Every summer, hundreds of cars drive up the Montjoi road without knowing that there is an access checkpoint. They reach Torre del Sastre, find the barrier lowered and have to return to Roses along the same narrow road they have just driven up.
You can avoid this happening to you. The rule is simple, the restricted hours are clear, and there are several completely legal ways to get through.
Exactly what is restricted in 2026
From July 1 to August 31, 2026, every day of the week, vehicles are not allowed to use the Montjoi road between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM.
Three details that are often explained incorrectly:
- The restriction applies to vehicles with four wheels or more. Motorcycles are not affected.
- Access is unrestricted outside these hours. You can drive up before 9:30 AM or after 4:00 PM without any special requirements.
- Be careful with the dates and times published elsewhere. Many websites still state “from July 15” and “until 4:30 PM”. Those were the rules in previous seasons.
Where the barrier is located
It is located at Torre del Sastre, on the Montjoi road. Cars that reach the checkpoint without meeting the access requirements are sent back to the town centre along the same road.
In other words, if you drive up without authorisation, you will only find out once you are already there, after navigating all the bends.
Who is allowed through
During the restricted hours, authorised vehicles and anyone who can provide proof of a booking for an activity inside the park are allowed through the checkpoint.
This second option solves the problem for most visitors. If you have booked something inside the park—accommodation, a diving activity, an admission ticket or a restaurant table—your booking gives you access.
How to provide proof of your booking:
- Show your booking confirmation email. You can display it on your phone at the checkpoint. There is no need to print it.
- Show your WhatsApp confirmation if you have booked a table at the beach bar or restaurant in the cove.
Keep it ready before driving up. Mobile coverage is not guaranteed at the checkpoint, so have the confirmation open on your screen or save a screenshot in advance.
Other situations in which access is allowed
A booking is not the only way to get through. The access plan covers several other situations that are rarely mentioned in visitor guides.
No prior paperwork is required in the following cases:
- If your car or van is registered in Roses. You only need to show the current vehicle tax receipt at the access checkpoint.
- Service vehicles. This includes suppliers, maintenance companies, transport and delivery services, public authorities and other vehicles with a justified reason for access.
Access with a declaration of responsibility:
If you own a home, property or business inside the park, or if you are a tenant, operator or employee, you must complete a declaration of responsibility. An official template can be downloaded from the Roses Town Council website.
- For owners, tenants and employees, the declaration is valid for the entire season.
- For occasional visits to private homes, it is only valid for that specific visit, and the property owner's details must be provided. Their signature is not required.
- It can be signed on paper or digitally and shown at the checkpoint either as a printed document or on a mobile phone.
How to get there without a car
- By motorcycle. The plan does not restrict motorised two-wheeled vehicles. Checkpoint staff allow motorcycles through.
- By bicycle or on foot. There are no restrictions either. You can access the area at any time.
For those who prefer to take their time, Cala Montjoi can also be reached on foot along the coastal path, entering the park from Almadrava beach. The route is just over four kilometres long, with constant climbs and descents and very little shade. It takes around two hours each way and is one of the most beautiful coastal walks in the Alt Empordà. However, when Alpha Plan Level 4 is activated, the section of the coastal path inside the park is also closed.
- By public transport: there is none. No specific service has been introduced to reach the coves. If you have read that there is a municipal bus, that information is incorrect.
- The tourist train will not take you there. It leaves from Roses and passes Cala Montjoi, but it is a panoramic round trip and does not stop anywhere inside the park. It is useful for sightseeing, not for reaching the cove.
- Taxi is the remaining option. It is the practical alternative if you do not have a car and do not want to walk.
If you are staying in Cala Montjoi
Cala Montjoi is located within the regulated access area. What may seem like an inconvenience actually works in your favour if you are staying there.
While hundreds of cars are being turned around at Torre del Sastre at eleven in the morning, you are already inside. There is no barrier to cross, no race to find a parking space at eight in the morning, and no need to keep an eye on the clock before the area becomes crowded. The beach that everyone else visits against the clock is simply the one right in front of you.
This is not for people who just want to see a cove. It is for those who want to wake up in one.
View accommodation in Cala Montjoi
If you are visiting elBulli1846
The museum is located in Cala Montjoi itself. It is open from May 1 to October 12, 2026, from Tuesday to Saturday, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, with the last admission at 12:00 PM.
Your admission ticket proves the reason for your journey at the access checkpoint. Buy it online for a specific date: it allows you to pass the barrier and also saves you the surcharge charged at the ticket office.
What happens if the wildfire risk increases?
When Alpha Plan Level 4 (extreme wildfire risk) is activated in the Cap de Creus massif, the rules become stricter. Only vehicles with proof of a reservation are allowed through, access to the park's tracks and trails is closed, and the restrictions also apply to cyclists and pedestrians.
This is the only situation in which walking is no longer an option. Before travelling on a hot and windy day, check the current Alpha Plan status.
A quick summary if you skipped straight here
- Car without a reservation: access is not allowed between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM.
- Car with a reservation inside the park: yes (confirmation email or WhatsApp message on your phone).
- Motorcycle: yes.
- Bicycle or on foot: yes, except when Alpha Plan Level 4 is active.
- Taxi: yes.
- Tourist train: it passes by, but does not stop.
- Bus: there is no public bus service.
- Outside the restricted hours (9:30 AM–4:00 PM): free access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive to Cala Montjoi in August?
Yes, but not between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM unless you can prove you have a reservation inside the park or another valid authorisation. Outside these hours, access is unrestricted.
Where is the access checkpoint?
It is located at Torre del Sastre, on the Montjoi road. Vehicles that do not meet the access requirements are turned back towards Roses.
Can I drive through if I have a ticket for elBulli1846?
Yes. Your ticket proves that your destination is inside the park and allows you to pass the checkpoint.
What if I'm travelling by motorcycle?
The restriction only applies to vehicles with four wheels or more. Motorcycles are allowed through.
Is there a bus to the coves?
No. There is no public transport service to the coves. A tourist train leaves from Roses and passes Cala Montjoi, but it does not stop anywhere inside the park. The only alternatives to driving are taking a taxi, travelling by motorcycle or walking.
How do I show my reservation at the checkpoint?
Your booking confirmation email on your phone is enough. If you have reserved a table at the beach bar or restaurant in the cove, a WhatsApp confirmation is also accepted.
If I live in Roses, can I drive through?
Yes. Cars and vans registered in Roses are allowed through by showing the current vehicle tax receipt at the checkpoint.
I own a property (or work) inside the park. What do I need?
You need to complete a declaration of responsibility using the official form available on the Roses Town Council website. For property owners, tenants and employees, it is valid for the entire season. You can present it either on paper or on your mobile phone.
