Vies Braves was a one-of-a-kind network of sea swimming lanes and open water trails organized in the Costa Brava by Miquel Sunyer.
Miquel Sunyer is the Catalan star of long-distance swimming. Having made sea swimming his life, he's no stranger to the struggles of confident swimmers having limited ways to spread their wings in the beautiful seawaters of the coast. Swimming laps close to shore, trying to avoid leisurely bathers, children splashing and SUP paddleboarders was the status quo he wanted to challenge.
In 2014, he came up with the idea of organizing open water swimming routes in the Costa Brava. His project was met with enthusiasm and, fortunately, some government funding. Soon after, the yellow markings of Vies Braves (literally, "Brave Ways") dotted the landscapes of several coves along the coast.
At its heyday in 2019, the project included 22 routes not only in the Costa Brava, but also along Costa Barcelona, Costa Daurada, in the city of Barcelona proper, and even deep in the Pyrenees. But it's especially on the rocky coast of the Costa Brava that one could truly feel that sometimes the shortest distance between beaches was indeed by sea.
- Costa Brava: 14 routes
- Costa Barcelona: 5 routes
- Costa Daurada (Salou): 2 routes
- The Pyrenees: 1 route
Each "Brave Way" was described in detail on the official website of Vies Braves, now defunct. The distance, difficulty level, average completion time, the type of seabed for snorkel lovers, the dominant wind direction, spots of strong currents and even the water salinity levels were all listed. Most routes were open for swimmers and divers from June to October, but a select few remained operational as early as March. The Pyrenees route of La Baells was open year-round.
In addition to the maintenance of markings and informational support, the operator of Vies Bravas also organized a variety of sports and entertainment events to promote swimming and sustainable beach tourism.
These included:
- Free guided swimming and diving events with experienced instructors;
- SwimRun events that combined running and swimming with the formula of "swim 3-4 km and run thrice as much";
- Vies Braves NonStop day trips that allowed you to enjoy the beauty of the coastal landscapes either from the water (while you swim) or from the comfort of a tour bus.