Thursday, March 20, 2025
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We’re sharing four unique and exciting destinations for your next Easter getaway.
Easter is just around the corner. Every year, many people pack their bags and take a few days off to escape their daily routine. Last year in Spain, there were 6,500 scheduled high-speed, medium and long-haul trains; around 60,500 arriving and departing flights; and more than 15 million long-haul trips by road, according to data from the DGT. Although the weather affected forecasts that predicted a record-breaking season, the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT) confirmed that occupancy rates remained very strong.
To help you plan your getaway, we’ve put together four unique experiences that let you enjoy the natural beauty of the mainland. Explore the Montsec mountain range in Catalonia and Aragon, cycle along Spain’s longest greenway in the Valencian Community, discover community living in an eco-village by the Atlantic, and unravel the secrets of the night sky in Sierra Morena. Check out these unique travel ideas for your Easter getaway.
- Astrotourism in Sierra Morena
Did you know that Jaén, Córdoba, Seville, and Huelva not only share Andalusian charm but also mountainous landscapes? The Sierra Morena stretches 400 kilometers across these four provinces and, as of 2014, has been recognized as the world's largest astronomical reserve. Spanning 67 municipalities, it was designated by the Starlight Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving night skies.
In fact, Sierra Morena isn’t just a Starlight Reserve due to its minimal light pollution (where the night sky rivals or even surpasses that of many professional observatories), it also offers the infrastructure required for visitors to explore, enjoy and learn about astronomy.
Sierra Morena is divided into five regions: the Northern Countryside of Jaén, the Cordoban Sierra Morena, Upper Guadiato Valley, Sevillian Sierra Morena, and the Aracena and Picos de Aroche Sierra. Each area features multiple observation points where visitors can take part in a variety of stargazing activities. For example, Adamuz, in the Cordoban Sierra Morena, is a paradise for astrophotography enthusiasts. In Cumbres Mayores, within Huelva’s Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche, the Castle of Sancho el Bravo offers breathtaking stargazing from one of its eight towers once the lights go out. Meanwhile, in the Aldea de Los Guindos, just 11 km from La Carolina in Jaén, you can witness the mesmerizing phenomenon of zodiacal light during autumn and winter.
- Discover an eco-village: El Molino de Guadalmesí
We’re staying in Andalusia, but this time, we’re leaving the mountains behind and heading toward the deep blue sea: to the town of Tarifa in Cádiz. There, nestled near the Guadalmesí River and just 800 meters from the beach, lies an eco-village called El Molino de Guadalmesí. Its residents describe it as "a laboratory of collective living." This community functions as a cooperative, carefully managing and preserving its space while prioritizing local sourcing and the responsible use of natural resources.
El Molino welcomes visitors on open house days and also offers opportunities for extended stays. Weekend courses and training workshops on sustainable community living are also available, covering a wide range of topics, including ecology and ecosystem restoration, bioconstruction, farm-to-table food integration, meditation and mindful movement, agroyoga and art therapy.
- Bikepacking route through the Montsec mountain range
We've now traveled from southern Andalusia to the northeast, into the stunning Montsec mountains. This protected area, spanning both Catalonia and Aragon, is a natural paradise perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Here, you can enjoy everything from canyoning, kayaking and caving to paragliding and hang gliding for a breathtaking aerial view. We suggest that you get on your bike and go on a bikepacking route, which is essentially backpacking on two wheels.
There are several routes tailored to different types of bikes and distances: 590 km for mountain bikes (BTT), 372 km for gravel bikes, and 498 km for road cycling. All of them, however, share the beauty of dramatic landscapes filled with ravines, rivers, reservoirs, towering peaks, historic castles, secluded hermitages and picturesque mountain villages.
On the Montsec Bikepacking Loop website, you'll find everything you need to choose the route that best matches your skill level, along with essential tips for exploring the mountains safely and sustainably; respecting both nature and the local communities that call these areas home.
4.- Route along the longest greenway in Spain
The Valencian Community offers several eco-tourism routes that can be enjoyed year-round. We've chosen the old mining route, now known as the greenway for Ojos Negros, which runs from Barracas to Sagunto in the Valencian Community. It’s the longest green route in Spain and follows the path of a railway built in the early 20th century to transport iron from the Ojos Negros mines in Teruel to the Port of Sagunto. This section runs through the regions of Alto Palancia and Camp de Morvedre, in the provinces of Castellón and Valencia.
Along the way, travelers pass through breathtaking natural landscapes, including the Serra d'Espadà and Serra Calderona natural parks, various sections of the Palancia River and its valley, the Navajos of the Ragudo slopes, the Hurón ravine, the Fuente de los Baños with its stunning Brazal waterfall, the Salto de la Novia, the Santa Cave as well as the natural setting of the Soneja pasture.
Beyond the stunning landscapes, you can explore charming villages like El Toro, Caudiel, Navajas, Altura, Segorbe, the hamlet of Pedralba, Soneja, Sot de Ferrerasí, Algar de Palancia, Alfara de Algimia, Algimia de Alfara, Torres Torres or Gilet, as well as Barracas and Sagunto. Along the way, you’ll encounter mysterious and unique enclaves, including the abandoned Torás Bejís station, the tunnels along the Ragudo slopes, the Fuensanta viaduct, Jérica Castle, the hermitage of La Esperanza and its monastery, Segorbe Cathedral, the ruins of the Vall de Crist Carthusian monastery, the medieval castle of Torres Torres, the Albalat dels Tarongers palace, Aguiló Castle and the historic blast furnace of Puerto de Sagunto.
These four proposals are a great way to enjoy the Easter holidays in natural environments of great value, getting to know the landscape charms of our country.
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