Say 'Hola' to Adventure in Sunny Spain

Adventure lovers with an excess of energy should consider basing their next escapade in sunny Spain. A playground for unspent momentum, this Western European country has it all, with coastal resorts, crisp mountains, UNESCO recognized biospheres and dusty desert terrain. Factor in a warm climate tasty cuisine and inexpensive accommodation, and you’ll be struggling not to careen off on your own Spanish odyssey

Image by Luc Viatour used under the Creative Commons license

Lanzarote

Only 78 miles from the coastline of Africa, this, the easternmost, and northernmost of the Canary Isles is a haven for those who love the great outdoors. Flights to Lanzarote will deliver you into a landscape ripe for exploration; of volcanic mountain ranges, rust-coloured cliffs and a biosphere reserve, while its tropical temperatures are entirely conducive to adventure seeking. Its key attractions are all natural—the stunning rock formations of the Islote de Hilario volcano, the remote island of La Graciosa, and the black sands of the Timanfaya National Park—so hire a bike, bring along your sturdiest hiking boots and use a rucksack. Whether you choose to plough across the land on one of its (surprisingly) native camels, or shear through the epic waves that lash its northern shoreline on a surfboard, Lanzarote always feels like a world of its own, and one worth visiting.

Sierra Nevada

You might not expect to find a snow-dusted mountain range in such close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, but just a couple of hours’ drive from basking on the beaches of the Costa del Sol you can skim down a mountainside on a snowboard. Skiing season usually lasts from December through to April, but there are activities on offer year-round, including biking, hiking and climbing Mulhacen, the highest mountain in central Spain. Those seeking the unconventional can try something new: canyoning, scrambling, snow-shoeing – it’s all there for the taking.

Menorca

The most diminutive of the Balearic Islands is a perfect base from which to have a sea-bound adventure. Picturesque Menorca is a peaceful escape of wetlands, farmland and bright sand. Before striking out for somewhere more remote, hire a scooter and spend an enjoyable afternoon exploring the interior of the island with the wind in your hair. Then, kayak around the Menorca’s pretty cliffs and seascape, and spend the night camping on a remote, isolated beach – there are plenty to choose from. Make waves with a snorkel and mask, or take a full scuba diving trip in waters so warm you won't want to get out. With dramatic sea caves and flickering fish, there’s plenty of beauty below the surface. Prefer to stay dry? Book a catamaran trip for a day’s breezy sailing, and scud around the Bay of Palma, exploring the various coves and bays.

There’s plenty of adventure to be had in Spain, book a trip there for 2015 and create some memories on the Mediterranean. 

Julie Hodgson is a food and travel writer and an avid fan of holidays in the Mediterranean. As of 2015 she will have been to Spain a staggering nine times, and plans to make this the year she evens out the numbers with her tenth trip.