Hotels surrounded by gorges and waterfalls
The fact that the swimming season is ending does not mean, in any way, that we cannot enjoy some of the aquatic treasures that we have most hidden, some only within the reach of the most adventurous. Today we are not talking about secret coves or small beaches that are difficult to access, but about waterfalls and pools of water that we find in the interior of the territory, small natural wonders that appear out of nowhere, hidden among the thickness of the trees and the freshness of the forest. . And since to get to them you will have to do a bit of walking, don't rule out that you are going to end up taking a good bath. In fact, we strongly recommend it! Your discovery will have a different flavor if you make the way back with your skin soaked in the freshness of these mountain waters.
We start in Alt Empordà, where you can stay at the Almadraba Park Hotel in Roses. Located on a promontory above the sea, this hotel welcomes its visitors in 66 comfortable rooms. Its seawater pool and terraces give it a special charm that accompanies a magnificent gastronomic offer and careful service. It will be your starting point towards Salto de Fitó, in the Jonquera area. Within the natural area of Albera, this impressive jump of almost 60 meters high awaits you, along the Llobregat river in the Empordà. To be able to enjoy it with all the intensity, you can leave the car in El Pertús and you will find a circular route of just over 8 kilometers, which has a unique hanging wooden bridge that will give you access to the spectacular Salto de Fitó. At its feet, a gorge surrounded by large poplar trees awaits you to soak in while enjoying one of the most authentic natural spectacles in the Empordà.
Now we want to talk to you about another charming hotel, with a family character, ideal for giving a comfortable and well-deserved stay. It is the Hotel Can Miquel, located on the Cala Montgó de l'Escala beach. It is an establishment on the authentic Costa Brava, with the Montgrí Massif ending abruptly in a cliff. 37 double rooms, all recently renovated, and featuring a private pool, heated outdoor pool, two tennis courts, garden area, closed garage exclusively for clients, a restaurant with a beachfront terrace and a grilled meat restaurant outdoors right in front of the sea. And at the same time, it is the ideal place to get to know the Salto de la Caula, in Las Escaules. It is part of the course of the Muga River, when at this point the Caula torrent meets a 30-meter-high jump, where the water falls, forming this spectacular waterfall. The collapse of some large rocks a few years ago makes bathing difficult at this point, but the spectacle of the water and the noise it makes when falling remain intact.
To discover this jewel of nature, you can also stay in Pals, at the Hotel Mas Salvi, a charming hotel hidden in the protected green area of Carmany de Pals, in the heart of the Costa Brava. It is a 17th century farmhouse rehabilitated and converted into a luxurious hotel. Surrounded by 70,000 square meters of private forests, Mas Salvi enjoys an incomparable natural environment.
And without leaving Alt Empordà, you also have another gift of nature within reach, the Gorg Negre de Cantallops. Here you can immerse yourself and feel the freshness of the water with all the intensity. This comes from Puigneulós, in the Albera mountain range, and if the rains are generous this autumn you will find lush riverside vegetation and a fairly deep gorge in the Anyet stream, a tributary of the Muga. Once the bath is finished, you can follow the course of the river, which will never cease to surprise you because it hides more than one corner of great beauty.
And to make this excursion a complete experience, we recommend the Hotel Mas Lazuli, in Pau. It is an old convent from the 11th century, completely restored, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards that stretch into the horizon. A privileged location on the Costa Brava, very close to the beaches of Roses, Cadaqués and the natural parks of Cap de Creus or the Aiguamolls of the Empordà. It has 17 rooms, 7 of them suites, completely renovated with a contemporary style, which contrasts with the antiquity of the place. The restaurant, the wellness space, the chillout, the pool and the gardens will offer you pleasant moments. In addition, it offers creative and current cuisine based on fresh Empordà products, some even from the hotel's own garden. And to take home a piece of this experience, you will find a selection of jewelry, accessories, cosmetic products and souvenirs, as well as olive oil and wine from the property.
We now go a little further south, in Baix Empordà. Here you should visit the Hotel Castell Empordà, in La Bisbal d’Empordà, an authentic national monument. It is a spectacular medieval castle from the 12th century, now converted into an elegant and comfortable hotel. Nestled between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, it is a privileged location that offers exquisite cuisine and a warm stay, and that can be your home for a few days while you discover the natural environment of the area.
An environment as admirable as the area of the Salenys gorges, in Romanyà de la Selva. From this little town you can start a beautiful river route that will take you to this set of rocks and waterfalls, passing through wooden bridges and walkways near the stream, which twists and even offers some stretches of via ferrata. The pools occur along the route, and at any time you can leave the itinerary to test the water temperature. What, do you dare? Well, dip! This is life.
To discover this jewel so close to the Mediterranean, but which by appearance seems to be located in a pre-Pyrenean area, you have the Hotel Garbí, in Calella de Palafrugell. It is located just 200 meters from the municipality and 30 minutes from five golf courses in the area. The Serra family runs this cozy hotel, where you can bathe in the heated pool in the garden or relax in the jacuzzi in the room. And where, of course, you can enjoy refined Mediterranean cuisine.
Photos: Enric Rubio Ros, Isabel Albertí, EliziR, Xevibp
