Costa Brava (map), the land of Salvador Dalí, picturesque medieval towns, gorgeous beaches and some of the best cuisine in the world, is a paradise for those seeking sun, sea, culture, history and gastronomy. Any visitor will soon discover the amazing cuisine and wines – there are many people who come here simply to have a sumptuous meal at Celler de Can Roca (often voted as the world’s best restaurant) or any of the other terrific establishments in the region. Totally understandable but those calories start piling up very quickly! Luckily, there are many activities in Costa Brava that will help burn off those calories and whip up an appetite for another grand meal.
Activities in Costa Brava
There are many touristic activities in Costa Brava but here are six that I can recommend. These are just some of the many things to do in Costa Brava – I still returned home a few pounds heavier (hehe!) but these activities allowed me to get out and about and experience Costa Brava from different perspectives.
1. Explore the Empordá by e-bike
The Empordá is a lovely region with verdant rolling hills, vineyards, orchards and gorgeous medieval towns. Hire an electric bicycle (burricleta) at Ocitania and follow one of their routes through the Empordá.
You’ll pass cane fields, vineyards and incredibly picturesque villages. The region is quite flat, which makes for easy cycling, but the electric motor in the bicycle provides a welcome boost for the uphill stretches or over uneven cobblestones in the villages and towns.
2. Walk the coastal trails
There are about 200kms of walking paths along the Costa Brava coast. Called the Camins de Ronda, the trails provide visitors a unique means to explore the coast, its little coves and quaint fishing villages. There are many trails to choose from, offering visitors a choice of easy hour-long walks or week-long hikes. Some of the trails can be done as a circular route whilst others can be combined with public transportation.
3. Walk the medieval walls of Girona
For a more urban walking experience, head to Girona! Stroll around the medieval old town, with its maze of lanes and colourful houses. Then head up to the medieval Girona city walls. The walk along the walls, with its impressive bastions and towers, offers stunning views of the city and the Pyrenees mountains in the distance.
4. Swim along the coast
If swimming is more your thing, you have to check out the Vies Braves, sea swimming lanes which hug the coastline.
There are a variety of routes to choose from or you can bring your clothes/towel/shoes with you in a waterproof Vies Braves floating bag (which is attached by a string to your hips) and swim from one coastal village to the other. Along the way, you’ll come face-to-face with Costa Brava’s varied marine life in crystal-clear water. The Vies Braves project aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and create awareness about marine life conservation.
5. FLY!
Ok, this might not burn many calories but it sure is an adrenaline-charged activity for the adventurous ones: skydiving! Skydive Empuriabrava organises daily (tandem) skydives with highly-experienced instructors. It’s a wild ride and the views of the Bay of Roses from 14,000ft are simply spectacular. Read about my skydive experience! I’m pretty sure the fear and adrenaline that raced through my body burned up a fair number of calories! Haha!
Alternatively, for something closer to earth, head for the Windoor wind tunnel located adjacent to Skydive Empuriabrava. It’s a fun experience floating atop a big blast of air for several minutes and even more fun to watch the instructors perform the craziest stunts in the wind tunnel!
6. Take to the sea
Costa Brava’s long coastline offers a multitude of activities for the marine sports fan. Go for a sea kayak adventure, go diving or snorkelling at the Medes Islands (one of the most important marine life reserves in the Western Mediterranean), or go kite-surfing in the Bay of Roses (there are several kite-surfing and stand-up paddling centres located along the bay like Kite Costabrava and Kite Experience).
Read other Velvet Escape posts on Costa Brava. Check out my favourite medieval towns in Costa Brava.
Note: a big thank you to the Costa Brava Tourism Board for your wonderful hospitality. As always, all views expressed above are mine, and mine only.
[…] Active holiday in Costa Brava […]