Costa Brava Bike Tour

Your DuVine guides will greet you at the Vilafant train station near the city of Figueras—just south of the French border—and whisk you away for a guided visit of Salvador Dalí’s surreal museum. We stay in Figueras for a lunch of bite-sized dishes like gazpacho and spicy patatas bravas at our favorite tapas bar. After checking into our first luxury hotel, set out on a warmup ride following quiet, tree-lined country roads with views of the Pyrenees. Toast the adventure ahead with a glass of local Cava, followed by dinner at a lovely family-run restaurant nestled in the village of Peralada.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Figueras, Peralada, Pau
Accomplished: 19 miles / 31 km, elevation gain: 672 feet / 205 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Peralada

Little known outside Spain, the boutique wineries of Empordà are making some of Catalonia’s most exciting wines, including a prevalence of organic and biodynamic production—so today we head north into the vines of the Alt Empordà. Here, Grenache (or Garnatxa) is king: this grape appears in both red and white varietals, followed closely in popularity by red Carignan and white Macabeu. Pedal past bunkers dating back to the Spanish Civil War and arrive at a boutique winery owned by a French family who returned to their ancestral home after decades of exile. A visit and tasting is followed by our picnic lunch, set in the shade of the estate’s pine trees. After, hop in the van back to our hotel or hit your miles for the day by riding the rest of the way there. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a dinner made from local seasonal ingredients at our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Peralada, Rabós, Espolla
Accomplished: 16 miles / 26 km, elevation gain: 1,170 feet / 357 meters
Longer Option: 27 miles / 44 km, elevation gain: 1,414 feet / 431 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Peralada or Mas de Torrent Hotel + Spa

Our ride today brings us south over rolling plains from the Alt Empordà to the Baix Empordà, east of Girona. Pedal through country villages and pastoral farmlands to the bastion town of Ullastret, then on to the pretty village of Palau-Sator. Here, Maria and her family prepare lunch for us in the garden of her delightful restaurant which specializes in traditional Catalan cuisine with a hint of her Argentine heritage. Then it’s time for a short, easy spin to our luxury hotel. Take a dip in the pool or experience the fabulous spa facilities and dine on your own—perhaps at the hotel’s homey restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Verges, Ullastret, Palau-Sator, Torrent
Accomplished: 38 miles / 62 km, elevation gain: 1,761 feet / 537 meters
Longer Option: 41 miles / 67 km, elevation gain: 1,981 feet / 539 meters
Accommodations: Mas de Torrent Hotel + Spa

Today’s Costa ride is short but Brava! We’ll follow the coast north to Llafranc for a spectacular view from a 150-year-old lighthouse. Push through some short but challenging sections peppered with chic holiday homes, spectacular vistas, and small seaside villages en route to the medieval market town of Begur. We’re rewarded with an al fresco lunch at one of our favorite seaside restaurants, where gourmet tapas and crisp local rosé wine are even better paired with views of the Mediterranean. Opt to ride back the hotel, or catch a lift in the van. This evening, visit one of the most exclusive wine producers of the Baix Empordà and tour their award-winning cellar. We’ll retire to the manor house for a delectable organic dinner served on their panoramic terrace.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Llafranc, Begur, Pals Playa
Accomplished: 19 miles / 31 km, elevation gain: 1,971 feet / 601 meters
Longer Option: 29 miles / 47 km, elevation gain: 2,841 feet / 866 meters
Accommodations: Mas de Torrent Hotel + Spa

Begin the day with a transfer to the town of Sant Feliu de Guixols, the starting point for today’s spectacular coastal ride. This road is a favorite of local Catalonian cyclists and pro riders alike: an up-and-down ribbon of undulating pavement that clings to the coastline, affording staggering views over the Mediterranean. A long, glorious descent brings us right into the seaside town of Tossa de Mar, and the mood is right for a well-deserved drink at the beach. After, poke around this 13th-century fortified city—the only one of its kind in Catalonia—or ride this morning’s route in reverse back to Sant Feliu. Another oceanfront lunch awaits back at our historic hotel. Later, toast to a wonderful week on the Costa Brava in the hotel bar, which pays homage to celebrity guests like Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Jack Nicholson. We end the evening in customary DuVine style with a show-stopping meal right on the beach.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Sant Feliu de Guixoles, Tossa de Mar, S’Agaró
Accomplished: 16 miles / 26 km, elevation gain: 1,945 feet / 593 meters
Longer Option: 32 miles / 52 km, elevation gain: 3,904 feet / 1,190 meters
Accommodations: Hostal de La Gavina

Sit down to a final breakfast before our guides transfer you to Girona, where our journey ends. We highly recommend a few extra days in this captivating city—now recognized as a filming location for Game of Thrones, but long beloved for its majestic cathedral, Sephardic history, and medieval streets brimming with charming boutiques.

Meals: Breakfast