’ll have to ascend.

The end of the coastal path is a nice scenic viewpoint to watch some of the northern coves before arriving to Sant Feliu de Guixols

Cala el Crit, in Mont-ras, Costa Brava, is a virgin creek that hides a very dramatic legend

The story that all the locals know is maybe a legend, although the data given are so specific and the situation so veridical in the days when these events happened, that we can ensure that similar events occurred along the Costa Brava in these centuries so dangerous for the inhabitants.

At that time, because of the thick fog prevailing on the sea, pirates boat took refuge in the Cala Font Morisca, also in Mont-ras. Always lurking farmhouses where steal or families to kidnap to take as slaves to Africa, the pirates heard the crowing of a rooster, which indicated the presence of a farmhouse nearby: Cal Gall Peric.

They went to the farmhouse and found a family with two daughters. One of the pirates decided to take one of them, very beautiful, so he forced and dragged her to the nearby boat. In the struggle the desperate girl bit the finger’s pirate who, full of rage, killed the girl on the beach with his sword. The girl’s terrifying scream (crit is the catalan word for scream, cry, yell, shout) was so loud that it was heard miles around. From this fact comes the name of the cove. The pirate took the entire family as prisoners and burned the house, leaving the corpse of the beautiful girl on the beach.

A young girl was killed by the pirates in this cove, following the story of Cala el Crit

Cala el Crit is not an enclosed cove. To the north we find a set of rocks washed by the sea, making it attractive for diving, and south a nice rocky coastal path take us to a very beautiful set of coves as Cala Estreta and finally Es Castell Beach.

Cala el Crit, in Mont-ras village, near Palamós, is located in a very natural environnement, next to other coves you can reach through the coastal path

Well, that’s all we had to tell you about Cala el Crit. It’s not a creek that you will find by chance, you must visit to see her specifically because it is quite hidden, but its natural beauty and history worth it.

Sunset in Fornells harbour, in Begur, Girona, Costa Brava

Due to its favorable conditions, a place by the sea surrounded by pine trees and abundant fishing, Fornells has become a very original location that has not lost any of its original beauty.

Ships in Fornells harbour, Begur, Costa Brava

The harbour is one of its main features. And from this point it is possible to travel both north and south through the coast pathways that start from here. Heading south to Aiguablava, you find Cala de Ses Orats. The path leading to it passes through seaside extremely picturesque cottages, as El Paradis, belonging the begur entrepreneur, writer and politician Bonaventura Sabater.

Coastal path to Cala Ses Orats, in Fornells, Begur, Costa Brava

After Cala de Ses Orats, go to the Cala d’en Malaret, made of fine sand. The creek is small and surrounded by rocks, with excellent views over the bay of Aiguablava and the national parador (the luxurious hotel). A little further away you’ll find the Port d’Esclanyà.

From Cala Malaret, views to Cala Aiguablava and Parador Nacional are excellent

From the Fornells harbour, to the north, the coastal path passes through the interior of a small tunnel excavated in the rock that leads to the n’Estàsia creek. This is a long shaped cove, about 20 meters long and only 5 meters wide, of great beauty as it is embedded deeply into the rock of the coast, from which emerges a sweet water source. Beyond n’Estasia it is possible to see the Cap Rubí (Ruby Cape), and the elegant Dr. Arruga villa. He the color rocks in the coast changes passing from the the reddish to the gray, and in some places almost to black, as close to Platja Fonda, which is just a few meters to the north.

Coastal pahts around Fornells coves are in excellent condition

Fornells is a small place of Begur, Costa Brava, that deserves, thanks to the harbour, the coastal paths and the small coves, a very  interesting visit.

S'Agaró coastal path, in Sant Feliu de Guíxols

Initially these trails had a double function: to provide a rapid transit route for fishermen who had to move from one beach to another and, moreover, create a night security roads that would allow authorities to control the maritime smuggling. To the extent that both activities have been disappearing from our way of life, coastal trails have lost their original usefulness. However, local authorities have given a great importance to this ancient elements of our coast and now many of them are conditioned and protected from private property, so that visitors can walk and meet our coast in a simple manner.

Probably S’Agaró coastal trail is the smartest of the Costa Brava. It goes next to one of the most luxurious urbanisation in the whole area (designed by Josep Ensesa i Gubert, a disciple of Gaudí, in the years 20 of XXth century).

Sant Pol Beach, in Sant Feliu de Guíxols

We start our trip from the beach of Sant Pol in Sant Feliu de Guixols. From there, facing the sea, to the left, we take the marked walkway GR 92. This is a large and excellently paved path that allows us to follow without any problem.

Mansion terrace facing to the S'Agaró coastal path

During the tour we will discover the luxurious Gavina Hotel, magnificent facades of s’Agaro urbanisation, facing directly to the sea, the wonderful viewpoint of Punta de Pau … during the tour you will find many trees and plants… they are really well maintained by the village authorities of Sant Feliu de Guíxols and the inhabitants of the  urbanisation, who wish to display all this environment proudly for the enjoyment of visitors.

S'Agaró coastal path landscape viewing point

We continue to Cala Pedrosa, after which there is another temple veranda facing the bay. The path continues then through the steps of Sa Conca, until Cala de los Oriços, where we end our tour having enjoyed one of the most extraordinary places on the Costa Brava, declared Heritage of Cultural Interest.