Where is Tamariu?

Tamariu Costa Brava

Tamariu is a small coastal town on the Costa Brava. One of three coastal towns within the municipality of the larger town Palafrugell which is located a few kilometres inland. The other two towns are Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell.

Where is Tamariu?
Tamariu on the Costa Brava

Things to do in Tamariu

Tamariu is pretty small and in 20 minutes you will have walked all the streets and seen everything in the town. However this does not mean that it is boring, not by any stretch of the imagination. Of course the main feature is the beach itself. Along this stretch of the Costa Brava beaches are mainly small coves and bays. At around 200m in length it is one of the biggest sandy beaches in this region.

The promenade of Tamariu has a good selection of restaurants, great for family meals on balmy summer evenings. There’s also a small supermarket, good for picking up essentials however we recommend our clients to do their main grocery shopping in Palafrugell.

The Cami de Ronda

The Cami de Ronda is the name for the coastal path which runs the whole length of the Costa Brava. The Tamariu section of the coastal path is a little hilly so probably not ideal for little children. To the north the beach of Aiguablava is a 45 minute walk and to the south the little hidden bay of Cala Pedrosa is again around 45 minutes. The small bay of Aigua Gelida (sometimes spelt Aiga Xelida) close to Tamariu is another beautiful beach worth a visit. Read about the Costa Brava coastal path in more detail on our blog.

Aigua Gelida beach
The cove of Aigua Gelida

The area around Tamariu

With the exception of the bays and coves, the general geography of the area is rugged pine covered cliffs. The contrast between the deep blues of the ocean and the verdant greens of the pines is breathtaking. However this also means that a lot of the Tamariu holiday villas and vacation rentals in the area are built into the coastal cliffs. For families with young children some of the villas in the area may not be ideal due to the nature of the terrain.

Costa Brava holiday villas

At Charming Villas Catalonia we have an extensive portfolio of high standard vacation homes in and around Tamariu. Please browse our selection of luxury Costa Brava villas and farmhouses. We have visited all of the properties on our website on multiple occasions. Our aim is to offer un-biased opinions on each property and help our clients choose the best property for their needs.

Locally based we offer a free Costa Brava concierge service to all our clients and can help arrange extra services and activities. We can give suggestions of day-trips and put together bespoke days out including some of our off the beaten track favorites.

For more information about Tamariu and the surrounding area please visit the Visit Palafrugell website.

Where to stay on the Costa Brava?

This blog post is designed for those who are planning on visiting Catalonia and the Costa Brava for the first time. This is also for people who are seeking information about where to stay and what to do in the region. Below is a basic map highlighting the Costa Brava and the Maresme coastlines.

The Maresme coastline starts from Barcelona and finishes at Blanes. From Blanes the Costa Brava ends over 200 kilometers later at the French border. The Costa Brava can be split into three rough sections; Northern, central and Southern sections. Blanes to Palamos is the southern section. The middle section from Palafrugell to L’Estartit and the northern section from L’Escala to Portbou.

The middle and Northern sections

Middle and Northern sections of the Costa Brava are somewhat less developed (with one or two exceptions). These are also more family orientated and this is where the vast majority of our properties are located.

Popular locations are Begur (and it’s beaches of Sa Riera, Sa Tuna, Aiguablava). The beaches of Palafrugell – Tamariu, Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell. Cadaques is the jewel of the Northern section of the Costa Brava.

For first time visitors to the Costa Brava i normally recommend the area around Begur/Tamariu. There’s a lot to see and do in a compact area and day-trips to explore the north or south of the Costa Brava are doable. Here is a map showing the main coves and beaches of the Begur/Palafrugell area;

Begur beaches
The beaches of Begur and Palafrugell

Cadaques, the pearl of the Costa Brava

Cadaques in the north is probably our favorite coastal town on the whole of the Costa Brava. There’s only one road in and out of town and it is a windy mountain road which can take up to 30 minutes’ from the neighboring town of Roses. Once you finally descend into Cadaques the mountain road adventure is quickly forgotten. The town has a unique charm and ambiance which has been preserved down the centuries. This is in part thanks to it’s relative isolation from the rest of the Costa Brava located on the end of the Cap de Creus peninsula.

Cadaques has seen many artists staying over the years including Picasso, Man Ray, Duchamp, Joan Miro. Most famously of all Salvador Dali who lived a large part of his life in the neighboring Port Lligat. This link to the rich history of Cadaques is tangible today in the many local artists galleries you will find among the narrow cobbled streets of the town. The town has a somewhat Bohemian atmosphere and a wonderful selection of good quality restaurants.

However i am always cautious on recommending Cadaques to first time visitors to the region because of it’s isolated location. If travelling around visiting other towns/beaches is an important factor this can be quite a tiresome experience driving over the mountain road every day. For people who like to explore other areas i recommend finding a base in the Begur/Tamariu area and then taking a day trip to Cadaques during your holiday.

Costa Brava vacation villas

At Charming Villas Catalonia we offer a selection of luxury Costa Brava holiday villas with pools and villas with heated pools. Let us know your important criteria and we will help you find the perfect vacation rental in Catalonia.

This post is just a rough guide and with our clients we go into much more detail not only with location and villa selection but also, if needed, advice and help planning activities and day trip itineraries. Please contact Sara or Richard at catalonia@charmingvillas.net for more information.

Palafrugell supermarkets

Palafrugell and Tamariu supermarkets

Here is a list of the main supermarkets in Palafrugell. Including usual chains of Carrefour, Esclat/Bon Preu, Aldi and Mercadona. These are the biggest supermarkets close to Tamariu, Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell.

Mercadona avda. Espanya, 236-240 17200 Palafrugell. Opening times 09.15 – 21.15 Monday – Saturday. Tel 972 657 646

Aldi Avinguda Espanya 141 17200 Palafrugell. Opening times 09.00 – 22.00 Monday – Saturday, 09.15 – 15.15 Sunday.

Carrefour Avda. del Mar, 1 17200 Palafrugell. Opening times 09.00 – 22.00 Monday – Saturday.

Esclat/Bon Preu Costa Brava Boulevard (La Fanga) 17200 – Palafrugell.Opening times 09.00 – 21.30 Monday – Friday and 09.00 – 14.30 Sundays.

Vegetarian, Vegan and organic Palafrugell supermarkets

For vegetarians, vegans and people looking for high quality organic produce we recommend the Veritas supermarket. This is located at Avinguda de Josep Vergés i Mata, 28 in Palafrugell. There’s also a charging point for Electric cars outside.

Palafrugell weekly market

There is also a weekly market in Palafrugell on Sunday mornings from 08.00 around the Street Pi Margall where you can buy fruit, vegetables, meat, fish as well as clothing and shoes etc. More information can be found at the Palafrugell town hall website.

A daily market (Tuesday to Sunday) at the same location of Pi Margall sells fruit and vegetables with a covered indoor section that sells fresh fish and meat.

Palafrugell Sunday market
Sunday market in Palafrugell (image credit: visitpalafrugell.cat)

Tamariu supermarket

Tamariu also has a medium sized Spar supermarket in the center of town which opens during the summer months. This is okay for getting the odd bits and pieces but would recommend our clients to do their main shopping at one of the larger stores in Palafrugell.

Map of locations of Palafrugell supermarkets:

The best place to stay on the Costa Brava?

One of the questions we are asked by people who are coming to the region for the first time is which is the best place to stay on the Costa Brava? There’s lots of great places to choose from and this blog post is to help people get a better idea of what area might be best for them.

Begur and Palafrugell

Probably the most popular coastal area on the Costa Brava is the Begur and Palafrugell region and their beaches. Their beaches include Sa Riera, Sa Tuna, Aigua Blava, Aigua Xelida, Tamariu and Llafranc.

Sa Riera, Begur
Sa Riera, Begur

Like most of the Costa Brava this area is very family orientated and laid back. It is popular with local Catalans and Spanish as well as with other Europeans and increasingly North Americans who are discovering the region.

The beaches can get pretty busy during July and August. Unless you are within walking distance to a beach you may have to leave your villa quite early in the morning to find a good parking place.

Cadaques in the north

Cadaques is another popular destination and quite possibly the best place to stay on the Costa Brava. A beautiful old fishing town, Cadaques is where Salvador Dali lived for a large part of his life. His old house in the little bay of Port Lligat is now a museum and open to the public.

Cadaques
Cadaques

There is only one road in and out of Cadaques which is quite narrow and windy through the Cap de Creus headland. This inaccessibility is the main reason why Cadaques has retained its charm and avoided the developers. Because of this relative isolation of the town I always suggest to people that Cadaques makes a great base if you plan of parking up the car and sitting back and relaxing. The town is quite compact and all of our vacation villas in Cadaques are within walking distance of the center with its restaurants, bars, shops and beaches. There is a quite special and unique ambiance to the place. However beautiful Cadaques is, I would not recommend it for people who plan to spend time driving around and exploring.

Empuries
Greek/Roman ruins of Empuries

Sant Marti and the ruins of Empuries

Sant Marti d’Empuries is a little off the beaten track and a favorite of ours. This tiny coastal village has a few restaurants and shops and is right on the beach. With nice sandy and un-crowded beaches this is the place we normally go to ourselves if we are having a day at the beach. For those of you interested in history there’s the ancient Greek and Roman ruins and neighboring Empuries. L’Escala which has a larger selection of bars and restaurants is only a 20 minutes walk along the seafront.

If it is bars, disco’s and partying you are after then Lloret de Mar is where you should go. Otherwise avoid it.

Other areas of the Costa Brava worth considering include Port de la Selva, Roses, and Palamos.

Luxury villas on the Costa Brava

At Charming Villas Catalonia we have a wide selection of luxury vacation rentals on the Costa Brava. Locally based we offer a free concierge service to all our clients. Please contact us for more information.