Cap Cerbère and the Spanish border from Peyrefite Beach

A hike starting from Peyrefite Beach, which largely follows the rocky coastline, from cove to cove, to reach the town of Cerbère, then the eponymous cape and its solar-powered lighthouse, passing by the old customs post at Coll dels Belitres and the ridge marking the border between Spain and France. Return to the starting point via the same route from the centre of Cerbère.

⚠️Check whether the coastal path linking Argelès-sur-Mer to Cerbère is open or closed here before starting this hike.

Details

14300155
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 528 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 528 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 206 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To get to Peyrefite beach from Banyuls, take the D914 and park in one of the car parks near the discovery trail.

(S/E) Start from the pebble and black sand beach. Walk along the beach towards the south-east to follow the marked coastal path towards Anse de Terrimbo. Go around the hospital on the left and pass at the foot of the DZ. After a slight descent, cross a tarmac road to continue on the marked path opposite.

(1) Just before the aeroplane wreck (inside the hospital), turn left at the information board. Follow the unmarked path south-eastwards, which is sometimes wet and overlooks the sea. Further on, rejoin the marked coastal path. Arrive at Cap Peyrefite at the tip of a campsite.

(2) Walk around the edge of the campsite, keeping to the right. You will arrive at a rest area at the top of the hill. There are pleasant views towards Cerbère, Cap Cerbère and the Spanish coast. Descend towards the Les Aloès holiday village, at the start of Anse de Terrimbo.

(3) Pass in front of this residence while following the marked path towards Cerbère. Climb towards the railway line, then follow it on your right. This will take you around Anse de Terrimbo, located below. Descend towards the sea with the option halfway down, at an isolated tree, to turn left to reach the black pebble beach of Terrimbo (return trip).

(4) Continue along the marked path towards the south-east overlooking the sea. It moves away from the coast, passes the end of a vineyard and overlooks the railway line on the right. At the end, after passing Cap Canadell, turn right and cross the railway line. Take the stairs to reach the D914 at the northern entrance to the town of Cerbère.

(5) Turn left to descend towards the town centre on the left-hand pavement. At the bottom of the hill, cross the road carefully to reach the orange transfer wagon (1880-1967).

(6) Keep to the right to take Rue du Riberal via a path overlooking an enclosed street that serves as an overflow in case of heavy rain. Continue along Rue Dominique Mitjavile until you reach the entrance to the first tunnel. Turn left onto Rue Jean Barrat until you reach a second tunnel under the railway line.

(7) Go through the tunnel and immediately turn left onto the marked path towards the Coll dels Belitres border post. Carefully cross the D914 before reaching the now abandoned buildings.

(8) These are the former Franco-Spanish customs posts. Carefullycross the D914 again and climb up a visible path towards Spain. There is a route and information panels about the exile of Spanish Republicans in 1939. Continue on the Spanish side to reach Coll dels Belitres a few dozen metres further on. Carefully retrace your steps along the D914 before turning right. Climb up the ridge marking the French-Spanish border (you will soon pass a bunker). Follow the marked ridge to its end on the sea side at an old observation post with a view of Portbou.

(9) Retrace your steps a few metres and descend to the right along a marked path on the French side, through vegetation with some sections overlooking the Minerai beach. Further down, pass an antenna before reaching the solar-powered lighthouse at Cap Cerbère.

(10) Continue along the marked path overlooking the sea in a north-westerly direction. Pass through the moorland to reach the D914 and arrive at the Cerbère cemetery.

(11) Walk down the D914 towards the town centre, using the pavement on the right. You can reach the town centre directly via this dry route, using the pavement on the right or left as necessary.

(12) At the first path on the right surrounded by masonry pillars (yellow cross), descend the scree towards the sea. Arrive at Saurel beach. Take the cement path on the left that overlooks the sea. In places, there are a few tricky passages at water level, as the concrete base has disappeared. This requires you to place your feet on exposed rocks and use your hands. You will arrive at the Cerbère diving centre and its beach.

(13) Walk along the boules court to reach the town centre beach and a rest park. Return to the D914 to go up Avenue du Docteur Parcé, towards Banyuls. Cross the road carefully and follow the pavement on the left. Turn into the first street on the left, Avenue de la Côte Vermeille, and climb the stairs on Rue Magellan towards the international train station. At the end, on the left is the station (you can take the footbridge over the tracks for a bird's eye view), and on the right is the Hôtel Belvédère du Rayon Vert, nicknamed the Paquebot (ocean liner) due to its unusual shape.

(14) Go around the hotel on the right to reach the D914 further on. Use the pedestrian crossing to cross the road. Step onto the pavement on the right and then walk up the D914 before returning along the same route to the car park at Plage de Peyrefite (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Departure from Peyrefite beach car park.
  2. 1 : km 0.82 - alt. 13 m - At the aeroplane wreck, turn left.
  3. 2 : km 1.22 - alt. 27 m - Camping tip
  4. 3 : km 1.86 - alt. 12 m - Signpost for the Les Aloès holiday village
  5. 4 : km 2.28 - alt. 14 m - Fork in the road to descend to Terrimbo Cove.
  6. 5 : km 3.31 - alt. 43 m - Junction with the D914 at the entrance to Cerbère.
  7. 6 : km 3.96 - alt. 4 m - Orange transport wagon
  8. 7 : km 4.49 - alt. 17 m - Second passage under the SNCF bridge
  9. 8 : km 5.15 - alt. 160 m - Former Franco-Spanish customs post
  10. 9 : km 6.49 - alt. 203 m - Former observation post with a view of Portbou
  11. 10 : km 7.33 - alt. 46 m - Solar-powered lighthouse at Cape Cerbère
  12. 11 : km 7.87 - alt. 41 m - Exit onto the D914 at the cemetery.
  13. 12 : km 7.98 - alt. 39 m - Turn right to go down to the beach.
  14. 13 : km 8.62 - alt. 1 m - Cerbère diving centre
  15. 14 : km 9.29 - alt. 32 m - Period hotel resembling an ocean liner
  16. S/E : km 13.19 - alt. 6 m - Return to Peyrefite beach car park

Notes

Walking sticks are useful for ascents and descents, which can sometimes be steep, whether on the coast or inland.

In hot weather, remember to wear a hat and take enough water to stay hydrated.

Beach gear if you plan on swimming.

Worth a visit

(S/E) and (4) Peyrefite beach and Terrimbo cove, where you can swim.

(8) On the Spanish side, there are numerous photos and explanations about the Retirada, the exile of Spanish Republicans in 1939.

(10) Picnic area with benches around the Cap Cerbère solar lighthouse.

Between (12) and (13), there is a path for the more adventurous at sea level, sometimes at water level and over rocks. Caution is advised. Otherwise, from (12), follow the D914 to descend towards the centre of Cerbère.

(14) The Belvédère du Rayon Vert is a former hotel, built in the Art Nouveau or Art Deco style, which has been listed since 2002. It is included in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments.

When you enter Cerbère, coming from Perpignan and heading towards the French-Spanish border, you come face to face with an enormous concrete ocean liner. This ship on land was the Hôtel du Belvédère. The bow of the building still bears the name of the hotel inscribed on a chimney that has never smoked.
Construction began in 1928 and lasted four years. At the border, it was the height of chic to stay at the hotel between trains or for a sunny holiday. The sound of the orchestra no longer echoes in the ballroom. All that remains are memories of a bygone era.

Its history...
Built between 1928 and 1932, the hotel was designed by the architect of the City of Perpignan, Léon Baille, for Jean de Léon, manager of the Cerbère station buffet. The hotel was intended for sleeper train passengers who were forced to stop at Cerbère due to customs formalities and the inevitable change of train between France and Spain. The hotel is built between the Mediterranean Sea and the railway line, on a triangular plot of land. The architect used the metaphor of an ocean liner, a fashionable concept in the 1920s, to design the lines and décor of this "transatlantic liner" and placed a garage and service station on the ground floor, as in a ferry boat. The four-storey building is made entirely of reinforced concrete in the "ocean liner" style. The "stern" of the building, the rounded ends of the corridors and the staircase leading to the roof terrace, imitating a ship's funnel, are all references to naval architecture, an inspiration that also marks the interior of the building. With its restaurant, ballrooms, performance halls and tennis court on the roof terrace, everything is designed to seduce, for one evening, the passengers of this stationary ship anchored on a wave of concrete spray, now badly deteriorated, which seems to lift its bow. Disused since 1983, it has been protected since 1987.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 27675066

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful setting, difficult hike in places but it was magnificent.
Worth doing again

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toulaudrando
toulaudrando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, mostly shaded.
And a nice change from the coastal paths with their huge markets!

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User 27627615

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A short recovery with this circuit, very beautiful scenery
The route was easy to follow thanks to the clear signposts.
We did it again, but didn't go all the way to the lighthouse, missing the last 1.1 km climb at the end of the outward journey, but otherwise it was great.

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Vejapi
Vejapi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful views of the coast, exploring the village of Cerbère, athletic and cultural hiking

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AIHERRA
AIHERRA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk along the coastline, passing by beautiful coves. It is a bit tough on the legs, though, as it goes up and down constantly... There are superb views of the sea.
The climb after Cerbère offers views of Porbou, and the "Retirada" memorial is also worth stopping at for a few minutes.

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ricoviso
ricoviso
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

a disappointing hike due to its unattractive sections along the railway line, no great route through Cerbère where you avoid the nice neighbourhoods, and an unattractive descent along the electricity pylons from the old customs post... fortunately there are some beautiful views in certain places. Also worth noting is the elevation gain of 380 metres, which seems low compared to my app (+480)

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sebillot
sebillot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, without any particular difficulties, offering varied and superb landscapes.
The description at point 8 is unclear: simply follow the small path up to the customs posts (to the left of them when you are below), then when you reach the posts, take the road for a few dozen metres to reach Cols Dels Belitres (small building). You can then climb a few metres to the right towards the pass itself and take the opportunity to read the information boards. Then return to the pass on the road you crossed and continue the hike opposite.

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Gazoulette
Gazoulette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Route completed today in idyllic weather conditions, with no wind. No difficulty following the marked route. Apart from the noise pollution around Cerbère (heavy traffic), the route is magnificent (quite demanding with alternating ascents and descents...) with superb views wherever you look.
More crowded in the late afternoon.
However, the GPS indicates 490m of elevation gain rather than 380m...
In short, a very beautiful hike!

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georgesrando66
georgesrando66

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in beautiful weather, very pleasant, but to be avoided at all costs in windy or rainy conditions, even light drizzle, due to the risk of dangerous slipping. In particular, avoid the water's edge at point 12, which has almost disappeared. At point 7, the crossing of the D914 has been modified as a fairly high wall has been built and it is necessary to walk along it.

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le canigou
le canigou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello to the Visorando team,

A beautiful sea/mountain hike, very sunny and windless
We should have brought our swimsuits
A breathtaking view of the mountains, the coastline and southern Catalonia.

Best regards to you all.

le Canigou

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marimar6634
marimar6634
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

With storms forecast in the mountains, we decide to head for the coast, thinking that the sea breeze will cool us down. However, although the walk is very beautiful, it is still a little too hot at this time of year, especially in the afternoon...
The views of the sea and the seabed are splendid.
The sea was very calm, so we walked along the water's edge between 12 and 13. The cement has disappeared in many places, so this route is not suitable for people who are not very agile...

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patrick Cazalot
patrick Cazalot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in lovely weather with no wind. Beautiful views ++No particular difficulties.
Be careful in Cerbère on Rue du Ribéral, which was flooded and therefore impassable. Take the metal footbridge 50 metres before the tunnel to cross, then turn left just before the tunnel (street name not mentioned) and go straight up towards the border post...

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69Martine57
69Martine57

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, with paths lined with flowers at the beginning of spring. The route is a bit challenging due to the many steps along the coastline, but the view is well worth the effort. The total elevation gain is much greater than stated in the description (740 m according to my Garmin GPS watch, which is quite reliable). There are opportunities for swimming in secluded coves.

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docmc
docmc

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

a somewhat challenging hike, with constant ascents and descents until Cerbère. Don't forget your walking sticks (which we did...). It's true that the sky was grey
The section between Cerbère, Col de Belitres and Cap Cerbère is nicer, perhaps because it's more varied in terms of walking

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