Campervan hire in Tarragona and the Costa Daurada
Tarragona is one of the few cities where you can have breakfast facing a Roman amphitheatre, lunch in a pine-backed cove and dinner in a Priorat wine village, all on the same day. Our Volkswagen California Ocean T7 has a pop-up roof, a kitchen and four berths, and you drive it on an ordinary category B licence — so it slips into the old streets of Cambrils or up the road to Siurana without you worrying about where to park.
We run a single van and look after it as if it were our own: once your dates are booked, they are yours. Pick-up is in Mataró, on the Maresme coast just north of Barcelona, and from there Tarragona is a little over an hour and a half away. We can also arrange delivery closer to you if that works better — write to us and we will look into it.
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Getting there: starting from Mataró
The van is collected in Mataró, in the Maresme county within the Barcelona area. Mataró to Tarragona is about 120 km: the C-32 to the Barcelona ring road and then the AP-7 or the coastal C-32, a little over an hour and a half depending on how busy the exit from Barcelona is.
We have no depot in Tarragona, so the trip starts north of the Camp de Tarragona. If you would rather skip that leg, we can look into an agreed delivery further south: it is not a free service, it depends on the day and the distance, and we quote it before you book. Our advice is to collect in the morning in Mataró, do your shopping there and reach Tarragona in time for lunch.
Tarraco: two thousand years of city facing the sea
Tarragona's amphitheatre sits literally above Miracle beach, with the Mediterranean behind it — the image of the city you take home. A few steps away are the Roman circus, the vaults of the Praetorium, the walls of the Passeig Arqueològic and the cathedral, all part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Outside the old town, the Ferreres aqueduct — the Devil's Bridge — stands about 4 km from the centre, with its own car park and a short walk through pines to the arches. For dinner, the Serrallo quarter is still a fishermen's neighbourhood: fish straight from the auction and terraces by the harbour. With the California you can leave it in a park-and-ride on the edge of town and walk or take the bus in.
The Costa Daurada, beach by beach
A quarter of an hour north of the city lie Altafulla and Torredembarra: wide sand, Altafulla's walled old quarter on its hilltop and Tamarit castle standing on the rocks. Hidden in between is Cala Fonda, known as the Waikiki, reached only on foot through the Bosc de la Marquesa.
To the south, Salou is about 12 km away and Cambrils about 18: Salou for the clifftop path linking its coves and for PortAventura, Cambrils for the harbour and its seafood cooking. Further up the coast, El Vendrell and Coma-ruga (some 35 km from Tarragona) bring long open beaches and the Pau Casals house museum at Sant Salvador.
From the sea to Priorat and the walls of Siurana
Falset, the capital of Priorat, is about 40 km from Tarragona, a good three quarters of an hour away. From there the roads narrow and the landscape fills with steep terraced vineyards and modernista wineries such as those at Gratallops and Falset itself. Most of them take visitors by appointment.
A little further on, Siurana hangs from a cliff above the reservoir and Margalef holds the pocketed conglomerate that has made the area famous among climbers from across Europe. Both are just over an hour from the coast, and the California suits them well: you sleep beside the crag, have breakfast with the side door open and start climbing with your gear at hand.
The Ebro Delta, just over an hour away
Deltebre is around 85 km from Tarragona, an hour to an hour and a quarter along the AP-7 and the N-340. The delta is flat and quiet, and it rewards a slow pace: rice fields changing colour month by month, the river mouth at Riumar, the dunes of Punta del Fangar and the Alfacs bay to the south.
This is flamingo country, with flat-bottomed boats and long unhurried rice lunches in Poblenou del Delta or Sant Jaume d'Enveja. Campsites and motorhome areas stay open all year, which makes it a rewarding destination even in November, when the coast has gone quiet.
Prices, requirements and what is included
The price ranges from €85 to €140 a day depending on the season: low from November to March, mid from April to June and from September to October, and high in July and August. The minimum stay is 3 nights. It includes 24/7 roadside assistance, you can travel anywhere in Europe at no extra cost, and dogs are welcome.
To hire it you must be 26 or older, hold a category B licence issued at least 2 years ago, and bring a valid ID card or passport and a credit card. The security deposit is €1,500 taken as a pre-authorisation: the amount is held on the card and there is no actual charge if nothing goes wrong. Book at /reservar, and if you have any questions write to hola@campervan.cat or WhatsApp +34 669 91 20 57.
Frequently asked questions
Can I collect the campervan in Tarragona itself?+
Pick-up is normally in Mataró, where the van is based; there is no depot in Tarragona. We can arrange a delivery further south depending on the day and the distance, at a cost we tell you before you book. Write to hola@campervan.cat or WhatsApp +34 669 91 20 57.
What are the requirements?+
You must be 26 or older, hold a category B licence issued at least 2 years ago, and bring a valid ID card or passport and a credit card in your name.
How does the security deposit work?+
It is €1,500 taken as a pre-authorisation on your credit card: the amount is held rather than charged, and released after the return if there are no incidents.
How much does it cost, and what is the minimum stay?+
Between €85 and €140 a day depending on the season, with a minimum of 3 nights. Low season runs from November to March, mid season from April to June and from September to October, and high season covers July and August.
Does it really sleep four?+
Yes. The California Ocean has a double bed downstairs and another one up in the pop-up roof: four berths in total, with a kitchen and a fridge on board.
Can I drive down to the Delta or up to Priorat without a mileage limit?+
You can travel anywhere in Europe at no extra cost, so the Camp de Tarragona, Priorat and the Ebro Delta are all easily within reach. As for sleeping, remember that overnighting is not camping: keep everything inside the van, and if you want to raise the roof do it at a campsite or a designated area.
