Volcanoes and lava flows

Price
84.00€

La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, located in the heart of the Garrotxa region between the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees mountains, is the best example of volcanic landscape of the Iberian Peninsula.

The territory of the Park has forty volcanic cones and more than 20 basaltic lava flows. The terrain, soil and climate provide a varied vegetation, often lush with oaks and beech woods that offers a exceptional botanical landscape.

The last volcanic eruption in the area was 11,500 years ago, add to the landscape the volcanoes of Santa Margarita and Croscat, and the lava flow from this volcano is present now in substrate of d'en Jordà beech forest, an exceptional forest, because it is at a very low altitude and also glossed by poet Joan Maragall his famous verses of "La Fageda d'en Jordà".

Old ways, first class cultural landscapes, rivers and wetlands, forests of all kinds and especially many volcanoes and lava flows are the main attractions for a weekend in the volcanic zone of La Garrotxa.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrival to Olot and accomodation

  • Dinner: free choice
  • Accomodation: Hotel Borrell 3* (HG-002153) / Hostel Torre Malagrida (depends on your choice)

Day 2 - The starting point is Itinerànnia billboard, located on the bridge of Les Móres in Olot. Following the old medieval road linking the town of Olot to town of Santa Pau, we gain altitude to reach the top of the basalt plateau of the Serra de Batet. Paved roads and crops with a mosaic of meadows surrounded by dry stone walls, will join us in this first section of the route. We'll see Croscat and Santa Margarita volcanoes. We'll visit Croscat volcano from inside, the side where was a quarry of volcanic materials.We'll climb to the top of Santa Margarida and we get into the crater: in the middle there is a Romanesque chapel. Back to Olot, we enter d'en Jordà beech forest to enjoy the silence and greenery in a unique place in the world. Following the path of the lava from the Croscat volcano, we will be approaching the end of the tour. The views over the city of Olot and the three volcanoes that watch it, and the Pyrenees in the background will be a great post to end a pleasant day of hiking.

  • Distance: 18,0 km
  • Climb: +480 m
  • Dinner: free choice
  • Accomodation: Hotel Borrell 3* (HG-002153) / Hostel Torre Malagrida (depends on your choice)

Day 3 - The starting point is the old train station connecting the cities of Girona and Olot. Currently, the route of the railway has become a greenway suitable for hiking and cycling. We will continue to enjoy a good piece of bucolic scenery that takes us to the past. Then we'll cross the river Fluvia and climb a nearby viewpoints in Olot, yet less known. We will have to look in the woods of oak and chestnut with a lot of holly to find the crater of Montolivet volcano, that we'll cross to get to the streets of Olot. The next goal will be the summit of Montsacopa volcano. The 360° panorama we'll see following the lips of the crater will allow us to see a very extensive territory: Canigo, Alta Garrotxa natural interest zone, Volcanic Zone and Olot on our feet. The tour ended up walking through the main streets of the town of Olot.

  • Distance: 9,0 km
  • Climb: +200 m

Roadbook: The roadbook that we'll facilitate, includes all the information necessary for the hiking days at the La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. General information about the area services and phone numbers, detailed description of the course of the two days with specific directions to follow routes and don't get lost, additional information about the volcanic area in general and further information on flora, fauna, geology, history and culture of the places they pass through the paths described. It also will provide participants the tracks of the tracks to be downloaded and incorporated into the mobile phone to follow or check the route at any time.

Option 1:

  • Weekend
  • 3 days/2 nights
  • Self-guided (English/Catalan/Spanish)
  • 158€/pax (double room)
  • The price includes:
    • 2 nights at Hotel Borrell 3* (HG-002153)
    • 2 breakfasts
    • 1 picnic lunch
    • Written guide, direction and background information: flora, fauna, geology, history and culture
  • The price does not include:
    • Sunday lunch
    • Dinners
    • Transfer from and to La Garrotxa

Price per person. Minimun 2 people.

Option 2:

  • Weekend
  • 3 days/2 nights
  • Self-guided (English/Catalan/Spanish)
  • 84€/pax (shared room)
  • The price includes:
    • 2 nights at Hostel Torre Malagrida
    • 2 breakfasts
    • 1 picnic lunch
    • Written guide, direction and background information: flora, fauna, geology, history and culture
  • The price does not include:
    • Sunday lunch
    • Dinners
    • Transfer from and to La Garrotxa

Accessibility:

  • Experience not accessible.

Self-guided route.