Sports and Leisure in the Costa Brava.
The whole Costa Brava region, coastal and inland offers sports enthusiasts a wide variety of sporting activities and pastimes, from horse riding, sailing and scuba-diving to walking, rambling, spa health-resorts and ski-ing.
Sports:
Golf in the Costa Brava area. Here are just a few golf courses to choose from.
Golf Girona. Just 10 minutes from Girona Airport in Sant Julia de Ramis. If driving take exit 6 (Girona nord) on the AP-7 motorway. Tel.972 171 641 Required handicap; men 28, women 36, Par 72. www.golfgirona.com
Golf Platja de Pals. Cr. Del Golf s/n-17256, Pals. Tel 972 667 739www.golfplatjadepals.com
This course is 6,222 m. long with a typical British design. Required handicap: men 36, women 36, Par 73.
Emporda Golf. Cr. Palafrugell-Torroella 17257, Gualta. Tel.972 760 450www.empordagolf.com Required handicap: men 36 holes, women 36. par 72.
Golf Serres de Pals, 17256 Pals, 18 holes plus 3 practice holes. Par 72.www.golfserresdepals.com. Required handicap: men 36, women 36.
Golf Costa Brava, St. Cristina d’Aro, Tel. 972 837 055
A private 18 hole club but also welcomes green fees all year round.www.golfcostabrava.com
Peralada Golf Club. Peralada itself is a charming Catalan village which is a worthy of a visit without the golf. The 5 star Hotel Golf Peralada is next to the course, just on the village outskirts a few minutes by car.
Golf d’Aro, Urb. Mas Nou, 17250 Platja d’Aro tel 972 82 69 06 www.golfdaro.com
Cycling and Mountain Biking.
The area around Girona has earned an enviable reputation for being a good place to train by such famous riders as the Tour de France winner, American Lance Armstrong who actually lived in Girona for a while. It therefore attracts many American and European tourist riders to experience the area for themselves, and a few specialist tour operators have seized on this opportunity.
Cycle routes are signposted in green and if your’e a keen on cycling there are cycle routes in Girona that in one direction will take you as far as Sant Feliu de Guixols on the coast, and in the other direction up towards the inland town of Olot. This particular one follows the route of the old coastal railway line, now long gone.
We have links with a Girona based Co. who speak English, that offers mountain biking holidays, guided rides and will organise everything for you including places to stay along the way. If you are interested in cycling holidays and guided bike tours of the Costa Brava and inland regions then please use the Contact Us form to get their details. Here’s a brief intro about them.
BIKE BREAKS, the Girona Cycle Centre.. your one-stop shop for cyclists! Right in the beautiful heart of Girona old town, around the corner from the Cathedral and Sant Felix’ church, lies our Cycle Centre amongst the buzzing bar & restaurant area.
We offer you ALL cycling-related services, so just come in and have a look for yourself! We can arrange your hotel nights in carefully selected cycling friendly accommodation in Girona city and province. We can pick you up from the airport and even transport your luggage between accommodations!
bike hire, transport, professional in-house mechanic & guide
Ski-ing in Catalonia
Many tourists and visitors may not be aware that ski-ing in Catalonia is available or possible, but travel just two hours by car from Girona and you’ll find some small ski-resorts. They may not be as big as resorts in France but perfect for a weekend get-away.
La Molina (open from late November to early May).
One of the nearest ski-resorts is La Molina with 20kms of slopes and 20 watercanons, it has slopes for all abilities and ages, and also offers numerous summer activities. Various accomodation options are on offer.
Check the La Molina website below for further details, which has an English option.www.lamolina.cat/indexing.html
Vall de Nuria (open all year, skiing from early December). See a review of this place on our Reviews page.
A popular resort with ten slopes that can only be reached by a special train, the valley of Nuria sits amongst mountains that reach 3000 metres. A popular day-out destination during summer months also, with boating, walking and child based activities. www.valldenuria.cat
Guils Fontanera is good for Nordic cross country ski-ing. www.guils.com
Masella, Estacio Esqui Masella, Tel.972 144 000 www.masella.com (n.b good early snow for 2008)
Vallter 2000 Tel. 972 136 075 Ski runs: black 2, red 2, blue 4. green 2.
QueralbsQuils de Cerdanya.
Oficina de Turismo de La Cerdanya
Cruïlla N-152/N-260
17520 Puigcerdà (Girona) Teléfono: 972 140 665 Fax: 972 140 592 E-mail:infotur@cerdanya.org
Alp and Setcases (nr. Camprodon) are also two more places to ski.
Ice Skating is also possible in Girona on an outdoor rink but only between Dec. 1st and 6th Jan. at Pl. Constitucio. (2008 dates are 19th Dec to Jan.05 2009).
Water Sports in the Costa Brava.
The Costa Brava region has just under 50 nautical and sailing clubs, here are just a few:
Port de PortBou, Tel. 972 390 712 www.portdeportbou.com (empty website)
Club Nautic Llanca, Tel. 972 380 710 www.cnllanca.com
Club Nautic Port de la Selva, Tel. 972 387 000
Port de Roses, Tel. 972 154 412 www.portroses.com
Marina d’Empuriabrava, Tel. 972 451 239 www.empuriaport.com
Club Nautic l’Escala, Tel. 972 770 016 www.nauticescala.com
Club Nautic Estartit, Tel. 972 751 402 www.cnestartit.es
Marina de Palamos, Tel. 972 601 000 wwwlamarinapalamos.es
I know from personal experience that windsurfing lessons and board hire (1 hour for 14 €) are available from the sailing school on Sant Pol beach in S’Agaro near St Feliu de Guixols.
Kayaking. Email us for details of a Co. that offers Kayaking holidays in the Costa Brava.
Leisure Activities
Aquaparks. Cool-off with the kids in one of these Costa Brava water parks.
Aquabrava www.aquabrava.com
Near Roses on the N.E. coast, their website has an English option for full details and it operates a free bus service from local resorts.
Aquadiver www.aquadiver.com located near Platja d’Aro. See our Reviews page for a review of this place.
Water World Lloret www.waterworld.es/uk/index.html located in Lloret de Mar.
Amusement & Adventure Parks.
Port Aventura, nr. Tarragona. From Girona head south, past Barcelona, maybe a 2 hour drive. It’s probably the biggest theme park around these parts and offers different stay and visit packages for families. we’ve yet to get here but I hear it’s good. www.portaventura.es
Parc Aventura is a woodland adventure park for kids with nearly 54 different activities open all year in St Feliu de Guixols.
www.parcaventura.com
L’aquarium in Barcelona tel 93 221 7474 www.aquariumbcn.com
Marineland Ctra. Maigrat a Palafolls, Palafolls, Barcelona tel 93 765 48 02www.marineland.es. This combines a water park with a dolphin show and an exotic bird show.
Tibidabo amusement park is in Barcelona with more than 27 rides, shows and great views of Barcelona. www.tibidabo.es
www.cucpark.com in Roses.
Magic Park, in Platja d’Aro http://magicpark.com/
Begur & Adventure near Begur is open all year round tel. 619 23 60 73 it offers horse and pony riding lessons, excursions and karting.
Walking in Girona and beyond.
There is a Girona walking tours Co. where official guides take you around the best known and most interesting parts of the city for about 2 hours, daily from 10.30 am from mid July to mid September, for about 10€ each, kids under 14 free tel. 972 211 678.
For other guided and specialist tours of Girona email us for latest details.
www.baixemporda-costabrava.org/en/tourism/331 Has some good info on Hiking in the Baix Emporda region, to the east of Girona.
We have links with an established Girona based English couple who run guided and self-guided walking/rambling tours of the Costa Brava region (coastal and inland) for small parties of 4 to 24 people. They can arrange every detail of your trip, If you are interested in walking, rambling and hiking holidays and brief tours of the region on foot, then please email us for their details.
Horse Riding in the Costa Brava
The differing, contrasting landscape and countryside that you find here lends itself to horse riding and this is a cut above the rest. The town of Santa Cristina d’Aro is just minutes from the coastal resort of St Feliu and the horse club welcomes riders of all ages and levels. Set against the pine-forested woods above it also offers catered accommodation and English speaking owners and instructors. If you want to learn to ride whilst on holiday or just go on a guided trek this is the perfect place.
Other Horse Riding places:
Hipic Girona. Nr. Sarria de Ter.
I have come across a few others, as my kids enjoy riding. There’s a Hipic Girona just outside of Girona, driving North towards Celra. Go past Sarria de Ter following the signs for Palamos and just as you leave Sarria it’s on the right hand side. There’s a yellow ‘Hipc Girona’ sign on the road. I’ve heard the prices are reasonable.
Other leisure activities:
We have links with many places and businesses that offer individual and group activities like Paintballing, Karting, Quad bike excursions, Diving, Catamaran sailing, flying and even trips in Hot Air Balloons! Email us with what interests you and for how many people.
Spa’s and Health Resorts in the Costa Brava and Girona area.
If you’ve come here to relax, unwind and be pampered a little there’s quite a few places that offer spa treatments ranging from massages, mud baths, facials, body treatments and more. Here’s a few, just click on the individual websites for more info.
Hotel Balneari Vichy Catalan Spa, Avinguda Doctor Furest 32, Caldes De Malavella 17455 tel. 972 470 000 open all year round, with 86 roomswww.balnearivichycatalan.com The small town of Caldes de Mallavella is about 20 mins. by car from Girona.
Also here, there’s the Balneari Prats thermal baths, Placa Sant Esteve 7, 17455, tel 972 470 051 www.balneariprats.com
Hotel Balneari Termes Orion, C/ Veinat de Vall, 17430, Santa Coloma de Farners tel 972 840 065 www.balneari-termas-orion.com
This town is south-west of Girona about a half hour drive.
Centre de Relax i Salut, Mas Ferran, Carri de Bruguera, 17150, Sant Gregori tel 972 428 890 www.masferran.com
Located in a traditional Catalan farmhouse just outside Girona it also offers 7-day slimming and anti-stress programmes.
Institut Gem, C/ Josep Ma Sert, 16-18 Lloret De Mar 17310, tel 972 347 004www.institutgem.com
A wellness and health centre hotel next to Fenals beach with 56 rooms open all year round.
Thalasa Sport, C/ Jacinto Benavente 9, Rose 17780 tel 972 253 163www.thalassasport.com
Located in the gulf of Roses and open all year round.
Magma, C/ Veinat de Vall, Santa Coloma de Farners 17430, tel.972 843 535www.magma-cat.com
The PGA Golf de Catalunya resort is ranked as one of the top ten best golf courses in Europe. It is located near the small town of Caldes de Malavella on the Costa Brava, just 22km from Girona city centre and 11km from Girona Airport.
The inspiration for Catalunya Golf Resort came from Ryder Cup star Neil Coles and the famous Spanish golfer Ángel Gallardo. They have created the 18 holes Par 72 Stadium and Tour Courses with designs which have been adapted to the landscape so that they collect most of the rain water with ecological wet zones. The fairways are bordered by dense, mature forests with beautiful green fir, scrub and purple heather and the courses have some spectacular water features and the Pyrenees as their backdrop.
PGA Golf Catalunya opened in 1999 and quickly gained an international reputation with the Spanish Open being held there in May of this year. It is a technical course which suits both amateurs and professionals with some really challenging holes.
The Tour Course presents slightly less challenges than the Stadium. It is dominated by pine trees and lakes and the course is shorter and a little less difficult to play than the Stadium Course, but its design ensures that it remains a challenge for every level of player. Most of the holes feature wide fairways and strategically placed bunkers which can be forgiving of a less than perfect shot. And you are never far from a water hazard!
The Stadium Course makes no concessions with trees pressing on to fairways, strategically placed bunkers and lakes that come into play on seven of the toughest holes. It is rare to find so many memorable holes on one course, but tees are elevated and very few fairways are uphill. The stunning dogleg of hole 6 demands nothing less than a driver and total commitment.
The golf course also offers a large bar, restaurant, pro shop, buggy and caddy hire, sports facilities, practice green and a short game practice facility.
You can find out more about the current green fees, and how to book a course at the official website: www.pgacatalunya.com
The writer of this article is Linda Craik who has lived in Spain for a number of years. She works for Plus Four SL who specialise in writing airport guides including theSpanish Airport Guide which includes information on Girona Airport
