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The Costa Brava

The breathtaking beauty of the Costa Brava Beach and nature

The best beaches of the Costa Brava

The Spanish Costa Brava is among the most beautiful regions of the whole Mediterranean. The Costa Brava covers the entire 214 km coastline of Girona province in northeastern Catalonia. This rugged coastline of steep cliffs, picturesque coves and beautiful beaches is of extraordinary natural beauty.

In the northern part of the Costa Brava, this rocky coastline is interrupted by the spectacular Bay of Roses. The bay has more than 25 km of wide golden sandy beaches, 6 of which are known as the beach of Sant Pere Pescador, which lies in front of Camping Las Dunas.

The beach of Sant Pere Pescador is considered one of the best of the Costa Brava, so you don’t have to go far to enjoy the authentic Mediterranean beaches of the Costa Brava. However, for those who like to venture out to discover other beaches worth a visit, we present a selection of beaches we consider worth the trip at less than 30 minutes from Camping Las Dunas.

Almadrava (Roses) | Canyelles (Roses) | Santa Margarita (Roses) | Empuriabrava | Riuet (Sant Martí d’Empúries) | Les Muscleres (l’Escala) | Riells (l’Escala) | Cala Montgó (l’Escala) | l’Estartit | Pals | Illa roja (Pals) | Sa Riera (Begur)

The natural beauty of the Costa Brava

The Empordà region, where Camping Las Dunas lies, has no less than three protected natural parks surrounding the Bay of Roses. These parks are, from north to south, the Cap de Creus, the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà and the Montgrí, Illes Medes i Baix Ter. All three have very different landscapes, although they have in common having been shaped by wind and sea.

Cap de Creus

A day trip to the Cap de Creus natural park is probably the most indispensible excursion from Camping Las Dunas for all those who love nature. This cape is the easternmost point of the Iberian peninsula and lies there where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean. Enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the landscape shaped by the northern tramuntana wind and the sea. Many famous artists have done so and got inspired by this breathtaking landscape, especially Salvador Dalí who lived here in the town of Cadaqués for part of his life. The Cap de Creus is great for hiking and mountain biking. A nice day trip from Camping Las Dunas by car, takes you from the campsite to Roses, Cadaqués, Port de la Selva and the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes before returning to Las Dunas.

Aiguamolls de l’Empordà

The central part of the Bay of Roses, where the rivers Muga and Fluvià reach the Mediterranean coast, has always been an area of wetlands and brackish lagoons. From the late middle ages, farmers who wanted to use the fertile soil provided by the rivers, started to drain the land to plant crops. This area is of great ecological value, especially for migrating birds on their route to and from Africa. Since 1987 the area has been protected by Spanish law as the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà natural park.

Montgrí, Illes Medes i Baix Ter

One reserve with three very different landscapes within its limits that have been protected as one since 2010. Nevertheless, the protection of its main area, the Medes islands, already started in 1983. The Montgrí is a heavily eroded rocky mountain right next to the coast with a castle on top of it (whose construction was never finished). The Baix Ter is the wetland area created by the mouth of the river Ter. The Medes islands, only a mile from the coast of l’Estartit are an authentic scuba diver’s paradise for its rich flora and fauna and many underwater caves.

The mediaeval Costa Brava

The history of Girona province and the Costa Brava was forged by the ancient Romans, corsairs and pirates, small counties, monasteries and castles. The Roman architectural legacy is best visible at the ruins of Empúries at only 2 miles from Camping Las Dunas. Many towns of the Costa Brava have preserved their mediaeval centre, like Pals, Peratallada, Castelló d’Empúries and the monastic complex of Sant Pere de Rodes. All these sites can be found at only a short distance from Camping Las Dunas.

The ruins of Empúries and Sant Martí d’Empúries

The ancient Greeks and after them the Romans reached the Iberian Peninsula by sea in the Empordà region and founded the city Emporion. A large part of the ancient city has been excavated and can be visited at only 2 miles from Camping Las Dunas. The earliest Greek settlements from the 6th century B.C. are no longer there and in its place lies the mediaeval village of Sant Martí d’Empúries which was the region’s capital until the 9th century A.D. The village and the ruins are an indispensable visit during your holiday on Camping Las Dunas.

Pals and Peratallada

Few Catalan towns have preserved their mediaeval town centre better than Pals and Peratallada in the Baix Empordà region. A stroll through their narrow cobbled streets takes you back to the Middle Ages. Pals and Peratallada lie at only 30 minutes from Camping Las Dunas.

Castelló d’Empúries

Castelló d’Empúries was the capital of the Empordà county in the Middle Ages. Castelló d’Empúries is a town of nobles and counts which preserves the Basílica de Santa Maria and the palace called Palau dels comtes, which is now the seat of the town council, in its mediaeval town centre. In the sixties Castelló d’Empúries started the construction of the largest inhabited marina in Europe within its town limits, called Empuriabrava.

Sant Pere de Rodes

At the top of the Serra de Rodes mountain range, which forms the Cap de Creus peninsula, lies the impressive monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes. The legend tells that relics of the apostle Saint Peter were kept in the crypt, which attracted large religious pilgrimages in the early Middle Ages. Sant Pere de Rodes is among the most important architectural monuments of Catalonia. The site offers the best views of the Cap de Creus and the bay of the Roses and lies at only 40 minutes from Camping Las Dunas.

Other interesting sites to visit

Sant Pere Pescador and l’Escala

The two towns nearest to Camping Las Dunas are Sant Pere Pescador and l’Escala. Both lie at only 5 km from the campsite and can easily be reached on bicycle. Sant Pere Pescador is a farmer’s town and one of the main apple producers of Spain. l’Escala is a fishing town, famous in Spain for its anchovies. Enjoy a drink or a nice meal on the terraces on the boulevard, enjoy the Mediterranean life.

Girona

Girona is the capital of Girona province and preserves a large part of its historic town centre. The remaining parts of the old city wall and the mediaeval jewish quarter are among the most well preserved in Catalonia. Visit the two great churches of Girona, the Esglèsia de Sant Feliu and the Catedral de Santa Maria and enjoy the view of the “hanging houses” over the Onyar river. Girona is only 45 minutes from Camping Las Dunas.

Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and one of the most important cities of the Mediterranean since the ancient Romans. From Camping Las Dunas we organise bus excursions to Barcelona. Visit the Barri Gòtic or gothic quarter, the architectonic masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí like the Sagrada Familia, the Parc Güell or the Casa Batlló and the FC Barcelona football stadium and museum in the Camp Nou.