When you think of Spain, hiking is presumably the last thing that comes to mind. When touring in a country loaded with tasty food, fantastic wine, and lively cultural centers, making your way into the backcountry of Spain perhaps has never even emerged to you. Thanks to an assorted terrain, wild mountain ridges, seaside routes, well-marked trails, and excellent weather, discovering the best hiking in Spain is no severe struggle. From the well-known Camino de Santiago to the Picos de Europa National Park and the Vías Verdes, there’s a pathway in Spain for all. Where to go hiking in Spain – Best hiking trails in Spain – Let’s hop into more details below!
Hiking is an extreme sport, by all means. Be mindful of the weather while you hike, also you need to think of bringing the proper gear with you. This should go without saying!
There are many magnificent hiking trails in Spain. Some of them are The Camino de Santiago, The Caminito del Rey, Las Cañadas del Teide and Montserrat.
Table of Contents
The Camino de Santiago – The Way of Saint James
As the most well-known track in Spain and perhaps the most prominent walking trail in the world, the Camino de Santiago takes the medal for the soundest hikes in Spain.
This expedition is a network of antique pilgrim pathways that travel over 500 miles throughout Spain. The trails have been trekked on now for more than 1,000 years. The classic pathways all start at various places along the Spain-France border. However, all of them stop in Galicia at the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela.
So, there are a bunch of paths that form at diverse locations throughout Spain, rather than just at the border. You can choose up the track at any point along the seven well-established passages. As an alternative, you can even attach up with one of the six smaller highways which pass through places like Pamplona, Asturias, and La Rioja.
The tracks are well-maintained, effortless, and pass through some stunning views. Nevertheless, this hike is much more about the narrative of the route than the factual essence it passes through. Walking on Camino pathways is a nifty sociable experience. You’ll pass through regional villages, meet other hikers making their path to Galicia, and learn many interesting things.
How to Get There?
The Camino extends a whole 500 miles. Hence, unless you wish to start at the very dawn, you can connect up with the pathway throughout various regions of Spain.
If you’re traveling by plane, flying into the Basque Airport is the nearest to get to the dawn of the route in St. Pied de Port. That is approximately 50 kilometers away. What’s more, you can make your path to St. Pied de Port from Madrid via train or Alsa motorbus to Pamplona. From Pamplona, you can take another bus to the start.
If you wanted to hike the whole path or perhaps take a multi-day jaunt along with it, it’s best to get a local guide who can assist you navigate the complex routes! That can be quite helpful!
Note: Be mindful of what type of footwear you use for hiking, is it Nike Roshes or Salomon hiking boots?
The Caminito del Rey
Once known as one of the most perilous hiking paths on the earth, the Caminito del Rey was a hike for profound adventure-seekers ready for an adventure. While the pathway has gotten some vital safety updates in recent years, it yet stays an insane hike with stunning views. This goes without saying!
This five-mile path spans from Ardales to Alora. It takes approximately four hours to finish, as you walk along pathways whittled into the sides of abrupt, vertical cliffs. You’ll see incredible views of stony peaks, rushing streams, and lush leafage as you travel perilous tracks and cross-hanging bridges.
How to Get There?
Reaching the Caminito del Rey is relatively effortless if you’re arriving from Malaga. If you want to take the train, Renfe provincial trains assist El Chorro town daily. From the town, you can grab a shuttle bus which will drop you off at the northern gate of the track.
As an alternative, you can opt for an instructed day excursion from Malaga that incorporates round-trip conveyance. Likewise, it contains the entry cost, and a regional guide to take you around.
Picos de Europa
While you can spend many days hiking through the Picos de Europa if you’re searching for a bite of Spanish wildlife. Definitely jump on the Ruta del Cares track for a 12-kilometer roadway through some of the most stunning features of the National Park. This is an absolute must!
The pathway heads from the village of Poncebos in Asturias to Caín in Leon and is nearly cut out of the sides of the nearby rock constructions. It passes across bridges and intersects streamlets, all the while providing you with celestial sights of Spanish Peaks.
It’s no surprise that this pathway is famous as “The Divine Gorge” as it certainly provides some of the most divine views in all of Spain! This goes without saying!
How to Get There?
The most pleasing way to get to Picos de Europa is by driving, as the nearby sight is quite wonderful. There are tons of little towns on the way that are well worth stopping in as you travel to the park. With that said, you can make a real journey out of this one!
Also, you can take a bus to Arrondas and Unquera from large cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Grabbing a bus is a proper option, mainly in summer as the lanes are shut to cars. So, taking the bus is the only way in the end!
Montserrat
Easily available from Barcelona and one of the most famous destinations in the area, a trip to Montserrat is a must if you’re around the region. This is one of the locations to hike across a rough mountain range, with fantastic sceneries of the countryside, the winding trails beneath, and good old Spanish nature.
Excluding being a truly spectacular location to partake in Spain’s wild side, Montserrat is also a unique spot in the Catholic religion. The mountain homes a Black Madonna sculpture, likewise a Benedictine sanctuary. It’s also a site where many individuals go towards an adequate life.
One of the pathways you can take is the one from the base of the cliff up to the sanctuary. As you walk along the stone paths up to the sanctuary, you’ll be able to participate more than just spirit in all of its treasure. As an alternative, you can take the cable car or rack railroad up the peak and study the tracks higher up.
How to Get There?
The best way to reach Montserrat is to start in Barcelona. It’s a 54-kilometer long trip, and most individuals take the train. You can take the R5 train right from Placa Espanya in Barcelona to Monistrol de Montserrat. It takes approximately an hour and 30 minutes, and when you reach the destination you can readily walk right to the trailing four o’clock that takes you up to the sanctuary.
Another alternative is to stop at Aeri de Montserrat and take the cable car up to the sanctuary. Then, you can move on to the different hiking paths that lead up to the top of the peak and other areas around the monastery.
Las Cañadas del Teide National Park
Relaxing peacefully on the island of Tenerife, you’ll find Spain’s most elevated mountain, Mount Teide, reaching in at a refined 3,718 meters. The giant peak is in Las Cañadas del Teide National Park, implying that there’s nothing nearby but refined nature. Sounds amazing, right?
The park itself is an exceptional place for viewing volcanic terrains and extending your legs on the multiple hiking trails throughout the safe area. You’ll see all pathways fit for all levels of hikers here. Hence it’s a wonderful place to examine if you’re staying on the island, no matter your mastery level!
Tip: To fully enjoy your venture, you need pre-eminent hiking tents. There are plenty of brands to pick from.
How to Get There?
The park is straightforward to get to by vehicle as it’s off the major highway, TF-21. On the other hand, there are two bus lanes. Bus 348 drives from Puerto de la Cruz to the park, as well as 342 from Playa de las Americas.
An effortless alternative is to select a guided tour of Mount Teide which retains a cable car incline and a one-hour hike to the meeting. With tickets and round-trip transportation is taken care of, this is an opportunity method to participate in the magnificence of Mount Teide!
Be Equipped When You Hike
Hold in mind that you need to be prepared for hiking in Spain. This is by all means fundamental.
The landscape may be shaky or technical, demanding suitable footwear, and water sources along the tracks tend to be short so a water bottle or two is critical. If you’re intending on tackling on one of the longer walks, make sure you have the proper gear for camping and keeping yourself warm on cooler Spanish nights.
We hope that your next hiking tour to Spain will be, by all means, fantastic now that you know all its treasures!
