The Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa invites you to take a journey back in time, to a world where the earth speaks through its volcanoes and lava flows. Let’s go back to the dawn of time, when the earth roared and gave birth to fantastic geological creatures of rock and fire. The landscape would change forever, giving it its characteristic brown-reddish color and the soft morphology of rustic land that has given this area its name: Garrotxa (“rough land”).
Then, silence. The gentle slopes of the volcanoes fill with vegetation and forests full of life, the flora with its bright colors anticipates the la Garrotxa artists. Animals populate the gentle pastures that were once filled by seas of lava. And thus, the song of the birds and the whisper of the wind among the leaves create a harmonious symphony.
This natural sanctuary, spread over eleven municipalities and extending over 15,000 hectares, becomes an open window to the biological diversity of Catalonia. The Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa adheres to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, an initiative of the EUROPARC Federation, an organization that brings together protected natural areas from 38 European countries. In this way, it aims to improve sustainable development and the tourist management of the protected area, always taking into account the needs of the environment, the population, local businesses, and visitors.
In this journey, it will be essential to be respectful of the environment. For lovers of sustainability and ecological awareness, the park is an example of balance between human use and environmental preservation. Visitors to the park must respect the conservation rules, avoiding loud noises and the collection of plants or animals. The park has parking areas and rest areas with basic services. It is also recommended to visit with accredited guides for a more enriching experience. Special permits are available upon request for people with reduced mobility and organized groups. Finally, educational and recreational resources such as JugaParc, a self-guided activity aimed at families with children over 8-9 years old, are offered to explore and learn about the park interactively.
The Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park is not just a destination to visit; it is an opportunity to connect with nature, respecting its tranquillity and preserving its fragile ecosystem. Your steps will be guided by sustainability awareness, leaving only a light footprint in this natural paradise. It is more than an excursion; it is a tribute to the beauty and strength of nature. This way, you will take home not only photographs, but also memories and a renewed connection with the natural world.
98% of the Natural Park’s territory is privately owned. Please avoid making disturbing noises and ensure that your visit does not inconvenience residents or other visitors. Capturing animals and collecting plants, rocks and minerals is not permitted within the Park.
Parking areas are signposted. Please leave your vehicle in the designated car parks. There you will find rest areas equipped with toilets, bins, and drinking water, should you need to pause your activity. Avoid having picnics outside these areas. In nature reserves it is strictly forbidden.
The Park’s maintenance service makes a great effort to keep the most frequented places clean. Please generate as little waste as possible, avoid cans, cartons, aluminium foil, etc. Always collect the rubbish you generate and take it with you or deposit it in the bins located in the car parks.
Bookings allow us to welcome you better, balancing the enjoyment of the visit with the conservation of the natural values of the protected area. Make them in advance (some places have no coverage), and also book your accommodation, the restaurants where you wish to eat, and the activities you want to do.
You will need one if you want to do wild camping or bivouacking, canyoning, fly drones, hold events, sports activities, or carry out professional photo shoots and filming. A permit is also required if you have reduced mobility and wish to reach places where vehicle access is restricted.
The central area of the Natural Park is quite popular with visitors. Peak visiting hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and it is recommended to arrive before 10:00 am to enjoy the visit more peacefully.
It is advisable to visit the area accompanied by a guide accredited by the Natural Park to make the visit more rewarding.
To access the Museum Space of the Croscat Volcano with an organised group (schools, youth groups, scouts, travel agencies…), it is necessary to be accompanied by a guide holding the “Good Connoisseur of La Garrotxa” qualification, organised by the Natural Park itself, and to have booked in advance. More information.
Plan your stay well before visiting the Natural Park and seek advice at the different tourist offices of the county.
The Natural Park has two paid car parks located in the central area.
Can Serra Area: located next to the Fageda d’en Jordà. It has public facilities, a picnic area and an information centre. Trails 1 and 2 of the Natural Park start from there. It is a 24-hour automatic payment car park and only bank card payments are accepted.
Santa Margarida Area: located on the GI-524 road, next to the Santa Margarida volcano. It has public facilities and a picnic area. Trails 1 and 15 of the Natural Park start from there. This car park operates with manual payment from 9 am to 5 pm and only cash payments are accepted.
Each parking area has a maximum vehicle capacity and no reservations are possible.
According to the Natural Park regulations, unloading or loading from vehicles to avoid paying is not allowed, neither in the car parks, nor at the Santa Margarida bar roundabout, nor on the access road to the Croscat volcano, since group members use the areas and their services, either from the specific area or from the sites of interest in the area they visit.
Schools and non-profit organisations from the county of La Garrotxa may be exempt depending on the activity they carry out and must contact the Natural Park.
The money collected from the car parks is used for the conservation of the Fageda d’en Jordà, Croscat volcano and Santa Margarida volcano natural reserves.
The Natural Park grants special vehicle access permits for people with reduced mobility. These must be requested at the Park’s information centres, and it is recommended to do so several days in advance.
The Park also offers the Joëlette chair service, allowing visitors to enjoy hiking activities or access areas with more irregular terrain. This service must always be requested in advance via email at cps@tosca.cat
and is subject to chair availability.
The Museum Spaces are sites of special interest and a must-visit to discover important aspects of the Natural Park. These spaces are designed so that visitors can visit, enjoy, and learn through information panels, signposted walking routes, and interpretative materials about the site.
Since 2020, efforts have been made to improve the interpretation of these sites, and several informative and educational documents are being developed for visitors, such as visitor guides that allow an in-depth understanding of the site and “family discoveries”, an educational and at the same time playful resource that helps interpret the place.
Plan your route in advance, check the weather forecast, and go well equipped (suitable walking shoes, warm clothing if needed, water, food, and a map of the route). Do not light fires and follow the marked trails.
In summer, start walking early, as it gets very hot at midday.
If you are an organised group and wish to visit the Museum Space of the Croscat Volcano, you must be accompanied by a guide holding the “Good Connoisseur of La Garrotxa” qualification. Almost all guiding companies in the county have staff with this certification.
Respect private property –almost all the land is private–, do not make noise or shout, move carefully, never go off the marked trails or cross-country, collect your dog’s waste and keep them on a leash.
This is the only way to ensure they will not interfere with herds of cows and sheep or with the local wildlife.
If you are travelling by motorhome, in addition to campsites there are several specially designated areas.
Outside these areas, in some municipalities it is forbidden to spend the night inside vehicles or motorhomes parked on public roads.
The experience you lived, the photos of your stay, and your rubbish.
Rocks, minerals, plants and animals, and nothing that does not belong to you.