Live it up in Barcelona. Relax on the Costa Brava.
Dates: September 1 – 7, 2024
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Start: Barcelona, Spain
End: Calella de Palafrugell, Spain
Sites: Barcelona, Girona, Palamós, Pals, Peratallada, Calella de Palafrugell
Cost: from $2595 based on double occupancy
Single Supplement: from $595
All prices in US dollars, land only. Solo traveler roomshares available.
A Walking Vacation in Spain
¡Únete a nosotros en España! (Join us in Spain!) You’ll have the perfect balance of big city Barcelona and off-the-beaten-path Costa Brava. Our Spain walking vacation shows you the best of both.
Barcelona is a fun and fascinating city. It hosts dynamic culinary and art scenes as well as a rich history and stunning architecture. Costa Brava is a sun-soaked section of the Mediterranean coast with abundant natural beauty and charming towns. All along our journey we’ll find good company, great food, and welcoming hospitality.
Overview
Spain Walking Vacation
Barcelona
First, you’ll arrive in beautiful Barcelona. Our walking vacation in Spain begins with two nights exploring the food, culture, and the historic center of Barcelona. Our urban strolls will introduce you to the sights, sounds, and tastes of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. We will see street art in El Raval and the public heart of Catalonia in El Born. In the Gothic Quarter we will visit the bustling market of La Boqueria. From our select hotel you can stroll to nearby attractions such as the famous La Rambla or the Picasso museum.
Costa Brava
Next, our small group vacation will transfer to the Costa Brava. The Costa Brava extends northeast from Barcelona to the French border. It is known for its charming fishing villages and dramatic coastlines with many beaches, bays, and inlets. Here we spend four nights at Calella de Palafrugell. Still a small fishing village, it hosts an array of family run restaurants, cafes, and interesting galleries. Each day our half-day walks explore the pristine coastline and nearby towns.
Surrounded almost entirely by water, Spain offers an array of beautiful coastal walks, and Costa Brava has some of the most well preserved. Calella de Palafrugell is the perfect destination for a Spain walking vacation. Our small group walks average 5k-8.5k, or between 1 ½ to 3 hours including stops and breaks. If you’d like to walk more or less, or at a different pace, we can create daily options. Hiking boots are not required. Just a good pair of comfortable walking shoes should serve you well.
In addition to the coastal villages, we will spend a day walking the countryside between two well-preserved ancient towns in the Catalonia region. We will start in Pals, which boasts amazing views from the top of the village. After exploring the town, we will walk together to Peretallada. Another day we will walk the fortress walls of Girona and explore it’s center. There we’ll see its impressive medieval architecture and fortified center. Both days you will have time to explore the town, shop and have lunch before returning to the hotel.
What you’ll love
1. Small group classes
With no more than 12 guests, it feels like traveling with a fun group of friends.
2. Immersive experiences
Step away from your everyday life and fully experience the food, culture, and landscape of the Costa Brava.
3. Planning with Care
We take care of the details. You enjoy your vacation!
Inclusions
Barcelona:
- Two nights at our centrally located hotel
- Orientation walk
- Full buffet breakfast daily
- Welcome dinner
- Assistance of your host / guide throughout the program
- Neighborhood walk
- All hotel taxes and service fees
Costa Brava:
- Private group transfer from Barcelona hotel to Calella de Palafrugell
- Four nights at our waterfront, family-owned hotel
- Full buffet breakfast daily
- Orientation meeting and walk in Calella de Palafrugell
- Guided daily walking itineraries unique to The Blue Walk
- Calella de Palafrugell to Llafranc. (5K)
- Cap Roig to Palamos (8K)
- Pals to Peretallada (6.5K)
- Girona (6K)
- Farewell dinner
- Assistance of your host / guide throughout the program
- All transfers per the itinerary
- Private group transfer from Calella de Palafrugell to Barcelona Airport
- All hotel taxes and service fees
Example Itinerary…
Actual daily schedules may differ.
Day 1
We will gather at our centrally located hotel in historic Barcelona, Spain. A quiet location situated just blocks from the La Rambla. After a meet-and-greet and program overview, we will have an orientation walk to get to know the neighborhood. Our first day comes to an end with an abundant welcome dinner of traditional Spanish tapas.
Day 2
Begin the morning with a stroll through Barcelona’s oldest neighborhoods and famous daily market. Of course we’ll stop at our favorite places for a snack or two. Afterwards you will have free time to have lunch, shop, or explore more of Barcelona. In the evening there is an option to see a traditional flamenco show in an intimate cantina.
Day 3
After breakfast our small group of travelers will transfer to the Costa Brava. Before checking into our seafront hotel, an orientation walk will introduce you to Calella de Palafrugell. Later in the afternoon our walking vacation in Spain will take a leisurely stroll along a coastal path to a nearby village. Upon our return, sunset views will lead us back to our hotel.
Day 4
Start the day with a walk along the ancient city walls of beautiful Girona. Full of interesting views and sweeping panoramas it is a truly unique way to see the city. In the afternoon you will have free time to have lunch and explore the city before returning to our hotel.
Day 5
Today is all about coastal views and trails. Our Spain walking vacation will walk through pine forests and along sandy beaches. We will pass fishing villages and Roman ruins before reaching our destination of Palamós. There we will enjoy lunch at a favorite, family run restaurant before meeting our return transfer.
Day 6
First our small group walking vacation in Spain will take in the small, medieval city of Pals. Then we will take a path across the countryside to the town of Peretallada. This is a beautiful walk through olive groves, oak forests, vinyards, and rolling fields. After lunch and free time, we will return to the hotel. Finally, as we watch the moon rise over the sea, we will celebrate our time together at a favorite beachside restaurant.
Day 7
Finally it is time to say adiós to our travel companions. After breakfast a private transfer will deliver our small walking group to the Barcelona International Airport. There we will bid farewell until the next time.
A full week of leisurely coastal walks and urban strolls
Where in the World?
Barcelona, known for its art, architecture, and cuisine, is located at the Mediterranean sea in the very north of the Spanish coast. It is certainly the most cosmopolitan and economically most active city in Spain. The Costa Brava is located to the north of Barcelona, and stretches for more than 200 km from Blanes to Portbou. It is renowned for the diverse landscape of its beaches and coves, the quality of its waters, its excellent cuisine and centuries-old cultural legacy. We are excited to introduce this region through our Spain walking vacation.
Important Notes
Spain Walking Vacation
Solo travelers and single supplements
For our guests who are traveling solo... We offer a single supplement for an additional fee if you wish to guarantee a private room.
You may share a twin room with another trip participant of the same sex (Roomshare) if you do not request a private room. When you sign up, if no Roomshare is available, a 50% single supplement will be included on your invoice due at final payment. However, if a roommate is found before your trip departs, you will be matched and the single supplement will be removed or refunded.
A single supplement guarantees a private room. Whenever possible singles will be placed in the same room type as our double or twin rooms.
Twin / Double Rooms
Please be aware twin beds in Europe may have very little or no space between beds. Also, instead of a king or queen mattress, double beds are often adjoining twin mattresses secured together and made with double bedding.
Fitness
Walking is a part of this program. It is both a means of visiting locations and a way to immerse yourself in a place. Our scheduled walks are usually 1-2 hours long at a casual pace. We provide a general description of our walks here. It is your responsibility to know your own physical and medical condition with respect to the advisability of participating in a chosen trip. We suggest you prepare by doing at least 1 hour of walking several times per week, and a longer walk at least once per week. Ideally, include walks with elevation change and stairs. (There are always stairs.)
As with any exercise program, we recommend you consult with your physician prior to your arrival regarding the suitability of a walking tour.
Some of our guests find trekking poles helpful on steep or uneven terrain. In Europe they are quite common. Before using them on a vacation, please practice at home. We strongly advise you get comfortable using trekking poles on familiar paths first.
For additional information on these topics and more, please see our FAQ page.
Choose Your Walking or Art Vacation
Walking Tours
Are you looking for a leisurely European walking vacation or a travel journal-based art vacation? To book, select your program type or destination below. We will take you there!
To learn more about The Blue Walk difference please read our About The Blue Walk page.
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