Between the forest and the bay: Glamping on the Costa Brava at Wecamp Santa Cristina

For most people, the Costa Brava conjures up images of crowded beaches, towering hotel complexes, and sangria in plastic cups. Whether that’s fair or not, it’s all true. But this exists too: a car-free Glamping site, deep in the forests of Les Gavarres, where you wake up in the morning to the sound of birdsong and don’t decide until after breakfast whether to head to the beach or hop on a bike for a tour through the Empordà countryside.

Wecamp Santa Cristina is located 2 kilometers from the village of Santa Cristina d’Aro, nestled among farms, mountain ranges, and ancient forests. And yet it’s just a 10-minute drive from the coast at Sant Feliu de Guíxols. It’s this combination that makes this place special: nature as your home base, the sea as a day trip. Or the other way around, if that’s what you’re in the mood for.

Just like at Wecamp Pedraforca, the same applies here: this is a larger campground, not just a handful of tents in a meadow. But the layout is well thought out. The accommodations are arranged to offer as much privacy as possible, the grounds are car-free, and the atmosphere is remarkably peaceful for a spot on the Costa Brava. No loud evening shows, no packed entertainment lines. A pleasant surprise on the Costa Brava.

No shows, no fuss. Just trees, a comfortable bed, and the coast right around the corner.

Baix Empordà: The Costa Brava You Don’t Know

The Costa Brava stretches for 200 kilometers along the coast, but it is by no means equally crowded or equally beautiful everywhere. The Baix Empordà region, literally the “lower Empordà,” is the southern part, with an agricultural interior full of cork oak trees and grapevines, and a coastline dotted with small coves that can only be reached by bike or on foot.

Sant Feliu de Guíxols is the nearest town: a picturesque fishing village with a market square, a Benedictine monastery, and a long beach promenade without too many tourist trappings. Platja d’Aro is right next to it. It’s more popular and livelier, with shops and restaurants. And then there are the coves: Cala Canyet and Cala del Senior Ramon—hidden, quiet, and accessible via the Camí de Ronda, the coastal path that runs the entire length of the Costa Brava.

Girona is a 30-minute drive away, and Barcelona is an hour away. It’s perfect if you want to use the countryside as a base and visit the cities on day trips.

Sleep in the woods, wake up surrounded by nature

Wecamp Santa Cristina offers a wide range of accommodations, from classic campsites to fully furnished lodges and Safari tents. Guests are remarkably unanimous about the quality: clean, well-equipped, and comfortable beds. And each unit is positioned so that you hardly see your neighbors. Sheets, towels, and toiletries are included; you only need to bring whatever you’d like.

The grounds are car-free. Upon arrival, your luggage will be taken to your accommodations by electric cart. It’s a small detail, but it makes an immediate difference: no cars driving between the tents, less noise, more peace and quiet.

Accommodation Options

• Lodge Family & Lodge Duplex: spacious wooden lodges, some with a loft and a private terrace. Ideal for families and couples who want more space.
• Mobile homes: nestled in the forest landscape, with a private patio and a fully equipped kitchen. Pet-friendly.
• Bell Tents: the classic camping experience, but with a real bed and a comfortable night’s sleep.
• Glamping Couple: a compact yet cozy accommodation for two, designed for intimacy and tranquility.
• Cabin Tent: Wecamp’s own version of the Canadian tent, a hybrid between a tent and a cabin.
• Camping sites: for guests arriving with their own tent, RV, or trailer; equipped with electricity and water, surrounded by trees.

Dogs are welcome at most accommodations for a small additional fee.

Cycling, hiking, and getting in the water

Wecamp Santa Cristina is located on El Carrilet, one of Catalonia’s most famous cycling routes. A former railroad line converted into a flat bike path that stretches from the Costa Brava to the Pyrenees. Ideal for leisurely bike rides with no elevation gain, but also as a starting point for longer, multi-day trips through the countryside.

Via the Camí de Ronda—the coastal trail that runs along the entire Costa Brava—you can reach the most beautiful coves in the area on foot. The trail winds along cliffs, through pine forests, and past hidden beach coves. The campground rents out mountain bikes and e-bikes if you want to explore the countryside.

On the water, there are kayaking and SUP tours along the coves, snorkeling excursions in the clear Mediterranean waters, and a via ferrata at Cala del Molí if you enjoy climbing. Sunrise yoga on a SUP board—if that sounds appealing to you—is available here.

• Camí de Ronda: a coastal trail along coves, cliffs, and pine forests, on foot or by bike
• El Carrilet: a flat bike route from the coast toward the Pyrenees, starting right from the campground
• Kayaking & Snorkeling: Exploring the Bay from the Water
• Cala del Molí Via Ferrata: for climbers with a view of the sea
• Sunrise SUP Yoga: Relaxation on the Water
• Hiking Trails in the Erdenya Mountains & Aro Valley: For When You Want to Explore the Inland