Want something more energetic than a day on the beach?
Here’s a six things you can do while in Platja d’Aro to make it a holiday to remember!
Platja Port d’Aro. Photo by David Leigh.
One of the top reasons for choosing Platja d’Aro for your summer holiday is the 2.4 km stretch of sandy beach.
It’s easy to spend days on the beach reading a trashy novel or simply dozing under a parasol. Take a dip in the sea to cool down once every now and then and then you’re ready to go back and do nothing again.
But while that suits many people for the entire duration of their holiday, others need to do something more active.
Some get restless. You may have experienced it yourself a few days into a holiday. The grind of day-to-day life is almost completely forgotten after a few stress-free days. You completely revitalised and feel like trying something more active – or just new.
Others have kids. And somehow you have to find something that holds their attention and burns off all that excess energy.
Whatever the reason, here we take a look at X activities you can do in Platja d’Aro…
Water park
If you’ve got kids then Platja d’Aro is home to one of the Costa Brava’s three water parks. Parc Aquàtic Aquadiver is located on the edge of the town near the C-31 and ideal to distract youngsters who are all too easily bored. Sea and sand are often not enough.
The water park is open from early June to early September and opens at 10am. Closing time varies: 6:30 pm in June; 7 pm in July and August; and at 6 pm in September. Visit the Aquadiver website for more details.
Boat trips
One great way of getting an idea of the Costa Brava coastline is by taking a boat tour.
Magic Boats runs boat tours between Platja d’Aro to Tossa de Mar right from Platja d’Aro’s beach. The company also offer excursions along the coast for snorkelling, boats parties and private charters for more than 100 passengers.
Another option is a private catamaran tour with Bravanautic. Up to 12 people can take a tour along the coast to a number of locations or you can watch the sun set while sipping cava. Snorkelling equipment is provided so once moored in one of the bays you can snorkel from the boat and explore the underwater world. Kayaks and paddle boards are also provided.
Boat rental
If you want to get out to sea but prefer to do your own thing then renting a boat is also an option in Platja d’Aro.
Port d’Aro is one of the Costa Brava’s main leisure marinas and if you head down there you’ll find a variety of boats available to hire from Alex Boats. The choice is dependent on whether you hold a current license or not, but you’ll find a variety of rigid and semi-rigid boats of various sizes and power.
Without a license you’ll be limited to coastline between Palamós and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, but that should be more than enough for most people.
Diving
The Costa Brava’s many rocky coves make it ideal for scuba diving or snorkelling. And while you can either dive from the shore or hire a boat, a number of dive centres operate in Platja d’Aro. Ictinio is one of these and offer boat dives to some of the best sites along this stretch of coast.
It’s also a great opportunity to learn to dive. During your holiday you can take a number of training dives and study sessions to become a certified diver. Most dive centres offer training courses by PADI, which is the largest dive education organisation in the world.
If you have your own cylinder then Decathlon is the cheapest place to refill with air. It’s located in the retail park near the marina.
Watersports equipment and classes
Whether you’re an experienced kayaker or just want to hire a jet-ski for an hour, Platja d’Aro has you covered.
If you’re really serious then head to the yacht club if you’d like to take sailing lessons. It’s in the marina. Down on the beach below Hotel Costa Brava you’ll find a place you can hire a kayak or paddle surf. Or you can sit on an inflatable banana boat that you struggle to stay on while it’s towed behind a speedboat.
Golf
If you’re like my old boss there’s only so much you can take of doing nothing on the beach. If you’re like him you’d rather spend some of your time golfing.
The Costa Brava has a number of courses, including the nearby Golf Club d’Aro-Mas Nou. Two other nearby clubs are Club de Golf Costa Brava and PGA Catalunya, near Caldes de Malavella.
Okay, that’s enough to get you started. But if a day crammed full of activity isn’t enough, then maybe Platja d’Aro’s nightlife will do the trick!
