STAGE 9
PALAMÓS - SANT FELIU DE GUIXOLS
- Distance: 18.1 km
- Difficulty level: NORMAL
- Maximum altitude: 52
- Minimum altitude: 0
- height gain: 661
- height loss: 673
Stage 9: PALAMÓS - SANT FELIU DE GUIXOLS
This stage is described as normal, but given that it passes close to the coast, along the so-called "Camí de Ronda", it can be tiring. There are many stretches of stairs and ups and downs that hikers know as "leg-breakers", and in some sections you have to walk on the sand of the beach, which is also tiring.
Leaving the church of Santa María de Palamós we will go towards some stairs that lead to Avinguda del 11 de Setembre and then towards Passeig del Mar, where we will see the red and white signs of the GR-92, which passes by the tables of the restaurants.
We will continue along this promenade that runs parallel to the so-called large beach of Palamós for more than 1 kilometre until, before we know it, we will start to step onto the Josep Mundet promenade in the municipality of Sant Antoni de Calonge. We will border the beach of Sant Antoni for 1.5 km until we cross the Calonge stream over a beautifully designed bridge.
On the other side we will walk along the beach promenade for about 600 meters and at the end we will see a large oval-shaped building in front of which is the Torre Valentina, built in the 16th century that allowed to monitor and defend against pirate. From this point called Racó de les Dones we will go up the Camino de Ronda path. Note: those who go by bicycle will have to go by the alternative route detailed at the end of this writing.
Shortly after starting to climb we will distinguish another tower quite similar to the Torre Valentina built in the 70s of the last century.
The Camí de Ronda will take us through numerous coves with tiny and beautiful beaches, in some of which we will have to walk on the sand and in others we will walk along the upper part. We will also have to go up and down countless stairs and steps between the rocks that will test the vitality and strength of our legs.
Little by little, during the 3.5 exhausting kilometres that we will walk along the Camí de Ronda, we will pass numerous capes, points and islets (Cap de Roques Planes, Cap de Penyes Blanques, Cap Roig, etc.) until we pass Cala Rovira and arrive at Punta d'en Ramis where we will be able to see the large beach of Platja d'Aro.
We will continue along the GR-92 that runs along the promenade of Platja d'Aro for approximately 1.5 kilometres until we reach the Ridaura, the second most important river in the Baix Empordà region, which has formed the Vall d'Aro (the valley of this area).
Here we must go round the river along the so-called Ridaura promenade until we reach Avinguda de s'Agaró, where there is a bridge that crosses the river.
We will walk along this avenue for about 700 metres until we reach the Punta Prima street, where we turn left and follow the red and white markings of the GR-92, taking the Camí de Ronda which will take us to the Sa Conca beach.
From this point we will walk 2 kilometres passing through the Pedrosa and Vaques coves until we reach Punta d'en Pau. This stretch is one of the most unique and well-known on the Costa Brava, as it is home to the luxurious S'Agaró residential area with houses and villas comparable to those found on the French Côte d'Azur or the Italian Riviera.
It all began when the businessman Josep Ensesa Pujades received a piece of land near Sant Pol beach in 1916 as payment of a debt.
Years passed before his son Josep Ensesa Gubert began to feel a predilection for the place, starting work on his villa "Senya Blanca" in 1924.
Later, together with the architect Rafael Masó, the "noucentista" style residential garden city was designed, which was the first landmark on the Costa Brava.
The name "S'Agaró" refers to a small stream, now disappeared, which was located at the western end of the original urbanisation and which served as the administrative boundary between Playa de Aro and Sant Feliu de Guíxols. At the end of this entertaining route at Punta d'en Pau you will see the beautiful beach of Sant Pol.
We will pass along the nice promenade of this lovely beach and when we reach the end we will head towards the rocks along the rocky outcrop that separates us from Sant Feliu de Guixols. This stretch of about 2 kilometres is once again a "leg-breaker" due to the numerous descents and climbs to the beautiful coves that we will pass through.
At the height of Cala del Molí there are different via ferrata routes where we will often see climbing enthusiasts training.
At Punta dels Tres Claus we will see the port of Sant Feliu de Guixols.
According to the philologist Joan Coromines, the word Guíxols comes from the Iberian, as is the case with the names of other towns on the Costa Brava where there are other settlements indiketes.
On the Guíxols hill, the promontory that separates the port from the beach, known by the name of el Fortím, there are remains of an Iberian settlement from the 4th century BC.
The discovery was made in 1903 when 34 grain storage silos were found.
It was initially mistaken for a cremation necropolis, the tombs of a large cemetery.
It later became clear that it was in fact a settlement Indiketa (a oppidum).
After going up to Fortim we will go along the beach promenade and following the Juli Garreta avenue we will go to the Benedictine monastery, the end of this stage.
BICYCLE ROUTE FROM THE BEACH OF TORRE VALENTINA
Those who make the journey by bicycle will follow the same route as those who do it on foot until they reach the end of the Torre Valentina beach. There, as they cannot take the Camí de Ronda along the coast, at the height of the Hotel Reimar, they will turn onto Avinguda de Pau Casals and then take Carrer Rafael Casanova until they reach Avinguda d'Andorra (C-253 road).
We will travel along this road for 2.4 km until shortly after a large roundabout where the C-665 road meets. There we will turn left along Carrer Pubiatina and then left again along Carrer Musclera, which will take you to the beach, close to where Cavall Bernat is located, at the beginning of the large beach of Platja d'Aro.
At this point they will join up again with those who do the route on foot, and continue along the promenade, following the red and white GR-92 signs.
Almost at the end, we will turn right onto Avinguda Mediterrania, until you reach Avinguda s'Agaró (C-253), which we will follow for about 800 metres, until we turn left onto Carrer de la Punta Prima, following the GR-92 markings again, which we will follow along Carrer Mar i Llum.
From here the idea is to be able to follow the same route as those who go on foot but without having to walk on the sand of Sa Conca beach and without having to walk through the rocks.
With which we will continue along Platges de s'Agaró avenue until you reach a roundabout where we will take Conca avenue to go down some zigzag stairs to Camí de Ronda.
From here, with your bike by your side, we can do this beautiful 2-kilometre stretch of the S'Agaró promenade as far as Punta d'en Pau and then reach Sant Pol beach.
At the end of Sant Pol beach, as we cannot continue along the Camí de Ronda by bicycle, we will leave the GR-92 again, following the Sant Pol road for 2.4 km until we reach the Cristobal Colón street on the Fortím promenade.
From here the path coincides with those who go on foot. So, after visiting the remains of the settlement Indiketa we will finish the stage in front of the Convent of Sant Feliu de Guixols.
ACCOMMODATION AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION STAGE 9
SANT ANTONI DE CALONGE
As it is an eminently tourist town, it has various establishments for accommodation, restaurants and other services. You can visit its website here:
PLATJA D'ARO
As it is an eminently tourist town, it has various establishments for accommodation, restaurants and other services. You can visit its website here:
SANT FELIU DE GUIXOLS
As it is an eminently tourist town, it has various establishments for accommodation, restaurants and other services. You can visit its website here:
