Lloret de Mar Archives - Southern Girl Gone Global

IMG_6654 (1).jpg — View from Balcony of Hotel Santa Marta, Lloret de Mar

My go-to escape has always been the ocean. While living in Morocco I’d fly to Spain’s sunny shores via Ryan Air for less than a Target run in the States. One of my happiest solo travel stays EVER was at Hotel Santa Marta — a beauty break amidst botanical gardens winding down, down, down to the shore. Sheer. Bliss.

The near 15-acre (6-hectare) estate is located on its own private bay, Santa Cristina, and was chosen for the opening night party of this year’s European Travel Bloggers Exchange. I first saw the property that night as our ship skidded onto the sand. The beach was lit by sunset. I ‘d already booked a night there for after the conference to catch my breath before a 3-day blogging tour of Costa Brava. Since that perfect stay I’ve dreamed of going back for a week.

When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused. — Rainer Maria Rilke

The Spanish Mediterranean coast is as beautiful as beaches in Southern Italy and France. I was there in spring when, like late fall/winter low season, a single sea view room can be as low as 115 Euro per night. I love boutique hotels for their privacy, but plan ahead because this paradise stays booked, particularly by Europeans who vacation along Costa Brava in high season.

The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.— Kate Chopin

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach – waiting for a gift from the sea. –Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I loved swimming in the pool and sea, writing on the balcony, and sleeping to the sound of waves in the ultimate room with a view. It’s the perfect solo, group, or romantic retreat in Lloret de Mar.

I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad blank verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. It never crossed my mind that that person could be me.–-Anna Quindlen

For more on the beauty of Girona and the Costa Brava Coast, see my 5-Part Series (links below) and go here for more information.

Discovering Costa Brava: Spain’s Medieval Coast, Part I

Discovering Costa Brava’s Medes Islands, Part II

Discovering Costa Brava’s Bounty, Part III

Cycling Through Costa Brava’s Medieval Villages, Part IV

Discovering Costa Brava, Part V

Adventure, beauty, relationship…basic human desires. Spain’s Costa Brava (Wild Coast) fulfilled them all. Between Barcelona and Jimmy Buffett’s Coast of Marseilles, I snorkeled in open waters, biked through Medieval hill towns, and laughed over meals and a pottery wheel with bloggers from Canada, the US, and Europe. I’m a romantic. I’ve always loved the Middle Ages and the sea. My first fling in Spain in 2009 made me a Gaudi Girl, but I later fell in love with the country’s beaches. I also value independence, freedom. So when I received an invitation to “Discover the Medieval Coast,” a sponsored trip to familiarize travel writers with Catalonia, Spain’s autonomous community, this castle-craving pirate princess was on the boat ready to ride. Day One began with a walking tour of Lloret de Mar. I tweeted that it felt very Game of Thrones (and discovered later that the fantasy series was filmed here and so was the prequel, House of the Dragon). See links to the 5-part series on Costa Brava below.

The former fishing town with Iberian and Roman ruins was transformed by fortunes made in Spanish-ruled Cuba and was the site of the European Travel Bloggers Exchange — TBEX — held days earlier. We followed the seaside promenade to the 11^th century Castle of Sant Joan, a defense against sea attacks. Though all but the tower was destroyed in 1805 by the British navy battling Spain and France, I climbed along the wall, each turn a new view of waves crashing into coves and crags below.

The natural beauty of Spain’s Wild Coast birthed free spirits, Dali, Picasso, and Gaudi. Surrounded by sea and mountains, I was energized. Inspired. And once perched at the peak, I remembered writer Madeleine L’Engle’s words about artists. The Wild Coast made me feel — more than anything — free.

Artists have always been drawn to the wild, wide elements they cannot control or understand — the sea, the mountains, fire. To be an artist means to approach the light, and that means to let go our control, to allow our whole selves to be placed with absolute faith in what which is greater than we are. —Madeleine L’Engle

L'Loret de Mar, Spain — Lloret de Mar has oceanfront hotels and bars. It’s the largest resort town on Costa Brava.

I loved my stay at Hotel Santa Marta for its spacious grounds and secluded, private beach. Hotel Miramar and Hotel Marsol are less expensive options with beachfront balconies and easy access to restaurants in the hub of town.

L'Loret promenade — Lloret de Mar Beach has a 300-meter long red sand promenade surrounded by palm trees like those in colonial Americas.

Stunning Coastal Trail

Get inspired below to do this wild walk where Medieval meets Mediterranean. A Romantic’s dream! Though the actual medieval castle in Lloret de Mar is St. Joan’s Castle, built in the 11th century, Castell d’en Plaja (below), constructed in the 1930s and 1940s, is a majestic, magical landmark.

view of Lloret de Mar from the coastal walkway

Costa Brava’s longest seafront walkway has challenging areas with hills and many steps.

Steps to the sea — After reaching the summit of the coastal walk in Lloret de Mar, our tour group opted not to take the stairs down to this tiny beach in the bay.

Cindy McCain, Southern Girl Gone Global, at Lloret de Mar

Getting to Lloret de Mar: The closest airports are Barcelona (airport code BCN), 90km (56 miles) away and Girona-Costa Brava (airport code GRO), 30km (19 miles) away. I flew RyanAir from Marrakesh. My flight there was approximately $50/return $21, then took the Sarfa bus, which runs approximately every 30 minutes. Tickets may be purchased at the airport bus office or on the bus for around 10 Euro. See latest transportation modes and prices here.

Thank you to Catalunya, Costa Brava Pirineu de Girona, and El Consell Comarcal del Baix Empordà for an amazing stay and introduction to all Costa Brava offers! Note to readers: the opinions on this 5-Part series are all my own. This blog contains affiliate links. I recommend only travel experiences, destinations, services, accommodations, and restaurants I experienced and truly enjoyed.

Discovering Costa Brava: Spain’s Medieval Coast, Part I

Discovering Costa Brava’s Medes Islands, Part II

Discovering Costa Brava’s Bounty, Part III

Cycling Through Costa Brava’s Medieval Villages, Part IV

Discovering Costa Brava, Part V