HIKING ACTIVITIES 6. Capafonts
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INDEX Presentation................................................................2 Useful information...................................................3 Getting there...............................................................4 Programme..................................................................5 Activities.........................................................................6 Hikking activities......................................................8 Cultural activities....................................................19 Special activity.........................................................29 Aqua Walking..........................................................30 Acommodation........................................................31 Salou...............................................................................32 Collaborators.............................................................33 - 1 - PRESENTATION In the year of the centenary of the Catalan Hiking Federation (FEEC), it gives us great pleasure to invite you to discover some of the most beautiful corners of southern Catalonia. Between 3 and 10 May 2020 we will be holding the second Catalonia Trek Festival, an event where you can get to know the finest landscapes of the Costa Daurada and the Terres de l’Ebre, the two tourism brands of the counties of Tarragona. This is an area of extraordinary natural beauty, where the mountains virtually spill down into the Mediterranean, and where human and cultural influences go back to the times of the Roman Empire. We are looking forward to showing you some of the most spectacular locations in the mountains of Tarragona: from the Sierra de Montsant to the Prades Mountains, travelling along the hiking trails that run alongside the sea on the European E12 long-distance trail. We’re also keen to show you such iconic spots as Siurana, one of the most beautiful villages in Catalonia; the historic trails among the ancient vineyards in the Priorat region, where some of the finest wines in the world are produced; and an excursion into the mountains of Tivissa, where the first hiking trail on the Iberian Peninsula was marked out and where we will follow part of the E4 and E7 long-distance paths. The discovery of this region on foot is a fundamental part of the Catalonia Trek Festival, but it is not the only one. We should not overlook the wonderful cultural attractions of the regions we will be visiting. From ancient Roman Tarraco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to a tour of the Cistercian Monastery of Poblet; from the Dry Stone Route of Mont-roig del Camp to the Modernist legacy of Reus. Nor should we forget a visit to the Ebro Delta, one of the most fascinating natural enclaves in the Iberian Peninsula. We’ve put together an offering that will satisfy every type of rambler, hiker or trekker. During the week, you will be accommodated at the Hotel Best Cap Salou, located on the sea front of the Bay of Salou in the most attractive part of the town. This three star hotel offers a host of facilities and services and has direct access to the beach and the E12 trail. Welcome to Catalonia! Welcome to the counties of Tarragona! Jordi Merino i Urbano President of the FEEC - 2 - USEFUL INFORMATION 3-10 May 2020 Online registration form at www.cataloniatrekfestival.cat open from September 2019 through to 1 March 2020 Once the registration has been formalized, changes will not be accepted @ [email protected] 0034 93 412 07 77 During the course of the Catalonia Trek Festival no activity ! changes will be accepted except for situations of force majeure €530 all inclusive Accommodation, full board (picnic at noon); transfer by coach € from the point of arrival (Barcelona airport) to the hotel on May 3; transfer by coach from the hotel to the starting point (Barcelona airport) on May 10; coaches from the hotel to the starting point of the different activities proposed; fraternity dinner and welcome gift! +€100 for an individual room Discounts % Groups of 30 to 50 people: 5% Groups of more than 50 people: 10% - 3 - GETTING THERE AP-7/E-15 toll motorway (exit at Vila-seca/Salou/Reus Sud /Port Aventura), then take the C-14 to Salou Barcelona Airport, 95 km High-speed railway station (AVE) at Camp de Tarragona, 25 km Transfers The participants will have at their disposal a free shuttle service between the Barcelona airport (Terminal 1) and the hotel. 11:00 h There will be three departure times: 14:00 h 17:00 h In the event that the participants want to make the transfer in a different timetable of the three mentioned they can make a reservation personally through the Internet with the bus company Plana (http://www.busplana.com/en). As for the groups, they can contact the organization through the info@ cataloniatrekfestival.cat email to manage the personal transfer. - 4 - PROGRAMME Sunday 3 May From 14 h: arrival at the Hotel Best Cap Salou (Salou). Check-in and allocation of rooms Afternoon: welcome cocktails in the hotel and presentation of the CTF Evening: dinner in the Hotel Best Cap Salou. Monday 4 to Saturday 9 May Morning: breakfast in the hotel Departure by bus to the starting point of the hikes or cultural activities Midday: picnic lunch Afternoon: return to the hotel Evening: dinner in the hotel Wednesday 6 May On this date we will be holding a tribute by the Catalan hiking community to the European long-distance hiking trails at the chapel of Sant Blai (Tivissa), where the E4 and E7 trails cross. Association dinner: there will be an association dinner for all participants at Salou’s municipal sports complex. The dinner will be rounded off with a concert by a band. Sunday 10 May Matí: breakfast in the hotel Check-out and farewell - 5 - ACTIVITIES HIKING Activity 1: l’Ametlla de Mar – El Perelló Activity 2: Siurana Activity 3: The Fraguerau gorge Activity 4: Altafulla – Tarragona Activity 5: Escaladei (*€6 supplement) Not available on Monday Activity 6: Capafonts Activity 7: Tivissa Only possible on Wednesday 6 May CULTURAL ACTIVITIES Activity 8: visit to Tarragona (*€5 supplement) Activity 9: Montblanc and the Monastery of Poblet (*€15 supplement) Not available on Monday Activity 10: Wine tourism in the DOQ Priorat (*€20 supplement) Activity 11: Natural Park of the Ebro Delta (*€37 supplement) Not available on Saturday Activity 12: visit to Reus and the dry-stone huts of Mont-roig del Camp SPECIAL ACTIVITY Activity 13: PortAventura Park (*€19 supplement) *These prices are a supplement to the general registration cost of €530 and relate to the five activities organized specifically during the event * - 6 - ACTIVITIES Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 3 May 4 May 5 May 6 May 7 May 8 May 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 5 5 5 5 5 9 6 6 6 6 6 10 8 7 8 8 8 11 9 8 9 9 9 12 10 9 10 10 10 13 11 10 11 11 12 12 11 12 12 13 13 12 13 13 Only one activity can be chosen by each person per day Each activity is limited to 100 participants The organizers reserve the right to change the programme if necessary and the distribution of the days chosen to carry out each activity - 7 - HIKING ACTIVITIES 1. L’Ametlla de Mar - El Perelló Distance: 12 km Altitude difference: +400 m Approx. duration (not counting stops): 4 h Difficulty level: medium The section of the GR-92 (European long- the most spectacular emerald green, and distance trail E-12) that runs between the pinewoods that come down to kiss the towns of L’Ametlla de Mar and El Perelló, water’s edge. It is a real treat for the eyes in the county of Baix Ebre, has become a at any time of year. Leaving the fishing real classic in the hiking world in Catalonia. port of L’Ametlla de Mar, the path runs The reason for this is quite simple: it runs for 12 kilometres as far as the beach of El alongside one of the most beautiful Perelló (Ampolla). This hike is a must for stretches of the Catalan coastline. The discovering the local coastal paths and path provides a genuine balcony over the some of the most exquisite coves – many Mediterranean, with rugged cliffs, coves of of them completely unspoilt – in Catalonia. - 8 - HIKING ACTIVITIES 2. Siurana Distance: 6 km Altitude difference: +200 m Approx. duration (not counting stops): 3 h Difficulty level: easy-medium The town of Siurana was the last Muslim goes that, moments before the defeat, stronghold in the region known today the daughter of the Wali of Siurana, the as Catalonia. Tortosa and Miravet had beautiful Abdelazia, appeared galloping already fallen, yet Siurana still resisted. on a magnificent white horse towards the Its sheer rock faces and imposing castle cliff edge near the castle walls. When she formed an imposing barrier and made reached it, the animal took an enormous this spot virtually impregnable. However, leap and together they plunged to their Siurana’s fate was already sealed. The story deaths in the void. The unbelievers found - 9 - an imprint of the horse’s hoof embedded spectacular for its views, the sheer rock in the rock as proof of the pureblood’s final faces, and its medieval trails. The path of race to carry Abdelazia to immortality. La Trona, which may be very high yet does The proposed hike invites you to dream not pose any difficulty, is a true wonder of about Moorish princesses and the nature. Siurana is unquestionably one of glorious golden years of Siurana, but the most fascinating places in Catalonia above all it allows you to revisit two of the thanks to the power of both its natural most evocative historic approaches to setting and its history. At the end of this this unique and captivating place. It may activity, participants will have free time to not be a long hike, but it is particularly wander around the town at their leisure. - 10 - HIKING ACTIVITIES 3.