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The golden sandy beaches of Tamariu remain fairly unspoilt, and enjoy a lovely setting backed by pine cliffs and fragrant pines, ideally located in sheltered bays. There are a host of beaches and hidden coves to visit in the area, such as Aigua Xelida, Cala Marquesa and El Cau, with neighbouring resorts including Calella del Palafrugell and Llafranc. Near the arty village of Cadaqués, Cap de Creus is a nature reserve which comprises a series of tiny coves and is the most eastern point in Spain. Brava means rough and rocky, and it doesn't get much rougher and rockier than this. This is the eerie, spectacular landscape that inspired Salvador Dalí, whose astonishing house is a few kinks around the coast in Port Lligat.
Just north of Palamós, Castell is the only sandy beach on this part of the coast to have escaped development, owing to vociferous local opposition. There are some beautiful little coves on either side of it, concealed by pine forests.

The area between Palamos town and Cap de Begur is the most beautiful diving area in the Costa Brava. This is where you`ll see more differently coloured gorgonians than anywhere else along the coast, they cover every surface. Even at Cape de Creus and the Medes Islands, they don`t seem to flourish as they do here. They grow in the most heavenly red and yellow, in narrow gullies and cliffs - it`s a real eye-opener, and not just for underwater photographers.

Around the rocky reef you`ll meet a huge number of other residents of the Mediterranean animal world, such as large prawns, lobsters, conger eels and grouper. Night dives on the reefs will leave you with a truly unforgettable impression. There`s even a wreck nearby - the Boreas was cleaned in 1989 and was artificially sunk some way from the entrance to the harbour of Palamos. It`s about 30m long and lies upright at 30m. Best dive sites include Tamariu Reef which is also the best-known dive site. The huge underwater rock formations here are like the fingers of an enormous hand, and the fissured gullies are smothered with colourful gorgonians. The rock walls start from 10m, reaching a depth of 30m, and there is a wealth of life. Small grottos and swim-throughs complete the picture. Ten different dives here would only just give you an idea of how much there is to see here. 

As well as diving and snorkelling, other water sports available here include pedalo rentals, windsurfing, waterskiing, sailing and kayaking.

When it comes to boating, most of the larger beaches have something and most hotels that front the beach have access to boats of some kind. Pedalos, two seater, foot-driven vessels are the norm and are quite cheap to hire by the hour. Banana boats are also quite common, seating 10 or 12 people at a time.

Walking holidays are popular in and around the Tamariu area, and the region has plenty of coastal paths that run along the cliff tops, and woodland trails through the pine forests and olive groves - ideal for either a casual stroll or a more strenuous hike.

The diversity of landscape (along with the great variety of flora and fauna) makes the region excellent for hikers. Spring and summer are the best seasons for hiking in the region as some paths can be dangerous in the winter. The Costa Brava is a very popular hiking region. Official footpaths are mostly marked with red and white stripes painted on rocks and trees and accompanied by arrows when the direction changes. The sign of two crossed lines indicates that you should not go in that direction. Paths that cross are shown by different colours.

The Valley of Ribes Favoured hiking areas include the Vall de Ribes in the north west of the Ripollès area where there are facilities and areas for trekking and canyoning.

The PGA Catalunya Stadium course is set on undulating land with evergreens, oak trees and heather lining its perfect fairways. It is a technical course which suits professionals and amateurs of a good standard and boasts some truly spectacular holes. PGA Catalunya Stadium Course has hosted the Spanish Open in the year 2000 and again in 2009. This spectacular course is not to be missed.

Nearby Palafrugell hosts a large village market every Sunday morning and the resort of Llafranc has some great waterfront dining options. There are plenty of medieval towns and villages to visit, such as Pals and Peratallada, which give an insight into the Catalan history and culture of the area, as do the Roman ruins of Empuries and the Iberian town of Ullastret. Also of interest are the botanical gardens at Cap Roig, the Dali museum in Figueres and day trips to Girona and Barcelona. Have a look at this website for a list of 'things to do'.