Hiking in Spain
Hiking tours in Spain specialize in small groups of up to 14 walkers and will emphasize culture heritage, various landscapes, and flora and fauna within the various regions. These tours can be self-guided or organized by local guides from different companies. The main areas are Galicia, an isolated coastline, Picos De Europa, which includes pastures and mountains, Camino De Santiago, the northern medieval tour, Compostela, from Leon to Galicia, seeing cathedrals, and the Basque country and Pyrenees, starring the oldest European heritage.
These tours are filled with quality trails, less traffic and important and historical points of interest. Spain is one of the warmest countries in Europe and the year round temperature is usually moderately warm and dry, making excellent hiking. There is a slight difference between day and night temperatures, but nothing uncomfortable or challenging to prepare for. This makes the climate excellent for walking tours, especially those that are extended in duration. In the northern regions near the coast, there is a mild climate but high rainfall. In the Pyrenees, the Sierra Nevada, the Central and Iberian ranges, and the Cantabrian Mountains the climate is harsher with snow in the winter season. (more…)
March 12, 2008
Bus Travel in Spain
If you are planning on travelling economically, then going by bus will meet your needs. The network of roads in Spain allows buses to travel between places efficiently and there are regular and frequent schedules between most areas. The buses are modern and comfortable with the touring buses usually air-conditioned and fully equipped with washroom facilities. The routes will provide rest stops, a chance to stretch your legs and even purchase food and beverages. This is an all round great way to travel as long as you are not in a rush. The bus drivers must allow for road conditions plus stops and starts, which does make the travel a bit more time consuming than by car or train.
The main bus companies are ALSA and Continental Auto. The basic fare is 8 Euros per 100 kilometers, however some rates do vary. There are bus stations in most cities and towns, both large and small. The inner city buses provide a slightly different service, with different fares and type of tickets than the touring buses. As there are many different companies operating bus services throughout Spain, you should check their connections for best service. The private bus lines allow you to buy your ticket on board the bus. The city buses require a pre-purchased ticket that you get from a machine or newsstand and it needs to be stamped on board the bus. Tourist offices have the necessary bus schedules and other important bus travel information. (more…)
February 23, 2008
Biking in Spain
Biking through Spain requires a recumbent or touring bike. These bikes have the strength and resistance for hauling food, clothes and other supplies needed for this type of travelling. Saddle bags, with proper frames, can be used or trailers can be added to these bikes. These bikes have the proper wheel size, frame and wide rims, which make the riding of these bikes very comfortable and easier than other forms of bikes that are often designed for speed rather than comfort. The seat is comfortably positioned and the racks and saddles are balanced properly. There are tandem bikes as well. The tandem bikes are useful for couples planning to travel long distances. Touring bikes are not speed bikes but are strong and have great braking systems. Brakes can be lever-pulled or cantilevered, while some bikes come with disc brakes, which offer additional braking power. The proper bike, plus training and experience, help to assure a successful trip. (more…)
February 5, 2008
Train Travel in Spain
Travelling by train in Spain can be a rewarding experience but it also requires a bit of planning. The national train company, RENFE, is a large railway system throughout the country. There are high-speed train routes, the AVE, which go, for example, to Madrid from Seville, in 2 1/2 hours, Madrid to Zaragoza in 1 ½ hours, and from Madrid to Toledo in 30 minutes.
You need to have a ticket for your destination, which you get from Billetes which is the name for the ticket window. You need to locate the correct booth for the train you wish to travel on, for example Regionales for Regional trains, Cercanias for local commuter trains and Largo Recorrido for long distance trains. There are train schedules available for these destinations. There are English-speaking information officers nearby if you need assistance. (more…)
January 15, 2008
Maps of Spain
There are many different types of maps for Spain. Some of the common ones are physical, political and antique maps. Maps serve many different purposes and therefore need to be selected according to the purpose of the map. For example, the physical map will show that Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula in the South Western part of Europe. The Balearic and Canary Islands, plus the Moroccan enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla belong to Spain. The country of Spain has France and Andorra on the northern border, Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean on the western border, the Mediterranean Sea on the southeastern and east border and the Strait of Gibraltar and Morocco on the southern border.
There are maps that explain the climate for Spain. These maps will show a Mediterranean type climate in the southern and eastern coastal regions, while the central Meseta area will be hot in summer and cold in winter. However, the foothills of the southern regions will have warm winter temperatures and the Atlantic coast will have cooler summer temperatures with the rains decreasing as they move inland. (more…)
October 11, 2007
Spain Car Rentals
Car rental in Spain is a great way to get around and see the country. Public transport is much better than a few years ago, but there are still a few towns and villages, and whole rural areas, which are well worth a visit, but very difficult to access by bus or train.
Most cars that you can rent in Spain are almost brand new, and are well maintained by the car rental company. The only thing that may be a little off-putting, especially for North American visitors, is that it’s not very easy to find automatic cars. And, when you do find them, they tend to be much more expensive to rent than manual-change cars.
Important Information
Driving in Spain is basically the same as driving in the rest of Europe and North America. Wearing seat belts is compulsory, and using a mobile phone while driving is banned – you must use a hands-free kit.
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September 28, 2007
Getting Around Spain
Getting around Spain quickly and comfortably has been quite difficult until very recently. Transportation has had to overcome many obstacles: above all distances are great (from Barcelona to Cadiz, for example, it is 1,152 kilometers) and Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe, after Switzerland.
Now, however, it is quite easy to travel in Spain, and there is a varied selection of modes of transport to choose from.
Take your Pick
For those in a hurry, there are now many more airports throughout the country, and the national carrier Iberia, plus other domestic airlines, such as Air Europa, Spanair, and even international low-cost carriers such as Easyjet, connect most of the major cities.
Train travel in Spain has also improved beyond recognition in the past few years. The high-speed AVE trains are among the fastest and most comfortable in Europe. They can compete with airlines because journey times are surprisingly not much longer. The stations are usually in the middle of the cities, unlike the airports, and passengers don’t have to check in so long before their journey – or wait for their luggage afterwards.
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