Tamariu Beach
Best for. Travellers who want the quietest and prettiest of the Palafrugell coves, with clear water for swimming and diving and a short, gentle seafront for a long lunch.
Best spot. Swim out to the clear water near the rocks at either end, then take a seafront table for fresh fish before the small beach fills in the afternoon.
Know this. Tamariu is tiny and beloved, so it fills early and parking is very tight in summer. It rewards a morning visit far more than an afternoon arrival in August.
Tamariu is the cove the locals quietly keep for themselves. The smallest of the three beaches below Palafrugell, it is a short curve of coarse golden sand framed by pine and rock, with a single low row of seafront restaurants and clear water that has long drawn snorkellers and divers. Where Llafranc is elegant and Calella is characterful, Tamariu is simply calm, and many who know all three would name it the prettiest.
For a slow coastal day it is close to ideal. The water is clear enough that a mask is well worth packing, the rocky ends reward a gentle snorkel, and there is a dive base in the village for those who want to go deeper. The seafront keeps things simple and good, a handful of restaurants serving fresh fish and rice with the boats just in front, the kind of long, unhurried lunch this stretch of coast does so well. Swim in the morning, eat by the water, then walk a section of the Cami de Ronda toward the neighbouring coves to round out the day.
The honest read is that small means it fills. Tamariu has only a short beach and a tight village behind it, so summer parking is genuinely difficult and the sand is busy by late morning in peak season. If you want space and a long promenade, Llafranc or the bigger beaches will suit you better. If you want the quietest and most natural of the Palafrugell coves, come early, come in June or September, and Tamariu rewards you.
Clubs on this beach
Tamariu is a small village cove rather than a club beach, with a short row of seafront restaurants and bars in place of daybed clubs. Seasonal sunbed hire appears on the sand, operators to be confirmed. For organised beach clubs along the coast, use the Costa Brava beach clubs guide.
Seafront restaurants and a dive base
A short row of seafront restaurants and bars sits behind the sand, with a dive base in the village and seasonal sunbed hire. Specific operators and prices to be confirmed.
Palafrugell, Costa Brava
Tamariu lies just below Palafrugell in the Baix Emporda, around fifty minutes by car from Girona and a short drive from its sister coves Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell. A road winds down to the cove, but the village is small and parking near the front is very limited in summer.
In high season the easiest plan is to arrive early, use parking higher up and walk down, or reach the cove on foot along the Cami de Ronda. Once you are at the water the beach, the restaurants and the dive base are all within a short, easy walk of each other.
Photo: Batyr Ospanov via GoogleBook a beach club
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Common questions about Tamariu
Is Tamariu good for snorkelling and diving?
Yes, it is one of the better spots near Palafrugell. The water is clear and the rocky ends of the cove reward a mask, and there is a dive base in the village for those who want to go deeper. As always, check the sea state first and treat the water as unsupervised outside lifeguard hours.
Why is Tamariu so popular?
Because it is the smallest, calmest and arguably prettiest of the three Palafrugell coves, with clear water, pine and rock around it and a simple, good seafront. That charm is also why it fills early, so its popularity is best enjoyed with a morning arrival.
Where should you eat at Tamariu?
On the short seafront, where a handful of restaurants serve fresh fish and Catalan rice dishes with the boats in front of you. It is a relaxed, unhurried lunch rather than a big dining scene, so book ahead in summer and plan to take your time.
Is parking difficult at Tamariu?
Yes, very. The cove and village are small, so the few spaces near the front fill by late morning in summer. Arrive early, park higher up and walk down, or reach the cove on foot along the Cami de Ronda from a neighbouring beach.
Which is better, Tamariu or Llafranc?
They suit different days. Tamariu is the smaller, quieter and more natural cove, better for snorkelling and calm, while Llafranc is larger and more polished with a full promenade. Many visitors do both, linked by the coastal path, and pick a favourite from there.
