Collioure to Cadaques
- Walk the classic Mediterannean trail from Collioure to Cadaques
- Explore a colourful coastline, inspiration to artists Dali, Picasso and Matisse
- Overnight stops in fishing ports home to fantastic seafood restaurants
- Discover ancient historical sites like the dramatic Sant Pere de Rodes monastery
- The wild and rugged Cap de Creus, former home of the famous Salvador Dali
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive CollioureFly into Perpignan or Girona Airport, and make your way to Collioure by train (25m or 1h15 respectively).
With its pastel-coloured houses, pretty harbour, and beach, Collioure is a delightful Mediterranean town, which inspired the avant garde and colourful artwork of Henri Matisse. Check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner at one of the many seaside restaurants, perhaps sampling some of the tasty Collioure anchovies.
Overlooking the Mediterranean bay and old town of Collioure, take in the views from its panoramic terrace, or take a dip in the pool before enjoying a gastronomic dinner from Michelin star chef, Frederic Bacquie.
A gorgeous town house set in a quiet lane just off the main square in Collioure. Enjoy relaxing in their heated swimming pool shaded by wisteria trees.
Set on a rock, its unobstructed view of the Mediterranean and the village of Collioure makes it a unique place. All rooms have a view of the sea and the horizon and have a balcony or terrace.
Start your walk by taking a hike up to the 13th century Tower of Madeloc, built to protect the surrounding seas, which sits high on the hillsides above Collioure. A steep climb is rewarded with panoramic views over the Roussillon plains and down to the sea, before looping back down through the terraced hillsides back to Collioure.
Arriving back in town, take your time to wander the narrow streets and art shops before another night relaxing in lovely Collioure.
+727m Ascent / -727m Descent
Overlooking the Mediterranean bay and old town of Collioure, take in the views from its panoramic terrace, or take a dip in the pool before enjoying a gastronomic dinner from Michelin star chef, Frederic Bacquie.
A gorgeous town house set in a quiet lane just off the main square in Collioure. Enjoy relaxing in their heated swimming pool shaded by wisteria trees.
Set on a rock, its unobstructed view of the Mediterranean and the village of Collioure makes it a unique place. All rooms have a view of the sea and the horizon and have a balcony or terrace.
Bidding Collioure a sad farewell, head along the coast to the bustling quayside of Port Vendres. Skirting round coves and creeks continue to Cap Bear and its lighthouse with pink marble staircase. Pass Paulilles beach with azure-coloured waters perfect for a refreshing dip and finally arrive at Banyuls-sur-Mer.
This charming seaside town is well known for its fantastic dessert wines, made from the Grenache Noir grapes growing in the surrounding terraced vineyards. Rest your legs and sample a glass of Banyuls wine over dinner.
+386m Ascent / -381m Descent
Corinne and Laurent welcome you warmly to their lovely B&B, Le Clos Saint Andre with attached winery. Enjoying relaxing at the end of the day in their swimming pool in the back garden, shaded by a giant magnolia tree or have a game of pétanque, before sipping on a glass of Banyuls wine.
Les Elmes in Banyuls-sur-Mer has 33 rooms overlooking the patio or with sea views. All rooms are equiped with Air-Conditioning, Hairdryer, TV, and WiFi access.
Crossing the border into Spain today, follow a coastal path from Banyuls-sur-Mer all the way to the little town of Portbou. Leaving Banyuls, clifftop paths take you high above the turquoise sea, passing numerous sheltered coves. Stop for refreshments in Cerbere—the last French town before Spain and home to a protected marine nature reserve—before continuing to Portbou across the rugged headland separating France and Spain.
From Portbou, catch the train (10min) to the nearby fishing port of Llanca, your next overnight stop.
+439m Ascent / -446m Descent
The Hotel Carbonell in the heart of the old town of Llanca is a relaxed family run hotel with bright, modern rooms. Just a short stroll away from the beach and restaurants in the centre of Llanca.
A friendly family run hotel in the centre of Llanca, just a few minutes walk from the port.
Start the day with a pleasant coastal stroll along well kept paths and boardwalks. Then head inland through the lush green Vall de Santa Creu to undertake the steep climb up to the impressive Benadictine monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes (520m). Dating back to the 10th century this ancient building has wonderful views overlooking the Cap de Creus national park. Descend from here to Port de la Selva, with vistas of the sparkling coastline guiding you all the way.
Overnight tonight is in a stylish little spa hotel right on the seafront.
+644m Ascent / -646m Descent
The Hotel Spa Cap de Creus located right on the seafront is a small modern hotel offering private spa facilities —perfect after a day’s walking! You are just a short walk away from the marina and several restaurants.
A charming old hotel which has been tastefully renovated. Just 30 metres from the beach at Port de la Selva.
A slight change of scenery today, as you head inland on a pretty rural route through the countryside to Cadaques, cutting across the Cap de Creus national park. Climb out of Port de la Selva to reach a plateau, and wind your way across the rugged landscape, with occasional glimpses of the sea still in front of you. As the whitewashed village of Cadaques finally comes into view enjoy an easy descent into the town.
An elegant seaside town, Cadaques is most well known for its connections to the famous surrealist artist, Salvador Dali, who spent family holidays here and later lived at nearby Port Ligat.
+353m Ascent / -349m Descent
Located on a hillside overlooking Cadaques, with wonderful views, Hotel Arrels is a beautiful boutique hotel run by the lovely Tito and Nando, who will make you feel right at home. Enjoy relaxing in their outdoor swimming pool and gardens, and in just 10 minutes’ walk you will be in the centre of the whitewashed village of Cadaques.
Located in the historic centre of Cadaques, this boutique hotel which has been transformed from an old family farm dating from the 18th century.
Hotel Llané Petit offers a seasonal outdoor pool and air-conditioned rooms, some with a balcony. The rooms at the Llané Petit feature free Wi-Fi and flat-screen satellite TV. Each one comes with a private bathroom, and many also have great sea views. The hotel offers a daily continental breakfast in the dining room overlooking the beach. During summer the open-air restaurant offers simple lunches. There is a terrace where you can enjoy a drink next to the sea.
Finish your journey to Cadaques on a high, with an exhilarating walk out to the Cap de Creus lighthouse, said to be the most easterly point of the Iberian peninsula. Your walk also passes Port Ligat, home to Dali’s iconic house and now a museum, the Casa-Museo Salvador Dali. It is worth booking in advance if you would like to visit the museum, which we highly recommend.
Return to Cadaques for a wander round its colourful, cobbled streets, before one final evening soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying a farewell dinner.
+447m Ascent / -444m Descent
Located on a hillside overlooking Cadaques, with wonderful views, Hotel Arrels is a beautiful boutique hotel run by the lovely Tito and Nando, who will make you feel right at home. Enjoy relaxing in their outdoor swimming pool and gardens, and in just 10 minutes’ walk you will be in the centre of the whitewashed village of Cadaques.
Located in the historic centre of Cadaques, this boutique hotel which has been transformed from an old family farm dating from the 18th century.
Hotel Llané Petit offers a seasonal outdoor pool and air-conditioned rooms, some with a balcony. The rooms at the Llané Petit feature free Wi-Fi and flat-screen satellite TV. Each one comes with a private bathroom, and many also have great sea views. The hotel offers a daily continental breakfast in the dining room overlooking the beach. During summer the open-air restaurant offers simple lunches. There is a terrace where you can enjoy a drink next to the sea.
Check out after breakfast and make your way back to Girona or Barcelona airport for onward travel. If you have time, it is worth adding additional nights in the vibrant city of Girona, home to some of the finest Catalan cuisine.
This trip has a carbon score of 5kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 5kg is equivalent to 1 Neapolitan margherita pizza. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?Lovely coastal walking combined with Mediterranean charm make this tour ideal if you like your walking days to finish in charming little villages by the sea, sipping on a wine and enjoying fresh seafood! Daily walks are between 12 and 18km with ascents and descents of between 350 and 715m, and whilst the walking overall is not too strenuous the terrain is fairly rugged with some steep drop offs fairly typical of walking along the Mediterranean coast. Overnight stays are in comfortable and welcoming family run hotels and guesthouses.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Long-Distance Trails, Coastal Walking, Accessible by Rail
The minimum age for this tour is: 16 Years
This walking tour is graded Moderate overall with a mix of coastal walking and sections of mountain hiking and ascents of between 355m and 718m.
Please note that Day 2 and Day 5 are graded Moderate-Strenuous due to steeper ascents and descents on some uneven terrain.
Whilst no climbing technical skill is required, we do recommend that you have a good level of sure-footedness as the terrain is quite rocky and uneven. Those who suffer from vertigo issues may find some sections of exposed cliff top trails difficult. Paths can also become slippy when wet and extra care must be taken on days like this.
Accommodation in a selection of friendly 2 and 3* hotels and guesthouses as well as a 4* hotel in Collioure is included in your trip for all nights.
The accommodation we normally use is detailed below. We may sometimes have to use alternative hotels subject to availability but if this is the case we will always let you know when confirming your booking.
Accommodation Location
We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in your itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability, there is the option to be accommodated at an alternative location. In the unlikely event that we have to accommodate you elsewhere, we will advise you of this before confirming your booking.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
Single rooms are available and a single room supplement is payable. Unfortunately this trip is not available to solo walkers due to the terrain and exposure on some of the days walking routes.
Meals
Breakfast is included. Lunches and evening meals on the other days are not included. You can pick up lunch in little beach cafes or restaurants you pass by or stop along the trail for a picnic. Your route notes have details for each day. Evening meals will either be available at your hotel or a selection of nearby local restaurants, where specialties are sure to include tasty anchovies or grilled fish.
The routes on this trip are generally way-marked but we will also provide basic route notes and maps. You will also have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone’s GPS and we recommend using this to navigate on this tour.
- 7 Nights in 3 and 4* hotels and guesthouses
- 7 Breakfasts
- Baggage transfers as per itinerary
- Detailed route notes, maps and pre-departure information pack
- GPX tracks and access to our smartphone app
- 24/7 emergency telephone support
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Collioure and from Cadaques
- Train from Portbou to Llanca on Day 4 (approx €4)
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before, during or after the tour
You can start your walk anytime between the beginning of April and end of October. We do not offer this tour in July and August as the temperatures are simply too high for enjoyable walking then and the villages and towns are also very busy at these times of year.
Time of Year
Springtime is beautiful with a profusion of wildflowers on display. It starts to heat up in June and by July it is too hot for walking. However, when autumn arrives it is once again perfect weather for walking. Being on the Mediterranean, you should enjoy sea breezes and mild temperatures from April right through to October. From about mid-September, there can be the occasional thunderstorm and the walking is also more difficult at this time of year if there has been a lot of rainfall making the paths slippy underfoot. Extra care is required if you are walking in the later autumn months for this reason.
By Air: Perpignan is the closest airport to Collioure. From here, take a shuttle bus to the centre of Perpignan and then it is just 20 minutes by train to Collioure. Other options are Girona and Barcelona Airport in Spain. From Girona, take the shuttle bus into the centre and then the train via Perpignan to Collioure (1h in total). Or from Barcelona Airport, take the train to Barcelona Sants (30m) and then the train via Perpignan to Collioure (1h40m in total).
The closest airports to Cadaques are Girona and Barcelona. For Girona Airport, take a bus to Girona Bus Station and then a shuttle bus to the airport (1hr in total). For Barcelona Airport, take a bus to Figueres (1h), and then a train to Barcelona Airport (1h30m)
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight stay. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the accommodations we use have limited rooms and therefore fill up quickly. However, we will always try our very best to accommodate your plans.
This walking tour is graded Easy-Moderate. Walks are between 3-5 hours on well-trodden coastal and mountain paths. with an ascent of between 325m to 675m each day. The paths can become slippy when wet and extra care must be taken on days like this.
Your detailed information pack will be sent to you after you book. This has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, waterproof clothes and a day pack.
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