Colliure to Banyuls-sur-Mer Coastal Hike

About Collioure to Banyuls-sur-Mer Coastal Hike

This route starts in Collioure leaving the town via paved roads with viewpoints looking back towards collioure.

Following the road for a while we pick up a coastal trail towards port-Vendres, another historic coastal town with a marina and industrial port. The route continues through the town via the marina and leaves via a paved road towards l'anse de l'Espeluga beach passing via a trail with cannons and small forts.

Behind l'anse de l'Espeluga beach is a trail that leads upwards to a path that parallels the coastline towards Cap bear lighthouse. After visiting Cap bear headland the route follows a rocky trail around Les Ecueils bay and along the top of a cliff on a downwards path to the beutiful Paulilles beach and Forat beach. I recommend swiming in one of these two beaches.

The route next follows the coast to Oullastrell headland which has a fort. This location is another great viewpoint. The trail continues along the coastline along another rocky trail with ascent to Cap d'Ullastrell headland then descent down to Cap Castell de Vello headland. The path continues along the clifftop descending down to Sauna beach and cove then Elmes beach and cove.

Here the route follows a paved coastal road around Banyuls-sur-Mer to a viewpoint of this town. Once level with the main beach of this town we take a road inland towards the train station.

This is a medium-hard route along rugged natural coastline shaped by wind and rain. The route has a lot of descents and ascents in and out of the various coves, beaches and headlands. Allow 6 to 8 hours to complete the route.

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Visiting Collioure to Banyuls-sur-Mer Coastal Hike

If travelling via the R1 through Portbou and there is more than one hour between trains, Just outside of Portbou station are several bars and restaurants to get dinner.

Accessibility, mobility & Clothing for Collioure to Banyuls-sur-Mer Coastal Hike

This route involves walking along beaches and close to the shore so I put things that I want to remain dry inside waterproof bag inside my rucksack. I keep my phone inside an IPX8 case so I can take photos from the sea.

Take 2 - 3 litres of water.

Small 30L Hiking Rucksack

Includes high visibility fog and rain waterproof cover in zip compartment at bottom of rucksack.

Trail shoes

Lightweight comfortable trail shoes

Summer socks

Ankle spring/summer socks

Mid layer Top

Light weight cotton quick dry T-shirt

Running shorts

Mens trail running shorts

Convertible Trousers

Lightweight convertible trousers that zip down to shorts

Phone Case for watersports

IPX8 waterproof floating and submersible case & Lanyard. Permits photos and touchscreen use.

Wet shoes

Waterproof shoes for coastal hikes and remote stoney beaches.

Waterproof bag

20 to 30L Waterproof bag for sea caving and coastal hikes where risk of getting wet or immersion in water

Lightweight Towel

Compact lightweight microfibre towel for coastal and mountain hiking

High Factor Sun Cream

factor 50 non-polluting sun-cream to protect the oceans, lakes and rivers.

Getting to Collioure to Banyuls-sur-Mer Coastal Hike

Address: Chem. du Cap Bear, Port-Vendres, France. 66660

There are two ways of getting to Collioure from Barcelona by train:
Barcelona-Sants to Perpignan (1h 22min) then SNCF local commuter train from Perpignan to Collioure. (20 min)
Slower Regional R11 train from Barcelona-Sants to Cerbère (France), passing via Barcelona-Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona-Sant Andreu Comtal, Sant Celoni, Girona, Figueres and Portbou terminating in Cerbère. (2h 37min) From Cerbère a SNCF local commuter train to Collioure. (15 min)

See the Collioure to Banyuls-Ser-Mer Train Map in the documents section for more information.

If visiting Collioure by car Free parking can be found at Collioure train station, Parking de la Gare, and pay parking, Parking Le Glacis in the centre of town. This is a linear route so you will have to use the train to get back to Collioure.

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