On holiday in Spain, you can enjoy nature with environmentally friendly activities and tourism. There are many protected natural spaces known for their sustainable tourism options.

Plans for the responsible tourist

Cattle migration paths

These are the routes used for centuries by Spanish shepherds and cattle herders moving their herds between their summer and winter pastures - known as Trashumancia. Some of these routes are now marked and adapted for hiking and cycling, and run through beautiful scenery. For example, you can do so at the Sierra de Gredos (Ávila) or the Shepherd's Route of the Catalonian Pyrenees (Lleida).

Former railway tracks for walking in nature

Known as Greenways or Vías Verdes, these are abandoned railway lines that have been adapted for hiking and cycling in natural surroundings. Spain has a total of more than 3,200 kilometres of Greenways.These paths are a good example of restoring the environment, and on some you can see rare animals, such as bears. This is the case of the Bear Trail, in Asturias, where the bears Paca and Molina live in some enclosures near the municipality of Proaza. These animals were rescued as cubs, and it is easy to spot them when you pass by on the road, especially if they are eating.

Images of activities in nature: Cycling on the Bear Trail and among olive trees
Images of activities in nature: Cycling on the Bear Trail and among olive trees

Visit unique, ancient olive trees

Virgin olive oil is an ancient agricultural tradition in Spain. As well as tasting the oil, you can visit numerous almazaras (olive oil mills) and vast olive groves. You can even discover some well-known unique olive trees and marvel at their size (you need more than four people to encircle their trunk). For example, in Jaén (Andalusia) guided tours are organised to see its centuries-old olive trees in places such as Martos; in Catalonia they are offered in Ulldecona (Tarragona) and the Region of Valencia is home to thousand-year-old olive trees in Canet lo Roig (Castellón).

Tourist contemplating the Milky Way
Tourist contemplating the Milky Way

Starlight reserves

Clear skies, no light pollution, and the facilities you need to enjoy an unusual evening discovering the constellations. This is the 100% sustainable holiday experience on offer in some of the world’s best astrotourism locations. In this article you will find more information.   

Natural spaces that deserve a visit

The protected natural spaces of Spain include four types with outstanding sustainable tourism options.There are 16 national parks, all with scheduled tours, footpaths and visitor centres. Of these, four have also been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. They include the national park of Doñana (in Andalusia), the national park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido (in Aragon) and the national parks of Garajonay and Teide (in the Canary Islands). When planning a visit, remember that you need to book some of them in advance, or you need to get permits for certain activities. You can check it on the website of the national parks of Spain.

Tourist in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Huesca, Aragon
Tourist in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Huesca, Aragon

Alternatively, there are almost 30 natural spaces accredited by the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, a project backed by the European Commission.You also can visit 17 geoparks. They stand out for their unique landscapes and geological heritage, which you can read more about on their website. They also organise workshops and educational tours.Spain also has more biosphere reserves than any other country in the world. In total, it has 55 spaces with outstanding biodiversity. Prime examples of integrating sustainable tourism into their offering are the islands of Lanzarote, El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma and Fuerteventura, top-tier tourist destinations and declared biosphere reserves in their entirety. In fact, El Hierro is the first island to be self-sufficient in renewable energy.