Cadaqués to Collioure (Grade 2)

Day 1: Arrive at Girona airport or Figueres or Figueres Vilafant train station (if travelling from Barcelona) where you will be transferred to your accommodation in Cadaquès, once there you will have a welcome meeting with an English speaking local guide.

Cadaqués is a beautiful whitewashed coastal town surrounded by mountains and was a favourite of both Picasso and Salvador Dalí where Salvador Dalí once famously said in 1920: “I have spent a delightful summer, as always, in the perfect and dreamy town of Cadaqués. There, alongside the Latin sea, I have been quenched by light and colour”. 

Note: Cadaqués is a great place for eating out; it has a great selection of restaurants ranging from small Mediterranean family run restaurants, to fresh fish restaurants, pizza cafes and tapas bars. We would recommend you get stuck in to the seafood during your stay in Cadaqués, it’s always very fresh and delicious when washed down with a bottle of chilled Catalan white wine.

Accommodation: 3* Hotel, Breakfast, Cadaquès. Very close to the beach and the centre of Cadaqués this family run hotel is simple, clean and friendly.

Day 2: Today you embark on a beautiful walk out to the Cap de Creus, the most easterly point of mainland Spain with some spectacular coastal views; the rock outcrops are one of the most significant features of the Parc Natural, with its complicated and beautiful forms which often cause the visitor’s imagination to get carried away. One sees images of real or mythical animals in the area (lions, dragons, camels, eagles, cats, rats…), despite the fact that it is the wind and the sea, and not the Gods, which have gone on shaping the geological landscape of the Creus cape right up to the present day. You could also eat lunch at the wonderful restaurant out on the peninsular. (16Km, 5hrs 30mins)

Accommodation: Same as above.

Day 3: Leaving Cadaqués behind you make your way north through the heart of the famous Cap de Creus national park. You will follow a deeply rural trail with beautiful views of the Catalan countryside, you’ll have some magnificent views of the Pyrenees and the French/Spanish border before arriving in El Port de la Selva is outstanding for its varied landscapes, its beaches and its mountains. The first historic references to the settlement go back to 974, although it did not become a fully-fledged village until the 18th century, with the construction of its first church. The village retains the charm of a small fishing village and a great many monuments and historical buildings remain such as the Taballera Dolmen, and the Serra de Rodes medieval site, made up of Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, Sant Salvado Castle (13th century), Santa Elena Shrine, the village of Santa Creu and Sant Fruitós Church. The village has some of Catalonia’s best beaches. (12Km, 4hrs 30mins)

Accommodation: 4* Hotel, El Port de la Selva. The hotel is an old manor house from 1864 made with stones from the Cap de Creus. It’s been a hotel since 1960, it was totally refurbished in 2005 and is just a few meters from the beach. It has two restaurants (one of them in front of the sea) and a panoramic lounge.

Day 4: Leaving El Port de la Selva behind you, travel North West ascending up to the Sant Pere de Rodes cloister (Open Oct 1^st to May 31^st 10am – 5.30pm, June 1^st to Sept. 30^th from 10am to 8pm, closed on Mondays). Its origins date back to the first century after Christ. Christian doctrine understands Sant Pere de Rodes as one of the most important Monasteries in Spain. You will then make your way up to the ruins of Castle of Sant Salvador, from here you will have a breathtaking view of the Alt Emporda, across to the Albera Mountains and far into the Pyrenees. You also have stunning views over the Bay of Roses and the entire Cap de Creus. You will then make down to the seaside town of Llançà. (14Km, 4hrs 30min)

Originally Llançà was divided between the original tenth-century settlement — built inland as a defense against pirates — and the harbor of Llançà, however with tourism brought lots of growth to the town, and the village and harbor soon joined together to create one beautiful resort.

Accommodation: 2* Hotel,Llançà. This family run hotel enjoys an exceptional location, set right in front of the sea and with direct access to the beach. All the rooms are bathed in plenty of natural light and from the hotel terrace you can marvel at the view out over the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

Day 5: Today you will take the train from Llanca to Portbou, you will then carry on North, you will enjoy wonderful views over the Pyrenees, the famous Canigou peak, the Cap de Creu and the Mediterranean Sea as you ascend up into the beautiful Catalan hills, you will cross the border into France and onwards until you reach the French seaside town of Banyules Sur Mer. (15Km, 5hrs)

Nestled in the heart of the Côte Vermeille (Vermilion Coast), Banyuls is a preserved jewel that combines the authentic character of a town steeped in traditions with the dynamism of a modern city. Originally a fishing village that turned to wine-making and developed essentially with tourism, Banyuls owes its world reputation to its exceptional wines and its spectacular vineyards that plunge down to the sea.

Accommodation: 3* Hotel, Banyuls-Sur-Mer. Run by the welcoming Madame Rède, this well-equipped hotel perches on the slopes above Banyuls, with splendid views over the village and the Mediterranean from the restaurant and spacious bedrooms. There is an outdoor pool in which to cool off.

Day 6: Heading north you follow quiet lanes and cliff-top paths around the rugged Cap Béar headland, the views are truly spectacular. There are a couple of spots where you can pause for a swim before winding your way through the vineyards that produce the region’s wines and finally reaching the end of your journey, the beautiful French coastal town of Collioure. (17Km, 5hrs 30mins)

Of the four little salmon-pink towns along the Vermillion Coast, Collioure is the indisputable star, a sensationally picturesque ensemble of old town, beaches, waterfront castle and church, all set around a beautiful bay. The resort’s good looks have attracted artists since the early 1900s, when Matisse and Derain started painting here, and the streets are full of galleries to reflect this. The small Catalan port is sheltered by a creek where the waters of the Mediterranean meet the rocks of the Pyrenees mountain chain and with several sandy and pebble beaches, creeks and clear waters you have a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a  swim.

Accommodation: 3* Hotel, Breakfast, Collioure. Centrally located, just a short stroll from the harbour, this friendly hotel offers comfortable, relatively simple, air-conditioned rooms. As your stay is on a bed and breakfast basis here tonight, you are free to take your pick of the local seafood restaurants.

Day 7: Homeward bound (see the travel options section)