Spain
Spain is situated on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula and has a diverse range of culture and geography. The capital city, Madrid, is also home to the Royal Palace. The country is split into 17 autonomous regions and it’s official name is the Kingdom of Spain.
You may automatically conjure up images of sandy beaches and sangria when you think of Spain, but this diverse country has a wide variety of outdoor pursuits to choose from.
The country’s stunning mountain ranges are quite a pleasant surprise, including those found in Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. It is a land of enchanted mountains, sparkling glacial lakes, and some of the best walking routes in Spain. You’ll also find a rugged and wild section of the Spanish Pyrenees is in Aragón, along with a stunning national park, majestic canyons, abundant wildlife, and some jaw dropping walks.
Catalunya is a dream location for active holidays. Solsonès and Alt Urgell in Lleida are in an area of rolling hills, castles, historic towns, and, to the north, the magnificent Catalan Pyrenees tempt you to explore them. Activities not for the faint hearted include, but are certainly not limited to water rafting, paragliding, off roading in 4×4’s and canyoning. This last activity involves moving down a river or canyon by walking, sliding, down climbing, dropping into pools of water, and a little bit of abseiling, as well.
Tenerife is not just about beaches and bars. They also have a wonderful Walking Festival. You may also choose to explore the route from Erjos to Masca, through the eastern Tuno Rural Park, along ridges to see a beautifully green part of Tenerife, a land of many volcanoes.
Puerto de la Cruz was originally known by its English translation ‘Port of the Cross’. In the 1500s it was an important port and fishing village, and in those days the biggest port was further along the north coast called Garachico.
A volcanic eruption destroyed Garachico in 1706, and Puerto de la Cruz became the most important port of its day. In fact, prior to 1772 it was known as Puerto de La Orotava as it was a port in the municipality of Orotava.
Tenerife is also one of the best whale watching sites in the world. So for those looking for some wildlife spotting trips it is not to be missed. It’s the perfect place to visit and watch for whales, as well as dolphins too.