Spring is on its way, and if you're craving sunshine and hiking, it's time to head south. We've selected 5 hiking and trekking ideas in Spain, where the sun is always a little ahead of ours. The Iberian Peninsula sees its temperatures rise a little faster than back home, and warmth sets in quickly from the end of winter. This makes it easy to make the most of a nature that is beautifully different and refreshingly exotic. Combined with the pleasures of travel and discovery, here are 5 hiking and trekking ideas to make you jealous and leave you wide-eyed!
Tenerife in the Canary Islands
Head south to find the sun before everyone else! The Canary Islands offer a dream setting combining sea and mountains. When you know that the Teide volcano peaks at 3,718 metres above sea level, it gives you an idea of the elevation gains you can expect on this island. There are many hiking options on Tenerife, which brings together the most beautiful landscapes of the Canaries: multicoloured lava flows, lush forests of laurels and pines, deep canyons with many endemic plant species, and the magnificent Anaga massif — a wonder to explore in spring. You'll also be treated to the marine scents of the Atlantic from vertiginous clifftops. It's also possible to find multi-day treks with the perfect cone of the Teide volcano as the crowning highlight — the highest point in Spain. A colourful walking travel adventure under an ever-blue sky and near-spring temperatures all year round.
Crossing Majorca on foot
Majorca is also full of hiking and trekking ideas: the island is crossed from its south-west to its northern tip by a long coastal mountain range, the Serra de Tramuntana. Peaking at 1,445 metres with the Puig Major, this massif is served by a vast and magnificent network of hiking trails. One of our favourites worth noting is the Dry Stone Route (the GR221), which winds along ancient mule tracks restored using ancestral methods. But the full crossing of Majorca is best done over about a week, and will take you from pretty turquoise coves to the highest summits, passing through picturesque villages. The diversity and richness of Majorca's natural and cultural heritage reveals itself step by step, making this walking travel experience a daily source of wonder. The accommodation infrastructure is also varied and plentiful, making it easy to plan your trip!
The Bardenas desert
Set off to discover the lunar landscape of steppe and erosion-sculpted rocks of the Bardenas Reales. Between Navarre and Aragon, you'll walk among fairy chimneys, tabletop hills, and ruiniform ravines. You'll often feel as though you're in a strange setting not unlike the American Far West. The Bardenas are full of hiking and trekking ideas, whether on day routes, weekend outings, or week-long adventures. A great escape within easy reach of the French border, in this natural park classified as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
The Mallos de Riglos and the Sierra de Guara
Little known to the French, these two small regions of the Spanish Pyrenees offer a wealth of hiking and trekking ideas for routes in spring or summer. The Mallos de Riglos can be compared to vertical stone citadels in various shades of red sandstone. The Sierra de Guara is more of an exceptional maze of rivers, canyons and gorges where water reigns supreme. Mediterranean scents, pine forests, and almond and olive groves will delight all the senses in this superb region, rich in a very interesting culinary heritage. The diversity and charm of small Spanish villages will also enchant you and offer a wide range of accommodation options.
