Catalonia is one of the Spanish autonomous communities that is increasingly prepared for accessible tourism. This type of tourism ensures that the environments, goods, services and/or resources are accessible to a maximum number of people in conditions of comfort, safety and equality. In Catalonia we find a wide range of accessible tourism resources, ranging from culture to accommodations, such as campsites.
Sènia Group, participates in the change towards more accessible tourism
At the Sènia Group, we want all customers to enjoy an excellent holiday. That is why we are committed to the accessibility of our campsites with the aim of making them as inclusive as possible in the near future.
Conferences about accessibility
At the Sènia group we have employees who attended conferences of Grup Mifas, the Play and Train Association and Multicapacitats. In these conferences they talked about accessibility, more specifically about physical, organic and sensory disabilities. These types of events are an important source of information and inspiration to keep us informed about this reality and to take new actions to improve the accessibility of our campsites.
Quality mark wheelchair friendly
Part of our staff has contributed to the creation of the Wheelchair Friendly label, together with Grup Mifas and the Girona Camping Association which we are part of. The purpose of the label is that wheelchair users can identify which campsites are accessible by a validation process.
Although we do not currently have this seal in on our Sènia campsites, we are working to have spaces without architectural barriers and with exclusive services for people with reduced mobility in the very near future.
Play and train club camp
Another aspect of accessible tourism is facilitating holidays for people with cognitive disabilities. For example, at Sènia Cala Gogo, holidays for children with cognitive disorders were organized together with the Play and Train Association. It was the first time they organized it on a campsite and it was a successful experience for everyone. Sènia gave them access to the campsite in advance so they could prepare the campsite in the best possible way, explaining to the children the different areas and facilities that they would find once on the campsite. Thanks to this experience, the participants enjoyed a 4-day stay to discover and practice water sports and activities on the beach, in an idyllic setting, typical for the Costa Brava.
Campsites adapted for people with reduced mobility
Of the actions we have already implemented so far, we mainly focused on the public with reduced mobility, that is, people with temporary or permanent mobility restrictions. However, we are aware that there are other disabilities and needs and we try to accommodate thebest we can. In terms of adapting the facilities of the Sènia campsites for people with reduced mobility, are here some examples of what we have done.
Accessible accommodation
The Access Mobile Homes consist of a large dining room-kitchen where mobility with manual, electric or other chairs is excellent. They have two bedrooms, one of which has a lower double bed and space around it for wheelchair users. It also has a bathroom where everything is adapted: sink, shower, WC. The covered terrace with table and chairs is accessed via a gentle slope to enjoy the good weather and there is a private parking to park the car in front of the accommodation. These accommodations can be found in different campsites of the group, at Sènia Cala Gogo in Calonge i Sant Antoni, Sènia Tucan in Lloret de Mar, Sènia Riu in Sant Pere Pescador and Sènia Caballo de Mar in Pineda de Mar.
In addition, for camping enthusiasts, a large part of the pitches of our campsites are accessible, since most of them are flat. They usually have an electrical outlet and some have water. If you have a question or need advice, you can contact us by phone, email, WhatsApp or the chat on this website.
Toilets adapted for people with reduced mobility
For example, at Sènia Caballo de Mar there are two toilets adapted for men and two for women; or at Sènia Cala Gogo, in sanitary block 3 and 1 you have an adapted unisex toilet. In these, customers can approach the bathroom from the side and from the front, they have space to turn and maneuver if they are in a wheelchair, there are taps with pressure or lever mechanisms, railings, non-slip flooring, mirrors at a maximum height of 0.90m, doors that open to the outside, chairs to sit down. It should be noted that they are locked, in order to keep them in perfect condition. The keys can be requested at the reception of each campsite.
Structures and buildings
Some receptions, such as the one at Sènia Riu, are at the same level as the outside for easy access. Other receptions have ramps with an inclination that complies with accessibility regulations, for example at Sènia Cala Canyelles. We also found that in some receptions, such as Sènia Internacional de Calonge, the door is at least 0.80 m wide, as required by the regulations, or that there is enough space to be able to circulate in a wheelchair, at Sènia Cala Gogo. Some also have seats, such as Sènia Caballo de Mar or Sènia Cala Gogo.
We also highlight some of our restaurants and supermarkets with accessible entrances, such as the Sènia Tucan or Sènia Caballo de Mar restaurants or the Sènia Cala Gogo and Sènia Riu supermarkets, although the last one has a slight unevenness.
Accessible routes
In some campsites we have paved streets without losing the charm of nature that defines us. For example, at Campsite Sènia Cala Gogo, we find several paved streets, such as streets 100, 200 or 300. Other campsites are almost flat, which allows us to circulate on most of the campsite without obstacles: for example at Sènia Tucan, Sènia Riu or Sènia Caballo de Mar.
Swimming pools and recreational areas with easy access
In additio and essential when you go to a campsite, we have bathing areas with a ramp, such as in Sènia Riu, where for access to the pool you must go around the bar and enter through the entertainment area and stage and just in front of it is the ramp that gives access to the pool area.
We also have recreational areas with easy access. A clear example are some of the sports courts at Sènia Tucan, Sènia Caballo de Mar or at Sènia Riu, where customers can bring out the most sporty side of them.
Among other facilities to enjoy an excellent vacation with unforgettable smiles!
Accessible destinations with adapted excursions
On the other hand, accessible holidays are not only achieved with adapted facilities and accommodations, but also with a varied offer in leisure, restaurants, and inclusive places for a maximum of joy.
For this reason, we would like to comment that all our campsites are located at points of tourist interest where you can appreciate unique landscapes that go from the mountains to the coast, some in destinations whose tourist entities are betting and developing actions towards greater accessibility.
Below we present places of interest and activities adapted to help you prepare your vacation.
Accessible beaches on the Costa Brava and Maresme
Since most of the Sènia Campsites are located on the Catalan coast, we could not talk about accessibility without thinking about the beaches that have adapted services. All our campsites that are located on the coast have beautiful beaches and coves nearby with facilities and services. Here we recommend some depending on what you need:
- Alt Emporda
- Sant Pere Pescador: the beaches of Sant Pere Pescador are wilder beaches, some of them forming part of the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park. For this reason, we recommend Playa Can Sopa, which does have some adapted facilities and assisted bathing service.
- L'Escala: Riells Beach is the one with the most services for reduced mobility, with a walkway, adapted toilets, and assisted bathing service with an amphibian chair.
- Baix Emporda
- Palamós: Playa Grande has a walkway, adapted toilets, amphibious chairs and assisted bathing service, and on La Fosca beach, smaller and with more natural landscapes, you will also have a walkway, and adapted toilets and showers.
- Calonge i Sant Antoni: Cala Cristus-Ses Torretes, just in front of the Sènia Internacional and Cala Gogo campsites, have ramps. And if you need more services and facilities, there is Torre Valentina Beach (walkway, adapted toilets and shower, amphibious chair, amphibious crutches, assisted bathing service) or Sant Antoni Beach (walkways, adapted toilets and shower, amphibious chairs).
- Playa de Aro: Playa Grande is the one with the most facilities and services in terms of accessibility, with even amphibious crutches, but we also recommend Cala Rovira and Cala Sa Conca that have everything else (walkway, lifeline, amphibian chair, assisted bathroom service…). The municipality provides you a very complete downloadable brochure with pictograms to help you identify the beaches that best suit your needs.
- La Selva
- Lloret de Mar: Fenals Beach, with a walkway, adapted toilets and showers, amphibious chairs and crutches, assisted bathing service, it also has a changing table in the bathrooms if you go with a baby.
- Blanes: Blanes Beach is in the center of town, making it easier to access and park it has an underground car park. This beach has a ramp and walkway, adapted toilets and showers, and amphibious chairs.
- Maresme: within the accessible beaches of Maresme, we recommend the following
- Malgrat de Mar: Malgrat Centro Beach, with walkway, adapted chair, adapted toilet, adapted shower, assisted bathroom service without reservation.
- Pineda de Mar: Playa de la Riera, with a walkway, adapted chair, adapted toilet, assisted bathroom service without the need to book.
- Calella: Playa Grande, with a walkway, adapted chair, adapted toilet, adapted shower, assisted bathroom service without reservation.
Adapted activities
More and more tourism entities understand the importance of proposing an inclusive offer. They look for ways to adapt their activities and their facilities so that all of us who want to can enjoy what they propose.
When you have chosen your destination and made your accessible campsite reservation, you can find everything about the destination itself at the tourist offices, which usually have facilities and services adapted for people with reduced mobility, wheelchairs, families, and some also for people with disabilities.
In addition to the information that they can provide you, we want to focus our recommendations for excursions adapted to two areas: culture and sport. Indeed, one of the types of activities which can easier adapt its offer is culture, and with it museums. Apart from proposing reduced prices for people with reduced mobility or disabilities, they adapt their spaces and services to different needs. Here we recommend a small list of our favorite adapted cultural visits close to our campsites:
- For people with visual disabilities, some have audio guides, audio description of certain works, information in Braille, and/or high-relief signage:
- This is the case at the Museu d'Art de Girona with accessibility, information in Braille and objects with touch.
- The Ecomuseu Farinera de Castelló d'Empúries also has information in Braille, objects available by touch, and free audio guides in Catalan, Spanish, French and English.
- For people with hearing disabilities, although most of the works in many museums do not need sound information, guided tours can be booked with Catalan, Spanish or international sign language, for example.
- For people with reduced mobility, the majority of museums remove architectural barriers, install ramps, handrails, or create parking spaces with additional space to facilitate movement. For this reason, what we recommend is something a little different and outdoors, the botanical gardens:
- For people with cognitive disorders, they can make available sheets or adapted information panels, such as easy-to-read texts, but also guides with specific training:
- The Museu d'Art de Girona is one of the museums with the most adapted services, as we have already seen. One of these services are easy-to-read texts.
- We also highlight an interesting type of adaptation, which is a system of pictograms that makes it possible to identify some characteristics of the activities, including whether they are accessible for people with visual disabilities, with reduced mobility, or if they are relaxed sessions, which can be very useful for people with sensitivity to sensory stimuli or difficulties with social interaction.
The second area that we wanted to tell you about was sport, because it is a sector that, although it seems to have more barriers when it comes to being inclusive, is one of those that dedicates the most effort to adapting its offer to all needs. So for those who are looking for more sensations, you have to know that the Costa Brava and the province of Barcelona have a tremendous range of sports activities. Among them, we can highlight adapted sports activities in different cities on the coast:
- The Aqua Brava Water Park in Roses, has an amphibious chair
- At the Club Náutico de L'Escala, you will find adapted facilities (changing rooms and ramps), adapted sailboats, and staff trained to teach sailing to people with disabilities.
- A section of the Vias verdes known as Ruta del Carrilet II, the one that goes from Santa Cristina de Aro to Castell d'Aro (2.5 km), is perfectly practicable and flat, with compacted sand. You can check accessibility information for the entire itinerary (40km) on the Vías Verdes website.
- Kayaking Costa Brava has adequate material according to the needs you have, to be able to make excursions along the coast of the Costa Brava.
- In L'Estartit there is the Rei del Mar diving center, which has boats with a lifting platform for easy access to the water.
- The Pineda de Mar Nautical Base has adapted toilets, and is accessible for wheelchairs, visually impaired and hearing impaired.
We also leave you a link to download a free ebook "The senses of discovery", edited by the Costa Brava Tourist Board, with a compilation of inclusive activities on the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees.
In short, at the Sènia group we try to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy our campsites and their spectacular surroundings. We know that we still need to improve in terms of accessibility, and that sometimes the orography of some of our campsites makes it difficult for us. However, we are confident that in the future we will be as inclusive as possible so that everyone can enjoy the vacation they deserve.
