Mountain Walking in Southern Catalunya : Els Ports and the mountains of Tarragona

Discover a dramatic and largely unexplored corner of northeastern Spain, where the immense limestone massifs of els Ports, Serra de Cardó, and Serra de Montsia rise above the River Ebro between Barcelona and Valencia. Herb-covered hillsides, high pine forests, Templar castles, and picturesque hill villages await in the Parc Natural dels Ports, one of Spain's most spectacular and least-visited natural parks.

This guidebook describes 30 graded walks across three natural parks in southern Catalunya, suitable for both beginner and experienced walkers. Day walks range from 4 to 21km (2–13 miles) and can be completed in 2–6 hours, while a 2-day circular trek encompassing Sant Roc and Arnes covers 47km (29 miles) across two stages. Choose your own adventure from broad tracks, rocky ridges, limestone gorges, and airy scrambles around huge cliffs, with all routes graded for routefinding, scrambling, and exposure.

Navigate with confidence using sketch maps for each walk, GPX tracks available to download for selected routes, and detailed guidance on Editorial Piolet maps covering the area. Comprehensive introductory sections cover the natural parks, geology, wildlife, history, architecture, local culture, waymarking, hunting seasons, and access information. Practical details on accommodation, food and drink, local transport, and the main base of Tortosa help you plan your walking holiday with ease, with the region easily accessible from Barcelona, Valencia, and Reus.