Spain

Best Hiking and Walking Trails in Spain

April 20, 2018 By Jillian

If you’re planning on going on a hiking holiday soon, but still haven’t decided on a destination, then you shouldn’t look any further. Regardless of whether you’re an experienced hiker or have just recently started to enjoy this activity, Spain will be the perfect getaway for you. This country’s landscape is incredibly diverse, so exploring it will surely be quite an adventure. Here are some of the best walking and hiking trails in Spain to traverse on your first trip.

The Cami dels Bons Homes

Also known as the Path of the Good Men, this trail takes around 5 days to complete, and is recommended for experienced hikers. It begins in the south of France and ends in Berga, Catalonia. On the Cami dels Bons Homes, you will encounter enchanting forests, ancient ruins, breathtaking valleys, and alluring views. If you like peace and quiet, then it’s recommended that you embark on this journey either before or after high season. In other words, you should plan your holiday either for May or September if you’d like to have the trail mostly to yourself.

Via de la Plata

The Via de la Plata is a hiking trail that will take you from Seville to Santiago and it is in fact the longest pilgrim route in Spain. By completing this hike, you will be able to obtain a certificate of pilgrimage. Although it may be long, you won’t face a lot of rough terrain on this journey, which means that people new to hiking are welcome to enjoy this trail. Most people go on this route in the summer. However, it’s important to note that it can be extremely hot in Spain during this season. With that being said, you can also plan your journey in spring or autumn. If you’d like to share this adventure with a group of people, you can go on an organized tour.

Cami de Rodes

If you’d prefer a much shorter hike, then the Cami de Rodes is the perfect trail for you. This route will take you to an alluring former Benedictine monastery known as the Sant Pere de Rodes. Although there are many walking paths that will take you to this monastery, you will inevitably have to get through rocky terrain and walk uphill for a half an hour in order to reach it. Nevertheless, once you go up here, you will be greeted by a breathtaking view.

El Camino Natural del Ebro

This walking trail will take you on a journey following a river down from its source to the sea. On this expedition, you will be able to see divine Spanish landscapes, beautiful oak forests, and stunning deep canyons. During most of your hike, you will be walking parallel to the Ebro River. Nevertheless, there are some minor deviations from this route that you’ll face along the way.

Via Ferrada de la Cala del Moli

The Via Ferrada de la Cala del Moli is a hiking trail on the coast of northern Spain that involves a lot of rock climbing. It is a protected climbing route and offers safety cables, which means that even novice climbers can enjoy it. It’s suitable for most people. However, beginners may find it challenging. Keep in mind that you will be able to go through an escape route halfway through the trail if you find it too difficult.

Experienced climbers can complete the whole trail in two hours, and are rewarded with amazing views. The route follows cliffs around the inlets of Cala Alga, Es Fjorn, and Cala Moli. One of the highlights of this trail is the four bridges that you’ll be passing, placed right above the clear water.

About the Author

Becca is a traveling translator and night owl, blogging at RoughDraft. While she has been to more than 80 countries so far, she has only properly explored about a dozen, so her travel wishlist only keeps expanding.

So we’re going to Barcelona… for four days.

December 3, 2014 By Jillian

Ever have an overwhelming feeling that you need to jump on a plane and go somewhere? Well that happens to us pretty regularly and more often than not we end up spending hours online looking up an amazing trip only to realize that there is something preventing us from going. Well that cycle repeats and repeats until finally – like magic — we actually book something and find a way to make it work.

Yup, San Fermin, or the running of the bulls. This was the last time we were in Spain. Incidentally we also went through Barcelona that weekend.

This time the constraints were our children. Well, not in the way that you think. We’re happy traveling with our twins – in fact they are super baby travelers (14 flights and counting!), so that doesn’t scare us at all. What we wanted out of this trip though was a trip without kids. There I said it. An adults only vacation without the twins where we pretend at least for a few minutes that we can be wildly impulsive and go to Barcelona… for a long weekend.

And so we booked. We just did it, recklessly without looking back. Ok, so we did confirm the availability of some pretty amazing babysitters (err… Grandparents) for the weekend, but then we quickly pressed purchase. We looked at the incredible amount of frequent flier miles we’ve amassed in the last two years and decided that there is no time like the present.

But then there are those constraints to consider – the fact that my heart basically stopped when I realized we would be without our little munchkins for four days. Yikes. Four glorious and terrifying days. Flooded with excitement and yet already, months away from the flight, trepidation at being away from our girls for SO LONG. I tried to wrap my head around it. Because as a parent, a weekend can feel like an eternity. That’s the paradox of parenthood.

So yea, we’re going to Barcelona for four days.

We’re crazy.

We’re insane.

We’re just in love with our constraints.

Tempting Tenerife – What’s Not to Like?

September 28, 2014 By Guest Blogger

Over the years, Tenerife has developed a reputation as a place for holidaymakers seeking blazing sunshine and a party atmosphere. While much of Tenerife’s pull on tourists has been the beautiful climate and fantastic nightspots, it has so much more to offer if you take the time to explore the island. Take a look at the following ways you can get the most out of a trip to Tenerife.

Visit the Ancient Dragon Tree
No trip to Tenerife would be complete without experiencing the Ancient Dragon Tree. It is often referred to as the oldest tree in the world, with many locals believing it to be 1000 years old, but more accurately thought to be around 650 years old. Hire a car for the day and visit Icod de los Vinos to see the tree, and while you are there take in the Church of San Marcos and the Artlandya Doll Museum.

See the Highest Peak in Spain
Mount Teide is the highest peak in Spain, 3718 metres above sea level. An active volcano, Mount Teide is an impressive sight when viewed against the bright blue skies of the island. If you don’t fancy climbing in the mountains, you can still appreciate the beauty of the Teide National Park, a World Heritage Site filled with some incredible animals and plants. The stunning volcanic rock patterns and formations are worth the trip alone.

Experience the Local Cuisine
You may be familiar with traditional Spanish food, but Tenerife has its own unique twist with some African influences. There are plenty of general restaurants catering to tourists, but try to seek out the more traditional restaurants with a local flavour if you really want to experience the regional cuisine . Many dishes will include local fruit, vegetables and fish, grilled to create a lighter meal which suits the warm weather. Make sure to try plenty of Tapas and the Papas Arrugadas potato dish, famous within the region.

Have Fun at the Carnival
If you can make it to Tenerife in February, make sure to take part in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The people of the island are known for their warm, friendly nature, so be sure to mingle and make plenty of new friends. The carnival is known around the world and features lots of musical entertainment, dancing and a big parade. Prepare a fancy dress costume in advance if you really want to fit in.

Get Out on the Water
Surrounded by water, it is natural that tourists to Tenerife have plenty of options when it comes to water-based fun. You can charter a boat for a day out at sea, take a Submarine Safari and go diving in the Atlantic Ocean, swim in the rock pools at Garachico or look for whales in the surrounding waters. If you prefer to stay inland, there are plenty of water parks for some family entertainment in the sun, with Siam Park being the best known.

Consider Cadiz – an alternative option for Spain holidays

June 17, 2013 By Guest Blogger

The warm Mediterranean sun has done something special to southern Spain, or Andalusia as the autonomous region is called. This region is home to some of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Spain, such as the city of Seville and the fortress of the Alhambra in Granada. That said, travelling the region in the summer can be overwhelming and tiring if you stay to the tourist trail. If the tourist sites are not on the agenda for your Spain holidays this summer and the focus of the trip is the culture, food and the scenery of the region, there are numerous options to just relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

Rather than starting the trip in Seville, consider flying into Cadiz. Somehow the tourist hordes usually overlook this beautiful and ancient port city. This is both unfortunate and a blessing. When food is on the mind, Cadiz should come to the forefront. While in the city, everyone should ensure that they at least try the tapa of Cazon en Adobo, which is a small shark marinated in spice, or consider an order of the shrimp fritters, called Tortillitas de Camarones. Being a port city, almost all of the seafood options will usually be good.

For those looking for a beach to relax on where the scene is a little more laid back and less packed with tourists from around the world, consider Los Canos de Meca, which is less than an hour from Cadiz. This beach and adjacent small town are slowly gaining prominence, but they still retain that small town Spanish vibe and lightly tourist-packed sand.

The alternative vibe of Barbate-small and lonely beaches blending with their tuna-based gastronomy, with Mojama, the seafood equivalent to Spanish cured ham, as the highlight, would satisfy the tastes of all travellers and be an even further flung destination for most tourists. Once you are wandering around Barbate, you could also try and visit other spots such as Zahara de los Atunes.

When in the area around Cadiz, a wonderful option for taking in a bit of nature is the Bahia de Cadiz Natural Park. The park has numerous walks or hikes ranging from easy to challenging. A moderately challenging walk that is worth the work is the Sendero Pinar de Algaida. This 12km walk begins at the University of Cadiz and follows along the river. It is a truly peaceful walk that provides a glimpse of the southern Spanish natural bounty while also allowing for some quiet reflection.

And if you are interested in trekking, remember to take a look at Los Alcornocales Natural Park, one of the most unique natural parks in Europe. From the “canuto” forests to its strange animal life, Cadiz Natural Park per excellence is the ideal place to escape from the city while we learn more about the Tardigrada or waterbears

Often when people are thinking of Spain, holidays are focused on seeing the big sites, however a more relaxed trip focused on the area around Cadiz can be more memorable and rewarding, particularly when it comes to food and scenery.

About the Author: Samuel Stokes is a British travel writer. He spends most of his time planning or writing about finding the best budget and backpacking holidays in the Mediterranean coast, after spending most his youth living in different parts of Spain.

Photo Credit: Image by Michael Osmenda used under creative commons license.

A Dream or is it Just a Night in Barcelona?

March 15, 2013 By Jillian

Groggily stepping off the plane in the middle of the night, I was shocked to find Barcelona awake. So awake in fact that when I checked in to my accommodations, the desk clerk asked me if I wanted to have my luggage stored behind the desk until I came back from dinner. Where am I? I thought as I checked my cell phone and saw that it was already well into the next day. Needless to say, I never forgo a local travel tip and I headed out with my travel partners.

If you’ve never been out in Barcelona you need to be prepared for the joie de vivre that is Barcelona at night. Every café we went to was packed, literally to the brim with people that seemed to be enjoying a happy hour like atmosphere at midnight. Musicians strolled the boulevards, stopping at tables of unsuspecting tourists and lovers, serenading the entire café with music before moving off into the darkness to the next café. A large extended family sat next to us at a café, their joy and laughter was infectious and even with my very limited Spanish and even less Catalan we soon found ourselves sharing mystery liquor from a clear bottle. I was exhausted and yet enthralled by the scene. It was like a dream you never wanted to wake up from.

Like dreams, there are some places and some experiences that you just can’t recreate. The next time I search out the dream hopefully it will be from the interior of one of the terrific Barcelona apartments dotted across the city. That way when I wake up and look out across the city, I’ll still feel like I’m in a dream.

Photo Credit: Flickr user dweekly via a creative commons license.