Catalonian Beaches
Spain may well be afraid of Catalan independence because it would risk losing some of the nation’s most spectacular beaches. Sun, sea, and the Mediterranean: always a winning combination, but there are choices to be made. Secluded cove or endless strand? Fishing village or luxury resort? Over to you.
Costa Brava
Spain’s prettiest stretch of coast offers up an endless series of perfect picture-postcard calas (coves): small crescents of sand flanked by pine-clad rocky headlands. Some are backed by chic hotels and gourmet restaurants, others have no facilities and can only be reached by boat or poorly signposted rocky paths. The zone around Begur and Palafrugell has some of the best, while the coast around Tossa de Mar has numerous secluded bays. Around Cap de Creus, the sand disappears, but the calas have a rugged, remote beauty.
Costa Daurada
If the Costa Brava’s boutique coves are for the connoisseur of the artier things in life, the Costa Daurada is for the no-nonsense, call-a-beach-a-beach types. Long, straight stretches of golden sand are clean and easily accessed; add nearby water parks and the PortAventura theme park and you have the perfect ingredients for a summer holiday with the kids.
Delta de l’Ebre
The flatlands of the Ebro delta jut out into the sea, marking the end of Catalonia. The beaches here are wild, long and windy, backed by dunes, perfect for a bit of beachcombing or to get away from the crowds. Kitesurfing and wakeboarding are good options. Our favourite beach: Platja de l’Eucaliptus near Amposta.
