There are journeys that transform you, that not only take you to a new place but change you from within, that teach you to see with different eyes, to listen more closely, to rediscover silence, to walk more slowly. Garrotxa is one of those treasures.
If you are people who care deeply, who love nature and simple, authentic beauty, if you are moved by discovering the living culture of a place and walking in harmony with its landscape, this five-day proposal is made for you.
Enjoy it every step of the way!
Start your stay by stepping into one of the most vibrant volcanic landscapes in Europe. Following Itinerary 1 to the Santa Margarida volcano, you’ll find a hermitage right in the middle of the crater! Be impressed by the exposed section of the Croscat volcano and the deep silence and colours of the Fageda d’en Jordà. This route is easy and suitable for all paces. Take it easy — there’s no need to give it your all on the first day. Take your time to stop and enjoy the surroundings, and set aside some time to visit La Fageda Foundation, which carries out an impressive social project to improve the quality of life and inclusion of the people who work there.
Your experience will be complete if you let yourself be guided by a local expert, who will help you discover, with fresh eyes, the geology, flora and fauna of this vibrant volcanic landscape. When you get hungry, let yourself be tempted by the flavours of the Volcanic Cuisine restaurants: dishes born from the land you’ve been walking on, made with local products that carry the aroma of the volcanoes, the freshness of the forests and the patience of those who cook with love and respect for their territory.
From Olot, follow the Carrilet greenway towards Les Planes d’Hostoles and you’ll cross the magical Vall d’en Bas. Along the way, you’ll see farmland, streams and waterfalls, because water is not just landscape: it is life, memory and future.
Halfway along the route, we recommend stopping to recharge in Sant Feliu de Pallerols, at a restaurant committed to local and seasonal produce. In the afternoon, following the signs of the Itinerànnia trail network, head on foot into the pools of the Brugent Natural Area, a spot full of biodiversity that invites you to walk slowly and observe your surroundings.
In Olot, volcano and city coexist. At Espai Cràter you’ll discover how this extraordinary landscape was formed and feel the force that inhabits it. Climb up to the Montsacopa volcano to see it from above and walk inside the crater.
Observe the landscape from the watchtowers and listen closely, because the city wants to tell you things. At lunchtime, choose a restaurant that cooks with local products — try the famous Olot potatoes or beans with shredded sausage — and in the afternoon stroll around and explore the agri-food shops, small treasures full of aromas and colours, offering local products that tell the stories of the people who grow or make them.
Alta Garrotxa awaits you with its wild and silent beauty. Let yourself be surprised by the Vall del Bac, a natural refuge where you can breathe slowly under a centuries-old oak tree, enjoy a forest bathing experience or connect with the universe during a stargazing session. Here, nature speaks softly and says a lot.
Follow one of the itineraries of the Alta Garrotxa Consortium or a section of the Itinerànnia trail network, such as from Oix to Sadernes, and choose your own path. It can be a walk to a viewpoint with endless views, a full-day hike to Sant Aniol d’Aguja, or the literary route of Vayreda in Alta Garrotxa, which will transport you to the settings of La Punyalada, where the rugged landscapes are as much protagonists as the characters in the novel.
To regain your energy, stop in a scenic spot and enjoy some crusty country bread with cured sausage and cheese — a simple bite with the authentic taste of the land you are walking through. And always carry a notebook! To write down what you see, what you feel, what moves you. The light filtering through the cliffs, the scent of thyme, the silence broken by water… small moments you will want to keep forever.
End your journey by immersing yourself in local life. If you stroll through the weekly markets, you will be able to talk to producers who sell what they have grown themselves, and you will hear the local Garrotxa dialect, an inseparable part of the identity and soul of this territory. Discover artisans from the Vall d’en Bas and local designers, or explore the museums of Olot such as the Museum of the Saints, with the interactive experience “The Apprentice”, or the Garrotxa Museum, where you can see The Charge. Throughout the region, you will also find architectural works by RCR Arquitectes, a world-renowned studio. And if you visit the area in May, enjoy the Hiking Festival — you’ll love it!
Don’t forget to greet, to ask, to share… Because in Garrotxa, those who experience it with respect always feel at home.
If you are looking for experiences that connect you with nature, the territory and the people who care for it, you must experience ecotourism in Garrotxa: enjoy a forest bathing session or stargazing in Alta Garrotxa, listen to the gentle flight of butterflies in the Natural Park, or discover nocturnal wildlife in the Moixina wetlands — experiences that will make you slow down, see with new eyes and feel part of a living, extraordinary environment.
© Turisme Garrotxa
