Campervan hire for the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava was made for a campervan: small coves, villages with narrow streets and short hops from one to the next. Our Volkswagen California Ocean T7 — pop-up roof, two-burner kitchen, fridge, parking heater and 4 berths — drives on a standard car licence and parks where a big motorhome wouldn't even try.
We're based in Mataró, about 30 minutes from Barcelona and right on the way to the Costa Brava via the C-32 and AP-7: collect the van and you're in Lloret or Tossa de Mar within an hour, and at the Palafrugell coves in little more than that. This page covers prices, pickup points, mileage, requirements and how to book; if you want the day-by-day itinerary, our 5-day Costa Brava route is linked at the bottom.
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Why start from Mataró for the Costa Brava
Mataró sits on the Maresme coast, at the southern end of the very road that leads to the Costa Brava. From our Via Europa pickup point you join the C-32 directly: Lloret and Tossa de Mar are an hour away; Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc and Tamariu just over an hour; Cadaqués and Cap de Creus about two. No crossing Barcelona, no backtracking.
Arriving by plane or train? We also deliver the van in Barcelona (Barceloneta, Sants railway station or the airport) and at Girona airport, less than an hour from the Baix Empordà coves. Pickup and return are chosen separately, so you can collect at an airport and drop off in Mataró, or the other way round.
Pickup points and delivery fees
Our Mataró base (Via Europa) is free. Every other point carries a fixed fee per leg: Barceloneta €36, Sants railway station €36, Barcelona airport T1 €50 and T2 €50, and Girona airport €90. The fee applies per leg, so a pickup at Sants and a return in Mataró costs only the Sants fee.
For a Costa Brava trip, the usual choice is pickup and return in Mataró: it's the free point and already heading the right way. Girona airport delivery makes sense if you land there and want to start straight away at Begur, Pals or L'Estartit without driving down to Barcelona.
Prices, mileage and what's included
The California costs from €85/night in low season to €140/night in summer, with a minimum stay of 3 to 7 nights depending on the season. You pay a 30% deposit when booking and the balance before pickup. A second driver is included at no charge.
The rental includes 100 km/day, which is plenty on the Costa Brava: our 5-day route from Mataró to Cap de Creus adds up to roughly 350 km round trip. If you'd like room to roam further, upgrade to 200 km/day for +€10/day or unlimited mileage for +€30/day.
Paid extras include bedding for both beds (sheets and sleeping bags), a bike rack for 2 bikes, camping chairs and table, a camping stove and a child seat. We don't rent kayaks or mountain bikes: if you want to paddle out to the Medes Islands, guided trips leave right from L'Estartit harbour.
Requirements, deposit and how to book
To rent the van you need to be 26 or older, hold a category B (car) licence for at least 2 years, and bring an ID card or passport plus a credit card. The security deposit is €1,500 as a card pre-authorisation: nothing is actually charged if all goes well, and the hold is released after the return.
Booking is online: choose your dates on the availability calendar, pick your pickup and return points and any extras, and confirm with the 30% deposit. If you have questions about dates, minimum stay or the best pickup point, message us on WhatsApp at +34 669 91 20 57 or email hola@campervan.cat.
Where to sleep in the van on the Costa Brava
The rule is simple: you may overnight (van closed, no awning, chairs or levelling chocks out) wherever parking is allowed, and camp only at campsites and designated motorhome areas. Several Costa Brava municipalities — Cadaqués, Begur and Palafrugell among them — are particularly strict in summer, and many cove car parks expressly ban overnight stays by campers and motorhomes from July to September. Plan on areas and campsites in high season and book the popular cove campsites ahead; the route linked below names an area or campsite for every night.
This is exactly where a compact camper wins: the California is van-sized, so it fits the car parks at Aiguablava, Tamariu or Llafranc, the streets of Cadaqués and the medieval villages of the Empordà where a large motorhome doesn't fit or is barred. And for the stretches on foot, the Camí de Ronda coastal path links the Palafrugell and Begur coves without moving the van.
Frequently asked questions
Is 100 km/day enough for the Costa Brava?+
Usually, yes: the Costa Brava is all short stages, and our 5-day route adds up to about 350 km round trip from Mataró. If you want to reach Cadaqués and back on a short 3-night trip (about 170 km each way) or combine coast and Pyrenees, upgrade to 200 km/day (+€10/day) or unlimited (+€30/day).
Can I collect the van at Girona airport and return it in Mataró?+
Yes. Pickup and return are chosen separately when booking. Girona airport delivery has a €90 fee per leg; returning in Mataró is free. Girona airport is under an hour from the Begur and Palafrugell coves, so you start the route straight away.
Can I sleep at the coves in the van?+
You may overnight wherever parking is allowed, with the van closed and nothing deployed, but many Costa Brava cove car parks ban camper overnighting in summer and councils do enforce it. Camping (awning, chairs, chocks) is only allowed at campsites and designated areas. Plan to sleep at areas or campsites in July and August.
What do I need to rent the van?+
Be 23 or older, hold a category B licence for at least 2 years, and bring an ID card or passport plus a credit card for the deposit, which is a pre-authorisation released after the return. A second driver is free.
What's the minimum stay and how much do I pay upfront?+
The minimum is 3 to 7 nights depending on the season; you see it on the calendar when choosing dates. You pay a 30% deposit when booking and the balance before pickup. Nightly rates run from €85 in low season to €140 in summer.
Does the van fit the car parks and villages of the Costa Brava?+
Yes: the California is van-sized, parks in regular spaces and gets into Cadaqués, the car parks at Tamariu or Llafranc and the narrow coastal roads where large motorhomes struggle or face restrictions. It's one of the reasons we rent it for this destination.
