Catalunya: Camì de Ronda

12 sePtembER: FLIGHT TO BARCELONA AND TRANSFER TO COSTA BRAVA

Meet at the airport, check in formalities, and flight to Barcelona. We’ll continue directly from the airport by train to Figueres and then take a public bus to the coastal town of Roses, where we’ll check into a hotel just steps away from the sea.
After dropping off our luggage, we can stroll freely through the town center or along the pleasant waterfront promenade to the port, or, if we have enought time, visit the citadel, a powerful military fortress that now houses a rich archaeological site.
Traditional dinner in local restaurant and overnight stay.

13 september: Megalithic itinerary between Dolmens and Menhirs – boat trip

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we hike the hill behind Roses, through a maze
of paths built on a site of power, allowing us to admire several megalithic structures, including massive dolmens over two meters high, among the largest in Catalunya, and mysterious menhirs dating back to the Neolithic period.
In the afternoon, we board a boat from the port of Roses and sail toward the easternmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, passing the white and beautiful village of Cadaques and reaching Cap de Creus, passing rugged cliffs and idyllic coves, and enjoying the first swims of our journey. 
Return to Roses, dinner, and overnight stay.
Distance: 7 km
Elevation gain/loss: +200m – 200m

14 september: Roses – Cadaques

After breakfast, we begin our true Cami de Ronda, a trail through Mediterranean scrubland dotted with rosemary, rockrose, and wild thyme, beautiful pine forests, and stunning views of inviting turquoise coves. We pass Punta Falconera, home to a large complex of bunkers built during the Spanish Civil War, skirt the Cap de Norfeu nature reserve, and after the beautiful Cala Joncols, we begin the gradual climb that will take us to a picturesque hill. From here, we begin to see the white houses of Cadaques from above, a pearl of the western Mediterranean. Cadaques welcomes us with its slate-paved alleys, a relaxing atmosphere in front of the small harbor filled with anchored boats, and a good glass of wine that once enchanted the painter Salvador Dalí!
Dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay at a hotel.
Distance: 20 km
Elevation gain/loss: + 750m – 730m

15 sePtember: Cadaques – El Port de la Selva

Breakfast. From Cadaques, we depart along the historic stone path and arrive at Port Ligat, a paradise for Dalí’s genius, passing by the seaside house where the Catalan artist lived. From here, we enter the Cap de Creus Natural Park, heading towards the lighthouse of the same name.
There are few places in the Mediterranean where you can be caught in such a wild and captivating landscape as this! The terrain we’ll tread today is made up of rocks approximately 450 million years old, ancient granites that emerged during the rise of the Pyrenees mountain range. We arrive at Cala Jugadora, where we treat ourselves to a swim before continuing along the GR11 trail, crossing a picturesque plateau within the nature reserve, before turning back towards the sea and touching the dramatic yet stunning Cala Tavallera. Finally, we arrive at El Port de la Selva, located in a north-facing bay and popular with surfers.
Dinner and overnight stay in a beautiful hotel with spa.
Distance: 19,5 km
Elevation gain/loss: +700m -725m

16 sePtember: El Port de la Selva – Llancà

Breakfast. Today we head inland, leaving El Port and taking a stretch of a bike path.
We arrive in the beautiful center of La Selva del Mar, which we visit before beginning the climb along the historic path that connected the church of San Sebastian to the monastery of San Pere de Rodes, an impressive monument on the slopes of Monte Verdera, built around 878 by Benedictine monks. We visit the complex and then stop for lunch near the church of Santa Creu de Rodes, before descending along a verdant valley, passing through Coll de Perer, where we enjoy beautiful views of the Pyrenees descending towards the sea. Arrival in the small town of Llancá.
Traditional dinner and overnight stay at a hotel.
Distance: 13,5 km
Elevation gain/loss: + 530m – 530m

17 september: Llancà – Portbou

Breakfast. Our itinerary continues along the Camino de Ronda. From Llancà, we travel along the coast toward the Cap Ras promontory, where we admire other beautiful coves along a rugged coastline overlooking the sea. At a beach, we climb up to the mountain of Los Cañones, cannons that belonged to a Spanish armada that was shipwrecked off the coast in 1793. We stop at the top to admire the landscape before descending to the village of Colera, and then continue along a path overgrown with wild fennel, on a hill completely terraced due to now-abandoned agricultural practices. We thus arrive in Portbou, a border town and a stopping point for thousands of people who fled to France in 1939 along the so-called Route of Exile. Train to Figueres and arrival at the hotel.
Traditional dinner and overnight stay.
Distance: 12,5 km
Elevation gain/loss: + 480m – 480m

18 september: visit of Figueres and Salvador Dalì Museum

Breakfast. Today is a cultural day in the historic center of Salvador Dalí’s birthplace, the vibrant capital of the Alt Empordà region. We’ll take a day off and toast our trek with a visit to the theater-museum, taking an unprecedented journey into the surrealist art of this whimsical Catalan genius. After the visit, we’ll relax on the town’s Rambla with sangria and local tapas. Dinner and overnight stay.

19 september: Barcelona and flight back home

After breakfast, for those interested, we can take a walk along the walls of Sant Ferran Castle and admire the entire panorama from above, overlooking the Gulf of Roses and the Cap de Creus national park to the east and the Pyrenees mountain range to the northwest. A breathtaking landscape worthy of a perfect end to this trek!
We’ll say goodbye to Figueres and take the train back to Barcelona Sants, before continuing to the airport. Return flight and end of tour.

difficulty level

Moderately challenging. Requires reasonably good physical condition, some previous training, and some endurance for long distance hikes.
You walk for 4 to 6 hours a day with breaks, covering 13 to 22 km. Medium elevation gain with frequent ups and downs and some steep climbs and descents. Good fitness is required.

group size

Max. 12-14

path description:

We walk on marked paths, mainly on dirt and forest paths, with occasional short stretches of asphalt roads with minor traffic.

required hiking gear:

Hiking boots with treaded soles, preferably ankle-high. A small 15-25L daypack, suitable clothing including hiking pants (NO JEANS!) and technical shirts that dry quickly.
Pack: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, packed lunch, water bottles or a camel bag (at least 1.5L), beach towel, swimsuit, spare t-shirt, raincoat or light wind/rain jacket.

Climate:

Pleasantly warm days during the day and mild evenings, with highs around 22-25C°. Bring warm clothing for the evenings. Possible late summer showers or thunderstorms are not excluded.