Aiguablava Beach
Best for. Families and snorkellers who want clear, shallow, calm turquoise water in a sheltered cove, with a long lunch at the Parador or a beach restaurant just above the sand.
Best spot. Swim out to the rocky ends of the cove with a mask, where posidonia meadows give the best of the snorkelling, then lunch on the terrace above.
Know this. This is one of the prettiest and best known coves near Begur, so it is small and parking is tight. Arrive early or walk in, and the calm shallow water is the draw rather than space.
Aiguablava means blue water, and the name is honest. This sheltered cove under Cap de Begur holds some of the clearest, calmest water on the Costa Brava, fine golden sand shelving gently into turquoise that turns almost Caribbean on a bright, still morning. It is shallow at the edge and short on waves, which makes it one of the easiest swims on the coast for children and for anyone who likes to wade in slowly.
The cove rewards a full day rather than a quick dip. Pack a mask, because the rocky ends shelter posidonia meadows where octopus, starfish and the odd grouper drift through water that stays clear to around fifteen metres on good days. When you are done, the Parador de Aiguablava stands on the headland with its Mar i Vent restaurant cooking Emporda classics, and Toc al Mar sits right on the sand for grilled fish and rice with your feet near the water. Kayaks and paddle boards hire here too, and a couple of hours of paddling reaches hidden coves you cannot walk to.
The honest read is scale. Aiguablava is famous for good reason, which means it is small, the car park is tight and it fills early on summer days. Come first thing, walk down if you are staying nearby, or arrive late afternoon when the day trippers thin out and the light softens on the water. For all the attention it is still a calm, clear cove rather than a scene, and that is exactly the point.
Clubs on this beach
The cove is about clear water and an easy lunch rather than a daybed club. There is sunbed and umbrella hire in season, a beach restaurant on the sand and the Parador dining room above, but no club scene in the usual sense. Operators and opening change season to season, so confirm before you travel and see the Costa Brava beach clubs guide for the wider coast.
Beach restaurant and sunbed hire
Sunbed hire and a beach restaurant sit on the sand, with the Parador dining room above the cove. Specific operators and prices to be confirmed.
Begur, Costa Brava
Aiguablava lies below the town of Begur in the Baix Emporda, around forty minutes by car from Girona and its airport and a little under two hours from Barcelona. The lanes down to the cove are narrow and the small car parks fill early, so morning arrivals or a walk down from Begur are the calm choice.
There is little public transport to the cove itself, so a car or taxi from Begur is the practical way in. Once you are down at sea level the sand, the snorkelling rocks, the beach restaurant and the kayak hire are all within a few steps of one another.
Photo: Ingest via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a daybed or table at a club near Aiguablava. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Aiguablava
Why is Aiguablava beach so famous?
For its water. The cove under Cap de Begur holds some of the clearest and calmest sea on the Costa Brava, turquoise and shallow over fine golden sand, which photographs beautifully and swims even better. The sheltered setting keeps the waves down and the colour up.
Is Aiguablava good for snorkelling?
Yes, it is one of the more rewarding and accessible snorkelling coves on the coast. The rocky ends shelter posidonia meadows where you can spot octopus, starfish and serranids, and on clear days visibility reaches around fifteen metres. Bring your own mask, as conditions are best early before the cove fills.
Is Aiguablava suitable for families?
Yes, in calm conditions. The sand shelves gently, the water is shallow at the edge and waves are rare, which suits children and anyone who likes to wade in slowly. The drawback is size and parking rather than the water, so arrive early for space.
Where can you eat at Aiguablava?
On the sand and just above it. Toc al Mar cooks grilled fish and rice right on the beach, and the Parador de Aiguablava on the headland serves Emporda classics in its Mar i Vent dining room. Both are popular in summer, so book ahead for lunch.
How do you get to Aiguablava?
By car or taxi from Begur, around forty minutes from Girona. The lanes are narrow and the small car parks fill early, so come in the morning or walk down from town. Public transport to the cove itself is limited.
