IB Geography Trip to Platja D’Aro Spain
This field trip (IB Geography Trip to Platja D’Aro Spain) is designed to align seamlessly with the IB Geography syllabus, offering students hands-on experience that brings theoretical concepts to life.
The program focuses on developing geographical inquiry skills, applying field methodologies, and critically analysing spatial patterns and processes. Through thematic studies of urban environments, coastal processes, ecosystems, and resource management, students gain insights into sustainability, human-environment interactions, and data analysis techniques—all central to the IB curriculum.
Students will also address key IB internal assessment (IA) objectives, equipping them to design, collect, and analyse primary data using IB-recommended statistical methods, fostering independent research skills.
Curriculum Highlights:
Urban Environments and Tourism
- Investigate urban morphology, land use, and the role of tourism in Platja D’Aro.
- Use fieldwork methods such as spatial sampling, surveys, and environmental quality indices.
- Analyse urban sustainability initiatives, with links to IB themes of resource consumption and global sustainability challenges.
Coastal Systems and Management
- Study erosional processes, landforms, and the effectiveness of coastal defence structures between Platja D’Aro and San Antoni de Calonge.
- Field activities include beach profiling, sediment analysis, and evaluating management strategies, with emphasis on environmental quality and access analysis.
Ecosystems: Dune Succession and Biodiversity
- Explore ecological succession in the sand dunes at Gola de Ter through transect studies.
- Assess biotic and abiotic factors, linking findings to IB themes of ecosystem dynamics and the sustainability of human-environment interactions.
Resource Management: Forest Ecology and Hydrology
- Conduct soil and hydrological studies in cork oak forests, focusing on sustainable woodland management.
- Investigate water cycle processes and human impact on hydrology in Mediterranean ecosystems.
IB Geography Trip to Platja D’Aro Spain
- Duration: 5 days 4 nights
- Board: Full board
- Passengers: 40
- Free Staff Places: 4
Excursions & Inclusions
San Antoni de Calonge, Cueva d’en Daina, Romany de Selva
Where it’s held
Platja D’Aro, Spain
Platja d’Aro is part of the municipality of Castell Platja d’Aro. This means that although it is a bustling resort, just inland you’ll find Castell d’Aro, an ancient village that was built up around the fortified church and medieval castle. This historic part of the town’s legacy is thought to date to around the first century BC. Students can experience a Spanish Gymkhana, where they will purchase ingredients from local, authentic markets, don the chef hat to create tasty traditional cuisine.
Sample Itinerary for IB Geography Trip to Platja D’Aro Spain
Day 1 Arrival
Morning:
Flight to Barcelona.
Coach transfer to Platja D’Aro (approx. 1.5 hours).
Afternoon:
Check into the hotel.
Orientation session: Welcome, aims of the field course, health and safety briefing, and itinerary overview.
Evening:
Group dinner at the hotel.
Free time to explore Platja D’Aro seafront and beaches.
Day 2 Urban Geography and Tourism Focus
Morning (Class Session 1):
Introduction to Geographic Themes (Option G - Urban Environments).
Overview of fieldwork methodology and sampling techniques.
Preparing questionnaires in Spanish for tourism-related studies.
Fieldwork Session 1:
Walk to study areas in Platja D’Aro.
Fieldwork activities focusing on urban environments and tourism provision.
Lunch:
Lunch in Platja D’Aro.
Afternoon (Fieldwork Session 2):
Continue urban geography fieldwork: data collection, mapping, and surveys.
Return to the hotel on foot.
Evening (Class Session 2):
Collate and analyze data using graphical and statistical methods.
Review findings, draw conclusions, and discuss evaluation strategies.
Night:
Dinner at the hotel.
Free evening to relax or explore local attractions.
Day 3 Coastal Geography and Environmental Quality
Morning (Class Session 3):
Introduction to coastal landforms and management between Platja D’Aro and San Antoni de Calonge.
Fieldwork Session 3:
Coastal walk from Platja D’Aro to San Antoni de Calonge.
Study erosional coastal processes, landforms, and management strategies.
Activities: beach profiling, sediment analysis, and environmental quality surveys.
Lunch:
Lunch in San Antoni de Calonge.
Afternoon (Fieldwork Session 4):
Assess wave energy and the effectiveness of breakwaters.
Walk along the seafront to Palamos and enjoy free time exploring the old town.
Return:
Public bus back to the hotel in Platja D’Aro.
Evening (Class Session 4):
Analyze data using statistical methods (e.g., Spearman’s Rank).
Interpret findings and prepare group presentations.
Night:
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Hydrology
Morning (Class Session 5):
Introduction to sand dune succession and ecosystem dynamics.
Develop plant ID keys for field use.
Fieldwork Session 5:
Drive to Gola de Ter (40-minute drive north).
Conduct transect studies of sand dunes, focusing on biotic and abiotic factors.
Lunch:
Lunch in the medieval walled village of Pals.
Afternoon (Fieldwork Session 6):
Comparative tourism study in Pals, contrasting with Platja D’Aro.
Investigate the balance between tourism and heritage preservation.
Return:
Drive back to Platja D’Aro.
Evening (Class Session 6):
Review field data and create kite diagrams.
Statistical test of association between biotic and abiotic factors (chi-squared test).
Night:
Dinner at the hotel.
Free time for leisure or group reflection.
Day 5 Forest Ecology and Departure
Morning (Class Session 7):
Travel to cork oak forests near Cueva d’en Daina, Romany de Selva.
Introduction to soil ecology and woodland management.
Fieldwork Session 7:
Soil and hydrology studies in the field.
Assess woodland management strategies and environmental impacts.
Lunch:
Lunch on-site in the forest.
Afternoon:
Return to the hotel, pack, and prepare for departure.
Evening:
Coach transfer to Barcelona for return flight.