El Port de la Selva is on the northern Costa Brava, and is outstanding for its varied landscapes, its beaches and its mountains, such as Sant Salvador and Puig de Queralbs, part of the Sierra de Rodes Mountain range.The first historic references to the settlement go back to 974, although it did not become a fully-fledged village until the 18th century, with the construction of its first church. Fishing was the main economic activity in the village until the arrival of tourism in the 20th century. Despite all this, Port de la Selva retains the charm of a small fishing village, with a great many monuments and archaeological remains, such as the Taballera dolmen, the Serra de Rodes medieval site (made up of Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, Sant Salvado Castle (13th century), Santa Elena Shrine and the village of Santa Creu), and Sant Fruitós Church. El Port has been part of the Cabo de Creus Nature Reserve since 1998. The village has some of Catalonia's best beaches.