Coves and coastal paths: De la platja de Riells a cala d'illa Mateua

One of the special features of the Empordà is the network of paths. They are paths that run along the coast and have been used for various purposes throughout history; to get to the coves if a ship was sinking, to watch the horizon to prevent pirate raids and even contraband after the Spanish Civil War. Now you can walk along them and peacefully enjoy the coastal landscape and get to the hidden coves where other daily events used to take place.

Our proposals for coves and coastal paths are out-and-back stretches to discover the best corners of the Alt Empordà coast.

From the busy beach at Riells, we wonder across the old military grounds until we reach the sheer slopes of the Illa Mateua

We start the route on the promenade of Riells beach, where there is a sculpture of the Little Prince by Saint-Exupéry.  We go towards Port de la Clota, wich we skirt. The path leads to the must-visit MARAM, the Fish Interpretation Centre.We recommend you visit it.

Walk to the end of the marina, we find a sign, where we leave the asphalt and continue along a path, on this path there are the bunkers called L-6 La Clota, also known as the Coast Battery, built in the 1940s. We continue along this steep path and discover the coves of Salpatx and les Penyes and the la Punta dels Cinc Sous. Now, we go right and go down the path towards the cove of Illa Mateua. When we arrive there we find the Itinerànnia AE285 sign that indicates the return to l'Escala along the same path, in l'Escala we can connect with the other purpose of coves and ronda path and arrive to Sant Martí d'Empúries. The path coinciding entirely with the GR92.