Self-guided · Costa Brava, Spain
Cove to cove
down the
Costa Brava.
A week on the old coastguard paths of the Costa Brava, from the hilltop town of Begur to S'Agaró. Short walking days, whitewashed fishing villages, and a swim most afternoons.
- Days
- 8
- Distance
- 59 km
- Ascent
- 1,200 m
- Grade
- Easy to moderate
Trip Essentials
A free day by the sea
Day five is yours in Calella de Palafrugell, one of the prettiest villages on the Costa Brava. Swim, snorkel, or wander the terraced gardens at Cap Roig.
Walking solo?
You can walk this one on your own, with your own room in every hotel along the way.
Read the solo detailsThe walk
Short days, long lunches
and the sea beside you.
The Camí de Ronda was built so coastguards could patrol every cove of the Catalan coast on foot. Today it's one of the loveliest walking paths in the Mediterranean, threading over pink granite headlands and down into sandy bays where the fishing boats are still pulled up on the beach.
You walk between three and four and a half hours a day, so there's time for a long lunch in Tamariu, a swim at Sa Riera, or an hour in Palafrugell's daily market. Day five is a free day in Calella de Palafrugell, which most people who've been would happily call the prettiest village on the coast.
Each night is in a family-run hotel, several of them right on the beach, and your bags are waiting when you arrive.
The route, day by day.
A fixed self-guided package: every stage, every night's accommodation and every luggage transfer is arranged before you set off.
- 01
Arrive in Begur
You're met at Figueres-Vilafant station or Girona airport and taken to Begur. Explore the narrow streets, the fishermen's huts in the coves below, and the medieval castle on the hill. Night at Hotel Rosa, which dates from 1944 and has a roof terrace looking up at the castle.
- 02
Circular walk to Sa Tuna
3 h · 9.6 kmA gentle loop through the countryside to the bay of Sa Tuna, then back along the coast past Cala d'Aiguafreda to the sandy beach at Sa Riera, a good place to stop for lunch. Second night at Hotel Rosa.
- 03
Begur → Tamariu → Llafranc
4 h · 13.7 kmA coastal day past the beach at Tamariu, round the La Musclera headland and Cala Pedrosa, and up to the Sant Sebastià lighthouse with views out to sea and back to the Pyrenees. Down into Llafranc, a white fishing town that Dalí and a fair few film stars used to visit. Night at Hotel Terramar, on the beach and run by the fourth generation of the family.
- 04
Llafranc → Palafrugell → Calella de Palafrugell
3 h · 9.8 kmInland to the old cork town of Palafrugell and its daily market, then back to the sea at Calella de Palafrugell: half a dozen sandy coves, fishing boats on the sand, and cafés under the arches. Night at Hotel Sant Roc, on top of the cliff among the pines.
- 05
Free day in Calella de Palafrugell
No walking unless you want it. Swim, snorkel, have a long lunch, or walk up to the terraced gardens at Cap Roig, laid out from the 1920s by a Russian colonel and an English aristocrat. Second night at Hotel Sant Roc.
- 06
Calella de Palafrugell → La Fosca
3 h · 8.5 kmAlong the coast past more small coves, then inland over hills of pine, olive and oak to the protected fishing hamlet of S'Alguer and the sandy beach at La Fosca. Night at Hotel Ancora, 150 m from the beach, with a pool and a restaurant locals come to for the seafood.
- 07
La Fosca → Palamós → S'Agaró
4.5 h · 17.5 kmAlong the promenade at Palamós and onto the Camí de Ronda proper, with the sea on one side and pine hills on the other. Past the harbour at Platja d'Aro and across the sands of Sa Conca to S'Agaró, a seaside resort from Hollywood's golden age. Night at Hotel Sant Pol, right on the seafront.
- 08
Departure
Breakfast, and the trip ends. Private transfers to Barcelona or Girona can be added.
Solo walkers
Walking solo
This trip works well on your own. The walking days are short, the path is easy to follow, and every night is in a small hotel in a seaside village with plenty going on in the evening.
You have your own room every night, your bags are moved for you, and the local team is on the phone 24 hours a day if you need anything. The price for a solo walker is £2,375.
Runs on any date from 1 March to 28 June and 1 September to 21 October 2027.
Where you'll stay
A good bed at the end of every day.
Seven nights in five family-run hotels: Hotel Rosa in Begur, Hotel Terramar on the beach at Llafranc, Hotel Sant Roc on the clifftop at Calella de Palafrugell, Hotel Ancora at La Fosca and Hotel Sant Pol on the seafront at S'Agaró. A sea-view room upgrade for nights 3 to 7 is available.
Getting there
Fly to Barcelona or Girona, or take the high-speed train to Figueres-Vilafant. Your transfer to Begur is included from Figueres-Vilafant or Girona airport.
What's included?
A fixed self-guided package — accommodation, luggage transfer and route notes all taken care of before you arrive.
Seven nights in small 3-star hotels, two sharing a room
Seven breakfasts
Your bags moved between hotels every day
Arrival transfer from Figueres-Vilafant station or Girona airport
Route notes, maps and a phone app with built-in navigation
Local support 24 hours a day
All planning and booking by Big Trail Adventures
Not included
- Flights and trains
- Lunches, dinners and drinks
- Travel insurance (we recommend it)
- Departure transfer (from about €125 to Girona or €295 to Barcelona)
- Transport if you skip a walk
- Entry fees and personal expenses
This route. These nights.
One clear price.
You are booking the itinerary above: your walking days, your overnight stays and the support that carries you between them.
Organising this trail for friends? Build a group trip with individual payments
- Full refund if unhappy with any changes
- Confirmation within a few days
- ABTOT financially protected
We'll start planning your trip right away. Not happy with anything? We'll adjust it or refund you — no questions asked.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Big Trail Adventures (member 5690). Protection is provided for non-flight packages. Full details in our booking conditions.
Things walkers ask us.
How hard is it?
Easy to moderate. The longest day is 17.5 km and most are under 14 km, on coastal paths with plenty of short ups and downs. If you walk regularly at home, you'll enjoy it.
Can I walk it on my own?
Yes. You have your own room every night, and the solo price is £2,375 per person. If two of you are travelling but want separate rooms, it's £540 extra for the single room.
Can I swim along the way?
Yes, most days. The path passes a string of coves and beaches, and many people pack a swimsuit in their day bag.
Can I start on any date?
Yes, any date within the season, as long as it's at least six weeks away.
Who do I book with?
You book with Big Trail Adventures and pay us. We arrange everything with our local team in Catalonia, who look after you on the ground.
Is the The Rugged Catalan Coast tour self-guided?
Yes. This is a self-guided trip: you walk the 59 km route independently, with no guide and no group. Accommodation for all 7 nights is booked for you, route notes and maps are provided, and there is local support in the region if anything goes wrong.
Do I need a guide or can I walk it alone?
No guide is needed. The route is walked on marked paths with the notes and mapping supplied in your pack. You choose your own start date within the season (1 March to 28 June and 1 September to 21 October) and walk each day at your own pace.
Who arranges the accommodation?
We do. Seven nights in five family-run hotels: Hotel Rosa in Begur, Hotel Terramar on the beach at Llafranc, Hotel Sant Roc on the clifftop at Calella de Palafrugell, Hotel Ancora at La Fosca and Hotel Sant Pol on the seafront at S'Agaró. A sea-view room upgrade for nights 3 to 7 is available.
