Discover Calella: A Catalan Coast Walking Holiday

The Costa Brava’s pine-fringed coves & medieval villages
The variety | Walk along the coast and across the bucolic plain that lies behind it.
No fixed itinerary | Make your days your own. Swim in coves, linger in medieval villages.
Wines of Empordà | Enjoy an included tour and tasting at a family-run vineyard.
4-star comfort | With wide-ranging facilities including a pool and tennis court.
Catalan cuisine | An abundance of great restaurants, including at your hotel.
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 2 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • wine-tasting (and outward transfer)
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 2 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • wine-tasting (and outward transfer)

Holiday information

A walking holiday in northern Catalonia

Whether you’re considering your first self-guided walking holiday or simply looking for easy-to-moderate walking near the sea, a week in the attractive, whitewashed fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell on the Costa Brava is an ideal choice.

Characterised by secluded coves, sandy beaches, and rocky, pine-clad promontories (Costa Brava translates as Wild Coast), this area was once a haven for smugglers. Nowadays it’s Catalonia’s quietest coastline and the paths used by anti-smuggling patrols have taken on a new lease of life as scenic walking trails.
While you could spend all your time by the sea, combining walking with snorkelling, boat trips, or leisurely seafood lunches – the abundance of first-rate produce is one reason why Catalan cuisine is considered one of the best in Spain – to do so would be to miss out on the other side to this alluring region.

Just behind the coast stretches a fertile plain, framed to the north by the foothills of the Pyrenees and dotted with medieval villages of cobbled streets and pretty squares, still guarded by what remains of their watch towers and defensive walls.

Fittingly for a holiday on which the emphasis is squarely on relaxing and recharging, you stay at the Hotel Alga, a 4-star hotel with lovely facilities.

 "Calella is the perfect base to relax, recharge and explore. I’ve never been to Catalonia before but as soon as I arrived, I felt relaxed. From the small bustle and charm of the medieval villages in the countryside - Pals was my personal favourite - to the sound of the ocean waves as you walk the coastline. Not to mention the wine from Mas Geli winery (included in our holiday)!"

- Amber Wilkinson


Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights. There’s no fixed itinerary, so take your pick of our suggested walking routes as the mood takes you.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

     
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 13 14 15 17 20 24 27 27 25 21 17 14
    mm 42 36 47 50 52 38 23 53 73 86 58 50
  • Walking in Catalonia
    Our suggested walks explore both the coast and the interior, often on waymarked trails. Several routes start from Calella itself, but others start and finish in other villages which can easily be reached by inexpensive bus (pay locally).
    Peratallada
  • Choice of routes: 6km to 14km
    Botanical Gardens: 6km, 1h30; ascent /descent 110m
    This leisurely walk from Calella to the botanical gardens at Cap Roig is the perfect warm-up walk with which to start your holiday. You may even have time to fit it in on your day of travel, if you arrive early enough in Calella. After taking time to visit the gardens, you follow the same route back, with sea views and plenty of opportunities to stop for refreshments en route.

    Around Calella: 14km, 5.5hrs; ascent/descent 250m; shorter option: 10.5km, 4hrs
    Follow our interesting and varied inland circuit from Calella to the town of Palafrugell with its lively market (closed Mondays). Part of the route follows a vía verde – a disused railway now used by walkers and cyclists. You can shorten the route by not visiting Palafrugell.

    To Llafranc: 8.5km, 3hrs; ascent/descent 245m
    Follow the well-waymarked coastal path from Calella to Llafranc. For far-reaching views, continue beyond Llafranc up to the lighthouse on the headland before returning to Calella.
    North of Calella - Llafranc
  • Choice of routes: 9.5km to 15km
    Medieval Peratallada: 12km, 4hrs; ascent/descent 100m
    This leisurely route explores some of the beautiful medieval villages that pepper the interior, from Peratallada – whose characterful plaças are home to a wide variety of tempting restaurants – to tranquil Canapost and ancient Palau-sator, originally settled by the Romans.

    The Begur headland: 9.5km, 4hrs; ascent/descent 365m
    Head down to the coast at Cap Begur, taking in the pretty seaside village of Sa Tuna and the beautiful bay of Cala d’Aiguafreda.

    Pals to Begur: 11km, 3.5hrs (plus vineyard visit); ascent /descent 250m
    We arrange a transfer to Pals in the morning, giving you a couple of hours to explore this small medieval town before walking to nearby Mas Geli, a family-run vineyard that produces delicious organic DO Empordà wines and boasts views over the plain towards the Pyrenees. As well as a tour (in English) and a tasting, we also include a light lunch Afterwards, you meander south-eastwards to handsome Begur, from where you can take a bus back to Calella.

    Bays & coves: 12km, 4.5hrs; ascent/descent 430m. Longer option via Aiguablava: 15km, 5.5hrs; ascent 450m/descent 500m
    Be sure to take your swimsuit and towel with you, as this enjoyable walk features some delightful swimming spots, namely the small bay of Tamariu, which is framed by pine-clad hills and the pink rocks typical of the area; Cala Pedrosa, a quiet cove that is only accessible on foot or by boat; and, if you opt for the longer route, alluring Aiguablava.
    Begur
  • Medieval villages & time by the sea
    Begur, Pals, Peratallada & Palafrugell
    Many of the villages that feature on our suggested walking routes are well worth exploring in their own right. Begur, Pals and Peratallada all boast a castle or the remains of fortifications; Begur’s crumbling 16th-century fortress commands 360-degree views over the sea and interior. Peratallada is a foodie village, with some excellent eateries and artisan shops. For something different, visit Palafrugell’s cork museum to learn more about this once-important local industry.

    Girona
    This little-known gem of a city is 90 minutes away by bus. Walk along its superbly preserved walls, wander through the labyrinthine Jewish Quarter, and take a stroll along the banks of the River Onyar, which are lined with houses painted in various shades of ochre and terracotta.

    Other activities
    Of course, being on the coast means that you can also make the most of the sea: go snorkelling, take a boat trip, or simply relax in one of the many inviting coves.

Accommodation

Your high-quality hotel boasts a wide range of facilities.
Hotel Alga

Extend your stay

Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 7 nights: 01 April 2026 - 30 June 2026 & 01 September 2026 - 31 October 2026

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price *
    1 - 30 Apr 2026 from £863
    1 - 31 May 2026 from £953
    1 - 23 Jun 2026 from £1193
    1 - 30 Sep 2026 from £1193
    1 - 24 Oct 2026 from £943

    * Final price is subject to change due to the customisable nature of our holidays and is dependent on accommodation availability for the dates selected. We will contact you to confirm the final price. Single supplements are applicable on many of our holidays. Please contact us for full details.

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

Reviews

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We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; Catalan, Basque and Gallego have equal status in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia, respectively. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Discover Calella: A Catalan Coast Walking Holiday
7 nights
Price from £863pp
Discover Calella: A Catalan Coast Walking Holiday
7 nights
Single-centre walking, no car
Grade: Flexible: easy & easy-to-moderate options
Price from £863pp
Last fetch time is : 10/31/2025 3:29:26 AM

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