Ideal destinations for active tourism in winter in Spain
Spain stands out for offering you the chance to plan fantastic active tourism activities all year round. In addition to sports in spring and summer, you can choose from many other adventures in nature if you travel in the fall and winter months. Below, we've put together some suggestions to inspire you to choose your next destination.
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Countless adventures in the Tena Valley
Across more than 400 square kilometres and 16 villages, in the province of Huesca (Aragon), the Tena Valley offers a myriad of activities for all ages. The natural beauty of the Aragonese Pyrenees is the common denominator. For a challenge in height, go to Hoz de Jaca. There you will find the longest and highest double zip line in Europe. It is one kilometre long, more than 1,200 metres high and reaches a speed of 90 kilometres per hour. And remember that this is a double zip line, so you can experience the adventure with a friend! Another alternative to enjoy in a group, and especially with children, is the Biescas zip line park, with nine circuits of different levels of difficulty and more than 80 games to test your balance. One of the most exclusive plans in the area consists of sleeping in the snow in a bivouac, tent or in an igloo built with your own hands. The excursions organised from Piedrafita de Jaca include 4x4 snowmobile routes (both in the day and at night, under the light of the moon and stars), snowshoeing, and meals based on local products. Still in Piedrafita de Jaca, you can watch up close the life of the native fauna by touring a wonderful forest. The Lacuniacha Faunistic Park brings together around 15 species of animals in a state of semi-freedom, has a picnic area and a privileged location for fantastic panoramic views of the Tena Valley. If you want to add a 3,000-metre climb to your list of challenges, here you will find all the facilities to do it without needing extensive experience in high mountains. Specialised companies have proposals such as the trekking route of the Garmo Negro peak, 3,064 metres high. This is a two-stage circular route with an expert guide and everything included: an afternoon for preparing, two days walking, two nights in a mountain shelter with breakfast, lunch and dinner and the option of adding a last night at the Balneario de Panticosa spa, with a thermal circuit to recover. Since it is one of the main destinations for skiing in Spain, with its famous Aramón Formigal-Panticosa ski resort, the Tena Valley has a wide offer of accommodation of all types and varied restaurants to savour the best of Aragon's gastronomy.
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Diving in freshwater lakes in Castile-La Mancha
We move on to a high-altitude aquatic adventure experience. Can you imagine diving more than 1,000 metres above sea level and gazing at the fauna that lives among the vegetation of the interior of Spain? In order to experience this amazing feeling of immersing yourself in fresh water, you just have to go to the Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park, in Albacete and Ciudad Real, a true underwater reference due to its good visibility. An active tourism centre specialised in indoor diving will organise everything and provide you with the necessary equipment, including the dry suit recommended for winter diving. Diving is allowed only in some of the 15 Ruidera Lagoons. The most popular is the Colgada lagoon; the deepest, at about 25 metres, is the El Rey lagoon; in the Batana lagoon, there is a kind of submerged forest; and the Tinaja, despite its shallow depth, has very clear water and a lot of vegetation.Suitable for any visitor and not requiring previous experience, you can also try the introduction to diving, the first contact with this exciting sport and its fundamentals.
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Cycling Green Belt, 65 kilometres around Madrid
The Spanish capital offers so many cultural, gastronomic and leisure attractions that it is always worth a visit. But did you know that there is also a route surrounding the city that allows you to explore its vegetation? The Cycling Green Belt in Madrid consists of 65 kilometres of path, mostly paved and without motorised traffic, to enjoy a safe ride and a different view of the city. This route is very popular among cycling fans from Madrid during their free time. If you do not have a bike, you can rent one and complete, at your own pace, this magnificent tour around Madrid. The circuit is made up of a total of six sections that cross twenty districts and neighbourhoods of the city, including natural spaces such as the Casa de Campo Park and the Parque Lineal del Manzanares, crowned by the sculpture La Dama del Manzanares, in honour of the river that crosses the city. So, you can choose to do one part of the tour, since there is no lack of tempting options to rest and restore your strength with delicious appetisers from Madrid's gastronomy in one of the many bars and restaurants along the way.