Vilaplana, Baix Camp

About the place:

What do you think of discovering the hiding place for smugglers, bandits and even, if we believe the tradition, of General Prim in 1843, during the Carlin war?

A walk through the woods that will take you to the cliff where you’ll start "a journey to the bottom of the earth." Following a path of rocks you’ll enter the abyss. It’s a kind of split of 250 meters long with a depth of 25 - 30 meters. In the deepest part there is a cave with stalactites (although most are gone because they were used to build the house Macia Vilà in Reus). On top, a large rock that stays in balance over the abyss.

Direction tips:

The starting point of the route is between km 21 and 22 at the T704 between Vilaplana and Prades. Just at the crossing that takes you to the abandoned village of Mussara, you’ll find on the right (if you come from Vilaplana) a clearing with a track. You can park your car here. Then take the trail following the white and yellow marks of the short-distance route (PR). Approximately five minutes later and after a slight rise, you will find on your right a pond. Continue straight along the path that bit by bit takes you into the forest. Ten minutes later you’ll reach a point where the trail intersects with a wider track. You will have to turn left, following the red and white marks of the GR7. At some point you'll reach a crossroads, but you have to continue straight on at the main track (GR). Ten minutes after passing a road division (but that immediately joins again) you’ll reach a large bifurcation with indicators. Turn right following the directions of the PR-C87 towards La Febró. When you reach the first fork take the right path, always following the yellow and white marks. Gradually the road becomes narrower. At some point you'll reach a clearing with a fork. Continue straight on (right side). After a while you will find a large flat stone on the floor marked with yellow and white markings. Follow the path right until you reach the cliff.

In about half an hour from the starting point, you will have reached the cliff. To access the abyss you have to turn right and follow the PR. At about 10 meters from the fork, you’ll find on your left a small path that runs along the shaft until you reach a trail of rocks that will take you into the abyss. After this difficult stretch (about 2 meters), the path is again a forested path that goes left. To acess the cave (located left and the deepest point of the shaft) you should penetrate the shaft.

You can enter the cave to  have a quick look at the main hall and try to discover two small cribs (one entrance and one at bottom of room). You should bring flashlights or front lights with you. Be careful because there is a lot of humidity which can make you slip. For those who already have more experience in caving, there is a trail marked with fluorescent dots to explore the cave. You must wear a helmet,  use a front light and clothing that can get dirty.

The tour ends here. To return you have to take the same way back. Do not forget to pay a visit to the abandoned village of the Mussara, at 800m from where you parked the car. The views of the Camp de Tarragona are impressive.

The best season:

autumn, summer, spring

Lunch tips:

You can picnic or have a home cooked meal in the shelter of the Mussara.

More info:

Difficulty: medium (because of the final stretch into the abyss)
Type: linear route
Total distance: approx. 4.5 km (roundtrip)
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes (no breaks, roundtrip)
Accessibility: the first part goes through wooded areas and slopes with little unevenness. The last stretch to access the abyss is complicated because you have to climb and use hand and feet at certain points. Recommendations: use flashlights, helmets and clothes that can get dirty to visit the cave. It’s quite windy in this area, therefore consider bringing clothing with long sleeves even in summer. Inside the chasm you can find snakes, so be very careful where you place hands and feet.

Foto: © ExploraTgn.cat