About this tour
When Alex from our BugBitten team did this self-guided audio tour around Montsacopa volcano in Olot, Catalonia, we walked the crater rim at our own pace with a smartphone guide telling the story. The volcano sits bang in the middle of this green, quiet city in La Garrotxa—a region dotted with 40 volcanic cones and ancient lava flows. The trail loops around the crater itself, passing two watchtowers and a working church built inside the crater, with 360-degree views across the Pyrenees and vegetable-filled valleys. The whole thing takes about an hour to 75 minutes depending on how often you stop to soak it in.
Highlights
- Walk inside an actual volcano crater in the middle of a city
- Touch volcanic rock and feel the geological bones of the landscape
- Church sitting inside the crater—weird and genuine
- Two watchtowers give proper high-point vantage for the 360-degree payoff
- Audio guide explains why La Garrotxa has so many volcanoes and eruption history
- Offline map and audio mean no reliance on dodgy signal
- Green valleys and Pyrenees views from the rim walk
- Self-paced so you can linger or move at your speed
What to expect
Alex started at the crater base and followed the marked trail upwards around the rim. The audio cues you at waypoints—landscape features, the church, the watchtowers—and explains the geology without being a slog. You're walking on proper paths, sometimes steep, but nothing extreme; the fitness needed is moderate. The city of Olot sits visible around you the whole time, which is surreal in a good way—most volcanoes feel remote, this one doesn't.
The watchtowers are the high point, literally and figuratively. From there the views sprawl: Pyrenees to the north, green agricultural valleys wrapped around the volcano, the town below. The church inside the crater is genuinely odd—a small working chapel, not a ruin or museum piece. The audio explains why it's there and why the region is so volcanic. Pacing is relaxed; you're not herded, so stop for photos or to just stand and think. On a clear day this is really good.
What travellers say
- Volcano walk inside a living city—unusual and accessible
- Offline audio and maps work without mobile signal drama
- Self-guided pace lets you linger on good views
- Geological story is clear and pitched for curious travellers
- Lifetime access to the app—replay it or share the link
- Steep sections need moderate fitness; not a flat stroll
- Weather-dependent; fog or rain kills the 360-degree payoff
- Requires own smartphone, headphones, and charged battery
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is a cracking geology lesson without the classroom feel. You own your pace, which beats a group shuffle. The offline audio and map work properly, so you're not hunting for signal on a hillside. The views genuinely reward the walk. If you like volcanoes, hiking, or a different angle on what a European city centre looks like, it's worth the hour.
The trail does have elevation and some steep sections—not alpine, but more than a casual stroll. Weather matters; a rainy or foggy day flattens the views. You need a smartphone with decent battery and headphones or speaker volume—no printed guide. The app doesn't include museum entry, so if you want to visit attractions in Olot itself, that's extra. Small kids (under 5) will need supervision and carrying on the steeper bits. Peak times mean other walkers, but the trail's wide enough it's not crowded.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.