Camping holidays in Spain / Photo by Claire (Europe Explored)

Andalusia: Situated in the southern part of the country, it’s a region famous for its deserts, beautiful sandy beaches and ancient cities. Some of the best beaches are along the coast of Costa de la Luz and Costa del Sol. It’s the region with the highest mountains – the Sierra Nevada mountain range. There are plenty of great camping sites around the provinces of Granada, Malaga, Sevilla and Almeria. The combination of seaside and mountainous landscape attract a big number of campers.

Aragon: Situated in the northern part of Spain, it’s a great camping region. The area borders France with the Pyrenees and it is famous for its rural villages, beautiful valleys and breathtaking mountain peaks. Some of the best campsites are in Zaragoza, Teruel and Huesca. They are top choices of both experienced campers and beginners.

Asturias: If you’d like a different camping experience – combined with some sightseeing, this is the ideal destination for you. It’s on the north of Spain and there are plenty of historical buildings and museums in the area. There are numerous campsites to choose from in Luarca, Colunga, Cudillero, San Tirso de Abers, Ribadesella and many more.

Catalonia: One of the finest Spanish regions, bordering Andorra and France to the north (with the Pyrenees), Valencia to the south, Aragon to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. It’s a wonderful area for camping and sightseeing. The region is popular for its impressive architecture and art.

Galicia: A region which borders both the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal; it is often called “the first country in Europe”. Full of great campgrounds, the best areas are in Pontebedra, Ourense and A Coruna.

One of the major tourist destinations in Spain is Majorca. It attracts people with its mountainous scenery, golden sandy beaches and beautiful cities. It’s a great camping location with various options for outdoor activities and sports. Spain is also famous for its music scene, culture, warm and friendly people, delicious food and it’s definitely worth a visit. A camping holiday is a great opportunity to explore the country with just a backpack on your back and sturdy walking shoes.

Article provided by https://vacation-rentals-news.com/category/vacation-rentals-articles/, pictures provided by article writer.

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Las Alpurjarras, Granada

Not one town but a cluster of villages which stretch from Granada province into Almeria province. These very atmospheric small villages feel otherworldly particularly if visited in the winter. The drive from Malaga is breath-taking, it’s a dramatic landscape. Once at the highest village (Travelez), take a moment to eat the Serrano ham from there, it is air dried and is famous for its flavour. It’s a great idea to spend a couple of days driving around these villages, taking in the leisurely way of life and stopping to admire the views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

Photo of A typical Alpujarran village, Busquístar, Andalucia, Spain by Stephen Lea

Antequera, Malaga

This grand large town with an impressive castle is an easy drive north of Malaga. It has an impressive bull ring, an imposing dramatic cathedral next to the castle and some good examples of nobleman’s houses. Antequera is next to El Torcal, a national park including a mountain range made of limestone which divides Malaga and Antequera. El Torcal is perfect climbing territory or those who enjoy bird watching and hiking.

Antequera, Malaga, Andalucia, Spain by valderrama

Marbella, Malaga

Heading back to the coast, Marbella offers a charming old town with plenty of places to sit to enjoy the sun and a vino or two. It is thought of as a resort town but Marbella itself is a grand village with typical white houses and narrow streets. In the summer months it does suffer a little from a massive influx of tourists but it has romantic restaurants nestled into the corners of pretty squares like Plaza de Los Naranjas. Alternatively, the hotels in Marbella have restaurants which fold onto the main boulevard, where you can gaze out to sea while enjoying a candle lit meal.

Photo of Marbella, Malaga, Andalucia, Spain by bongo vongo

Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz

Arguably the most beautiful of the towns on this list (and in Andalucía no less), is Vejer de la Frontera. This grand white washed bohemian town situated on a high rocky outcrop in Cadiz province overlooks rice fields. The landscape around Vejer is characterised by the winds that lap around the land. They say these winds can drive people crazy because they are so relentless but this shouldn’t put the road tripper off. Wind turbines stand tall all through the province and create a different view from the other provinces.

Photo of Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz, Andalucia, Spain by Thibaut Brix

Tarifa, Cadiz

Set beside the beach, Tarifa is probably the coolest place to hang out particularly if surfing, wind surfing or kite surfing is your type of thing. It’s got an arty bohemian feel too with lots of little independent shops, cafes, restaurants and places generally to chill out. Nightlife wise it all happens out of the town along the coast road where there’s all manner of hip hang outs.

Tarifa, Cadiz, Andalucia, Spain by Kevin Walsh

There are so many towns to visit in Andalucía but to get the most out of a trip to Southern Spain it’s a good idea to choose five interesting and unique ones – each one being different from the last. These offer the variety that is typical of Spain yet are all quintessentially Spanish.

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Granada

Granada is recognized as the most affordable city for travelers in Spain but in this case inexpensive doesn’t mean worse as the city has a lot to offer to visitors especially in terms of cultural highlights. Granada is popular for its “Flamenco” Music and Islamic influence. Tourists can’t miss to visit the small “Muslim Town” where the best of the Islamic culture is available to see. The “La Alhambra” is a palace and Arabic citadel located in the Muslim Town offering a unique cultural approach to visitors. Bakeries in Granada are considered some of the best in the world.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Antonio Pérez

As mentioned before affordable accommodations in Granada are not hard to find and the options are numerous. Granada is geographically located at the foothills of “Sierra Nevada” where 3 popular rivers (Darro, Beiro and Genil) interconnect its waters. The Sierra Nevada Station hosted the Ski World Championship in 1996.

Sevilla

Ancient architecture in Sevilla is a highlight for visitors. Hundreds of years of culture and history almost everywhere you look. The cathedral known as “La Catedral de Sevilla” and “Avenida de la Constitucion” or Constitution Avenue are 2 main locations where you can become one with the community and learn all about their different cultural backgrounds that include Catholicism, Judaism and Islam influences. Nightlife in Sevilla is everything but quiet with the bars known as “Bares de Tapas” leading the way to a great night experience. These bars are available almost at every corner in the city. You won’t be able to escape the Flamenco dancing experience by the end of the night you will be an expert.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Frank Kovalchek

Madrid

Madrid is a more cosmopolitan city where travelers can relax and enjoy traditional food at one of the many restaurants available or perhaps shopping a souvenir or two from the many stores in the city. Madrid is the safest choice for travelers to Spain. Soccer is a passion among the people in Madrid, almost all of them cheer for their local soccer team “Real Madrid Football Club”, if you have some extra time from your trip you might want to consider assisting to one of the games that take place year round.

Mario I. Scoggins was born in Spain but moved to Costa Rica in 1998 to work for www.sunsetscostarica.com/blog. He hopes to return soon to his beloved home land.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Adam Jones

I think April will be a good time, before it gets too hot. The closest major city is Granada. I’ll be flying there, maybe with a break in Barcelona. Granada looks to be stunningly beautiful. I am staying two nights in the city and it will probably be in the Parador de Granada, although the Hotel Casa 1800 Granada is supposed to be very picturesque.

From Granada I could head by bus to Capileira, which is a small town that sits at the foot of Mulhacén, the tallest mountain in Spain. There is a Microbus service there. It takes travelers up the mountain on days with good weather. It’s actually becoming a rather popular tourist destination, so I’m not concerned about it being too isolated. I’d rather walk up the mountain, though. Apparently it’s not that difficult and doesn’t require any climbing equipment, just normal hiking gear.

I could take the bus to Beas de Granada (east of Granada). There is a fantastic one-way walk that leads back into the center of Granada. It’s supposed to be one of the best hiking experiences to be had in the Sierra Nevada. The route is about 30 kilometers atop a broad ridge, which might be a little long for me. I’ve also been warned to hike this path in May at the latest due to the heat.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Andrew Hurley

Another option is to travel in June or July. I could go from Granada to Trevélez (which is on the eastern side of Mulhacén) to climb the path to the Seven Lakes, but any earlier in the year and there’s too much snow. Most of the climb isn’t too difficult and I’ve heard that the waterfalls are amazing. It leads up to a place called the Seven Lakes (Siete Lagunas). I’m probably going to choose this one.

There’s actually quite a few other hikes, like a hard one called Vereda de la Estrella. I could also hike from Capileira to Trevélez, but not in winter. There’s so many choices!

One of the other great activities that you can do around the mountainous countryside of Spain is mountain biking. The hilly terrain and dry conditions lend themselves perfectly to this pursuit and there are no rules against doing this.

This article was written by John Davies who enjoys blogging for Thomson Al Fresco holidays. He has travelled around most of Europe, camping with his family most of the way and he enjoys nothing more than sharing his experiences with other bloggers and travellers alike through guest posts.

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The constant sunny weather is almost guaranteed here. There is subtropical Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 18 °C and average summer temperatures above 30 °C. Tourism started to develop here in this area in the 60′s of the 20th century. Until then there were just small fishing villages on the coast with the quiet life.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Stephen Heron

Costa del Sol is still relatively sparsely populated in comparison with northern parts of the coast, such as Costa Brava or so. In addition to a wide range of accommodation there is also a wide range of entertainment and shopping options. You can taste the famous Spanish cuisine and meet with the locals who are very friendly.

The area features the long beautiful beaches, many of which have previously received the Blue flag of the European Union, which proves their high quality. These beaches boast not only for its cleanliness and grooming, but also a high quality of services. Costa del Sol consists of a large number of large and small beaches, most of which has a gentle access to the sea, which is especially appreciated by families with children. Swimming is offered in a crystal clean and warm Mediterranean sea, whose waves are also ideal for various water sports. It is a popular destination for the lovers of windsurfing, kiting, water skiing or riding on water scooters.

Costa del Sol is an ideal place to spend quality holiday full of sun. In addition to great swimming in the sea and sunbathing on the beaches here you can also find beautiful landscapes and many historically significant places. Top cities worth a visit are Malaga, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Torremolinos, or resorts like Benalmadena, Fuengirola and last but not least is Gibraltar. Costa del Sol is also very close to African continent, it is not a problem to get for example to Morocco.

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You can hike Climb Mulhacen in a single day from the villages of Capileira or Trevélez, but it is recommended to stay for a night either at the mountain refuge at Poqueira, or in the bare shelter at Caldera to the west.

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Needless to say, the Sierra Nevada National Park is a very impressive destination within the country. It boasts more than 20 different peaks that tower more than 3000 meters above sea level. The tallest of all the peaks located within the park but also within continental Spain is that of Mulhacén, which tops out at 3,479 meters above the sea. This is followed by the 3,396 meter tall peak of Veleta, as well as Alcazaba which sits at 3,371 meters.

Sierra Nevada National Park, Spain by Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble

There are also a number of rivers and lakes that can be found throughout the park. The most popular rivers in the region is that of the Genil and Fardes. These two rivers can be found on the north face of the mountain range and feed into the Guadalquivir basin below. Along the western and southern faces, you will find the Poqueira, Ízbor, Dúrcal, as well as Trevélez rivers which make their way down into the Mediterranean Sea. With regards to the lakes, there are more than 50 of them located high within the mountains.

The fauna that can be found within the Sierra Nevada National Park are extremely unique on account of its isolation from the colder northern regions of Europe. It was during the last Ice Age when a number of critical species moved into the area in order to escape from the freezing climate of the North. After the Ice Age when the temperature started to warm back up, many of these started to make their way into the higher altitudes of the mountains.

Throughout the park you will find a number of different animals including wild boar, Spanish ibex, badgers, wildcats as well as martens. Overhead, it is not uncommon to see the Golden Eagle as well as the Bonelli’s Eagle. Even at night time, you will hear the calls of the Eurasian Eagle owl as well as the little owl.

Trevelez, Sierra Nevada National Park, Spain by Andrew Hurley

There are also a number of important plant species that can be found within the park. Today, there are more than 2100 different plant species. A total of 116 of these plant species have already been classified as being threatened and nearly extinct. Sixty of these threatened plant species are endemic to the reserve. One of the most notorious of these plants is known locally as the Snow Star.

As far as things to do when visiting the Sierra Nevada National Park, you are bound to find something that will keep you busy regardless of the time of year. In the wintertime, the park is well known as a popular ski destination. It has been home to a number of ski championships and has also received recognition as being in the southernmost ski destination in all of Europe.

During the summer months, many people make their way to the national Park in order to go hiking. There are many popular destinations within the park including the summits of Veleta and Mulhacén. In order to make your adventure a little more comfortable, there are a number of cabins that can be located throughout the mountain range. The staffed cabins are available for small fee while the unstaffed cabins are free of charge.

All in all, you will be able to enjoy weeks of adventure and excitement when you choose to visit the Sierra Nevada National Park.

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