Spring is on its way, and if you're dreaming of 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 warms up slightly faster than we do, and mild weather sets in pretty quickly from the end of winter. This makes it well worth taking full advantage and enjoying a nature that is strikingly different and refreshing. Combined with the pleasure of travel and discovery, here are 5 hiking and trekking ideas to make you envious and feast your eyes!
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. Knowing that the Teide volcano peaks at 3,718 metres above sea level gives you a sense of the elevation gains you can find on this island. There are numerous hikes to be done on Tenerife, which brings together the finest landscapes of the Canary Islands: multicoloured lava flows, lush forests of laurels and pines, deep canyons with many endemic plant species, and the stunning Anaga massif — a wonder to explore in spring. And all of this with the marine scents of the Atlantic drifting up from vertiginous cliffs.
It is also possible to find multi-day treks, with the perfect cone of the Teide volcano — Spain's highest point — as the crowning reward. A colourful walking journey, under skies that are almost always blue and spring-like temperatures for most of the year.
Crossing Majorca
Majorca is also full of hiking and trekking ideas: the island is crossed from the 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 is the Dry Stone Route (the GR221), which winds along ancient mule tracks restored using traditional methods. The full crossing trek of Majorca can be done in about a week and will take you from pretty turquoise coves to the highest summits, passing through picturesque villages along the way.
The diversity and richness of Majorca's natural and cultural heritage reveals itself gradually, making this walking trip a daily source of wonder. The accommodation infrastructure is varied and plentiful, making it easy to plan your trip!
The Bardenas desert
Head out to discover the lunar landscape of steppes 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 on an alien set that wouldn't look out of place in the American Far West. The Bardenas are full of hiking and trekking ideas, whether on day routes, weekend outings or week-long journeys — a fine escape well within reach of the French border, in this natural park classified as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
Los Mallos de Riglos and the Sierra de Guara
Relatively little known to the French, these two small regions of the Spanish Pyrenees offer a wealth of hiking and trekking ideas for spring or summer outings. 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 labyrinth of rivers, canyons and gorges where water reigns supreme. Mediterranean scents, pine forests and plantations of almond and olive trees make for a feast for all the senses in this superb region, rich in a highly interesting culinary heritage. The diversity and charm of the small Spanish villages will delight you and offer a wide range of accommodation options.
The Andalusian mountains
Andalusia has the privilege of combining majestic landscapes with an immense sweep of history that has left behind an exceptional heritage. In Andalusia too, you'll find hiking and trekking ideas to suit everyone. From the old town of Ronda to Granada, it's a succession of small mountains and fertile valleys, with white Andalusian villages to offer food and shelter. The light in Andalusia is exceptional from late winter, through spring and into the heart of autumn. It's best avoided in summer, when tourism and intense heat are not conducive to peaceful walking.
Choose a moment of escape — and above all, sunshine — by selecting the region of your choice from our 5 hiking and trekking ideas in Spain. Each one is perfectly placed to offer genuine change of scenery and a rewarding adventure. The routes you'll find there are all interesting from a sporting perspective and accessible to most seasoned hikers.
