Tourists enjoying the views in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park in Cádiz, Andalusia

3 rural tourism ideas in Spain, for a quieter vacation

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Sometimes the best plan to enjoy your vacation is to find a quiet place where you can relax and find peace. Escape from the cities and stay in a charmingly rural village. Get ready to discover three small municipalities surrounded by nature, perfectly integrated with the environment.

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1. Orbaneja del Castillo and its waterfall of over 25 metres

Considered one of the most beautiful villages in the Sedano Valley, Burgos, Orbaneja del Castillo has an incredible peculiarity: It is crossed by a spectacular waterfall that gradually forms small turquoise blue pools. You will discover how the torrent flows from the Cueva del Agua, one of the beautiful rock cavities in area; and in Cueva del Azar, for example, there are small samples of cave paintings. It is not surprising that the town holds the title of Asset of Cultural Interest with the category of Historical Site. The waterfall cascades imposingly from the top of the village and slides through its alleys.One of the best options to get there and enjoy the landscape is on foot, traveling five kilometers along the bank of the Ebro River from Escalada, following the red-and-white markings of the GR-99. When you arrive you will be surprised by medieval houses, wooden balconies and colourful flowers. The waterfall has water all year round, and from there you can find more hiking trails for a magnificent natural space.

View of the waterfall that runs through the town of Orbaneja del Castillo in Burgos

2. Alquézar and a 9th century collegiate church at its highest point

Near the city of Huesca, in the region of Somontano de Barbastro, you will find the town of Alquézar, a Historic-Artistic Site since 1982: a spectacular site that rises between the mountain ranges of the Pyrenees and the Vero River. Upon arrival you will discover the famous Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, a collegiate-castle built in the 9th century AD. It was classed as a national monument in 1931, and it is a must-see stop where you wander among its Romanesque cloister, asymmetrical walls, paired columns and rounded arches. From the Plaza Mayor, you will explore its magnificent old town and begin a trail between picturesque little houses. You will be surrounded by limestone landscapes and imposing cliffs, ideal for canyoning. And just a few metres away is the Sierra de Guara Natural Park, where you will find hundreds of options to have a blast: Excursions on foot, horseback or even bicycle. The routes are marked as “Sendero Turístico de Aragón” and “Camino Natural del Somontano de Barbastro”. Add a visit to the Río Vero Cultural Park where you will see the prehistoric paintings of the Levantine deer of Chimiachas.

Aerial view of the town of Alquézar in Huesca

3. Zahara de la Sierra and its Nasrid legacy

Zahara de la Sierra is a small village in Cadiz, Andalusia, located in the north of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, between the Guadalete and Bocaleones rivers. Known for being part of the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos, you will instantly fall in love with the purity of the landscape that surrounds it and the colors that form it. Walking along Ronda Street you will discover Alameda de Lepanto, a square where it will be impossible not to take a photo from its viewpoint. When you look out you will see how the reservoir surrounds the town and you will be able to follow the paths that lead to the Green Gorge, a 400 meter deep canyon. Continuing along the same street you can also access the Plaza de San Juan, where you will find the Chapel of San Juan de Letrán and the Clock Tower. Finally, you will slowly climb until you discover an impressive Nasrid legacy at the top of the village, the castle and the famous castle keep.