Catalonia (Catalunya) Activities

Combine a stay at the beach with a choice of gentle walking and cycling routes for an active family holiday.

You stay in the fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, where the rocky coastline has a number of small coves, nearby, to explore. We provide a range of fully researched, self-guided walking and cycling routes, typically at Activity Level 1. A complimentary hybrid bike for your exclusive use throughout your stay is included to give you total flexibility.

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here… 

Visa

Spain

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Spain. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/spain
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/spain
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Spain.html

Vaccination

Spain

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus and rabies. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts included.

Traditional Spanish food such as paella, chorizo and albondigas (meatballs) can be found on just about every menu in Catalunya, but don’t forget to try the regional specialities too. Local cuisine features plenty of fish, including world-renowned anchovies from L’Escala, and botifarras (black pudding) from the mountains. A good starter might be Pan Catalán (pa amb tomàquet), this is lightly toasted bread, drizzled with olive oil and topped with tomatoes and garlic. Thanks to its geography, the region has developed “Sea and Mountain” - mar y muntana cuisine, combining chicken with lobster, or rabbit with prawns. Fruits are used as well, such as roasted chicken and figs, or pheasant and grapes.

Dishes are rich and hearty, however, it is not just a meat-based cuisine, there are plenty of vegetable options. Catalan dishes also rely heavily on sauces: Sofrito is an onion and tomato sauce, Picada is made from dried fruits, nuts and herbs, Sanfaina is a sauce of fried peppers, aubergines, onions and tomatoes and Romesco is made with tomatoes, peppers, nuts and garlic. Most menus are written in both Castilian and Catalan and sometimes in English too, but you may find a pocket dictionary useful in the more remote places.

Weather

The trips runs from April through to October (except during part of August) with the early and later part of the season experiencing cooler temperatures, highs averaging 18-20°C and lows averaging 11-15°C. In the height of July temperatures will reach highs of 28-30°C so it is important to be prepared for this. There is always a chance of rain throughout the year, so it is always best to be prepared.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

Terrain and route: 

The walks are on a varied mix of path, track and country lane. Sometimes along cliff tops on paved walkways or coastal paths offering fabulous seascapes; other times in leafy woodlands or pine forest, there’s some lovely terrain to explore.

For the cycling, although in some cases we do need to use larger roads, the rides are usually on smaller, quieter roads joining the villages and hamlets – ideal for cycling. The region has a vast network of cycling routes, and our suggestions are often marked with cycling signs.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. A local agent will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need. 

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.

From the nearby town of Palafrugell there is also an excellent bus service (payable locally) giving access to some of the pretty medieval villages that surround the area as well as the cities of Girona and Figueres. A full range of water sports can be booked and paid for locally, from Calella de Palafrugell or one of the nearby resorts. The nearby Cap Roig Botanical Gardens are also worth a visit and concerts are held here annually, in July and August. Previous performers include Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band, Anastacia, and Jason Derulo.