Cap de Creus and its nature park

By extension, Cap de Creus, the rocky headland at the eastern end of the Iberian peninsula, gave its name to the entire nature park created in 1998, between El Port de la Selva and Cadaqués. It's the wildest part of the Costa Brava, unspoilt and difficult to access, and its geological age is evident in its tortured, broken and striated rocks.

In a word: magnificent. The backdrop is the deep blue of the Mediterranean, sometimes immensely calm, sometimes churned by crashing waves.

As you will have gathered, the scenery at Cap de Creus cannot leave anyone indifferent, especially lovers of wild nature and unspoilt landscapes. A land of inspiration for Dali himself, the Master used to say that the Pyrenees ended in a "geological delirium at Cap de Creus"!

Cap de Creus and its tortured rocks made numerous appearances in the work of Salvador Dali, who was its creative neighbour throughout his life. It appears, for example, in the background of the painting The Spectre of Sex Appeal (1934), exhibited at the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres.

Long before Dali, others had already found inspiration in these unique landscapes: a true masterpiece of Romanesque art, the monastery of San Pere de Rodes, above El Port de la Selva, is thought to have been founded in the 9th century! The Benedictine monks were already enjoying the breathtaking views from here that you can admire today: Cap de Creus has not stopped inspiring vocations!

Forget hotels with swimming pools, long sandy beaches and parasols: none of that in the Cap de Creus nature park, which acts like a magnet for lovers of unspoilt nature. The park is very wild, with a few small roads through which you can drive, but that would be missing the point. At Cap de Creus, it's all about the great outdoors!

The entire peninsula is criss-crossed by numerous hiking trails: whatever the season, these signposted paths are the best way to fully appreciate the unique beauty of Cap de Creus. The coastal routes from El Port de la Selva to the Cap de Creus lighthouse, and on to Cadaqués, are a must for lovers of deserted coves (don't forget your swimming costume in fine weather!), cliffs and seascapes. Some of the paths, though rocky, are ideal for mountain biking.

One of the best walks starts from Port Lligat and takes 4 hours to reach Cap de Creus. Alternatively, there is a road leading to the Cap de Creus lighthouse, a good starting point for exploring the area on foot.

Another way of approaching the cape is by sea: kayak from Port Lligat, for example, and on a calm day with calm seas, you can easily paddle along the rocky folds of Cap de Creus, where you can bathe in the astonishingly clear waters. From then on, scuba diving is a constant temptation: the diving clubs of Cadaqués will take you to discover these rocky, fish-filled seabeds.

On a less sporty note, you can explore Cap de Creus on a hire boat, with or without a skipper, ideal for finding a quiet spot to let yourself be rocked by the peaceful roll of the Mediterranean.

⭐ Hotel Octavia

To explore Cap de Creus, the best base will be Cadaqués and its smaller neighbour Port Lligat. There is plenty of on-site accommodation, well placed for exploring the nature park.

El Port de la Selva is another good base, but a little less charming, offering access to some beautiful, unspoilt coves and a number of hiking trails.