Plans to explore this autonomous region from north to south and from east to west, enjoying a wide range of leisure activities: scuba diving, stargazing, hiking and much more.
Summer is the time to get rid of obligations and reconnect with everything that makes us feel good. Spending time in nature is one of the easiest ways to fill us with energy, and although the sea is by default the usual destination during these months, the interior also offers us an endless number of plans to discover.
In this list we take a look at some of the most special places in Catalonia to embrace nature in a responsible way, from the sea to the mountains, through ecotourism plans.
Contemplate the sky of the Pyrenees from the Parc Astronòmic del Montsec
Looking up at the sky and enjoying a starry atmosphere doesn’t happen every day. Urban environments tend to dynamite this spectacle. Therefore, where nature displays all its magic is in rural corners. The Parc Astronòmic del Montsec is one of them. Considered the second place in the world to receive the double certification of Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination, it is the best place to observe the sky in Catalonia.
The Parc Astronòmic del Montsec, a privileged place to contemplate the stars.
The Parc has leading equipment: a new multimedia room and a star simulation model to virtually navigate through space in 2 and 3 dimensions. In addition, it offers the largest audiovisual format in the world with 6K productions to see the stars up close. They also organize activities such as the nighttime experience, the daytime experience or a live music series under the stars that will take place from July 27 to November 23.
Discover the fascinating life of bees on the Costa Daurada
In the south of Catalonia, in the spectacular landscape that the Prades Mountains offer us, hundreds of bees pollinate the environment every day. Entering its world requires time and dedication, two ingredients that characterize the pace of life in the area. An extension of territory that allows us to discover the surroundings of the town of Alcover and the Glorieta valley.
Visit to one of the areas of Catalonia with the largest population of bees.
Organized by El Brogit, this route offers us an excursion to discover the environment in which the bees of the area live and produce honey. Next, we visit the workshop of Joan Maria Llorenç, artisan beekeeper and member of the Association of Friends of the Bees of the Prades Mountains. Finally, a tasting of artisanal honey is offered.
Enter the interactive rice field of Terres de l’Ebre
Without leaving the southern area, one of the greatest treasures is to explore the beauty of the landscape that the Ebro Delta offers us. Bathed by rice fields and populated by a rich ecosystem of birds, this Biosphere Reserve territory is one of the most specials from Catalonia. There, in the heart of the Natural Park, we find an interactive rice field that invites us to experiment with the sensation of stepping on its soft mud, smelling the rice and contemplating the ripe ear up close.
Interactive rice field in Sant Jaume d’Enveja.
Located on the Sant Jaume d’Enveja river promenade, it is a small experience that is accessed via a wooden walkway. In this same rice field, the Planting Festival takes place, a popular event in which the planters arrive with the sheaves and little by little they introduce them into the mud. The end of this ritual comes a few months later with the Harvest Festival, in which the ripe rice will be harvested.
Walking through the medieval village of Rupit to the cliffs of Collsacabra
Hiking is one of the most beautiful ways to be in contact with nature. Even more so if we add to this one of the most unique villages in Catalonia: Rupit. It is a small medieval village dating from the 16th century. It is famous for its suspension bridge, the church of Sant Miquel, its picturesque Plaça Major and the mythical Carrer del Fossar.
The medieval village of Rupit, one of the most beautiful in Catalonia.
Rupit is part of the Collsacabra Protected Natural Area, an area that offers several hiking routes between streams and lush forests. It is perched on the cliffs of Collsacabra, a natural balcony that offers spectacular views of the Susqueda reservoir and its surroundings. This particular route also takes you past the famous Salto de Sallent, the highest waterfall in Catalonia, with a drop of 115 metres.
Diving in the waters of the Costa Brava with an eco-guide
Scuba diving gives us the opportunity to delve into the ocean, but also to connect in a profound way with its animals. An intimate connection that is easily accessible: in L’Estartit, one of the most highly valued spots on the Costa Brava, we find the eco-baptism of El Rei del Mar. It consists of a theoretical explanation of the basics of diving, a practical session in the pool to get used to breathing underwater and finally a dive in a sheltered, shallow area of the Costa del Montgrí.
Scuba diving in the area of L’Estartit.
During the sea trip, the diving instructors provide the tools to carry out an ecological trip that respects the environment. This is undoubtedly one of the most special ways of getting close to the marine fauna and marvelling at its beauty.
