Estartit Holiday Resort Information

Estartit is situated on the Northern end of the Costa Brava, a short distance from the French Border, the Catalonian resort of Estartit is within comfortable driving distance of the Channel Ports.  The Motorway takes you to within approximately 30 minutes of this lovely resort which was once a small fishing village and possibly due to its 5km stretch of sandy beach, has now grown into a popular holiday resort.  Even in July and August one is able to find an uncrowded spot on what is arguably one of the finest beaches on the Mediterranean Coast. The Medas Isles which shelter Estartit are considered to be the finest nature reserve for Marine Life on the Mediterranean. The water is very clear and trips on the Glass Bottom Boat are very popular.  Boat excursions are available from the Marina and for anyone bringing their own boat it is normally possible to reserve a berth through the Club Nautico.  Estartit is the premier Diving centre in Catalonia.  For the Golfer, many Championship courses are within easy reach of the Resort.  In addition to golf, diving, sailing, windsurfing, both river and sea fishing, horse riding, micro lighting, tennis and squash are just a few of the sporting facilities available in the area. A large open air market takes place in Estartit every Thursday morning & there are plenty of shops, night clubs and discos.  The restaurants and bars situated along the front are wonderful places to sit and watch the world go by whilst sampling the local wine or perhaps eating some of the locally caught fish. Estartit and its surrounding area caters for all age groups, young and old alike! 

A bus service links Estartit to Gerona and the Mediaeval Town of Torroella de Montgri, 7 kms inland from Estartit which has its own market every Monday morning.  Excursions to the famous Catalonian Cities of Barcelona, Gerona and Figueras, (with the Dali Museum) are available from Estartit. The old Mediaeval villages of Pals and Peratallada are also worthwhile places to visit, as are the extensive Graeco/Roman ruins of Ampurias and the little village of St Martin de Ampurias nearby.  

Click here for the Estartit Holiday Resort Slide Show

Beaches

Platja Gran of L’Estartit is a long beach divided into three sectors: the main beach (1 km x 100 m), Els Griells beach (0.5 km x 50 m) and La Pletera beach (1.8 km x 70 m). The zones for swimming and the zones for water sports are clearly marked by buoys. Situated facing the town residential centre, where most of the beach users stay. Els Griells beach is situated between the Ter Vell Nature Reserve and the residential estate which lends it its name, Els Griells. It is not used as much as the main beach. Here are to be found the main water-sports operators. The Ter Vell Nature Reserve, backing onto the beach, makes its surroundings very pleasant.   

La Pletera beach is the least-used section, with practically no houses in the vicinity. Along with the Ter Vell Nature Reserve, this beach is included in a programme for restoration of the coastal dunes and Baix Empordà marshes. Its surroundings and its limited accessibility make it a peaceful, little-visited spot of considerable natural beauty.

Length: 3’3 km
Average width: 100 m
Sand: fine
Depth: shallow
Services: Showers, wastepaper baskets, beach bars, lounger and sunshade hire, paddleboats and boats.
Water sports: water skiing, ski-bus, kayaks, sailing school, surfing, etc.
Maritime promenade and parking zone. Marina. Beach cleaning.
Safety: Lookout service, salvaging, lifesaving and first aid. Health centre in the town.

   Mas Pinell beach is 5 km from L’Estartit as the crow flies and 13 km away by road; it can be reached by car.

Length: 1.3 km
Average width: 80 m
Sand: fine
Depth: medium
Services: Showers, wastepaper baskets, beach bar.
Lounger/sunshade hire.
Paddleboats, surfing.
Car park.

   Montgo Bay is the major geographical feature of the entire Montgrí sealine. Its rounded shape has given rise to the hypothesis that it could be a former doline that sank, filled with water and enlarged by the action of the sea. In Roman times it was used as a point of disembarkation, as shown by the remains found there.

This bay is 12 km away via the mountains and 20 km by road from L’Estartit, and can be got to on foot and by car (bicycle, boat). The swimming zone and the water-sports zone are both marked by buoys.

Dimensions: 600 by 80 m
Services: Bars, lounger and sunshade hire.
Paddleboats, kayaks, windsurfing. Underwater diving club.
Car park. 

 After Montgo bay, this is the second-largest bay on the Montgrí coast. The path to take you to and back from Ferriol bay, on foot from the main trail, takes approximately an hour and a half.

Length: 150 m
Width: 30 to 70 m
Sand: pebbles
Depth: average
Services: none.
An ideal spot for snorkelling  

Pedrosa Bay is a small bay snuggled in a heavenly setting among pine trees and rocks, so that the visitor cannot resist a swim in the summer and gazing at the scene in winter. Out facing the bay is Pedrosa island, just to put the finishing touch on the scene. The path to and back from Pedrosa bay on foot, from the main trail, takes approximately an hour.

Length: 100 m
Width: 10 to 50 m
Sand: pebbles
Depth: shallow
Services: none.
An ideal spot for observing marine life with goggles and a snorkel pipe. 

Calella Bay is a small rock bay which is 30 min. on foot from L’Estartit port. Before arriving we pass an extraordinary viewing point, with the Medes Islands in the background: Els Arquets. Also along the way we come across a geological well called Pou de la Calella, a vertical opening which is said to run through to the sea. This is one of the many cracks in the mountain range, making it very like a kind of “Gruyère cheese”, with holes running right through its interior.

Length: 80 m
Width: 10 to 30 m
Sand: rocky
Services: none.
Ideal spot for observing marine life.