Costa Brava, Spain

It has been a day of bright sunshine; the scents of wild lavender and rosemary; and hillside trails winding past weathered rockscapes, ancient farmhouses and abandoned monasteries. Spain’s Cap de Creus, the crown jewel of the famed Costa Brava, offers incredible coastal trekking opportunities between small towns, each offering their own take on the Costa Brava lifestyle.

On this six-night trip, you’ll walk between the whitewashed fishing towns of Llançà and El Port de la Selva on the north side of the Cap de Creus to lively Cadaqués on the south side. Each hiking day promises six to twelve miles of coastal trekking along wild, uncrowded trails. Cadaques is just too beguiling to leave after just one night, so we’ll pause and enjoy the town for the day – there are great dining and shopping opportunities here, as well as the chance to visit Salvador Dali’s home one village over. From Cadaqués, you’ll enjoy a short day of hiking to Cala Joncols – a tranquil bay holding nothing but a single hotel where you can enjoy a long swim before an evening spritz under the olive trees. Finally, you’ll hike towards the town of Roses, passing cove after cove of crystal-clear water inviting you down from the trail above. From Roses, we will transfer you to the small city of Girona, one of Spain’s better-kept secrets. Girona is home to one of the finest historic centers in all of Europe and we will enjoy our last night together by dining at one of Girona’s outstanding Catalan restaurants.

WHAT WE’LL TAKE CARE OF

• ACCOMMODATIONS AND LUGGAGE TRANSFERS

We will transfer your luggage from hotel to hotel so that you don’t have to worry about getting that wheeled suitcase up the hill. We will stay in small hotels each night that provide an authentic taste of local culture. While typical of many European hotels in offering smaller rooms than you might find in the U.S., each of the hotels we’ve chosen has clean, well-run facilities, air-conditioning, and a full European-style breakfast. There is good wifi at each evening location.

• MEALS AND GROUP ACTIVITIES

We have included three evening meals as a group so that you have the opportunity to get to know and share your experiences with your fellow travelers. The first is our welcome dinner in Llançà where we will eat on the waterfront and toast with a welcoming glass of Cava (Spain’s ubiquitous sparkling wine). We’ll share another meal in Cala Joncols, where our hotel-restaurant is the only establishment in this beautiful, secluded bay. And we will celebrate our time together with a great meal out in Girona, where we conclude our itinerary. 

We will also provide your transfer from Roses to Girona, professional guides, detailed maps, and a daily briefing on what you can expect from the day to come. We will provide you with pre-trip packing lists along with a recommended training schedule, as well.

WHAT’S UP TO YOU

At Parallel, we value the community that we build within a group, but we equally value your independence. As such, we’ve designed our trips to give you ample opportunity to explore on your own, or with your fellow travelers. During our days of hiking, you are welcome to complete the day’s itinerary at your own pace – whether that means hiking with others in the group or not is up to you.

You will have plenty of opportunity for independence in your meals, too. Each of your hotels includes breakfast, to be enjoyed at your convenience. When it comes to lunch on the trail, we’ve learned that everyone picnics differently – and as such, you’ll have the opportunity to provision for lunch from local shops within easy walking distance of your hotel so that you can choose when, where, and how you have lunch during the day. As noted above you’ll have the opportunity for two truly independent evening meals – one in El Port de la Selva, and the other in Cadaqués. Both offer many different options, from casual beachside tapas and tinto to fine dining.

You’ll need airfare to and from Spain – if coming from the US, we recommend you fly in and out of Barcelona as there are direct flights from many American cities and the train service to the Cap de Creus is frequent and easy. On the first day of the trip, we will meet in Llançà. Regardless of where you are coming from or headed to, we’re very happy to assist you with your travel plans.