A Secret Cove Worth the Short Trip

Some of the best beaches on the Costa Brava aren't the big, famous ones — they're the little coves tucked between headlands that you'd never find unless someone told you. Cala Treumal is exactly that kind of place: a small, pine-fringed bay of fine golden sand and clear turquoise water, sitting quietly on the coast between Lloret de Mar and Blanes.

It's a Blue Flag beach, which means the water quality and facilities are officially top-notch, and it's home to one of our favourite beachfront restaurants on the whole coast. For families staying at our penthouse in Fenals, it makes a perfect half-day escape — close enough to be easy, wild enough to feel like a real adventure.

Getting There from Fenals

Cala Treumal is just south of Fenals, past Santa Cristina beach. You've got two lovely ways to reach it — one for busy days with little ones, one for older kids who fancy a proper walk.

By Car (Easiest with Toddlers)

Driving is the simplest option if you're travelling with young children, beach gear, and a cool box. From Fenals it's only about a 5–10 minute drive toward Santa Cristina.

• Paid car park: There's a pay-and-display car park close to the beach — roughly a 3-minute walk from the sand. In July and August it fills up early, so aim to arrive before 10:30am.
• Free alternative: The Santa Cristina beach car park nearby often has free spaces, with a short walk to Treumal through a natural rock corridor that connects the two coves. It's a genuinely pretty approach.

Pro tip: Summer parking on the Costa Brava is all about timing. Arrive mid-morning and you'll stroll straight in; arrive at 1pm and you'll be circling. Early birds get the shade and the parking space.

On Foot via the Camí de Ronda (For a Scenic Adventure)

If you love a coastal walk — and your children are old enough to manage one — you can reach Cala Treumal on foot along the Camí de Ronda, the historic cliff-top path that threads along this stretch of coast.

From the penthouse you'd head down to Fenals Beach and follow the path south, passing the gorgeous Cala Sa Boadella and Santa Cristina beach along the way. It's roughly a 45–60 minute walk one way, with plenty of sea views, pine shade, and photo stops.

• Difficulty: moderate — there are ups, downs, and some steps, so it's best for confident walkers aged 6+
• Pushchairs: not recommended for the full route (a baby carrier is far better)
• Bring: water, hats, and sun cream — shade comes and goes along the path

You can, of course, walk one way and grab a taxi back if little legs give out. Or make it a one-way mission: walk down for lunch at the chiringuito, then taxi home happy and full.

The Beach Itself

Cala Treumal is a compact cove — around 100 to 200 metres of soft golden sand, framed by cliffs and umbrella pines. Because it's small and sheltered, the water is usually calm and beautifully clear, which makes it lovely for children paddling and for snorkelling around the rocky edges.

• Sand: fine and golden — comfortable underfoot, easy for sandcastles
• Water: clear, calm, and gently shelving near the shore
• Setting: cliffs and pine forest, with a wild, tucked-away feel
• Facilities: showers, toilets, and sunbed and umbrella rental in season
• Blue Flag: yes — certified for water quality and services

The snorkelling here is a real highlight. The rocks at either end of the cove are home to little shoals of fish, and even young children can spot them in the shallows with a cheap mask from any local supermarket.

The Star of the Show: Xiringuito Cala Treumal

Right on the sand sits Xiringuito Cala Treumal, a beachfront restaurant that's been feeding hungry beachgoers since 1971. A "chiringuito" is the Spanish word for a beach bar-restaurant — but this one is far more than a snack stand. It's a genuine seaside institution, and one of the best-loved on this part of the Costa Brava.

What to Eat

The kitchen serves classic Mediterranean seafood, made for sharing across a sunny table:

• Paella and fideuá (the noodle version of paella) — the signature dishes, best ordered for the whole table
• Fried fish and calamari — crispy, salty, and perfect straight from the sea
• Fresh salads and starters to share while the mains cook

It's exactly the kind of long, lazy beach lunch that makes a Costa Brava holiday feel like a Costa Brava holiday — feet in the sand, sea sparkling in front of you, a paella arriving at the table.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Season: open roughly May to September
• Lunch: kitchen serves from around 12:00 to 5:00pm
• No midday reservations: at lunchtime they don't take bookings. When the dining room fills, they hand out numbers and call you in order — so arrive a little early, put your name down, and enjoy a swim while you wait
• Summer evenings: in July and August the chiringuito comes alive at night with live music — a lovely grown-up treat if you're out without the kids, or a magical early-evening atmosphere if you're not
• Family-friendly: children are genuinely welcome, and the relaxed beach setting is perfect for wriggly little ones

Pro tip: The number system is your friend. Rock up around 12:30pm, grab a ticket, and spend the wait building sandcastles or paddling. By the time your number's called, everyone's worked up an appetite — and you've skipped the frustration of hovering for a table.

Make a Full Day of It

Cala Treumal sits in a beautiful pocket of coast with a couple of lovely extras nearby:

• Santa Cristina beach — the larger neighbouring beach, connected by that scenic rock corridor, with more space and its own historic 14th-century hermitage on the hill above
• Pinya de Rosa Botanical Garden — a remarkable clifftop garden with one of the world's largest collections of cacti and succulents, a short trip away and a fun, slightly "spiky" adventure for curious kids

A perfect family day might look like this: a morning swim and snorkel at Treumal, a long paella lunch at the chiringuito, a siesta on the sand, and a wander over to Santa Cristina in the late afternoon before heading home.

Home Base: Your Fenals Penthouse

The beauty of basing yourself in Fenals is how many of these gorgeous coves are within easy reach. Cala Treumal, Sa Boadella, Santa Cristina, Fenals' own family-friendly beach — they're all part of the same stunning stretch of coast, and all a short trip from your door.

After a day of turquoise water, warm sand, and the best paella on the beach, there's nothing better than coming back to your family penthouse in Fenals. A cool shower to rinse off the salt, the kids pleasantly worn out, and the evening still ahead of you on the terrace. That's exactly the kind of easy, joyful family holiday the Costa Brava does best — and Cala Treumal is one of its quiet stars.