The park contains the Avenc de l'Esquerrà, one of the deepest cave systems in the province of Barcelona.
The Buddhist Monastery of Sakya Tashi Ling is located inside the Palau Novella, a 19th-century modernist estate originally built by a returning colonial merchant.
The landscape is primarily composed of Jurassic and Cretaceous limestone, which has eroded into a 'lapiaz' or pavement-like karst structure.
The park features a unique population of dwarf fan palms (Chamaerops humilis), the only palm species native to continental Europe.
The area includes the ruins of Jafra, an abandoned village whose last inhabitants left in the 1960s.
Parc del Garraf is a protected karst landscape defined by extensive limestone plateaus, deep sinkholes, and subterranean cave systems located between the Baix Llobregat and Penedès regions. The terrain is characterized by sparse Mediterranean vegetation, including dwarf fan palms and garrigue shrubland. The park contains the Plana Novella valley, which hosts a Buddhist monastery within a renovated modernist palace. Several abandoned villages and traditional dry-stone huts known as 'barracas' reflect the area's agricultural history. The coastline within the park boundaries features rugged cliffs dropping into the Mediterranean Sea. Geological formations include complex endokarst systems, with over 400 cataloged cavities. The park serves as a habitat for the Bonelli's eagle and the Egyptian vulture.
The viewpoint overlooking the cliffs at La Falconera for panoramic Mediterranean Sea vistas.
Carry significantly more water than you expect to need, as the limestone karst landscape offers minimal natural water sources and high sun exposure.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking boots with thick soles, as the sharp, uneven limestone rock is notoriously difficult on footwear and ankles.
Check the local fire risk index (Pla Alfa) before departing, as access to trails is restricted during high-risk summer fire conditions.
Attempting to hike during the midday heat; underestimating the difficulty of navigating sharp, rocky terrain; failing to carry a physical map or GPS.
Park access may be restricted or closed entirely during days of extreme wildfire risk, especially during summer months.
Strictly remain on marked paths to protect the fragile karst vegetation; do not collect geological samples or disturb wildlife.
