Costa Brava Hike & Tossa De Mar Day Trip, Barcelona

The Costa Brava offers various activities, and one of the best combinations is pairing a coastal hike with visiting a charming old fishing village. With this activity, your hub is Tossa de Mar, a small coastal town north of Barcelona. To start, you'll catch the area's famed Camí de Ronda trail, which follows the coast, and explore the town. Enjoy charming culture, fresh coastal air, and some of Spain's most beautiful turquoise-blue water.

Today's activity takes you north of Barcelona and along Spain's famous Costa Brava, a beautiful stretch of seaside making its way up to the French border. After meeting your host in the city at 8:30 am, you'll drive about 1.5 hours in a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus to Tossa de Mar. But before visiting this historic town, you'll enjoy some hiking. This moderate hike covers about 5 miles (8 km) and gains roughly 1,000 feet (300 m) in elevation in total. Though not too difficult, there are a few steeper patches.

You'll follow the area's famous Camí de Ronda trail, a coastal path that twists and turns along the Costa Brava. In many parts, the dirt trail turns into tunnels cutting undersea cliffs or wooden planks jutting out over the sea. From the trail, you'll enjoy beautiful views of sea cliffs and small hidden coves. If you'd like, you can stop at one of the coves and enjoy swimming in the sea or relaxing on the sand. You'll also enjoy the fresh air with glimpses of fragrances like pine, rosemary, and thyme.

The Camí de Ronda will bring you back to Tossa de Mar, where you'll first enjoy some free time to grab lunch on your own. Your host will happily suggest and/or book restaurants to enjoy a traditional lunch. After filling up with your meal, you'll walk through this old fishers' village. 

Tossa de Mar has an emblematic Vila Vella, or Old Town, as it's a preserved fortified medieval town dating back to the 13th century. Behind the impressive walls and defensive towers, you'll find a labyrinth of narrow streets and cobbled alleys lined with white-washed stone houses, offering a unique glimpse at what life was like on the Costa Brava so many centuries in the past. You'll visit the castle with its stone tower, Torre de l'estelada, plus the ruins of a Gothic church, the Cap de Tossa Lighthouse, and a secret passageway leading to a beach.

Your driver will take you back to Barcelona at the end of your excursion, arriving around 5:30 pm.