If you have never hiked in Spain or want to discover a new route, you are in the right place, in this article we are going to tell you which are the ten best places in Spain for hiking.
Spain continues to be a tourist destination of reference and a country with great popularity in the world for many reasons. It has infinite Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, white sand beaches, excellent, healthy and varied gastronomy, a wonderful climate that allows many activities, history, culture, in short, everything. But apart from that, it has something that makes it stand out and be ahead in tourist demand, its nature.
Although certainly many visitors come to the country for its beaches and leisure, many others come to learn about and admire its nature, and many others for its alternative activities or adventure sports, such as hiking. Spain treasures mountains, lush forests, arid interiors and rugged coastlines, what more could you ask for! It even has a hiking trail that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is definitive, it is wonderful.
Thanks to all these natural treasures that the country keeps, we can tell you today which are the 7 best hiking trails in Spain. With this compilation you will not lack options to choose which will be your next hiking destination . Let’s start!
1. Piedralaves Road, Navaluenga, Ávila
In Piedralaves, as is the case throughout the Tiétar Valley , there are multiple routes or routes available for all those who want to go hiking. Thanks to its location and nature, lovers of long walks will be able to enjoy different itineraries belonging to the Central System, the great mountainous alignment that is located in the epicenter of the Iberian Peninsula.
Among the different existing routes, are the Majacanchal Caldera Route , with 13 km of travel and medium difficulty, the Vado Piedralaves Route , with an extension of 12 km and of low difficulty, and the Piedralaves Angostura Route , of 9 kms and with medium difficulty, among others.
Regarding the nature of the area, hikers can enjoy extensive and lush pine forests, large meadows of ash trees, gorges and an ornithological fauna of some 30 different bird species, including the booted eagle.
Any time is good to get to know the municipality and dedicate more than one day to it, it also offers many family accommodations on Casasrurales.net , but yes, whenever the visit is and whenever you are interested in doing a route, you will have to contact a mountaineering group in the area to check availability, since not all trails are authorized or available.
2. Cares Route
The Picos de Europa National Park is the most remote in the country and where another of the most popular places for hiking in Spain is located .
Stunning views of magnificent limestone peaks and bountiful valleys, along with teeming wildlife.
One of the most charming and popular routes in the area is the Cares Route , known as the Divine Throat. It is located on the slope of the rocks and crosses bridges and streams. It is a path of about 12 km in length and of moderate difficulty, which requires that those who do it are in a healthy physical shape.
Almost the entire trail is flat, so the only difficulty on this route is overcoming the route. The name Ruta del Cares comes from offering spectacular views of the Cares River located just below. Photography enthusiasts will find a multitude of settings worth capturing.
Although this route is the most popular in this environment, it is not the only option for hiking in the Picos de Europa. The best time to do a route is from June to September, when the weather is nicer, the days are longer and there are not many crowds. Those interested in spotting birds or enjoying the flower season should go in April, May and October.
3. Covadonga Lakes Trail
The route of the Lakes of Covadonga is for many the most beautiful in the country and without a doubt, another of the ideal places for hiking in Spain.
This route located in Asturias, takes any visitor to a landscape full of magic and adventure around three impressive lakes of glacial origin , Enol, La Ercina and El Bricial.
During the summer months, as it is high season, visitors will have to use public transport to reach the starting point of the tour, Lake Ercina. If it is not high season you can get there in your own vehicle and park nearby.
The landscapes that accompany this route are truly impressive. Scenarios of the Picos de Europa surpassing the sky and abundant meadows that lead to crystal clear waters.
Hikers can enjoy green valleys, rocky outcrops and find rural shelters and stone buildings that, on occasion, were the shelter of the goatherds in the winter season.
4. Sobarcal Peak
The Pico Sobarcal trail is undoubtedly one of the best hiking trails in northern Spain . The itinerary consists of a long excursion, and for some challenging, towards a summit of 2,259 meters of altitude . Of course, the views of the surrounding mountains and the world in general are spectacular.
The average duration of the route is seven hours, as long as you reach the top! and of medium difficulty most of the route. However, as the summit approaches, it becomes more complicated. In fact, those who want to venture into this mountaineering challenge must be prepared, have previous skills and experience.
Those who manage to reach the top will be rewarded with a spectacular landscape of the French Pyrenees , and with an ideal rest area to regain strength before beginning the descent.
The best time to venture on a trek of this caliber is in the late spring and during some summer months, when the weather is most pleasant.
5. Cami dels bons homes
The Cami dels Bons Homes, which translates to “the Good Men’s Path,” is another of the best hiking spots in Spain . Its route is 226 km long and begins in the north of Catalonia to end in the south of France, crossing the Pyrenees.
Due to the length of the path, it is divided into 10 phases that begin at the Sanctuary of Queralt, Berga, Catalonia, and end at the Castle of Montsegur, Ariège, France.
The route in general is a challenge, it requires preparation and experience, and depending on the time available to complete it in its entirety, it will be more or less. With repeated ups and downs, which despite not being extreme consume energy, you go through busy roads and small towns every day.
One of the most popular stages of this route is from Gosol to Baga. Those who do it will go through rural routes with impressive views of the Pyrenees. In general, it is characterized by majestic views of lush grasslands, lush forests, and vast valleys.
6. Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago is not only one of the best hiking routes in Spain, but also one of the most famous internationally. Every year, thousands of people know all of it, or part of it, and experience unforgettable experiences.
The best thing about this path, apart from the experience of doing it, is the flexibility in terms of where you can start the route, there are numerous routes that start from practically anywhere in Spain. An important detail, to obtain the Compostela in Santiago, it is necessary to have traveled at least 100 km on foot or 200 km by bicycle.
6.1. How many roads are there to get to Santiago de Compostela?
There are more than 12 ways to get to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, but the best known are the following:
6.1.1. Camino de Santiago French
The one with the greatest historical relevance and, therefore, the one with the most followers. Its starting point is Roncesvalles, Navarra.
6.1.2. Camino de Santiago English
The name is due to the fact that the first to cross it were the English who arrived by boat at the port of La Coruña to go to Santiago . You can start from Ferrol or from Coruña itself.
6.1.3. Camino de Santiago Portuguese
It is one of the quietest and with the best landscapes. It starts in Lisbon and Spain is accessed through Tui. The panoramic views of this route mix the leafy forests with the sea.
6.1.4. primitive path
King Alfonso II was the first pilgrim to visit it in the year 813 and for a long time it was one of the most significant. Starting from Oviedo, it is one of the hardest routes and with fewer services. It goes through unpopulated areas and in season, much of the trail is covered in snow.
6.1.5. north road
It takes place on the Astur-Galaica coast, dates back to the 9th century and begins in Ribadeo. It goes through the environments that are more related to Western countries and reveals different monuments and wide beaches.
6.1.6. Silver Way
It can start in Seville or Cádiz, and extends through quiet places, charming towns and cities with a lot of history. Roman roads abound and cross the entire Iberian Peninsula.
6.1.7. Mozarabic Way
For many the beginning before joining the pilgrims of Via de la Plata in Mérida. It begins in Andalusia, in cities like Malaga or Almeria.
6.1.8. Levante Way
Starting in Valencia, it crosses the Iberian Peninsula from east to west from the Mediterranean coast. In the city of Zamora it connects with the Via de Plata.
Carrying out the Camino de Santiago, starting from where it starts, is essentially a vital and very social experience. Along any route, you pass through local towns, meet dozens of hikers and learn from the more expert ones, given that a large number of people repeat this experience every year.
Since it is the most famous route in Spain, and probably the most named in the world, the Camino de Santiago ranks first among the best routes in Spain.
