The best rural getaways with children
En la planificación de una buena escapada rural con niños no pueden faltar aventuras, misterios ni tiempo de juego y descubrimiento del entorno natural. Afortunadamente, en la Costa Brava y el Pirineo de Girona hay un sinfín de rincones espectaculares para conocer gracias a esta fórmula familiar, unos espacios que podréis descubrir a través de la mirada de los más pequeños y disfrutando de todo el confort y los servicios que os ofrecen los establecimientos de Grans Hotels de Catalunya.
Vuelo en globo para toda la familia
Empezamos en la Garrotxa, donde os proponemos vivir la experiencia única de volar en globo. No podéis arrancar de mejor manera si queréis impresionar a los pequeños de casa, con una actividad para toda la familia que os permitirá disfrutar desde un balcón privilegiado a mil metros de altura sobrevolando el Parque Natural de la Zona Volcánica de la Garrotxa.
Os garantizamos una experiencia vital para toda la familia con un territorio único bajo los pies, lleno de vida, de pueblos y valles, con las cimas del Pirineo todavía blancas de nieve, campos de cultivo... una postal que no olvidaréis nunca. Y no os preocupéis si no sois muy amigos de la adrenalina ni las aventuras extremas. A diferencia de lo que puede parecer, volar en globo genera una paz insospechable, y los niños podrán participar en todo el proceso de preparación del globo, del despegue y aprenderán cómo se domina el aparato a base de fogonazos del quemador, y aprovechando las corrientes de aire más cálidas.
Descubrimiento de la zona volcánica de la Garrotxa
Para alojaros en la zona os recomendamos el Hotel La Perla de Olot, un hotel familiar ubicado en un privilegiado enclave, ideal para iniciar rutas de senderismo o cicloturismo para descubrir el Parque Natural de la Zona Volcánica. A los niños les encantará recorrer estos espacios abiertos, andando o en carruaje por la Fageda d'en Jordà, descubriendo los secretos de los antiguos volcanes ahora dormidos, en unos itinerarios muy bien señalizados y con enigmas para investigar. ¿Os habéis preguntado alguna vez por qué las piedras volcánicas son de colores y formas diferentes?
También podéis acercaros a alguna de las granjas que mantienen su actividad ganadera y organizan visitas guiadas para enseñar cómo es el día a día de una granja, y los más pequeños podrán dar de comer a los animales.
Hotel La Perla d'Olot is a welcoming hotel in Olot, located at the gateway to the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, one of Catalonia's most unique natural areas. Thanks to its privileged location, it is the perfect base for discovering the volcanoes, forests and medieval villages that have made La Garrotxa one of the most popular nature destinations in the Girona Pyrenees.
Its comfortable and bright rooms provide the perfect place to relax after a day of hiking or outdoor adventures. The hotel features a traditional Catalan restaurant, gardens, a children's playground and a games room with billiards, as well as welcoming spaces designed for couples and families alike.
The restaurant offers an excellent selection of traditional Catalan cuisine, prepared with locally sourced ingredients and regional recipes, providing the perfect opportunity to discover the Garrotxa flavours.
From the hotel, guests can visit must-see attractions such as the Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest, the Croscat and Santa Margarida volcanoes, cycle or walk along the Carrilet Greenway, explore the historic centre of Olot, or discover some of the region's most beautiful villages, including Santa Pau, Castellfollit de la Roca and Besalú. It is also an excellent destination for hiking, cycling and many other outdoor activities.
Thanks to its outstanding location, welcoming atmosphere and proximity to the region's main attractions, Hotel La Perla d'Olot is one of the best hotels in La Garrotxa for discovering the natural, cultural and gastronomic heritage of one of Catalonia's most fascinating regions.
El Parque de animales y la zona de aventuras de Molló
En el Ripollès una de las actividades rurales más indicadas para hacer con toda la familia es la visita al parque de animales de Molló. Es contacto directo con la naturaleza y con la sensibilidad de un espacio muy bien cuidado donde podréis conocer de cerca animales tan especiales como los osos, lobos, marmotas, ciervos, muflones, nutrias, linces, ardillas... Son algunas de las especies que allí viven en semilibertad. El visitante no es un espectador cualquiera, sino que se convierte en un actor de su propio recorrido al aire libre. Y justo al lado del recinto hay un parque de aventura con tirolinas, puentes colgantes y pasos elevados para que los niños acaben la jornada como unos auténticos aventureros.
Podéis alojaros en el Hotel Calitxó, en Molló, un establecimiento de montaña que ofrece confortables habitaciones y doce amplias suites, en un ambiente tranquilo y familiar. El hotel dispone de salas de estar y un restaurante donde disfrutar de los mejores productos de temporada.
Hotel Calitxó, located in Molló, in the Camprodon Valley, is a welcoming mountain hotel in the Girona Pyrenees surrounded by nature. Its privileged location, close to the Headwaters of the Ter and Freser Natural Park and the Vallter 2000 ski resort, makes it an ideal destination for enjoying the mountains at any time of year.
Its comfortable rooms and spacious suites, all with views of the natural surroundings, provide the perfect setting for a relaxing getaway, whether as a couple or with the family. The hotel also offers independent apartments where pets are welcome, making it an excellent choice for travelling with your dog and discovering the Pyrenees.
The Hotel Calitxó Restaurant serves carefully prepared mountain cuisine, featuring locally sourced products such as Camprodon Valley foal, organic potatoes from Molló, and beef and lamb from the Ripollès region. In summer, the outdoor swimming pool and shaded sun loungers provide the perfect place to relax, while in winter the cosy lounge with fireplace is ideal after a day in the snow.
The hotel also features a wellness area with massage services and is a favourite among outdoor sports enthusiasts. As a bike-friendly hotel, it offers a secure bicycle storage area as well as exclusive parking for guests at the Vallter 2000 ski resort at a reduced rate with prior reservation.
From Hotel Calitxó, guests can enjoy some of the finest hiking routes in the Pyrenees, explore the Camprodon Valley, visit charming villages such as Molló, Camprodon and Setcases, or enjoy cycling, horse riding and winter sports. In addition, Vallter 2000, one of the ski resorts closest to Barcelona, is especially popular with families thanks to its relaxed atmosphere and excellent facilities.
Committed to sustainability and protecting its natural surroundings, Hotel Calitxó promotes responsible management, the use of local produce and the preservation of the Camprodon Valley landscape. Thanks to its location, gastronomy and excellent facilities, it is one of the best hotels in the Girona Pyrenees for enjoying nature, mountain activities and relaxation throughout the year.
Revivir el pasado minero pedaleando por la Ruta del Hierro
Otra actividad muy recomendable para hacer con niños es alquilar unas bicicletas y hacer algún tramo de la Ruta del Hierro y del Carbón. Será como hacer un salto en el tiempo y reviviréis la época de las minas y la vida industrial del Pirineo de Girona, en una ruta que va de Ripoll hasta Ogassa, pasando por San Joan de les Abadesses. Son 15 km de un antiguo trazado ferroviario que se pueden hacer a pie o en bicicleta y es apto para todas las edades.
En este caso, para alojaros tened en cuenta el Hotel Grèvol de Llanars, construido con piedra y madera, en plena armonía con un entorno natural espectacular. Cuenta con piscina y jacuzzi interior, y una zona spa donde disfrutar de los masajes de sus duchas de presión.
También en el Ripollès contáis con el Hotel La Coma de Setcases, el último municipio que encontraréis antes de tomar la carretera que conduce hasta la estación de montaña de Vallter 2000. Allí tienen un montón de actividades para los más pequeños, tanto en verano como en invierno, y en La Coma tenéis asegurado un merecido descanso, con instalaciones para toda la familia, unos grandes jardines privados para recorrer pisando el césped siempre perfecto, piscina climatizada, jacuzzi y sauna.
Hotel Grèvol Spa, located in Llanars, in the heart of the Camprodon Valley, is a welcoming mountain hotel in the Girona Pyrenees that combines stone and wood to blend harmoniously with its natural surroundings. Surrounded by forests and mountains, it offers a warm and peaceful atmosphere, perfect for enjoying the Pyrenees.
Its spacious rooms, decorated in an elegant mountain style and overlooking the surrounding landscape, make the hotel an ideal destination for both a romantic getaway and a family holiday. During winter, the valley's frequent snowfall can be admired from the rooms or from the spa area.
Grèvol Spa features a complete wellness area with a hydromassage pool, waterfalls, jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, gym and relaxation areas. The experience is complemented by personalised massages and treatments, offering guests the perfect opportunity to unwind in the heart of nature.
One of the hotel's most inviting spaces is its lounge with a central fireplace, ideal for relaxing after a day in the mountains or enjoying cosy winter afternoons. The café-bar and communal areas invite guests to embrace the peaceful rhythm of the Pyrenees.
Recognised as a Gastronomic Hotel, its restaurant serves refined Catalan cuisine prepared with local and seasonal products from the Camprodon Valley. Breakfasts also stand out for the quality of their ingredients.
The hotel also features a games room with billiards and table tennis, making it an excellent hotel for families with children. It also offers spaces for celebrations, business meetings and small events.
The location of Hotel Grèvol Spa allows guests to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, cycling, golf, horse riding and skiing. Its status as a bike-friendly hotel and its proximity to the Vallter ski resort make it an excellent base for discovering the Girona Pyrenees at any time of the year.
Hotel La Coma is one of the best hotels in the Girona Pyrenees, located in the charming village of Setcases, in the heart of the Camprodon Valley. Surrounded by mountains, forests and rivers at an altitude of 1,279 metres, it offers a privileged setting to discover the natural beauty of the Catalan Pyrenees throughout the year.
Its location makes it an excellent starting point for hiking routes, mountain excursions and outdoor activities. The hotel is also close to some of the valley's most beautiful natural pools and waterfalls.
The proximity to the Vallter ski resort, one of the closest ski resorts to Barcelona, makes Hotel La Coma an ideal choice for winter sports enthusiasts as well as for travellers wishing to enjoy the Pyrenees at any time of the year.
The hotel offers 22 rooms spread over three floors, as well as apartments and independent rural apartments in the centre of Setcases. Its facilities make it a hotel ideal for children and families, thanks to its spacious leisure areas, playground, games room, table tennis, pétanque and gardens.
Among its main attractions are the outdoor swimming pool, perfect during the summer months, and the spa with heated pool and sauna, also accessible to children. The hotel also features a gym and cosy lounges with fireplaces.
Its restaurant offers excellent Catalan mountain cuisine, prepared with local products from the Camprodon Valley, turning every stay into an authentic gastronomic experience connected to the region.
Vall de Núria, un oasis de actividades para toda la familia
Y no podemos dejar el Ripollès sin proponeros una actividad imprescindible para hacer con todo el equipo: la subida a Vall de Núria. Los más valientes podéis hacerla andando, con salida desde Queralbs o Fontalba. También tenéis la opción de hacer el viaje en tren cremallera, que siempre es garantía de éxito cuando hay niños. Un trayecto de media hora os llevará hasta el enclave de Vall de Núria, un oasis de aire puro y naturaleza, y que cuenta con zona de actividades infantiles y parque lúdico durante todo el año. También podéis dar un paseo en barca por el lago, pasear en caballo y caminar tanto como deseéis por algunos de los múltiples senderos que salen del mismo santuario.
El tren cremallera lo podéis coger en Queralbs o en la estación central de Ribes de Freser, donde también encontraréis el Hotel Els Caçadors, un hotel ecológico de montaña que sorprende por su equilibrada combinación de tradición y vanguardia. Tanto su carácter de hotel familiar como el confort de sus habitaciones cautivan siempre a sus clientes.
Hotel Els Caçadors de Ribes, located in Ribes de Freser, is one of the best hotels in the Girona Pyrenees. Situated next to the Vall de Núria rack railway and close to ski resorts such as La Molina and Vall de Núria, it is the perfect base for enjoying the mountains all year round.
Its modern rooms and apartments combine tradition and comfort, with accommodation options for every type of getaway. Highlights include cosy rooms with a private jacuzzi, ideal for a romantic getaway, as well as family rooms and independent apartments for longer stays.
Gastronomy is one of the hotel's greatest attractions. The Els Caçadors Restaurant, open since 1920, serves outstanding traditional Catalan cuisine prepared with seasonal local produce. As a member of the Fundació Institut Català de la Cuina and Slow Food Catalunya, it has become a gastronomic references in the Ripollès.
After a day of hiking, cycling, skiing or exploring the Vall de Núria, relax in the heated outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the Torreneules mountains, unwind in the exclusive Moon Room with fireplace or enjoy the terrace with solarium. The hotel also features a games room, ideal for both families and groups of friends.
Combining gastronomy, wellness and nature, Hotel Els Caçadors de Ribes is an excellent choice for discovering the Girona Pyrenees. A mountain hotel where you can enjoy gastronomic, romantic or adventure getaways.
Rutas y actividades para niños en los Aiguamolls del Empordà
Y para otra gran escapada rural con niños, en el Alt Empordà encontraréis el encanto del Hotel Can Xiquet, en Cantallops. Dispone de instalaciones de ocio como una piscina de agua salada al aire libre, una pista de pádel, sauna, gimnasio y una zona de juegos exterior para los más pequeños. Y tenéis aseguradas unas vistas espectaculares a la llanura del Empordà y con el Mediterráneo de telón de fondo.
Muy cerca tenéis el Parque Natural de Els Aiguamolls del Empordà, un espacio natural protegido que bien merece una visita en familia. Es una propuesta ideal para hacer con la familia o amigos, con la tranquilidad que ofrece este gran espacio abierto, que es la segunda zona húmeda más grande de Catalunya después del delta del Ebro, y considerado un punto de gran importancia biológico internacional como refugio de muchos pájaros migratorios. Los niños descubrirán especies que no saben ni que existen, y profundizarán en el conocimiento de sus hábitats y costumbres, y las podrán conocer en directo desde los puntos habilitados para la observación de animales, especialmente aves. Podéis apuntaros a las salidas guiadas que se organizan desde el parque, o también podéis hacerlas por libre.
Para rematar la escapada y convertirla en el plan perfecto para una salida rural en familia, pensad en el Hotel Els Caçadors de Maçanet de Cabrenys, donde podréis disfrutar del mejor ambiente familiar y de un entorno rural ideal para excursionistas y amantes de la naturaleza.
Set in the heart of nature, in Cantallops, the Hotel Can Xiquet offers a different experience on the Costa Brava, in a peaceful environment surrounded by nature, yet just a few kilometers from some of the best beaches and coves in the area. Located in the Albera mountain range, its open views over the Alt Empordà and the Mediterranean turn every stay into a true natural viewpoint.
The hotel features spacious and very bright rooms, designed for relaxation, many with large windows and some with a hydromassage bathtub, and even mountain views. Its style combines elegance and comfort in a शांत setting, ideal for romantic getaways or for disconnecting in the inland Costa Brava.
Surrounded by natural landscapes, it is a perfect base for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling routes or excursions around Empordà. The hotel also offers yoga classes, massages and treatments.
Among its facilities are a saltwater outdoor pool, a paddle court, gym and spacious gardens. It also provides spaces for events and celebrations, as well as services such as parking and bike rental. The hotel is also pet-friendly.
The experience is completed by its gastronomic restaurant, where Mediterranean cuisine and Empordà D.O. wines play a leading role. Thanks to its location, views and tranquility, it is one of the best hotels on the Costa Brava for those seeking an exclusive stay in contact with nature without giving up proximity to the sea.
The Hotel Els Caçadors de Maçanet, located in Maçanet de Cabrenys, is a welcoming hotel surrounded by nature on the Costa Brava, set in the inland area of Alt Empordà, just a few kilometres from the French border. Surrounded by forests, streams and mountain landscapes, it is an ideal place to disconnect and enjoy a peaceful environment while still being close to the beaches of the Costa Brava.
This rural hotel, built in traditional farmhouse style, offers a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere, perfect for getaways as a couple, with friends or with family. It features bright rooms with private terraces, designed for comfort and relaxation while enjoying the surrounding scenery. The setting is ideal for activities such as hiking, cycling routes or mushroom picking.
Among its facilities, the garden with outdoor swimming pool stands out, a perfect place to cool off and enjoy the slow pace of mountain villages. Everything invites you to relax and reconnect with nature.
At the hotel restaurant, the gastronomic offer is based on traditional Empordà cuisine, using local products with a creative touch, making each meal an essential part of the experience. It is a great choice among hotels on the Costa Brava for those seeking nature, tranquillity and a different kind of inland escape.
Fotos: Diego Espada, Sani Salvá, Maria Geli y Pilar Planagumà, Archivo de imágenes PTCBG
