Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park

The volcanic area of La Garrotxa, declared a natural park in 1985, is the Peninsula's best example of volcanic landscape and one of the most significant in Europe.

Within the 15,000 hectares that comprise the park we can find 38 volcanic cones, over 20 lava outflows and many biological and cultural attractions. This natural gem encompasses 11 different municipalities, the majority on the banks of the Fluvià river.

The mountains, the land and the climate give it a varied and exuberant vegetation of great value. More than a thousand species of different plants have been identified and almost 65% of the area is occupied by leafy holm oak forests, oakwoods or beechwoods, such as the famous Fageda d'en Jordà.

A large variety of animals also inhabit the area: wild boar, foxes, squirrels, rabbits, weasels, moles, hedgehogs, newt, water snakes, toads

One of the features of the natural park is the high volcanic activity, due to the large fault that divides the region in two: to the north there are hills, calcareous rock-faces and ravines and to the south the land is flatter. Every year there are a hundred or so almost imperceptible seismic movements.

The most popular and emblematic volcanoes are Santa Margarida, Montsacopa and Croscat. The latter is the largest volcano on the Iberian Peninsula and also the youngest at only 1,500 years.

There is a significant human presence in the park, with towns and villages, country houses, masias and numerous cultivated fields that occupy a quarter of its surface area. However, the territory forms a balanced and harmonious landscape.

There are around thirty routes of different distances in the area, the majority well signposted. The most popular paths are those of Olot to Can Xel, Can Xel to Santa Pau and the one that circles the Croscat.

There are three information points in Olot, Santa Pau and near the Croscat volcano, where information can be obtained regarding the different itineraries around the park.