Best Via Ferrata and Rock Climbing to Experience in Costa Brava

Climbing & Via Ferrata Adventures in Costa Brava Spain

For those who know me personally or through my blog, I am an avid rock climber.  Wherever I go around the world, I will try to find out if the destination has any good rock climbing spots and try to squeeze in some time to hit the outdoors and experience some climbing. In the recent year, I am spotted climbing in Europe more often than my usual Asia spots like Malaysia and Krabi.

Rock climbing of a different sort. Time to experience - Via Ferrata by the sea!! | | Via Ferrata Spain
Rock climbing of a different sort. Time to experience – Via Ferrata by the sea!!

This road trip over in Costa Brava (Spain) with Cez and Agness from Etramping has found me experiencing climbing of a different kind (beyond what I am used to – which is usually bolted sport climbing routes on limestone rock) –  I experienced Via Ferrata.

Via Ferrata –  is a combination of alpine hiking and rock climbing. Unlike big wall rock climbing/ sport climbing, via ferrata uses more pre-fixed structures in the rock – like fixed metal ladders, cables, and steel bridges, all to provide access to areas that a normal top rope/ bolted route cannot.

Via Ferrata is different from Rock Climbing | Via Ferrata Spain
Via Ferrata has more than just 1 rope tied to you like in normal rock climbing, you will instead have 2 carabiners to clip in and 1-2 extra safety slings
Traverse around rock features and hold on to metal bars and ladders. Look harder...can you spot the people climbing on it now?
Traverse around rock features and hold on to metal bars and ladders. Look harder…can you spot people climbing on it now?

 

So what are the different forms of rock climbing one can experience?

1. By the Sea: Via Ferrata at Saint Feliu de Guíxols

One big reason to come all the way to Costa Brava is to experience – the only Via Ferrata in all of Europe that is by the coast and sea!

It was an incredible experience traversing along the edges with the pristine turquoise clear waters just beneath our feet, and the gentle waves lapping against the yellowish brown rocky cliffs. Attempting this for the 1st time felt like a milder version of deep water solo in Krabi ( which was a crazy, if not – THE craziest thing I have ever experienced in my life)

Posing for a pretty photo at one of the narrow segments of the Via Ferrata route. Cez on the ladder while I am nested 'comfortably' on a tree
Posing for a pretty photo at one of the narrow segments of the Via Ferrata route. Cez on the ladder while I am nested ‘comfortably’ on a tree

From the images I have shared, you would be able to tell that the route requires you to have some equipment on before you embark on via ferrata. The full via ferrata route is actually free access to all, but one should rent and come prepared with the equipment – helmet, special harness with 2 safeties, slings and more. It is dangerous to try to do it on your own without safety equipment, as it is a very long trail and even for the most skilled climber, a little mistake or slip can be very detrimental.

The entire trail is about 500 metres long where you will be approximately 10 metres above sea level. Agness joined us for the earlier segment of the trail, which is comfortable for more beginner/ novice climbers who just want to experience a little climbing for fun. The more taxing and technical segment of the trail comes later on for people who would like a bit more of a challenge. But not to worry, one can ‘escape’ off in the middle to avoid the scarier part. There will be a ladder where you can climb out and it will bring you back to the beginning of the Via Ferrata.

Agness looking all pro in the full gear bravely conquering the route
Agness looking all pro in the full gear bravely conquering the route

Starting Point of the Trail:  Find your way to Cala del Molí, where you get a good view of the surrounding coasts before you ”become’ a part of it. Francis from Aventura Girona tours was our incredible guide who was a great company and knows the surroundings and routes very well. He was also fantastic at advising us travel bloggers where the best photos spots on the route are – to show the beauty of the location.

What to see and experience on the Via Ferrata Spain trails?

The full experience for Via Ferrata is like a little elements course, where you cross bridges, climb ladders, traverse along the work and trust your feet on what you stand on.

Steel Bridges Everywhere!

Facing one of the many steel bridges along the trail | Via Ferrata at Saint Feliu de Guixols
Facing one of the many steel bridges along the trail | Via Ferrata at Saint Feliu de Guíxols
Cez crossing one of the steel bridges while I have already gone far ahead higher
Cez crossing one of the steel bridges (or more like a metal line) while I have gone ahead along the route at a higher point

 

Clear Turquoise Waters below your feet while you traverse

Via Ferrata Along the Rocky Costal Part of Costa Brava | Via Ferrata at Saint Feliu de Guixols
Via Ferrata Along the Rocky Coastal Part of Costa Brava | Via Ferrata at Saint Feliu de Guíxols
Climbing metal ladders with the safety clipped to the metal line on the side
Look at that view!! Climbing metal ladders with the safety clipped to the metal line on the side

Safety Points and Photo Moments

As you can see from the below photo, there will be some spots on the route where you can rest ( make sure you have your sling clipped on) and take pictures. I will not encourage one to bring your big DSLR cameras as it WILL get damaged with all the traversing along the rocks, but a head-mount GoPro or your phone that can be safely stored in your pants with zips will be great. If you are generally a clumsy person, then better to not bring any at all as it might drop into the water and vanish forever.

Hiding at a corner attempting to take one of the many photos of the place. There was no 3G signal spotted hence unfortunately no live videos.;) Just me - one with the place
Hiding at a corner attempting to take one of the many photos of the place. There was no 3G signal spotted hence, unfortunately, no live videos.;) Just me – one with the place

So if coastal Via Ferrata by the sea is not your kind of thing and you prefer something with a bit more aerial view of the surroundings, there is another Via Ferrata to recommend, with a more jaw-dropping adrenaline kick.

2. Up the Mountain: Via Ferrata at Ribes de Freser

Experience Via Ferrata at Ribes de Freser with a crazy lookout point with the Catalonia flag flying high
Experience Via Ferrata at Ribes de Freser with a crazy lookout point with the Catalonia flag flying high

After our incredible experience by the sea, we were ready to experience a slightly different type of Via Ferrata – on the mountain rocks!

This Ribes de Freser Via Ferrata does not have the water just beneath your feet or the sea breeze, but as you climb higher up towards the sun, you can fill the wind going all around the mountains and the adrenaline starts to kick in! We had Jaume, our super pro guide from Escola d’esquí i muntanya Nord-Sud bringing us through the Ribes de Freser Via Ferrata experience.

Ribes de Freser Via Ferrata at the top
Ribes de Freser Via Ferrata at the top with the view of the city below

Experience panoramic views of the surrounding hills and mountains while climbing the ladders, followed by crossing suspended bridges in the midst of the forests and trees. The full trail to get from the bottom to the top and back down again will take about 3 hours if you move at a good and steady pace.

Crawling over the rock and makung sure you don't fall back
Crawling over the rock and making sure you don’t fall back | Ribes de Freser Via Ferrata

Want to experience Costa Brava via Air Water + Sky? Read more here. 

3. Outdoor Sport Climbing in Solius, Spain

Our last but definitely not least – enough of Via Ferrata for now. Time to get back to doing some traditional sport climbing in Solius.

I can fly - only here in Solius | Outdoor Rock Climbing Spots in Spain
I can fly – only here in Solius | Outdoor Rock Climbing Sports in Spain

The surrounding view in this region is just breathtaking in this time of the year, with the new forest growing back even after a big forest fire that happened here in the past.

I would have loved to spend more time there just hiking and looking at the view, but unfortunately, we only had 1 afternoon there. For climbers who would love to check this place out, the type of rock here is granite rock and not limestone, so it takes a while to get used to the texture before you start climbing.

Cez doing his own route setting | Rock climbing at Solius
Cez doing his own rock climbing route setting in Solius | Discovering Rock climbing at Solius

We had Francis once again from Aventura Girona, together with the very experienced rock climber Mark who is one of the founders of a bouldering gym in Solius. They took very good care of us the entire morning, with the safety procedures and briefing followed by recommending the best/ most fun routes to attempt that was within our climbing grade. Its Agness’s first time climbing so we were very excited for her to get the most out of it, yet we were also eager to start the climbs and check out the surrounding views.

Reached the top of the route at Solius Climbing area

Love rock climbing? Why not check out another even more popular climbing spot in Spain called Siurana!

Cez belaying me in Solius while I ascend my first rock climbing route

All in all, we had a really great experience and the climbing was so rewarding all thanks to the breathtaking views we witnessed in each unique location here in Costa Brava.

—-

Hence concludes my great rock adventures and 1st-time experience doing Via Ferrata in Costa Brava Spain during our road trip. Are you hooked yet? When are you coming over to give them a try?

If you love road trips and climbing outdoors, read more about visiting UK and USA for a bit of that.

1 full day Via ferrrata adventures in costa brava in summer

(To find out more about Costa Brava sights and attractions, click here)

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12 Comments

  • Avatar of Wandering Ella
    Reply
    Wandering Ella
    June 4, 2018 at 3:37 am

    Cool photos! It’s just amazing that you were still able to pose and take photos in that scary adventure! Haha. I have always been interested in trying rock climbing but I think I’m not really ready for it yet. Whenever we hike and some trails require some slight bouldering and I almost cry because of difficulty. How much more when I try the real rock climbing adventure. haha

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 4, 2018 at 7:28 am

      Hey Ella, your comment made me smile! 😀 If you want to take up rock climbing, start with some easier indoor climbing and bouldering and work your way through the process. I know that rock climbing is very challenging, but it is definitely rewarding!

  • Avatar of Bespoke Traveler
    Reply
    Bespoke Traveler
    June 4, 2018 at 7:43 pm

    Via Ferrata looks like an epic experience.

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 5, 2018 at 7:29 am

      It indeed was, Bespoke Traveler! If you ever get the change to visit it, I warmly recommend it to do so!

  • Avatar of Hang Around The World - Paolo
    Reply
    Hang Around The World - Paolo
    June 8, 2018 at 5:54 pm

    These are the kind of activities I like to do but I’m still new to them hahaha
    What I like most is the view you can have from there!

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 10, 2018 at 10:11 am

      You should definitely give them a try. The activities are very rewarding and the views are unforgettable! 🙂

  • Avatar of Sue
    Reply
    Sue
    June 15, 2018 at 5:20 pm

    These are incredible photos Lydia. We too love Via Ferratas and will be doing one next week in Canada. A wonderful way to rock climb in a safer way.

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 16, 2018 at 3:33 pm

      Thanks a bunch, Sue! It is definitely very safe. Looking forward to reading more about your next adventure! 🙂

  • Avatar of Debbie
    Reply
    Debbie
    June 27, 2018 at 9:09 pm

    Oh my, you’re so brave! I get nervous just looking at the photos. What a beautiful place!

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 28, 2018 at 11:04 am

      Haha, I am not that brave just adventurous, Debbie! 😀 The place was so picturesque and breathtaking!

  • Avatar of Lisa Dorenfest
    Reply
    Lisa Dorenfest
    September 21, 2018 at 4:48 am

    You are brave, fit, and amazing. I would love to give a Via Ferrata a try. Magnificent views.

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      September 26, 2018 at 10:38 am

      Yes Lisa, its really really fun. The views are seriously breathtaking!

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