Montsacopa: An audio tour in the Volcano in the Centre of the City

Montsacopa gives you something unusual for a city walk: you can walk inside an extinct volcanic crater while still being close to the centre of Olot. The route leads past two watchtowers and a church built within the crater, with broad views toward the Pyrenees and the green valleys around town. I like the tour’s clear focus on geology and local life, especially the explanation of the region’s 40 volcanoes, lava flows, and vegetable gardens. I also like that the audio stays with you offline, so you can walk at your own pace.

The main drawback is that this is a short, simple outdoor walk rather than a full attraction with exhibits or dramatic volcanic activity. The climb includes just over 100 steps, and the crater itself is now a meadow. At $5.40, the price is fair for the historical and geological context, but visitors mainly interested in a spectacular ruin or a demanding hike may find the experience modest.

Key points to know before you go

• You walk around an extinct volcano: Montsacopa’s crater is the centrepiece, not just a viewpoint.
• The climb includes more than 100 steps: A moderate level of fitness is recommended.
• The tour lasts about one hour: Allow up to 1 hour and 15 minutes if you stop for views and photos.
• The VoiceMap tour works offline: Download the audio, map, and geodata before setting out.
• The route includes two watchtowers and a crater church: These give the walk more variety than a simple hilltop viewpoint.
• The meeting point is in Olot: The supplied location information also refers to Figueres, so check the exact address before travelling.

A volcano in the middle of Olot

Montsacopa is an easy place to understand the volcanic character of La Garrotxa. You are not heading into a remote wilderness. The volcano sits in Olot, and the route lets you see how volcanic ground, town life, gardens, churches, and lookout points have grown together.

The wider volcanic zone contains 40 volcanoes and more than 20 lava flows. That fact gives the walk useful scale. Montsacopa is one part of a much larger volcanic region, and the audio explains why so many volcanoes formed here rather than treating the hill as an isolated oddity.

The tour also covers the last eruption, which took place about 100,000 years ago. That is important context because Montsacopa looks peaceful today. The crater is grassy, the paths are maintained, and there is no sense of an active volcano. The audio helps you picture the forces that shaped the area without pretending that the site offers a live volcanic spectacle.

I find that combination appealing. You get a real geological feature, but the visit remains manageable for a short morning or afternoon outing. The route is also private to your group in the sense that you participate independently, with no scheduled guide leading a shared group.

Following the crater path for about an hour

The route takes you around Montsacopa’s crater and lasts roughly 60 minutes. With stops for photographs, the climb, and the views, plan on 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.

The tour begins at Volcà del Montsacopa, 17800 Olot, Girona, Spain. You use the VoiceMap app on an Android or iOS phone, and the audio directs you along the route. The walk finishes back at the meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup or find your way across town afterward.

The first practical point is the climb. The route includes just over 100 steps. That is not a long mountain ascent, but it is enough to make the walk feel like exercise, especially on a warm day. You should be comfortable walking uphill and on an outdoor path. The activity asks for a moderate level of physical fitness, which is a sensible description.

Once you reach the upper part of the volcano, the route becomes more about circling the crater and stopping at points of interest. The audio gives information when there is something specific to explain, rather than filling every second with talk. That pacing works well for a self-guided walk because you can look around instead of staring at your phone.

Two watchtowers with wide views

The two watchtowers are among the route’s most useful stops. They give you a reason to climb beyond the exercise itself and help explain Montsacopa’s historical role.

From the top, you can look across Olot and toward the surrounding valleys. The tour also points out the Pyrenees mountain range. These views are a strong part of the experience because they place the volcano in its wider setting. You can see that Montsacopa is not merely a round hill in town. It is part of a broad volcanic region framed by mountains and valleys.

The view is best understood as a reward for the climb rather than the sole reason to book. If you only want a lookout, you may feel that the short ascent and simple crater do not justify the price. If you want to know what you are seeing, the audio adds value by linking the views to the area’s geology and settlement.

Bring your own phone and headphones. Neither is included. The app provides offline audio, maps, and geodata, which is useful if your connection is unreliable, but you still need to prepare the tour on your device before starting.

The church inside the crater

A church inside a volcanic crater is the route’s most unexpected detail. It gives the walk a human and cultural point of interest alongside the geology.

The audio explains why the church was built there. The supplied information does not give its name or architectural details, so you should think of it as one stop in the wider story rather than a separate church visit with extensive interior sightseeing.

Its presence also changes the character of the crater. This is not an untouched geological bowl. People have used and shaped the site over time, building a place of worship within a formation created by volcanic activity. That contrast is part of what makes the walk more interesting than a plain climb to a viewpoint.

The crater itself is now a meadow. This is worth knowing before you book. You will not see bubbling vents, black lava fields, or a sharply dramatic cone. The appeal comes from standing in a former volcanic crater and understanding how the site fits into Olot, not from seeing obvious signs of a recent eruption.

Why vegetable gardens grow around Montsacopa

One of the audio tour’s useful local questions concerns the vegetable gardens around the volcano. The answer connects the volcano to ordinary daily life.

Volcanic regions often raise questions about soil, farming, and settlement. Here, the tour explains why so many vegetable gardens appear around Montsacopa. That detail helps you notice the area as you walk instead of treating the volcano as a sealed-off monument.

I especially like this kind of information on a self-guided route. A short walk can easily become a checklist of crater, view, church, and watchtower. The gardens add a practical human layer. They show that the volcano is part of a working environment, not only a scientific curiosity.

The tour’s subjects are well chosen for a one-hour route. You hear about the 40 volcanoes, the lava flows, the ancient eruption, the church, the watchtowers, and the gardens. Each topic answers a question you are likely to have while walking.

What the audio format does well

The VoiceMap format gives you control. You do not need to meet a guide at a fixed time, and the activity is available throughout the day, with the listed opening hours running from midnight to midnight every day. That makes it easy to fit around a visit to Olot.

You can pause to take photographs, stop at a viewpoint, or walk more slowly without holding up a group. If you prefer to move briskly, you are not waiting for other people. This flexibility is one of the strongest reasons to choose the tour.

The audio is available in English, according to the experience details. It provides information at the places where it matters, and the route is described as uncomplicated and a good length. For many people, that will be preferable to a longer lecture or a tightly scheduled excursion.

There are limits. A recorded guide cannot answer a personal question or adjust the explanation to your interests. You also need to manage your phone, headphones, battery, and navigation. The app includes offline access to the audio, map, and geodata, so download everything in advance rather than assuming a strong signal at the volcano.

The audio tour comes with lifetime access. That is useful if you want to repeat the walk or share the route planning within your own arrangements, but remember that you still need your own smartphone and headphones each time.

Is $5.40 good value?

At $5.40 per person, this is an inexpensive add-on to a day in Olot. You are paying for the route’s explanations, the VoiceMap app, offline access, and the freedom to walk without a scheduled group.

The price makes the most sense if you enjoy learning as you walk. The volcano itself is accessible as an outdoor site, and you can climb for the views without buying an audio tour. The paid element is the context: why the area has so many volcanoes, what happened about 100,000 years ago, why gardens surround the site, and why the church sits inside the crater.

I would consider it good value for someone who might otherwise walk around Montsacopa without knowing what to notice. It is less compelling for someone who only wants a quick exercise or a photo from the top.

There are no museum or attraction tickets included, but none are needed for the basic route as described. Transportation, food, drinks, a phone, and headphones are also separate. Since the tour starts and ends at the volcano, you must make your own way there.

Who will enjoy Montsacopa most?

This suits independent visitors who like short walks with a clear theme. You do not need to commit to a half-day outing, and you can fit the route into a day exploring Olot.

It is also a good choice if you want to see a volcanic site but are not looking for a strenuous hike. The 100-plus steps require some effort, yet the full activity lasts only about an hour. Families with older children may appreciate the simple questions the audio answers, though the supplied information does not set a minimum age.

You should choose another activity if you need step-free access, though no accessibility details are provided. The moderate fitness requirement and the stair climb mean you should assess your own mobility before booking.

The experience also suits repeat visitors to the region. The lifetime access and flexible timing let you use the audio when it fits your plans rather than forcing a fixed departure. If you are touring with friends or family, the private format means only your group participates, but each person still needs to hear the audio clearly.

Practical details that matter

The listed start point is Volcà del Montsacopa in Olot, Girona. The general location field refers to Figueres, while the actual start and end details identify Olot, so check the meeting point carefully before you set out. This is the most important logistical detail in the supplied information.

The activity is listed as available every day, all day, from September 7, 2020 through June 18, 2026. The tour itself takes about an hour, but you should allow extra time if you want to linger at the watchtowers or enjoy the views.

Confirmation is provided at booking. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so make sure your date, location, and plans are correct before paying.

Wear comfortable footwear suitable for a walk with stairs. Food and drink are not included, and no transportation is provided. The route ends where it begins, which keeps the outing simple once you arrive at Montsacopa.

Should you book this volcanic walk?

Book it if you want a short, flexible introduction to Olot’s volcanic setting and like having clear explanations while you walk. The best parts are the crater route, the church inside the volcano, the two watchtowers, and the views toward the Pyrenees. At $5.40, the audio is a sensible purchase for curious walkers.

Skip it if you only want a dramatic volcanic sight or a major museum-style attraction. Montsacopa is a grassy, extinct crater with a modest climb, not an active volcano. The audio makes the site more meaningful, but it cannot change the basic character of the place.

For most visitors already planning time in Olot, I would book it, provided you confirm the Olot meeting point and are comfortable with the steps. It is a small experience with a clear subject, a reasonable price, and enough local detail to turn a simple hill walk into a better-informed visit.

FAQ

Where does the Montsacopa audio tour start?

It starts at Volcà del Montsacopa, 17800 Olot, Girona, Spain.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the tour take?

The walk around Montsacopa takes about 60 minutes. Allow approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes for the full experience.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $5.40 per person.

Is the tour guided in person?

No. It is a self-guided audio tour accessed through the VoiceMap app.

Is the audio tour available in English?

Yes. The experience information specifies English audio through VoiceMap.

What app do I need?

You need the VoiceMap app, which is available for Android and iOS devices.

Can I use the tour without mobile data?

Yes. The experience includes offline access to the audio, maps, and geodata. Download the material before starting.

Do I need to bring anything?

You need to bring a smartphone and headphones. They are not included in the price.

Are tickets, transportation, food, or drinks included?

No. The price does not include transportation, food, drinks, or tickets and entrance fees for museums or other attractions along the route.

Is the walk physically demanding?

The route includes a climb of just over 100 steps, and a moderate level of physical fitness is recommended.

Can I cancel or change the booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.