Tarragona, Tarragonès

About the place:

If at home some of you prefer the beach and the others the forest, we have the perfect combination for you. Walking along the Llarga Beach of Tarragona you will suddenly get into a pine forest, always with the noise of the sea on the background. Solitary creeks, where pirates disembarked in XVI and XVII centuries, trees with fantastic forms, rocky places and, from time to time, a natural oriel in the forest to enjoy the immensity of the sea and the rocks. (see photos)

Apart from discovering one of the few spaces that still preserve the original landscape of the Costa Daurada, you will be able to enjoy of a good bath in the summer and be able to find sufficient sand to construct castles with your children all year!

Direction tips:

The route starts at the tip of the Creueta, at the end of the Llarga Beach. You can park the car at the Llarga Beach parking or a bit further, just passed the Salinas camping. After passing the entrance of the camping, you’ll find an open place on your right side where you can leave the car. From here it will take about 20 minutes to arrive to the Creueta tip on the left side at the end of the beach.

At the end of the beach you will have to step on the rocks until the panel which indicates the start of the route. Before you start the itinerary you can go and have a quick look at the Roman quarry on your right hand just passed the yellow stone path. Many monuments of Tarragona’s roman period were built with stones taken out of this place. Than go back to the panel and take the third path on your right hand. Immediately you will find a species of natural corridor where the roots of the trees seem to have created some stairs. Always follow the most right path. In a few moments you will be in the pine forest. At some points the trees create natural arches. On your way, you will see some more open areas which seem to be natural oriels from where you can have a great sight over the magnitude of see. At one of these oriels you will be able to see the Cala Fonda: impressive! Return to the pine forest until a kind of small wall of stones on your left. A few steps later you will be walking on a path of stones. This path will bring you to the big dune, wide area with small bushes. Pass the dune and continue a large path, now of sand. Again you will find an oriel from where you will be able to see the Watch Tower constructed by Joan Miró. Return to the path. Now you will take narrower paths with some palms until you arrive to a wider space where the path seems to disappear.  In front of you you will see the beach of Roca Plana. (it is about 40 minutes away, from the place where you left your car).  You can easily access the beach, if you surround the beach. You will find a small corridor which facilitates the access without having to clime the rocks. This is the end of the route.

The environmental organization DEPANA proposes to continue the itinerary about 15 minutes so you arrive to the Miró Tower. Even though it is a beautiful itinerary, the path stretches a lot and gets confusing, because the forest becomes closer. You can’t access the Tower either, because it’s located behind the Mora Camping zone.

The best season:

winter, autumn, summer, spring

Lunch tips:

After a good walk, you deserve a rest and a good meal with sea sights. You will find an excellent beach cuisine at the Mirall d’Estiu, a restaurant specialized in paellas.

More info:

Difficulty: average
Type: linear route
Duration: aprox. 1 hour and 30 minutes (without stops, it includes both ways)
Distance: aprox. 3 km
Accessibility: the first 20 minutes are along the beach of sand. From the Creaute tip it will take about 20 more minutes through a forest to arrive to the Roca Plana Beach.
Recommendations: even though it is an itinerary that starts at the beach, use good footwear, since there are areas with stones, rocks and unevenness. Even though in the summer you’ll find shadow during the second part of the itinerary, but it is recommended to avoid the hours of maximum sun. Remind to take enough water with you.

At the Cala Fonda and the Roca Plana Beach it is allowed to practice nudism.

Photo: © Iban Cosconera, ExploraTgn.cat (see more photos)