Have you ever traveled somewhere and while there you learned of new areas to see or things to do, but you didn’t have time to include it in your first trip? It happens to me all the time; I go to a place, get a deeper understanding of it, and say – I have to come back here and do ‘X’.
Most places I visit I’d like to go back to, but some have a stronger pull than others. Maybe that’s why this is my third trip to Costa Brava, Spain. One of the things that brought me back here for the ‘hat trick’ was some unfinished business. I had just finished walking the Camino de Santiago on my first trip to Costa Brava when I learned about Costa Brava’s hiking gem – the Camino de Ronda Coastal Path.
On the first trip, I did a Camino de Ronda day hike along the coast to get a feel for it, but that was all I had time for. I knew I had to come back and walk the entire path one day.
On my 2nd trip to Costa Brava, I stayed in the Northern part of the region and did another day hike on the Camino de Ronda near Cadaques. I still had the nagging feeling that I wanted to come back and walk the more extensive route.
On my 3rd trip to Costa Brava – it’s time to finish business.
Table of Contents
Costa Brava Coastal Path Route – the Puzzle
As I’ve started to dig into the route, I’m learning that it’s not quite as simple as I originally thought it was. The Coastal Path is a 136-mile hike from Blanes to the northern city of Collioure in France. The trail route goes by many names – Camino de Ronda, Costa Brava Way, and GR-92 (Grand Randonee) because in order to walk the whole continuous path AND get the best views of Costa Brava, a combination of all of them that must be used. The path will be primarily a coastal hike that takes you to the little coves and hidden beaches of Costa Brava as well as fishing villages and inland landscapes.
Find out why Lake Lucerne is the ultimate outdoor destination in Switzerland
In teamwork with Visit Costa Brava Tourism, Cami de Ronda, and the book The Costa Brava way
I will be traversing the majority of the route with a focus on the coastal paths. However, due to time constraints and path closures/difficulty, I won’t be doing a whole connected route. There will be some days where I’m transferring to the next section by car – but those are few and the intention is to connect most of it by hiking.
Here’s the rough route we plan to take in map form…
The Goal of Hiking the Camino Ronda
Of course, my goal is to introduce you to this beautiful part of Europe and Spain that few people know about. I also want to introduce you to a long-distance walk that can be a super alternative to the Camino de Santiago. However, one of my main goals in walking the majority of this route is to provide a good English hiking resource for people to use to plan their own coastal path walk in Costa Brava.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
A Very Special Hiking Partner
Oh yes – and here’s the best part – I’ve invited my father to join me on this hike. It’s been 3 ½ years since my father and I had an adventure together, so it was time that I invited him again. We hiked in China on the Great Wall, completed the Annapurna Circuit and its 18,000-foot pass, went to Antarctica, and now we tackle Costa Brava Coastal Path. My father turns 80 years old in July, so this may be the last big, strenuous adventure we are able to take together. And truth be told – I’m pretty anxiety-ridden already about this one. We’ll be hiking from 4 to 10 miles a day along the coast up and down for 2 weeks. I’m not sure how either one of us will do. But my father walks 6 miles for 4 days a week at his home in South Dakota, so he’s probably in better shape than me!
Follow Us Along the Coastal Path
Of course, I’ll be updating social media along the way so you can follow me on
Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for current updates. Plus, I’m going to be live streaming daily on Facebook – so subscribe to my Facebook Live and you’ll get to see my dad and me in action! However we’ll be on Europe time, so tune in early in the morning to see us live…else watch after the fact on my Facebook timeline.
I’ll try to announce when we’ll be live in advance, or you can tap on the Follow button on live videos and videos that were live and then opt-in to get notifications the next time I go live.
Camino de Ronda Coastal Path Resources
The Costa Brava Way Guide is one of the ONLY actual books written about the series of trails with detailed maps – The Costa Brava way
Cami de Ronda – is a company in Costa Brava that has taken the best-connected routes and has created multi-day tours with guides as well as self-guided for a section of Cami de Ronda. They will move your luggage, book your hotels, and provide you with detailed maps for a well-marked section of the trail. Their website is not in English however, but the maps and guides they provide are in English.
See all of my previous hiking adventures
Looking for hiking ideas around the globe? These were some of my favorite hikes around the world that I did – some long, some steep, some short – and some failed.
By Maggie May 20, 2016 - 12:42 am
Third trip to Camino-de-ronda !! Wow it sounds Interesting and worth visiting…Thanks for Sharing your experiences
By Will May 21, 2016 - 9:01 pm
Sounds like an amazing hike, and yes, I feel this way about destinations all the time. in Costa Rica for example, there are at least a half a dozen things I heard about in this tiny country during the months I spent there … can’t wait to go back!
By Tony and Thomas May 23, 2016 - 5:19 am
Hey Sherry,
We hiked a stretch while we were there, too. And ever since, we have been talking about going back and really doing it right. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?
By John and Laurel Rodgers June 5, 2016 - 7:26 pm
Your posts give us so much joy and also give us hope, especially your father. We are 64 and 66 and had been couch potatoes and tourist travellers for years. We decided in 2014 to change our lifestyle and become full time nomads. We shucked all of our extra baggage and began a trek that is now 18 months old and have been to numerous places around the world. I have lost from 325 lbs. down to a much trimmer 200 lbs, still about 20 to go and Laurel has lost 70 lbs and still has a lot more to go. We are doing better and your treks with your father give us hope that we have not waited to long to do the same.
By Sherry June 6, 2016 - 6:38 pm
Congrats on your big leap and healthier lifestyles! Travel has all kinds of benefits. Also – thanks for following along – my dad and I just finished our hike today! It went great – and if he can do it then I think many people can!
By Wandern auf dem Cami de Ronda - Meet the world December 6, 2016 - 8:17 am
[…] mit Fotos, so zum Beispiel auf dem englischen Blog „Otts World“ von Sherry Ott (Zum Blog) oder auf dem deutschsprachigen Blog von HikeKarin (Zum Blog). Diese machten zwar richtig Lust auf […]
By Larry Johnson February 20, 2017 - 10:21 am
After reading and rereading your blog as well as other online resources, I am planning to hike the Cami de Ronda later this spring. My plan is to hike from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Begur. Have you published you’re book yet or any other route notes that would be helpful to travelers on the trail?
By Sherry February 20, 2017 - 4:59 pm
That’s a great section of the trail – you’ll love it! I have actually finished the ebook, and I”m just waiting on the tourism department to release it! However if you want to send me your email (email me at info [at] ottsworld [dot] com) I”m happy to send it to you to assist in planning for now. They’ll have it up on their website shortly though. OR happy to answer any questions you have!
By Sue Brightling February 22, 2017 - 2:48 pm
Looks like a great walk… we have also done the Camino de Santiago and are part through Via Francigena which we do in stages due to constraints of work…. this looks like a good one to add to the growing list of must do walks
By Mina July 26, 2017 - 5:31 pm
Hi
I loved your post, and enjoyed listening to your interview on Amateur Traveller, I look forward to reading your e-book. I am now planning the trip next May/June as the route is along the coast, would you remember if there were vegetarian food options?
By Sherry July 27, 2017 - 8:29 am
If you don’t eat meat or seafood you will be able to find vegetarian options. Sure, it may be a little harder but all restaurants will have veggie options. Some of the villages may be small – but they are all modern and developed. I hope you do the hike – I think you’ll love it!
By Sue November 5, 2018 - 4:14 pm
Hello, I am thinking about starting to hike this the last week in March and beginning of April. Would this be a good time and will small inns and Rooms or bed and breakfasts be open? I do like cool weather but not sure if this is too early. Thank you.
By Sherry November 10, 2018 - 2:12 pm
Yes – the towns still stay open year around. It will be much more quiet then and some places may be closed – but there will always be something open! It will be chilly – but not too bad – I think it sounds like a good time of year to do it…the trail will be quiet too!
By Sherry December 31, 2018 - 3:46 pm
My husband and I are traveling to Spain in April and want to do a day hike on this trail. Do we need passes/tickets to hike or can you just start the trail? Any pointers?
Thank you,
Sherry
By Sherry December 31, 2018 - 5:02 pm
Hi Sherry – no, you don’t need any passes or tickets for the trail – you just pick a starting point and go! My best advice is to do one of these that I mention in this article for a day hike – https://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/top-5-cami-de-ronda-day-hikes-in-costa-brava/
You’ll need to organize transportation if you are going from point a to b – but you can always schedule a taxi to get you back – the distances for a day hike aren’t far! Let me know if I can be of any other help!