Cala Nans & its Coastal Path from Cadaqués
Most visitors to Cadaqués never venture beyond the main beach, which means the small rocky cove of Cala Nans — a 25-minute walk south along a well-marked coastal path — is often blissfully quiet even in peak summer. The water is gin-clear, the cove is flanked by low cliffs covered in rosemary and sea fennel, and the only sounds are waves and cicadas.
The walk and the cove
The path begins at the southern end of Cadaqués beach, climbs briefly over a low headland past a small 19th-century lighthouse (the Far de Cala Nans, still operational) and drops down to the cove. The trail is rocky in places but manageable in good trainers; the views back toward the village rooftops and out to Cap de Creus are excellent throughout.
Cala Nans itself is a mix of flat rocks and small pebbles — bring water shoes if you prefer not to scramble barefoot. The water is deep close to the rocks and perfect for snorkelling: look for sea urchins, rainbow wrasse and the occasional octopus in the kelp below the cliffs.
When to go and what to bring
The cove faces east, so morning light is spectacular and the sun leaves the water by mid-afternoon in midsummer — making it an ideal morning swim spot. Pack water, sunscreen and a picnic, as there are no facilities whatsoever at the cove itself.
The coastal path continues past Cala Nans toward Cala Jugadora and eventually links into the longer GR-11 trail system. Even just walking to Cala Nans and back (roughly 50 minutes total) gives you a taste of the wild, unspoiled Costa Brava coastline that the developers never reached.
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