The beaches and coves of the Bay of Roses are one of the jewels of the Costa Brava. In this article, we present five of the best coves in the area: Cala Montjoi, Cala Pelosa, Cala Almadrava, Cala Canyelles Petites, and Cala Murtra.
Cala Montjoi is located about 12 km from Roses. To get there, you will have to take the GI-614 road, which will take you directly to the cove. There is a small parking area and in summer it always fills up; in the worst case, you will find space on the road to park the car.
Cala Montjoi has impressive views, you will enjoy cliffs and crystal-clear waters ideal for snorkeling. It is also an ideal place for hiking; in fact, you can reach Cala Montjoi from Roses via the Ronda Path.
On TripAdvisor, it has a rating of 4 stars with more than 250 reviews, ranked number 6 of 16 things to do in Roses.
Cala Pelosa is a small cove located about 6 km north of Roses. To get there, you will have to take the GI-614 road and follow the signs to the cove. In fact, it is located just after Cala Montjoi, no more than 5 minutes by car.
It has its own small parking lot, but it is almost always full; cars usually park on the side of the road.
An ideal beach for swimming, snorkeling, and, of course, sunbathing. Some people go fishing in the cove or even take a walk around the surroundings. Additionally, there is the Chiringuito de la Pelosa where you can enjoy the views and a good paella. However, prior reservation is essential if you want to find a table at a decent hour.
The Almadraba beach is located about 4 km from Roses, no more than 10 minutes by car from the center of Roses, and is also within a reasonable distance to walk along the Ronda Path; it is located just after the beach of Canyelles Petites.
Cala Almadrava is usually quite crowded in July and August, yet you will be able to relax and enjoy the sun and the beach. Additionally, it has several beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy anything from a hamburger to a good paella.
It has over 1,400 reviews on Google Maps and an average rating of 4.6 stars!
The beach of Canyelles Petites is one of the most popular coves in Roses, located only about 3 km from Roses. Although there is a paid parking lot, you can also park for free in the surroundings; however, keep in mind that in the summer months it is difficult to find a spot for your car.
At Cala Canyelles Petites, you can enjoy a beach of golden sand and crystal-clear waters ideal for swimming and practicing water sports such as paddle surfing or kayaking. Additionally, there are several restaurants in the area like La GuaGua where you can enjoy fresh fish and a good meal.
Cala Rostella is located on the same road as Cala Pelosa and Cala Montjoi. It is about 15-20 minutes from Roses. There is a small free public parking lot but it only fits 15-20 cars and is usually full.
Accessing the cove is tricky; it takes about 10 minutes on foot to get down, there is a slope and you need to wear proper shoes, otherwise, you might slip.
It is a beautiful, very quiet cove with few people. Ideal for relaxing, sunbathing, or doing some water sports like kayaking or paddle surfing. However, you must bring everything you need for the day (towels, umbrella, snorkeling goggles, water, food, etc.), as there are no restaurants or beach bars.
On TripAdvisor, Cala Murtra has few reviews (less than 40) and a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5; on Google Maps, it has 371 reviews and 4.7 stars.
