Gulf Of Roses

Gulf de Roses (or Gulf of Roses) is a beautiful destination located about 2 hours drive north-east of Barcelona (Spain) in the Catelona region in the province of Costa Brava on the Mediterranean sea just south of the French border.

The area is full of history and spectacular historic seaside villages such as Cadeques & El Port de la Selva. In the area there are numerous ruins, castles and medieval towns (such as Gerona dating back to 982 where they filmed a number of the scenes for Game of Thrones).

Gulf of Roses is a haven for family holiday makers and also caters well to solo travellers, couples and groups.

The Sailing

The area has been a popular destination for windsurfers with PWA events being held in the bay since the early 2000’s. In more recent times, kitesurfing numbers have grown to dominate the location. The sailing is predominantly bump and jump and flat water blasting but the waves can get bigger in strong winds for those that like a little airtime. The wind is typically light in the morning’s making it an ideal sport for first-timers and young kids and more ideal for the experienced as the wind strengthen in the afternoon’s. There are a few sailing centres dotted along the bay offering equipment rentals & lessons with the ION Club being the most significant.

Bay of Roses Windsurfing

Windsurfing takes place along the long sandy Bay of Roses with most of the concentration of sailing taking place behind the La Ballena Alegra camping park, just south of El Escala on the Mediterranean Sea.

The Tramuntana wind from the Pyrenees provides a reliable sea breeze in the summer months (June, July, Aug & Sept).

The shoreline basically runs North to South and the most common wind direction is from the South-East making it cross on-shore.

As the wind increases in the afternoon the chop also increases with along with a small to medium shore break.

The water depth increases reasonably sharply making it a good location for foiling which is very popular in this location and is also one of the locations for the PWA foiling championships.

This area is also very very popular for kite surfing so there are designated areas for windsurfing & kitesurfing to try and keep the potential for carnage to a minimum.

Whilst ION Club is the most prominent Windsurfing Centre in the area there are a couple of other smaller outfits along the beach where you might be able to snag a better deal if budget is a constraint.

Bay of Roses Kitesurfing

Bay of Roses is a very popular location for kitesurfers. During summer the sky is lit up with the vibrant colours of dozens of kites in the air. The wide sandy beach makes it an ideal location for rigging and launching and the designated kiting area keeps them separated from swimmers and windsurfers.

The water ranges from flat to slight chop as the wind builds in the afternoon. Kite foiling is also very popular in this location and there are no hazards to speak of such is sand bars, reefs or turtles.

Accommodation Options

There is accommodation to suit just about any requirement from 5-star boutique hotels, self-cater apartments & villas and bed & breakfast’s. If you are looking for a family holiday that entails some windsurfing & kitesurfing, you can’t go past the incredible camping grounds (which also offer villas) strewn along the bay adjacent to the sailing areas.

Activities & Culture

In addition to windsurfing & kitesurfing there are numerous on and off-water activities to entertain non-sailors and sailors when the wind is not right for their ability. The beaches are a great place to just hang-out and the water is blue, warm and inviting. Scuba diving, fishing and cycling are also popular activities in the area as well as visiting many of the amazing towns/villages and historical sites in the area.

Restaurants & Bars

For those who like good tucker there is an endless array of restaurants, tapas bars & cocktail bars around the area to satisfy just about everyone’s desires. Likewise there are plenty of cafes and simple dining options for those who like to keep things simple or who are on a bit of a budget.

Cost

The cost for accommodation, car rentals, Food and alcohol was moderate moderately priced at this time we visited.

Best Time to Visit

Wind

The best time for the thematic winds is April to September with average winds speeds ranging from 12 – 20 knots however the afternoon seabreeze is usually at the higher end of the scale.

Air Temperature

The area can get pretty warm and humid during summer reaching the mid thirties (with the average max temps in Aug & Sept around 29 Deg C) however the sea breeze keeps things relatively cool on the beach. During winter it can get quite cold and only has limited hours of sunlight. The best months for warm weather are June to September.

Water Temperature

The water temperature during the summer month (June to Sept) range from 19 – 23 Deg C. During winter temperatures can be as low as 13 Dec C…..brrr!!

So if you are looking for the windiest period, warmest air temps and warmest water temps the best times to visit would be June, July, August & September.

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