National park · Spain
Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural ParkParc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa
Entry to the park is free; you pay only for parking (€4–8) and the Espai Cràter museum (€7.50). Base in Olot, drive the GI-524 to Croscat and Santa Margarida before 10:00, and walk the Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest in May or late October.Entry to the park is free; you pay only for parking (€4–8) and the Espai Cràter museum (€7.50). Base in Olot, drive the GI-524 to Croscat and Santa Margarida before 10:00 AM, and walk the Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest in May or late October.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
150 km²58 sq mi
approximate
Established
1982
Best months
Apr–May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Iberia ↗Plan meals on the Iberian clock: Spanish kitchens serve lunch from about 13:30–14:00 and dinner from 20:30–21:00; Portugal eats an hour or so earlier. Early evenings are for tapas or petiscos, not full meals.
- Iberia ↗Inland Spain and Portugal (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid, the Alentejo) pass 40 °C in heatwaves from late June to August: sightsee before 11:00 and after 18:00, and keep July–August for the coasts and the green north.
- Iberia ↗Andorra and Gibraltar have their own border and customs rules and are reached only through Spain (or France for Andorra); read their pages before adding them, especially if you hold a limited Schengen visa.
- Spain ↗Spain is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- Spain ↗High-speed trains have airport-style baggage screening at the station and boarding gates that close a few minutes before departure: arrive early.
- Spain ↗Carry your passport or ID: police may ask for it, and hotels must register every guest's document.
- Spain ↗The Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona sell timed tickets that sell out weeks ahead in season; book on the official sites before you fix your dates.
At a glance
- Country
- Spain
- Area
- 150 km²58 sq mi
- The protected area covers the territory of 11 municipalities; the exact zoned figure varies by source (check).
- Established
- 1982
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
The Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa is the best-preserved volcanic landscape on the Iberian Peninsula: about 40 cones and more than 20 basaltic lava flows, none active, spread across 11 municipalities in La Garrotxa county. There is no gate and no entry ticket — the park is a working landscape of beech forest, holm oak, farm tracks and small towns, with the GI-524 from Olot to Santa Pau as its spine. You pay for parking at the main trailheads and for the Espai Cràter volcano museum in Olot. Most visitors see Croscat, Santa Margarida and the Fageda d'en Jordà in one day; the quieter southwest around Sant Feliu de Pallerols takes a second.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteDeclared a Natural Site of National Interest by the Parliament of Catalonia; 20 integral geobotanical reserves inside the park.
Size and age
150 km²58 sq mi · national park since 1982
The protected area covers the territory of 11 municipalities; the exact zoned figure varies by source (check).
Why go
- A volcanic field you can walk across in a day: scoria cones, explosion craters and lava flows, none of them active.
- The Fageda d'en Jordà is a beech forest growing on flat lava, with the humps locals call tossols.
- Croscat is the largest volcanic cone in the Iberian Peninsula, and its quarried flank shows the layers.
- Santa Margarida has a Romanesque hermitage sitting inside the crater floor.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanCold, frost in the valleys; short days
- FebCold and often wet; quiet trails
- MarMild, green, some rain
- AprFresh green, wildflowers, walkable all day
- MayBeech leaves out; long daylight
- JunWarm; afternoon showers possible
- JulHottest month; start early, shade is patchy on the cones
- AugPeak Catalan holiday crowds and parking pressure
- SepWarm, quieter after mid-month
- OctBeech turns gold; clear, dry walking
- NovBare trees, misty craters, few people
- DecCold; some facilities on winter hours
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beech foliage in the Fageda d'en JordàMay–Jun, Oct · Green in late spring, gold in October. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | no | no |
| Spring wildflowers on the conesApr–May | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Forest birds and raptors over the cliffsMar–May, Sep–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Mushroom season in the oak and beech woodsOct–Nov · Picking rules are set locally; check before collecting (check). | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Olot
Drive or take the RUMBUS bus along the GI-524 toward Santa Pau; the Croscat and Fageda lots are on this road.
15–25 min
From Girona
C-66 toward Banyoles, then the N-260/A-26 at Besalú toward Olot; or the El Carrilet greenway by bike.
1–1.5 h
From Barcelona
C-33 north, C-17 toward Vic/Ripoll, then C-37 to Olot; or TEISA bus to Olot and the park bus onward.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Girona–Costa Brava airport (GRO)
Rental car is the practical option; the airport is about 53 km from the park.Rental car is the practical option; the airport is about 33 mi from the park.
1 h
From Barcelona El Prat (BCN)
About 125 km by road to the park; train to Girona then bus is slower.About 78 mi by road to the park; train to Girona then bus is slower.
2–2.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Olot and the GI-524 corridor | Montsacopa crater inside the town, the Espai Cràter museum, and the road out to Croscat, Santa Margarida and the Fageda. | Open; museum ticketed. |
| Santa Pau and the central cones | The medieval Firal dels Bous square, Croscat, Santa Margarida and the beech forest on the lava flow. | Open; parking fees at the main lots. |
| Castellfollit de la Roca | A village on a 50 m basalt cliff above the Fluvià and Toronell rivers, reached from the A-26. | Open; village parking. |
| Sant Feliu de Pallerols and the southwest | Sant Marc and Puig Roig reserves, the Brugent valley and the El Carrilet cycleway. | Open; quietest sector. |
Sketch map
- 1Olot · Town≈42.183, 2.486Map ↗
- 2Montsacopa volcano · Viewpoint≈42.186, 2.489Map ↗
- 3Can Passavent information centre · Headquarters≈42.156, 2.541Map ↗
- 4Croscat volcano · Summit≈42.155, 2.541Map ↗
- 5Santa Margarida volcano · Trail≈42.148, 2.543Map ↗
- 6Fageda d'en Jordà · Trail≈42.155, 2.516Map ↗
- 7Santa Pau · Village≈42.146, 2.569Map ↗
- 8Castellfollit de la Roca · Village≈42.219, 2.551Map ↗
- 9Sant Feliu de Pallerols · Village≈42.078, 2.505Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No gate and no ticket for the natural park itself. |
| Parking, Fageda d'en Jordà | EUR 4 | car | 2026 estimate; paid lot on the GI-524. |
| Parking, Santa Margarida volcano | EUR 4 | car | 2026 estimate; the lot for the crater and its hermitage. |
| Parking, Santa Pau motorhome area | EUR 8 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; maximum stay 48 h. |
| Espai Cràter museum, Olot | EUR 7.5 | person | 2026 estimate; volcano exhibition built into a hill. |
| RUMBUS park bus, day ticket | EUR 2 | person | 2026 estimate; unlimited hops on the route on operating days. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Parking at main trailheads permit or guide
Guided visits to restricted reserves permit or guide
Park rules
- Stay on marked paths
- The 20 integral geobotanical reserves are closed to walking; do not cross fences or cut across the tossols.
- No fires
- Open fire and barbecues are banned across the park; summer fire-risk alerts can close access tracks entirely.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs leashed and out of the restricted reserves; some signed trails exclude them (check).
- Parking
- Park only in the marked lots; roadside parking on the GI-524 blocks buses and farm access.
- Drones
- Flying drones over the park needs permission from the park authority (check).check
- Litter
- Carry out everything you bring; bins are scarce away from the towns.
Where to stay
Near the park
Olot
The park's main town: hotels, hostels and apartments, plus the Espai Cràter museum and Montsacopa crater on foot.
In the park
Santa Pau
Rooms and rural houses around the arcaded square, walking distance from the central cones.
In the park
Castellfollit de la Roca
Small guesthouses on the cliff, handy for the A-26 and the Fluvià valley.
In the park
Sant Feliu de Pallerols
Quiet base for the southwest reserves and the El Carrilet cycleway.
In the park
Farmhouses and rural hotels (cases de pagès)
Scattered stays inside the park boundary; book early for October weekends.
Safety
Heat on the open cones in July and August medium
Slippery lava and clay after rain medium
Summer fire-risk closures medium
Winter frost and mist low
Accessibility
- The Fageda d'en Jordà and the paths around the Can Passavent centre are flat and largely firm, suitable for pushchairs and some wheelchairs.
- Montsacopa's crater rim in Olot is a gentle circular path, though the climb from the cemetery is steep in places.
- The Espai Cràter museum in Olot is fully accessible.
- Croscat's summit and the Sant Marc and Puig Roig trails are rough and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Park in the paid lots and use the RUMBUS bus on operating days instead of circling for roadside space.
- Do not walk off-path on the tossols or the crater rims; the lava relief is fragile and slow to recover.
- Buy lunch and supplies in Santa Pau, Olot or Sant Feliu de Pallerols so the park's towns keep the income.
- Take rubbish back to town; remote bins are rare.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park?
Nothing. There is no gate or entry ticket for the park itself. You pay for parking at the busiest trailheads — about €4 at the Fageda d'en Jordà and Santa Margarida lots, €8 at the Santa Pau motorhome area — and €7.50 for the Espai Cràter museum in Olot. The RUMBUS park bus day ticket costs about €2.
What are the best hikes in Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park?
For most visitors: the short loop at Croscat and its quarried clay pit, the crater rim at Santa Margarida, and the flat paths through the Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest. Add the Montsacopa crater walk in Olot for the view, and the Sant Marc and Puig Roig trails in the southwest if you want a quieter half day.
When is the best time to visit Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park?
April, May and October. Spring gives fresh green, wildflowers and long daylight; October brings the beech turning gold and dry, clear walking. July and August are hot with peak Catalan holiday crowds, and January to February is cold with frost in the valleys.
Do I need a car to visit the park?
It helps. Trains do not reach the park; the nearest stations are Girona and Ripoll. TEISA buses connect Olot with Girona, Figueres, Ripoll, Vic and Barcelona, and the RUMBUS bus runs the Olot–Fageda–Santa Margarida–Santa Pau route on weekends and holidays. By car you use the GI-524 from Olot toward Santa Pau.
Are the volcanoes active?
No. The cones and lava flows are dormant and have been for thousands of years; the youngest eruptions are roughly 11,000 years old and the oldest around 700,000. The park is a protected landscape, not a monitored active volcanic area.
Can I visit the Fageda d'en Jordà in autumn?
Yes, and October is the busiest month for it. The beech forest grows on flat lava and the paths stay walkable, but the parking lot fills by mid-morning on October weekends. Arrive before 10:00 or use the RUMBUS bus.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go