We had the absolute best time on our Spain trip and let me tell you, as two busy working parents with two really small kids, it is nearly impossible to get away these days. I am endlessly grateful for our village, especially my mother in law and my mom, who came to our rescue and gave Daniel and I this much needed reset, disconnect, and reconnect moment. Truly one of the best things we’ve done for ourselves in a really long time. I have to start by saying how incredibly impressed I was with the Costa Brava region of Spain. Having traveled throughout Europe, spent plenty of time in Italy, and visited Spain before, mostly Barcelona, I honestly wasn’t sure what to
expect. What I didn't anticipate was how much Costa Brava would remind me of some of my favorite travel experiences. It had shades of the rolling hills of Tuscany, the dramatic coastline of Cinque Terre, and the charm that makes Mediterranean travel so special, but all packed into one incredibly accessible region where most experiences were less than an hour apart.

This trip actually came to life in the most unexpected way possible: I won it. It was a raffle prize from a local travel advisor networking event featuring Costa Brava tourism and hospitality partners, whose generosity helped bring this trip to life. You can imagine my surprise when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw them pull my colorful business card from the bowl. I literally shrieked because this kind of thing truly never happens to me. The universe absolutely delivered on this one.

We had one year to use the certificates, so planning began almost immediately. First came securing childcare because if you know, you know and then building a trip flow that actually made sense. The raffle included four different hotels throughout the Costa Brava and Girona region, each showcasing a completely different side of the destination. And honestly? That ended up being the most magical part of the trip.

Why Costa Brava completely surprised me

When people think about Spain vacations, I feel like they often think they need to choose: countryside or coast? Wellness or culture? Beach or wine country? Museums or relaxation? Costa Brava somehow gives you all of it. Costa Brava itself sit about an hour and a half from the Barcelona airport, but once you are in the region,
everything feels incredibly accessible. Most drives between towns, beaches, wineries, and hotels were only about 30 to 60 minutes apart, which made the entire trip feel seamless and easy.

Within that relatively small region, we found ourselves transported between dramatic cliffside Mediterranean coastlines, vineyard covered countryside that felt Tuscany adjacent, bustling city centers rich in art and culture, and peaceful wellness retreats tucked into nature. It felt incredibly efficient in the best possible way. As someone who constantly talks to clients about “vacation fatigue,” the exhaustion that comes from trying to cram too many flights, trains, and transitions into one international trip just to justify airfare these days, Costa Brava solved that problem beautifully. We covered so many different backdrops and experiences, all within very manageable driving distances. Having a rental car was absolutely key and gave us the flexibility to move slowly while still seeing
so much.

Stop one: Hotel Camiral

We began our trip with a two-night stay at Hotel Camiral, an incredible golf and wellness resort about an hour and a half outside of Barcelona. Immediately upon arrival, it was serving true five-star energy. The property is beautifully designed with modern architecture, warm Catalonian touches, manicured golf greens, and one of the
most impressive wellness facilities we experienced throughout the trip. But what really made Hotel Camiral stand out was the service. I always say a true five-star hotel lives and dies by its service, and this hotel absolutely excelled. After checking in, we grabbed something to eat on property and immediately settled into vacation mode. I even called housekeeping to sample their pillow menu, which felt wildly luxurious and honestly incredible after an overnight flight. The next day ended up being one of my favorite days of the trip.

We drove to Sant Feliu de Guíxols and walked portions of the famous Camí de Ronda, winding along dramatic cliffside coastal paths overlooking the Mediterranean. We stopped for lunch at La Taverna del Mar, wandered through medieval Pals and ended the evening with cocktails and light bites overlooking the ocean in Tamariu surrounded by sailboats bobbing in the water. It truly felt like a perfect day.

The next morning, we fully leaned into the wellness side of Hotel Camiral. We spent the morning enjoying the thermal facilities before heading into a 90 minute couples massage that honestly reset our nervous systems in the best possible way. Also, I cannot stress this enough: the breakfast buffet at Hotel Camiral is epic. Fellow breakfast lovers, this is your moment. The pastries, fresh fruit, made to order eggs, cheeses, meats and yes, the chocolate fountain, all incredible. And no, I will not be accepting judgment because we were on vacation. For golf lovers, it’s also worth noting that Hotel Camiral is officially set to host the 2031 Ryder Cup, which honestly says everything you need to know about the caliber of the property.

Stop two: Figueres and Hotel Divino

From the peaceful golf greens and wellness retreat energy of Hotel Camiral, we suddenly arrived into the vibrant urban energy of Figueres and immediately shifted gears. And honestly? I had one thing on my mind: shopping. Walking through the city center, popping into Spanish pharmacies, browsing local boutiques, and discovering Spanish brands was such a fun shift in energy. My husband even found replacement buttons for one of his jackets at a tiny local button shop, which somehow became one of those random little travel memories I know we’ll always remember.

We stayed at Hotel Divino, a surrealist inspired boutique hotel that fully leans into the artistic spirit of Salvador Dalí. I genuinely still think about the cheetah-print floors and gold snail-shaped door pulls in our room. The entire space felt like something out of a Dalí dream sequence mixed with European Sex and the City energy. The next morning, we had tickets to the Dalí Theatre Museum and it completely exceeded expectations. The imagination, surrealism, and absolute madness of Dalí’s work was fascinating, but the most impactful part was learning that the museum is actually his final resting place. It was one of those travel experiences that stays with you. Lunch afterward at Hotel Duran was iconic, traditional Catalonian food, gambas, pa amb tomàquet, wine, and a perfect slow afternoon before
catching up on emails and FaceTiming our kids six hours behind us back home.

That afternoon we headed to Perelada Winery, which completely blew us away. And listen, we are wine people. We’ve done Napa. We honeymooned in Tuscany. We’ve visited vineyards all over. This winery experience was one of the best we’ve ever had. I genuinely think people are sleeping on Spain’s wine country because this was top tier in every way. The grounds were stunning, the hospitality was exceptional, and you could feel the generations of intentionality and investment poured into the property.

That evening ended at El Pati, a local restaurant with true “if you know, you know”energy. Music started around 9:30 p.m., children and adults were all enjoying the evening together, and the entire atmosphere just felt warm, local, and alive.

Stop three: Mas Lazuli and Cadaqués

After Figueres, we were excited to head back toward the countryside and coast for our stay at Mas Lazuli. And wow. This hotel may have been the biggest surprise of the trip. You almost miss the turn driving in because the property feels so intentionally hidden within the landscape. Surrounded by vineyards, olive trees, and dramatic hillsides, it genuinely felt like nature existed first and the hotel quietly followed after. Mas Lazuli felt sexy, peaceful, and luxurious without being pretentious. It gave true secluded countryside retreat energy while still somehow feeling effortlessly cool.

The service was warm but understated and the food was exceptional. We dined at the Michelin-recognized restaurant on property both nights and every meal felt incredibly fresh, local, and thoughtful.From there, we made the dramatic mountain drive into Cadaqués and let me tell you, if you’re not comfortable driving switchbacks, this is your warning. I was deeply grateful to remain passenger princess while my husband handled the mountain roads because the vertigo was real. But arriving in Cadaqués made every second worth it.

The town feels exactly like social media describes it: Santorini meets coastal Spain with a little Hamptons energy layered in. Whitewashed buildings, artisan boutiques, sailboats everywhere and the most unreal turquoise blue water against dramatic cliffs. It was magical. One of the sweetest surprises was that our hotel partners arranged for us to borrow a mint green Fiat Topolino for the afternoon, which somehow made exploring the tiny winding streets feel even more cinematic.

And then came lunch at Compartir. Honestly, one of the best gastronomic experiences we’ve ever had together. Thirteen plus courses, endless wine, giant oysters we still dream about, and some of the most creative and thoughtful dishes we’ve ever eaten. We walked for what felt like hours afterward just trying to recover from how much we ate. That evening we returned to Mas Lazuli for one final dinner and another incredibly restful sleep among the vineyards.

The boat day

Our boat day in Cadaqués deserves its own section because this was truly one of the highlights of the entire trip. As someone based in Miami, Florida, boats are not exactly a novelty to me. But this felt completely different. We debated whether to splurge on a private charter because yes, it is definitely a luxury experience, but ultimately decided the firsthand experience was worth it both personally and professionally. And it absolutely was.

Leaving from a tiny wooden dock and cruising along the Costa Brava coastline surrounded by dramatic cliffs honestly felt surreal. We stopped near Hell’s Cave, known for the reddish glow the rocks take on at sunset, before anchoring in the most unreal turquoise cove that felt like our own private swimming pool. Swimming there surrounded by the same rock formations that inspired Dalí’s work was genuinely unforgettable.

Huge gratitude to our guides Erik and Piluca from Blue Experience Charter for creating such a magical day on the water. We ended the day with lobster rice at Es Baluard and I truly have no words for how incredible that meal tasted after a full day at sea. Tan lines fully secured.

Final stop: Park Hotel San Jorge

By the time we arrived at Park Hotel San Jorge in Platja d’Aro, we had officially entered the emotional final day phase of vacation where part of you is ready for home and part of you desperately wants time to slow down. So that’s exactly what we did. I fully unplugged for the day and soaked in every last bit of Costa Brava. We lounged by the pool, relaxed at the beach, and simply enjoyed having nowhere to be.

Water shoes are absolutely mandatory, by the way, because the algae covered rocks at the beach are no joke. This hotel’s biggest strength is unquestionably its location. Though the area is much more populated and energetic than some of our previous stops, the dramatic sea views, and incredible coastal scenery absolutely deliver on that quintessential Costa Brava experience. That evening we had dinner at Restaurante La Mar and ordered a lobster cannelloni dish that genuinely tasted like the ocean in the best possible way.

The next morning, we packed up, unpacked, repacked one more time for good measure, and had one final breakfast before making our way back toward Barcelona Airport for our flight home. And honestly? Even the airport experience felt easy. No chaotic lines. No overwhelming stress. Just smooth, efficient travel. We flew Level Airlines back home feeling tan, full, rested, and deeply grateful.

Final thoughts

Though moving hotels this frequently in seven nights is not something I would normally recommend, this trip somehow worked beautifully because every destination felt so different from the last while still remaining accessible and connected. Costa Brava truly has it all: wellness, beaches, wine country, gastronomy, culture, boating, history and breathtaking scenery all within incredibly manageable distances.

Most importantly, though, this trip gave us exactly what we needed: the chance to disconnect, reconnect and relax. Until next time.

Wander well, dream boldly, and explore endlessly.

XO, Natasha

Interested in planning your own Costa Brava escape? I’d love to help:

natasha.maya@fora.travel
(305)794-3899
@wanderwellwithnatasha

Wanderwell with Natasha | Costa Brava Destination Guide

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