You reach Cala Guillola on foot from Cadaqués along the old path to Cap de Creus, via Portlligat and S'Alqueria, or on the park shuttle from Corral d'en Morell on restriction days, which stops at Guillola five minutes later. By car the road is open outside those hours, but the official sources mention no public car park at the cove.
Cala Guillola sits on the way from Cadaqués to the Cap de Creus lighthouse, next to the pine wood that shares its name. No road ends at the shore: you walk there along the old path to the cape, or take the minibus the natural park runs on its busiest days, which stops there.
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Where it is and what it is like
The Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board places it north of Cadaqués, and its sailing guide describes it as the last cove before Portlligat for anyone rounding the cape southwards, and the widest on that side of the headland: here the coast becomes less harsh and the vegetation slopes gently down to the water. On the natural park's map you will find the Badia de Guillola, the Pineda de Guillola and the Punta d'en Cudera around it.
The Cadaqués tourist office lists it as a natural setting, reached on foot, with rounded pebbles and medium difficulty, and shows no bar or nearby car park. The Tourist Board's sailing guide speaks instead of a sandy beach at the far end of the bay: best not to count on fine sand.
One detail matters for everything that follows: Guillola lies outside the Integral Natural Reserve, the park's most protected zone. According to the Cap de Creus Natural Park, you can go freely to the coves outside it, such as Guillola, Sant Lluís, S'Alqueria, Portlligat, Sa Sabolla and Sa Conca.
On foot from the village
The route is the one the tourist office calls the old path to Cap de Creus. It starts at the office itself, follows the left-hand side of the bay to Es Poal and climbs Carrer de la Miranda, the old path to Portlligat, up to the campsite, beside the hermitage of Sant Baldiri and the cemetery. From there the road drops down to Portlligat, the fishing harbour of Cadaqués.
From Portlligat you take the road into the S'Alqueria development and go straight along the avenue of the Paratge de S'Alqueria. At the end there is a fork with several turnings: keep straight on, and a few metres further the path to Cap de Creus is signposted. The tourist office lists Guillola beach among the points of interest on this route, which then carries on towards Cala Jugadora, Cala Fredosa and the lighthouse.
The whole route, from the tourist office to the lighthouse, is 7.36 km and about 2 h 20 min one way, rated easy, on tarmac, footpath and forest track; Guillola comes well before the end. The rest of the way to the lighthouse is in Cadaqués to Cap de Creus on foot.
On the park shuttle
On days when cars are restricted on the lighthouse road, the park runs minibuses from the free Corral d'en Morell car park, with 120 spaces, in the S'Alqueria area, intended for people visiting the tip of the cape. They stop at Guillola, at the turning for the Paratge de Tudela and at the lighthouse car park, and some journeys start at the Cadaqués bus station.
On the weekend timetable from 19 September to 1 November, the first minibus leaves Corral d'en Morell at 8:00 and reaches Guillola at 8:05, five minutes later; the last departure is at 18:30. On the way back, the last one through Guillola passes at 18:53 and reaches Corral d'en Morell at 18:55. In October 2026 the restriction still applies on the 24th, 25th and 31st, and in November only on the 1st.
A return ticket costs 7 € from 14 to 65 years old and 5 € from 6 to 14 and for over-65s; children from 0 to 5 travel free, and a single costs 4 €. You buy it on the bus or on the Moventis website, and the minibuses are adapted for people with reduced mobility. Fares and times checked in October 2026 in the park's frequently asked questions document.
In July, August and up to 13 September 2026 the minibuses ran daily from 8:00 to 23:00. More detail in our guide to the lighthouse shuttle.
By car
On restriction days, from 9:30 to 19:00 at this time of year, the road from Cadaqués to the lighthouse is closed to cars and motorbikes, with camera enforcement and the fine set out in the municipal bylaw. Among others, people living in the houses at Guillola and Cadaqués residents who pay their vehicle tax there can still drive through. Outside those hours, and on other days, access is free.
The same park note asks drivers to use the designated car parks, the lighthouse one and the one at Ses Portes, and reminds them that motorhomes are not allowed and nobody may spend the night in a vehicle. The official sources consulted mention no public car park at the cove: the sensible option is to leave the car in the village.
Natural park rules
Being outside the integral reserve does not take Guillola out of the park. The Cadaqués tourist office sums up the rules for the coves around the village: no fires, no camping, no picking plants or taking rocks or minerals, no disturbing or catching animals, avoid unnecessary noise and take your rubbish with you. The park adds that you cannot light a camping stove either.
If the Rural Agents activate level 4 of the Pla Alfa for extreme fire danger, access to the park is closed and you cannot walk or cycle on its tracks and routes; the shuttle then carries only customers of the restaurants at the tip, with no stops in between.
Checked
Checked in October 2026 on: the beaches and hiking pages of the Cadaqués tourist office (visitcadaques.org); the «Com accedir-hi» page, the 2026 access FAQ (version of 28 August, with shuttle times and fares), route sheet 19 and the rules of the Cap de Creus Natural Park (parcsnaturals.gencat.cat); the coves and marinas guide and coves article of the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board (costabrava.org).
Quick questions
How much is the shuttle to Cala Guillola?
A return ticket costs 7 € from 14 to 65 years old and 5 € from 6 to 14 and for over-65s; a single is 4 €. Children from 0 to 5 travel free. Checked in October 2026.
Can you drive to Cala Guillola?
Outside restriction days and hours the lighthouse road is open, but the park asks drivers to use the designated car parks at the lighthouse and at Ses Portes, and the official sources mention none at the cove.
Is Cala Guillola inside the integral reserve?
No. According to the Cap de Creus Natural Park, Guillola lies outside the Integral Natural Reserve and you can go freely, although the park rules still apply: no fires, no camping, no taking rocks or plants.