Girona Buddies hiking group
This is the webpage for the Girona Buddies hiking group!
- WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FT8wbxTeZ4569XqvxDegYk
- Instagram: @hikegirona
Key
- 🟢 Green — Official Girona Buddies hike (community-approved, democratically chosen, part of the monthly programme)
- 🔵 Blue — Member-organised hike (Organised by someone in the community, but not an official hike)
- 🟡 Yellow — External hike (not Girona Buddies)
16 June 2024: L'Estartit 🟡[edit]
Back when Girona Buddies was still a single WhatsApp group called Costa Brava Buddies, the group's creator, Denise Pilat, organised four hikes through the company Free Adventour and promoted them inside the group. These were the precursor hikes that helped form what is now the Girona Buddies hiking community.
The first was a hike in L’Estartit. Because, as the name says, “let’s start it”: you have to start somewhere.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 16 June 2024 |
| Start time | 10:45 AM |
| Meeting point | 42°03'47.4"N 3°11'46.0"E |
| Distance | 9.5 km |
| Organiser and leader | Denise Pilat |
| Number of people | 19 |
| Link | Free Adventour – L’Estartit hike |
22 July 2024: Gorgues de la Muga Hike 🟡[edit]
Hike organised and led by Denise Pilat through FreeAdventour. It rained heavily.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 July 2024 |
| Start time | 9:30 AM |
| Meeting point | 8P63+6R Albanyà |
| Distance | 10 km |
| Organiser/leader | Denise Pilat |
| Number of people | 11? |
| Link | Free Adventour – Albanyà natural pools |
Excerpt from Paul's diary[edit]
"I drove to the starting point, a hiking area called Gorgues de la Muga [...] We were almost there when the skies opened and rain began falling in torrents. Lightning flashed across the sky. Thunder rumbled in the distance. I switched the wipers to the fastest speed. Whish wash, whish wash.
"We arrived at the hike and got out of the car. Everyone else was already there waiting for us. Nearly everyone was wearing raincoats. One man was even carrying an umbrella. The hike began. But we had only walked two minutes when the rain began pelting down. We all ran for shelter under a tree.
"Next, we had to cross a river. But there was no bridge so we had to wade across. My hiking boots are supposed to be waterproof. But there's a limit to how waterproof my shoes are. You exceed the limit if you submerge the entire boot in a river, as I did.
"After an hour of walking in the rain, we stopped at the ruins of a castle for a break. The rain didn't stop; in fact, it was coming down even heavier than ever.
"We reached the top of the hill. "Congratulations, we made it!" said Denise. Her left leg was scratched and bleeding. Then a miracle happened: the rain stopped, the clouds parted, and the sun came out. Then the clouds regathered and the rain began falling again.
"We walked back to our cars in the rain. Everyone got in their cars and drove off.
"An hour later, I was home again. The rain had finally stopped. The entire trip had lasted seven hours but it felt longer."
5 October 2024: Cala Estreta Hike 🟡[edit]
Hike organised and led by Denise Pilat through FreeAdventour.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 5 October 2024 |
| Start time | 1 PM |
| Meeting point | Google Maps |
| Distance | 7 km |
| Organiser/leader | Denise Pilat |
| Number of people | 9 |
| Link | Free Adventour – Cala Castell & Puig Morera |
20 October 2024: Hike Largo Darnius 🟡[edit]
Final hike organised and led by Denise Pilat through FreeAdventour.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 20 October 2024 |
| Start time | 11:30 AM |
| Meeting point | 42°21'15.5"N 2°49'46.5"E |
| Distance | 9 km |
| Organiser and leader | Denise Pilat |
| Number of people | 17 |
| Link | Free Adventour – Darnius–Boadella Swamp Hike |
23 November 2024: Sant Roc 🟡[edit]
After Denise left Girona, Paul took over Costa Brava Buddies and renamed it to Girona Buddies. He started looking for activities the group could do together, including hikes. Paul suggested that Girona Buddies join a FreeAdventour hike to Sant Roc. Five people from Girona Buddies, including Paul, took part.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 November 2024 |
| Start time | 9 AM |
| Meeting point | Google Maps |
| Distance | 10 km |
| Organiser | Paul |
| Leader | Violeta León |
| Number of people | 9 |
| Link | https://freeadventour.com/cim-sant-roc-ermita-santa-lena/ |
8 December 2024: Portbou to Llençà 🔵[edit]
This was a hike was organised by Daniel, a member of Girona Buddies. This was the first hike organised and led by a Girona Buddies member, rather than by Free Adventour.
It was a 14 km hike from Portbou to Llançà. It included a visit to the Walter Benjamin monument and views of the Mediterranean.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 December 2024 |
| Start time | 12 PM |
| Meeting point | (They met at Girona train station at 10 AM) |
| Distance | 14 km |
| Organiser/leader | Daniel |
| Number of people | 7 |
| Link | https://freeadventour.com/cim-sant-roc-ermita-santa-lena/ |
26 January 2025: Puig de Sant Miquel 🔵[edit]
On 9 December 2024, Bea, a member of Girona Buddies, suggested making a hiking subgroup within the community. Paul accepted this idea, and the Girona Buddies Hiking group was created.
In early January 2026, a lot of people had joined the hiking subgroup, but nothing had really happened yet. Then Vlatko suggested doing a short, easy hike. Bea followed up by suggesting Sant Miquel, as it’s a popular route. Paul created a poll to choose a date. The result was 22 January, about two weeks later. Someone suggested making La Comuna Cafe the meeting point, so people could grab a coffee before setting off.
The day before the hike, Sofia made a list so people could add their names if they were coming. The list quickly grew to 26 people, plus a few +1s and +2s. In the end, almost 30 people joined the hike, making it the most successful hike yet.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 January 2024 |
| Start time | 11 AM |
| Meeting point | La Comuna Cafe |
| Distance | 10 km |
| Organiser/leader | Paul |
| Number of people | 26 |
| Link | Wikilloc |
15 February 2025: Calella 🟢[edit]
Paul, the leader of Girona Buddies, was trying to keep every subgroup in Girona Buddies active by ensuring that each subgroup had a meetup at least once a month. For the hiking subgroup, Paul proposed the idea of organising a monthly hike within the hiking group, using a democratic process:
- Step 1) Everyone shares hike suggestions
- Step 2) The group votes on the suggested hikes
- Step 3) The group then votes on the date, and the most-voted option wins
This became the basis for how the Girona Buddies hiking group would work going forward.
Notably, Paul took responsibility of organising the hikes every month, writing, "So my idea is I'll organize a hike here each month."
The first hike to win the new democratic process was Alejandro's suggestion of Calella to Vall de Golinons with 11 votes, which narrowly beat Paul's suggestion of Els Àngels, which had only 10 votes.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 15 February 2024 |
| Start time | 11 AM |
| Meeting point | Bar El Paso |
| Distance | 10 km |
| Elevation | 272 m |
| Time | 4 hours |
| Organiser/leader | Alejandro |
| Number of people | 15 |
| Link | wikilloc.com meetup.com |
23 March 2025: Puig de Sant Miquel 🟢[edit]
For the second democratically-organized hike, Paul again suggested Els Angels. There were no other suggestions that month, so Paul's idea won. However, once Paul realized that the Els Angels hike was 18 km and could take 6+ hours with a big group, he changed the hike to a shorter one: Mirador de Can Garcia and Puig de Aguilles (basically a hike towards Els Àngels, but turning back halfway).
Paul had the idea that more people would come if the hike was for charity, so he promoted the hike as a "solidary hike for Ukraine", and suggested that people donate €5 to the Ukranian Red Cross.
On the day of the hike, it rained, and only 8 people showed up. Paul suggested they go to Sant Miquel castle instead, so they went there.
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| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 March 2025 |
| Start time | 11 AM |
| Meeting point | La Comuna Cafe |
| Distance | 10 km |
| Time | 3-4 hours |
| Organiser | Paul |
| Leader | Soojan |
| Number of people | 8 |
| Link | meetup.com |
30 March 2025: El Mirador de Galligants 🟢[edit]
After the last hike, Paul noted that the weather looked good for the following Sunday, so he organised the same hike again, for the people who didn't go last time due to the rain. This was to be March's "proper hike". In a poll, people voted to go to El Mirador de Galligants.
14 people came, including Soojan, a hiking guide from Nepal.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 30 March 2025 |
| Start time | 11 AM |
| Meeting point | La Comuna Cafe |
| Distance | 10 km |
| Time | 3-4 hours |
| Organiser | Paul |
| Leader | Soojan |
| Number of people | 14 |
| Link | meetup.com wikilloc |
20 April 2025: Les Planes d'Hostoles 🔵[edit]
Hike organised by Daniel, a member of Girona Buddies.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 20 April 2025 |
| Start time | 11:15 AM |
| Meeting point | Girona bus station |
| Distance | 9 km |
| Time | 3 hours |
| Organiser/leader | Daniel |
| Number of people | 13 |
| Link | meetup.com connect |
27 April 2025: Sant Antoni de Calogne to Platja d'Aro (Cami de Ronda) 🟢[edit]
The next hike chosen by the group was the Camí de Ronda.
Alejandro was concerned that it might rain and considered cancelling, but Paul encouraged him to go ahead.
In the end, the weather turned out to be beautiful and sunny. Around 28 people joined, setting a new record for the hiking group. As soon as the hike began, the group got spread apart, with faster walkers walking ahead, and parents with very young children being left behind. The parents didn’t seem to mind, as they had expected a slower pace.
The group stopped for drinks at a café in Platja d’Aro, then walked back, again getting spreading out along the route. Overall, it was successful hike.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 27 April 2025 |
| Start time | 11 AM |
| Meeting point | Bar Cafeteria Sant Antoni |
| Distance | 9 km |
| Time | 3-4 hours |
| Organiser/leader | Alejandro |
| Number of people | 28? |
| Link | wikilloc.com meetup.com |
11 May 2025: Banyoles 🔵[edit]
Hike organised by Mun, a member of Girona Buddies.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 11 May 2025 |
| Start time | 10 AM |
| Meeting point | In front of Café Aquarium (Passeig Darder, 39, 51, 17820 Banyoles) |
| Distance | 6 km |
| Time | 2-3 hours |
| Organiser/leader | Mun |
| Number of people | 9 |
| Link | meetup.com |
18 May 2025: Vilobi d'Onyar 🟢[edit]
The next hike took place in May. The group chose a route in Vilobí d’Onyar.
Alejandro had planned to lead the hike, but he stepped down a few days beforehand after feeling discouraged by the low level of interest. In the end, four people decided to go anyway, and completed the hike on their own by following the trail on a phone.
With only four participants, this was the smallest hike so far. There doesn't even exist a group photo for this hike; just lonely photos of individual hikers.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 18 May 2025 |
| Start time | 11 AM |
| Meeting point | Free public car park at Carrer Sant Josep, 17185 Vilobí d'Onyar |
| Distance | 14 km |
| Elevation | 114 m |
| Time | 4-5 hours |
| Organiser | Alejandro |
| Leader | No leader |
| Number of people | 4 |
| Link | meetup.com |
15 June 2025: Begur 🟢[edit]
The next hike chosen by the group was in Begur.
Once again, Alejandro promised to lead the hike but stepped down a few days beforehand due to what he felt was a lack of interest. Thankfully, Karoloncio stepped forward and took on the role of hike leader.
In the end, nine people joined the hike, and by all accounts they had a fantastic time.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 15 June 2025 |
| Start time | 9 AM |
| Meeting point | In front of the free public car park at Carrer Aiguafreda, 25, 17255 Begur |
| Distance | 14 km |
| Elevation | 581 m |
| Time | 4-5 hours |
| Organiser | Alejandro |
| Leader | Karoloncio |
| Number of people | 9 |
| Link | meetup.com |
26 July 2025: Matagalls 🟢[edit]
Alejandro had organised and then stepped down from the previous two hikes at the last minute, so Paul decided to take a more active role, and organised July's hike.
The hike itself was once again led by Karoloncio. The route climbed to the top of a hill marked by a large cross—one of many such hilltop crosses found across Catalonia.
Around ten people took part, making it a pleasant hike with a small but friendly group.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 July 2025 |
| Start time | 9 AM |
| Meeting point | The free car park at Coll de Bordoriol: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BtV3mbwwzrbcvr1X8?g_st=ic |
| Distance | 13 km |
| Elevation gain | 605 m |
| Time | 4 hours |
| Organiser | Paul |
| Leader | Karoloncio |
| Number of people | 10 |
| Link | meetup.com |
6 September 2025: Santa Pau to Puigsallança 🟢[edit]
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 6 September 2025 |
| Start time | 9 AM |
| Meeting point | The tourism office at Avinguda dels Volcans, 14, 17811 Santa Pau |
| Distance | 13 km |
| Elevation gain | 663 m |
| Organiser | Paul |
| Leader | Luciano |
| Number of people | 17 |
| Route | wikilloc.com |
| Meetup | meetup.com |
18 October 2025: Castell de Montsoriu 🟢[edit]
The next hike was to Castell de Montsoriu. When the group arrived to the castle, they discovered that entry required booking a guided tour in advance, which none of the participants had done. As a result, they were unable to go inside and instead turned back and walked down.
Despite this small setback, it was an enjoyable day overall.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 18 October 2025 |
| Start time | 9 AM |
| Meeting point | 41.798224, 2.545520 |
| Distance | 11 km |
| Elevation gain | 467 m |
| Organiser | Alejandro |
| Leader | Nuria and Paul |
| Number of people | 17 |
| Route | wikilloc.com |
| Meetup | meetup.com |
22 November 2025: Llança and Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes 🟢[edit]
Paul noticed four hikes were being organised at once in the same WhatsApp group, and it was hard to follow the messages. So on 25 October 2025, he created the Girona Buddies Hiking community, where each hike could have its own subgroup.
Suggestions for November's hike included Cabanes Argelaguer, Arboretum + Espinelves, and El Castell de Sant Miquel.
The most voted hike was suggested by Carme, a hike from Llança to the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes. It won the poll (other ).
At 17 km, this was the longest hike the group had done so far.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 November 2025 |
| Start time | 9 AM |
| Meeting point | Aparcament Vila, 17490 Llançà |
| Distance | 17 km |
| Elevation gain | 586 m |
| Organiser | Alejandro |
| Leader | Alejandro and Paul |
| Number of people | 18 |
| Route | https://loc.wiki/t/377232 |
| Meetup | meetup.com |
14 December 2025: La Garrotxa 🟢[edit]
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 14 December 2025 |
| Start time | 9 AM |
| Meeting point | Parking lot in Mieres |
| Distance | 13 km |
| Elevation gain | 515 m |
| Organiser | Alejandro |
| Leader | Alejandro |
| Number of people | 23 |
| Route | https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/mieres-la-dama-de-la-garrotxa-poblat-iberic-de-la-palomera-ermita-de-santa-maria-del-freixe-i-turo-121200026 |
| Meetup | meetup.com |
28 December 2025: Castell de Sant Miquel 🔵[edit]
This unofficial hike came about because Paul felt responsible for organising a Christmas event for Girona Buddies, but he didn't feel like organising a cafe meetup or a bar meetup, so he organised a hike instead. He felt that a hike would be a nice way to get outdoors during the long Christmas break. Given the success of the Castell de Sant Miquel hike in January that year, he suggested doing the Castell de Sant Miquel hike again. The hike was planned for 27 December, but in the end it rained that day, so he postponed it to the following day instead. The hike was a success despite the view at the top of the castle being shrouded by clouds, and the entire group even went for cake afterwards at La Comuna cafe.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 December 2025 |
| Start time | 10 AM |
| Meeting point | La Lleona statue |
| Distance | 10 km |
| Elevation gain | 336 m |
| Organiser | Paul |
| Leader | Paul |
| Number of people | 20 |
| Route | https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/puig-de-sant-miquel-66919990 |
| Meetup | meetup.com |
30 December 2025: Castell de Farners 🔵[edit]
Hike organised by Girona Buddies member Alina Dominová.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 30 December 2025 |
| Start time | 9 AM |
| Meeting point | |
| Distance | 12 km |
| Elevation gain | |
| Organiser | Alina Dominová |
| Leader | Alina Dominová |
| Number of people | 4 |
| Route | |
| Meetup |
7 February 2026: Peratallada 🔵[edit]
Hike organised by Girona Buddies members Alejandro and Laura.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 February 2026 |
| Start time | 10 AM |
| Meeting point | Parking lot in Peratallada (https://maps.app.goo.gl/7VGjh5rdcM9gjah58) |
| Distance | 13 km |
| Elevation gain | 52 m |
| Organiser | Alejandro and Laura |
| Leader | Alejandro |
| Number of people | 8 |
| Route | https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/peratallada-pou-de-la-murtra-estany-de-les-closes-boues-can-bach-fontclara-palau-sator-201183505 |
| Meetup | https://www.meetup.com/gironabuddies/events/312370599/ |
8 February 2026: Begur 🟢[edit]
This was January's official hike. The date for the hike was originally 18th January, but after seeing a forecast of heavy rain for that day, Alejandro postponed the hike to 8 February. Then, a few days before the new date, there was a possibility of light rain, and Laura Hamilton warned about dangerous conditions on parts of the Camí de Ronda. As a result, Alejandro cancelled the hike, claiming the conditions were dangerous.
Paul reviewed the forecast and noted that any rain was likely to be light. He also found an alternative route that would bypass the potentially dangerous section. Therefore, the hike went ahead.
On the day, 23 people joined, and the weather turned out to be sunny, with no rain at all. A section of the Camí de Ronda was closed due to rockfalls caused by heavy rain in previous weeks, but this affected only a short part of the route, and the rest of the hike went without problems.
Overall, it was one of the larger and more successful recent hikes.
About an hour into the hike, one hiker disappeared. He wasn't in the WhatsApp group so there was no way to contact him, so the hike carried on. That night, members of the group found him on online and contacted him to make sure he was okay. It turned out his dog had ran away during the hike and he lost the hiking group when he went back for his dog. Because of this incident, a new rule was made that all hikers must be in the WhatsApp group before any hike begins.
That same day, Alejandro sent a message to Paul, saying he was stepping down from organizing the hikes due to differing views on the dangers of hiking.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 February 2026 |
| Start time | 10 AM |
| Meeting point | Parking lot of Eurospar Pals https://maps.app.goo.gl/c41eFZGZofu3FVXb8 |
| Distance | 14 km |
| Elevation gain | 270 m |
| Organiser | Alejandro |
| Leader | Karoloncio |
| Number of people | 23 |
| Route | https://loc.wiki/t/133199686 |
| Meetup.com link | https://www.meetup.com/gironabuddies/events/312602380 |
28 February 2026: Els Àngels 🟢[edit]
For February's hike, Paul suggest Els Àngels, one of the most iconic hikes around Girona, and one of the 100 cims. Paul's hike won the democratic vote. It was an 18 km route, making it the longest hike the hiking group had done so far. Ten people joined. The hike took around 6 hours in total: (3 hours ascent, 1 hour at the top, and 2 hours descent). At the summit, by coincidence, was a live concert as part of Vermut Fest. The band, The Best Of, played a fun set of 1990s and 2000s covers.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 February 2026 |
| Start time | 10 AM |
| Meeting point | La Comuna Cafe |
| Distance | 18 km |
| Elevation gain | 612 m |
| Organiser | Alejandro |
| Leader | Paul |
| Number of people | 10 |
| Route | https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/girona-cul-de-la-lleona-sant-daniel-santuari-dels-angels-249017431 |
| Meetup.com link | https://www.meetup.com/gironabuddies/events/313270487 |
