There is a corner of the Barcelona coastline that looks like something out of an adventure movie. A forest hidden behind high fences, locked gates and an almost magical silence. No, it is not guarded by centaurs or dragons: what this place holds is something even rarer to see on the Catalan coast… a Mediterranean forest in its purest state.
We are talking about the pine forest of Can Camins, in El Prat de Llobregat (Platja road, km 4.63). It is one of the few areas where a coastal pine forest on dunes is still preserved in perfect condition, an ecosystem so fragile that free access is forbidden. And precisely for that reason, entering there feels like crossing an invisible border: that of the wildest Mediterranean.
How to visit it
The only way to access is to sign up for the free guided tours organized by the City Council of El Prat on the first Sunday of each month, except in July and August.
And beware: you can not book. Only the first 25 people to arrive at the Porta del Delta tourist information center, right in front of the forest entrance, will be admitted. Visits start at 11 am, so you’d better get up early if you don’t want to be left out.
What you will see inside
During the hour and a half tour, the guides will explain the flora and fauna of the forest, where pine trees, orchids and mushrooms predominate. With a bit of luck, you will also be able to see birds such as the great tit and the great spotted wood pecker, regular neighbors of this corner of silence.
If you dare to do the whole route, the ideal is to go by bike. From La Pineda you can link up with the circular route of the Llobregat Delta, which passes through the mouth of the river, the Prat beach, the Ricarda Tower and the aircraft viewpoint.