Adventure road trip: Southern Spain multi activity campervan holidays

May 24, 2019 BY Paul McWilliams

Considering an adventure road trip for your next holiday? Campervan travel in Spain and Portugal is easy, fun and full of exciting things to do and places to see. So southern Spain multi activity campervan holidays might be just what you are looking for.

Adventure road trip Southern Spain multi activity campervan holidays Image from Flamenco Campers

Plan to travel as a couple, family or individual? You’ll find some of Europe’s most action and fun packed road trips in the south of the Iberian Peninsula.

This area of Spain and Portugal provides the best combination of activities, nature, history, national parks and beaches in Europe. And it’s all laid out waiting for you to discover if you hire a campervan in Spain.

Southern Spain multi activity campervan holidays

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The Andalusia region of southern Spain and the neighbouring Algarve province of Portugal are a campervanning dream. They combine excellent quality, quiet roads with spectacular scenery.

There’s a huge campervan and camping infrastructure with plenty of campsites for all budgets. Plus there is scintillating cuisine and a massive choice of activities for everyone from families to extreme sports junkies.

Road trip adventure campervan in Spain and Portugal Image from Flamenco Campers

The region is also dotted with historic cities where you can mix your wild side with a spot of culture and urban fun. So, keep reading to find out more about why an adventure road trip in Southern Spain and Portugal could be just what you are looking for

Activities and adventure sports

The coastline and interior of southern Spain and Portugal has a wide variety of landscapes. Combined with the weather that it’s ideal for a huge range of activities.

For example, the narrow straits that form the entrance to the Mediterranean funnel the wind. This creates excellent conditions for kitesurfing and windsurfing.

If you want to get involved visit Tarifa during your adventure road trip. It is Europe’s capital of kitesurfing. Whilst pros practice here conditions are also perfect for learning these exhilarating sports.

Tarifa one of the best kitesurf spots worldwide Kitesurfing holiday destinations Wikimedia image by Stefanvanderkamp

The geology of Andalusia has created some of the best climbing crags in the world. Just to the south of the historic city of Granada are Los Cahorros, Alfacar, Los Vados and Loja. Here you will find a superb choice of single and multi-pitch routes, as well as excellent bouldering.

Up in the Sierra Nevada mountains of eastern Andalucia you can ski and snowboard in the winter. During the summer there is downhill mountain biking and excellent hiking to enjoy. Southern Spain multi activity campervan holidays are a great way to get involved.

Over in the Algarve of Portugal there is some great surfing. Head to the lively surf town of Lagos where you can learn the basics at a choice of nearby beaches. There are also plenty of advanced breaks coming in off the Atlantic for more experienced surfers.

All across the region there are excellent opportunities for road and mountain biking, hiking and trekking. There is skydiving and paragliding, diving and snorkelling, wakeboarding and water skiing plus much more.

10% off Mountain Biking Courtesy of Biking Andalucia

Does an adventure road trip packed with varied activities sound like your cup of tea? Then the south of the Iberian Peninsula is the place to go.

Adventure road trip: Nature

You might think of southern Spain and Portugal in terms of busy holiday resorts. It’s true that some of the coastline of the Algarve and Costa del Sol is given over to tourists and beachside retreats. But the urban sprawl has actually been relatively well contained.

This was achieved by the creation of vast national parks and nature reserves across the region. Meaning much of the interior behind the coast, and even long stretches of the coastline itself, are protected natural environments. Much has remained almost unchanged for generations.

National parks

In Spain, two of the must-visit national parks are the Sierra Nevada and Doñana.

Sierra Nevada ski resorts in Spain. Image courtesy of Sierra Nevada Facebook page

Situated just outside of Granada, the Sierra Nevada is Spain’s largest national park and contains the highest point in Spain and third highest in Europe. For half the year it’s possible to ski here. Why not hit the 100+ kilometres of slopes in the morning and then relax on the beach in the afternoon?

Doñana offers a different experience. It’s famed for its wetlands, migratory bird and shifting sand dunes. It may be less dramatic than the high Sierra but no less beautiful and just as peaceful and serene. Be sure to visit the 13th century El Rocio Hermitage and to stroll along the promenade at Playa de Matalascañas.

Over in Portugal, the very western edge of the Algarve and Alentejo coast is more or less a tourist development free zone. It has been preserved as a nature area and is one of the few genuinely wild and untouched landscapes remaining in Southern Europe. It looks today much as has over the centuries.

Nature reserves

Back in Spain, their are also many nature reserves. Sierra de Grazalema, Sierra de Cazorla, Torcal de Antequera, Sierra de las Nieves, Alcornocales and Cabo de Gata are perhaps the best. These reserves give you the chance reconnect with nature and to see some of the region’s flora and fauna.

Torcal de Antequera in Andalusia Spain Wiki commons CC image by Angel M Felicisimo

You can discover sleepy traditional villages and majestic peaks in the Sierra de las Nieves. It’s just half an hour inland from the glitzy tourist resort of Marbella. The unique geology of El Torcal de Antequera creates an otherworldly appeal. While the Alcornocales features an ancient cork oak forest that hide some truly beautiful little villages.

You might not associate Andalusia with green and lush scenery. However, the Sierra de Grazalema park really surprises with its high levels of rainfall and Atlantic breezes.

Historic sites and culture

As wild and adventurous as southern Spain multi activity campervan holidays can be, there are also some incredible urban areas to check out. Most cities have easily accessible camp sites where you can park up and still enjoy what the city offers.

You can visit the opulent delights of downtown Seville with its grand palaces and colossal cathedral. In Granada, meander through the narrow streets to the top of the hill. Here you’ll get the best views of the UNESCO listed Alhambra.

Alhambra Granada in Andalusia Spain. Pixabay royalty free image

Cordoba boasts the largest surviving old town in Europe. There is street after street of medieval buildings surrounding its majestic Moorish cathedral.

In Portugal the Silves Cathedral and Castle are the top cultural attractions. Sitting at the high point in the town the Visigoth (Roman) Castle has stunning views. Silves Cathedral is an elegant red sandstone gothic building from the 12th century.

Adventure road trip: Beaches

Is all of the above activity and adventure a bit too much? Well this being southern Spain and Portugal there are many beaches where you can kick back and relax.

The wild and rugged Atlantic beaches of the western Algarve are some of the most beautiful in europe. While the tourist friendly and calm waters of Marbella and Malaga are very family friendly. So be sure to top off your trip with a few days of sun, sand and sangria.

Aljezor surfing holidays Praia da Bordeira Flickr image by Geerd-Olaf Freyer

Having a campervan at your disposal makes all of the above a real possibility on the same trip. Ski in Sierra Nevada, surf in the Atlantic, explore lush natural forests or go back in time in ancient city centres. This is what an adventure road trip in southern Portugal and Spain is all about.

Hiring a campervan in Spain: Flamenco Campers

Flamenco Campers offer this fun, original and unique way to explore this beautiful part of Europe. With a fleet of campers ready to hire, you can enjoy all the adventure, sports and nature Andalusia and the Algarve have to offer.

They are based just ten minutes from Malaga airport, so hiring a campervan in Spain couldn’t be easier. All their vans are fully equipped and ready to go. there are different berths and sizes available for everyone from individuals to couples and family campervan road trips.

Flamenco Campers provide all the kitchen equipment that you need for your trip. Plus useful extras such as an outdoor table and chairs and bed linen, plus travel and campsite guides. Basically, there is everything you need to have a great time on the road.

Adventure road trip in Southern Spain and portugal Image from Flamenco Campers

There are plenty of optional extras, so you can add a bit of luxury or tailor your experience to suit your needs. And with both modern and vintage VW campers to choose from, you can really travel in style.

Flamenco Campers Logo

The vans are easy to drive and will feel like home throughout your adventure. What better way to explore this incredible region?

We hope you found this guide to southern Spain multi activity campervan holidays useful. If you want to plan your own adventure road trip visit: www.flamencocampers.com

 
 

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