There are places you simply visit, and others you truly experience. La Garrotxa is one of those destinations that invites you to slow down, take a deep breath and reconnect with what really matters.
If you have five days, there’s no need to rush to see everything. Quite the opposite. This itinerary invites you to discover the region at a relaxed, respectful and authentic pace, letting the landscape, its people and life’s simple moments shape your journey.
Begin your journey where everything comes together: the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.
Follow the trail to Santa Margarida Volcano and descend into its spectacular crater, where you’ll discover a small Romanesque chapel set within an extraordinary landscape. Continue to Croscat Volcano, whose exposed volcanic quarry reveals, better than any book, how this land was formed. Then enjoy the peaceful silence of the Fageda d’en Jordà beech forest as you stroll beneath its trees.
To gain a deeper understanding of this unique landscape, consider exploring it with a local guide, who will help you discover the geology, flora and wildlife that make La Garrotxa one of Europe’s most remarkable volcanic areas.
In the afternoon, visit Fundació La Fageda, an inspiring social enterprise that shows how nature can also be a powerful tool for social inclusion.
When it’s time to eat, let yourself be tempted by the restaurants of Cuina Volcànica, where local ingredients are transformed into dishes that tell the story of the landscape.
Your second day is an invitation to discover La Garrotxa by following the course of its rivers.
Starting in Olot, cycle along the Carrilet Greenway towards the Vall d’en Bas and Les Planes d’Hostoles. Riding through farmland, forests and charming villages, you’ll discover a region where the journey itself is part of the experience.
Stop in Sant Feliu de Pallerols to enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants serving seasonal, locally sourced produce.
In the afternoon, swap your bike for hiking boots and explore the natural pools of the Brugent Protected Natural Area. Crystal-clear water, waterfalls and lush vegetation create the perfect setting for a leisurely walk and a chance to reconnect with nature.
Olot is a city where nature reaches right into the urban centre.
Start the day at Espai Cràter, where you’ll discover how volcanoes have shaped both the landscape and the way of life in La Garrotxa. Then climb Montsacopa Volcano and walk inside its crater while enjoying panoramic views over the city and the surrounding volcanic cones.
Food continues to play a central role in the experience. Taste local specialities such as Olot potatoes and the renowned Santa Pau beans served with traditional botifarra esparracada sausage.
Before ending the day, wander through the shopping streets, visit local farm shops and discover the producers who keep this deeply rooted culinary tradition alive.
It’s time to discover the wildest side of the region.
The Alta Garrotxa Protected Natural Area is a land of towering cliffs, forests, rivers and silence. A place where nature sets the pace and invites you to slow down and breathe deeply.
Choose one of the itineraries proposed by the Alta Garrotxa Consortium, or follow a section of the Itinerànnia hiking network between Oix and Sadernes. Along the way, you’ll find spectacular viewpoints, hike to Sant Aniol d’Aguja or follow the landscapes that inspired Marià Vayreda’s novel La Punyalada.
Stop for lunch in a peaceful spot with a simple picnic of rustic bread, local cured meats and artisan cheeses. Sometimes, the simplest meals become the most memorable.
When it’s time to leave, you’ll probably take home more than photographs: the memory of the silence, the sunlight filtering through the trees and the feeling of having discovered one of Catalonia’s most authentic landscapes.
End your journey by discovering everyday life in La Garrotxa.
If your visit coincides with a weekly market, stroll among the stalls, chat with local producers and discover the food grown and made in this volcanic land. It’s one of the best ways to understand the region.
In the Vall d’en Bas you’ll meet artisans keeping traditional crafts alive, while in Olot you can visit the Museum of La Garrotxa, the Museum of the Saints, or discover the contemporary architecture of RCR Arquitectes.
Before you leave, remember something that’s considered essential here: greet people, ask questions, take time to chat and share experiences. In La Garrotxa, those who visit with respect often leave feeling a little at home.
This itinerary is only a suggestion. Feel free to adapt it to your own pace, extend your stay or return to the places that captivated you most.
Above all, we encourage you to travel slowly: walk, cycle or use public transport whenever possible, book popular activities in advance, enjoy locally produced food and let knowledgeable guides and sustainability-minded businesses enrich your experience.
Because discovering La Garrotxa is about more than visiting an extraordinary destination. It’s about becoming part—if only for a few days—of a way of life built on respect, closeness and care for the landscape.
© Turisme Garrotxa
