We were about to head to the airport to catch a flight to Portugal and decided last minute to rent a car and do a road trip around Spain instead.Cadaques is 2 and a half hours from Barcelona. You have most likely never heard about it and be prepared to be one of the only people speaking English there if you go. It is filled with French and Spanish vacationers. I think they want to keep it that way, too.
We heard about this city from a friend of Dave's brother who grow up there. Otherwise, we never would have stopped here!
Cadaques is one of my very favorite places now in the entire world. It is on a bay in the middle of the Cap de Creus peninsula and is on the Costa Brava of the Mediterranean. Cap de Creus is a huge natural park and most the photos above are from the protected area in this region. It has countless hiking trails that lead to secret little hideouts surrounded by only rock and ocean. It was incredible!
We stayed at Hostal Cristina and if you are just looking for a clean and private room in a good location, I couldn't imagine a better place. (Unless, of course, you plan ahead of time and are able to book a place on Airbnb!) It was right next to the ocean and literally you next to many amazing restaurants and little markets. This place is right next to the information center for the area which is very helpful for finding out how to get to the hiking trails and such.
I hope if you are ever in Spain you remember about this magical place!