Swimming in turquoise waters, hiking through pine forests, and visiting picturesque fishing villages are some of the activities you can do in this area of outstanding natural beauty.
The hike between Palamós and Calella de Palafrugell is one of our Camí de Ronda’s favourites, and it begs to be explored. All you need is a pair of comfortable hiking shoes, a bottle of water and a camera to capture everything!
Technical details
🥾 Distance: 8.5 km one way
🟢 Level: Easy
⬆️ Elevation gain: 247 m
⬇️ Elevation loss: 242 m
⏱ Duration: It depends on the number of stops you make in the coves to swim and the number of pictures you take!
🧭 Wikiloc track
In our Wikiloc profile you can find the track of this hike.
Camí de Ronda’s hike between Palamós and Calella
The route we propose starts in the coastal city of Palamós, at Platja de la Fosca. This is a vast and sandy beach from which you can see the ruins of an old castle, Sant Esteve.
From there, the wildest part of the track starts. The route unfolds along an artificial path that goes up and down the coastline. Even though it’s exhausting at some points, the pay-off is the fantastic panoramic views.
Soak in the landscape’s beauty, with the green of the pines contrasting the blue of the Mediterranean sea.
After some time walking, you will find a small traditional fishing village named s’Alguer. It still preserves the old white fisherman’s huts, with the doorways painted in different colours, creating a picturesque scene.
The next beach that you’ll encounter is El Castell. It’s one of the few areas that remains completely unspoilt. Here, we took time to swim in the crystalline waters and dive to see if we could spot any fauna.
On the eastern end of this beach, there’s an ancient Iberian settlement on a promontory. The first archaeological expedition took place in 1935, but there’s evidence of human settlements in this place since the 6th century BC.
The walk continues through some hidden and beautiful coves that you can only discover by foot. Some of the names of the coves that the path passes through are Canyers, Corbs, Estreta, Planes and Crit. Choose the one you prefer and take some time to sunbathe, swim or just relax.
We stopped at the Estreta cove for a break, and decided to eat some food, and enjoy a beer (all brought from home) while sunbathing. We did the hike in summer, and believe us, it was really hot!
The last part of the walk, closer to Calella de Palafrugell, is the most challenging.
Pay especial attention around the cove El Crit. The path is steep, and the stairs leading you down to the cove are crumbling. What’s cool is that to access this cove, you needed to pass through a keyhole opening in a rock.
After taking in the views, keep walking to the botanical gardens of Cap Roig on a steep hillside.
Soon, you’ll reach the urbanization of Palafrugell. Once there, there’s a refurbished path with picture-postcard views of the sea and the city.
And just some kilometres later, you’ll arrive at the chic seaside village Calella de Palafrugell.
Yes, you’ve made it! Now it’s time to discover this charming village made of white houses.
First, find one bar and drink a refreshment or a beer; you deserve it!
Then, take a walk around the city to discover the Botanical gardens of Cap Roig, the castle of Cap Roig, and the area around the harbour.
👀 Looking for a place to sleep in Palamós or Calella?
You can check accommodation options in Palamós or places to stay in Calella. There are plenty of options, so we’re sure you’ll find one that suits your taste and budget.
Know before you go
There are several things to take into account when planning for this hike:
- The temperatures can get really high in summer, especially in August. We recommend bringing a lot of protection, including sunglasses and sun cream.
- There’re no fountains with drinking water during the hike, so we advise you to get enough water with you.
- To return, you can do so by bus or take a taxi to Palamós. You can also walk back through the same path.
More info about Calella and Palamós
Calella de Palafrugell is a small coastal town in the province of Girona. Nowadays, the city has become a holiday resort, but it still maintains its roots as a fishing village.
Its main characteristics are the white houses and narrow streets.
The main attraction points of the city are the Jardins de Cap Roig (Cap Roig gardens). They’re considered one of the best botanical gardens on the Mediterranean coast. In summer, a famous event takes place there: the Festival dels Jardins de Cap Roig. It’s a music festival that runs during July and August, featuring international music and dance performances in a beautiful location.
Palamós is a town in the Costa Brava known for its port, which has one of the last remaining fishing fleets on this part of the Mediterranean coast. It has been a fishing village since the beginning of its existence, and nowadays, it offers fresh fish products of high quality.
If you go to there, you can’t leave without tasting gambes de Palamós. They’re locally caught prawns whose main characteristics are their red tonality and amazing flavour.
We hope you were inspired to take this hike! Leave a comment if you do end up doing it, we would love to hear about your experience 🙂
More things to do in the Costa Brava
We’ve written several posts with adventures to do in the area. Here are some suggestions:
- Via ferrata Cala del Molí: Get ready the climb the only via ferrata in Europe’s coast. Impressive panoramic views over the Mediterranean sea are guaranteed!
- Seven beaches in the province of Girona that aren’t packed during summer: Get away from the summer crowds by hiking to one of these secluded beaches in the Costa Brava.
- Herbocaiac, a foraging and kayaking adventure in the Costa Brava: A kayaking, snorkelling, and foraging experience in Palamós. You’ll learn about the plants and algae of the region, and get immerse in a beautiful landscape while doing some exercise.
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