Cala Murtra, near the road that goes to Cala Montjoi, in Roses, Cap de Creus, Girona, Costa Brava

Cala Murtra is one of the most pristine coves on the Costa Brava. Its geographical location is privileged, and there is no doubt that for those who love quiet coves, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

This panel in the side of the road indicates the place we have to park to start the descent by foot to Cala Murtra, in Roses, Cap de Creus, Costa Brava

The cove is located about 7 kms from the center of Roses, taking the road of Cala Montjoi, completely paved. At this point you must be vigilant, on the right side of the road, indicating the panel down to the cove. Park here, on an unpaved space on the edge, and begin the descent through a path not well conditioned nor well marked, truth be told, without much slope or danger and that in 15 or 20 minutes will take you to the cove, which you will see as a visual reference along you descend, when you contemplate the brilliant blue waters under the clear blue sky and beyond the green of the pines that surround this natural setting of Cap de Creus Natural Park.

From the road we start the descent towards Cala Murtra, in Roses, Cap de Creus, Girona, Costa Brava

Cala Murtra has no trace of human influence, there is no building around and has not even services dedicated to bathers (not even bins, so you are requested to carry your litter generated during your stay in the cove). Cala Murtra is just that: a creek, and human presence even in summer time is usually minimal.

Desceding to Cala Murtra, in Roses, Costa Brava, through the path we discover this ancient villa ruins

The cove surface is not sand, but pebbles. It will certainly difficult to walk barefoot. The surface under water, almost of transparent and turquoise colors, combines sand with rocks at a time, showing the diver underwater vision alive. Moreover, Cala Murtra is surrounded by cliffs and is oriented slightly north (you can see in the distance Cap Norfeu), so that in the days of Tramuntana wind blowing it doesn’t offer much protection. On one side lies the Cape Trencat, easily distinguished by its red color tones on the rocks, and the other the Cape Blanc, as its name (white) indicates lighter colors. Near Cala Murtra there are two more spectacular coves: Cala Lledó, south, and Cala Rostella, the next cove north of Cala Murtra. In any case the scenic beauty of the cove, surrounded on all sides by pine forests, is ravishing.

When we finish descending we verify all the beauty and pureness of Cala Murtra

Cala Murtra, horseshoe shaped, is about 150 meters long and 10 meters wide. You may be facing the creek, which allows the practice of nudism, find some moored boats: it is certainly one of the most favorite beaches for boats for ease of mooring. However, indicated buoys separate bather areas and it is prohibited by any engine boat to surpass them.

Since 2009 this cove is awarded with the European EMAS environmental certification and the ISO 14001 international environmental management, so that the quality of its waters are secured for the enjoyment of visitors.

Scenic view of Cala Canyelles, in Lloret de Mar, Girona, Costa Brava

Cala Canyelles has the distinction of having, at its right end, to the south, the only harbour that you find in Lloret. This is a small pier that accommodates only small vessels, most sport boats. Associated with him is the Yacht Club Cala Canyelles.

Cala Canyelles harbour, in Lloret de Mar

The sand of the cove is thick and golden coloured. Its length is over 400 meters and has a width of about 40 meters. Canyelles is an urbanized cove and is equipped with all the amenities you would expect of a large creek. So in addition to bins, showers footbaths, cleaning services, parasol and hammocks rental, kiosk and restaurant, it has surveillance and first aid services during the summer season. It also has a small playground where children can play when they want to switch the water games.

Canyelles beach has excellent services, and a children park among them

To Cala Canyelles arrives the tour boat lines, many of them with underwater views, that allows to tour the coastline of the Costa Brava from Blanes to Sant Feliu. On the beach there is a point of information and ticketing.

Cala Canyelles is divided by two big rocks with pines on them

As can be seen in the photographs Cala Canyelles is divided by a set of two large rocks in its center. Many swimmers love to extend the towel in the shade of these rocky outcrops that have the particularity to host pines on their summits, about 10 meters high. The rocks also reach the sea and children and adults love snorkeling in search of tiny life forms around them. From this part of the beach on the left side, where the snack bar, the number of bathers is generally lower, as it is located a little further away from the main entrance of the creek, the park and the marina.

Between the two rocks there is a perfect space to snorkel

Access to Cala Canyelles is really easy, just have to take the road of Tossa de Mar and swerve right at the moment you see the indication of the cove. Creek also has parking, so hopefully if you go to this beach high occupancy, even in high season, you can park.

Another of the excellent services in Cala Canyelles offered is kayak rentals

Thus, the Cala Canyelles, in Lloret de Mar, awarded with the blue flag, is one of those great beaches of the Costa Brava with a lot of services and perfect to meet the needs of a large family beach day.

In the left side of Cala Canyelles there is a typical beach bar (chiringuito) oriented to the sea and with chillout ambiance

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 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

Portlligat Bay from the Casa Museo Dalí roof, in Cadaqués

Portlligat (also written as Port Lligat) also houses one of the Dalí Museums. This was Dalí home since he bought it in the 30′s, when he returned from New York. In fact he acquired several fishermen houses and, with the help of some architects, he managed to fusion them through new walls and passages. A visit to this museum gives a good account of the so special configuration that has this original dalinian place. Before becoming a museum, while Dalí and his wife Gala lived in the house, great and famous stars as Federico Garcia Lorca, Picasso or Walt Disney visited it. The genial painter was always very fond of this landscape, so much that on several occasions he stated that it was “the most beautiful in the world”.

Portlligat, in the middle of Cap de Creus, is a beautiful bay surrounded by woods

The island is about a mile long from Portlligat shore and is a very typical well recognised landscape of this bay. It was for the fishermen in the area of major importance for protection as a shelter against storms. Currently on the island you’ll only find some vegetation and some trees, although we know that in the past, as in Portlligat, there were some houses with residents, including the village postman, so that it was also known as Mail Island.

Panoramic view of Portlligat, shot from its northern side

If you to go swimming to reach the island from the creek you’ll find that the distance is too long, but if you start from the south of the bay, which we access through the coastal path to Ses Boquelles and Playa d’en Ton, the distance is shortened to only 60 meters.

Boats in Portlligat, Cadaqués, Costa Brava, Spain

Portlligat is part of Cadaqués, so that in fact it’s not a village itself. It is formed by a few white houses of former fishermen (most of them residential homes now) and half a dozen traditional paved streets, some with ladders. It will draw your attention the spatial arrangement of these homes and the fact that the chimneys are topped by a pyramid, an old technique to prevent the north wind, the Tramuntana, to snuff out their fireplaces.

Portlligat beach is frequently a place for fishermen boats to rest

Portlligat beach, on the other hand, is about 80 meters long and barely 10 meters wide. Since the creek is so small and there are many boats, the truth is that Portlligat is not one of the most attractive coves to bath, compared with others in Cadaqués that even have blue flag. So, it has bins, but no showers. Now the disabled access is fully conditioned, especially considering those who visit the museum.

Dalí Museum entrance, located in the right side of Portlligat Bay, and very visited by tourists

Another point of interest is the Ermita de Sant Baldiri (church), from 1702, which is at the top of the creek, near the cemetery.

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.

La cala de Platja Fonda, en Begur, Costa Brava

To access Platja Fonda (literally ‘Deep beach’) from the center of Begur you’ve to take the same road that leads to Aiguablava or Fornells. Before arriving to Aiguablava, a left turn allows us to go through an urbanisation and park in a parking in a place from where we’ll descend on foot to our destination.

Platja Fonda panoramic view, in Begur, where you can see the impressive cliff on it

Platja Fonda is surrounded by a great wall that protects it. In fact we access to the beach through a set of stairs, in good condition, allowing us to see the cove with scenic views. Access is certainly one of the reasons why this creek has managed to remain so unspoilt and wild over the years.

Playa Fonda waters are blue and almost transparent, with a great fish richness

It has about 130 meters long and 35 wide. It features dark shades, due to the color of the sand (dark colored gravel) as well as by the shadow that the great back wall can project back on its waters. In summer it offers service bar.

Picture from the stairs downloading to Platja Fonda

The villa on the right, facing the sea, on Cap de Rubi, was owned by Dr. Arruga, a distinguished catalan ophthalmologist who stayed in Begur. On this side a coastal path leads to the port of Fornells (Fornells harbour).

Sun and shadows at sunset in Platja Fonda, Begur

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

This impressive reddish big rock is located in front of the Cala de la Illa Roja, in Begur, Costa Brava

The creek, formed by a long beach, is located between north Begur and south Pals. In fact it is part of the landscape through which runs the coastal path between Sa Riera (in Begur) and Platja del Raco (in Pals).

Illa Roja creek is very quiet and nudism is allowed

Illa Roja cove length is about 120 meters and a width of 20, being flanked on the rear wall by a huge rock on which the mentioned coastal path runs. Illa Roja is the only beach in Begur where you can practice nudism.

Colour richness is unique in this landscape surrounded by cliffs

Due to its location it can not be reached directly by car, if not going through this coastal path. The easiest way to reach Illa Roja is from Platja de Pals (Pals Beach) side, in the north. You will be able to enjoy a fine golden sandy cove with clear water, very large and with very little agglomeration. No showers are available, but a beach bar is set up in summer. Views of Medes Islands in the distance, little miles away, are really impressive.

Picture taken from the coastal path that runs between Sa Riera beach (in Begur) and Pals Beach

One of the main attractions Illa Roja cove offers to the bathers are the snorkel activities. Around the big red rock in front of the beach grows an important underwater population of fish and other marine species. So don’t forget your dive mask to enjoy this opportunity when come to Illa Roja beach.