Islas Cies In Galicia: Idyllic Beach Camping
When it comes to Spanish beaches most people automatically go for the Mediterranean Coastline. However is in the Atlantic coast of Spain, north of Portugal, where one of the top beaches in the world can be found in the least spoiled, astonishing Atlantic coastline of Galicia.
One of the gems of this coastline is on Las Islas Cies. Once a pirate’s haunt, you can only access Las Islas Cies by boat, a distant cry from other Mediterranean sandy destinations. Instead of returning to your hotel after a day’s snorkelling and sun worshiping, camp out in the idyllic site provided.
Galegos ,as the locals are known by, come here to spend lengthy, lazy summer holidays on the Praia das Rodas, a perfect cove of fine, white sand backed by small dunes sheltering a calm sea of crystal-clear waters. Spanish refer to it as their “Caribbean beach”. The sand is white enough and the water is turquoise enough to stand up to its Caribbean rivals. Perhaps the only noticeable difference is the chilling temperature of the water.
Where to Stay:
To stay overnight you must book at Camping Islas Cies (www.campingislascies.com). The average cost is 7 Euros per person. The camping ground with a capacity of 800 people is wheelchair friendly and has a restaurant and a supermarket.
How to get there:
Islas Cies are a 45 minute ferry ride from the city of Vigo, sitting just 15 kilometres offshore. Naviera Mar de Ons runs boats to and from the island. Only up to 8 return trips a days are schedule to/from Vigo at an average cost of 17 Euros per adult and children under 12 years are free.
The main beach:
The main beach that people come to is Rodas Beach or Praia das Rodas on Las Islas Cies which means “Wheels Beach” in Galician. Praia das Rodas has been named as one of the best beaches in the world in a few polls, including a list created by The UK’s Guardian.
If you requiere further information about the best beaches in the world please click on the links provided for an up to date list of the World’s top beaches.
Tags: Beaches, Caribbean, Cruises, family holidays, holidays, Leisure, outdoors, SCUBA diving, Spain, Tourism, travel, Vacations, Vacations Spain
January 28, 2011
Advice On Visiting Spain - Locations Of The Best Beaches
One of the major factors that drive Spain’s economy is tourism, and beach towns and resorts make up a large part of that. Spain enjoys a mild climate throughout the year, making it a popular destination for vacationers from the colder northern European territories, as well as for tourists from around the globe. Many of them head toward Spain’s best beach towns and resorts in order to unwind.
Salou is a municipality located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It possesses numerous beaches that are dotted with intermittent coves. The Mediterranean climate allows for year round activities from swimming to sunbathing. In addition to the beaches, Salou is home to Port Aventura, a theme park resort sporting roller coasters and other rides. Fiesta Aventura is also found here, a nightly show featuring fireworks and floats. The Salou Promenade is probably the area’s most recognizable feature, running along the coast and offering beautiful sightseeing opportunities.
Almucar is another beach municipality in Spain, and its mild winters and lengthy summers give ample time for activities on any number of its many beaches. Puerta del Mar is Almucar’s most popular beach because it is situated near to the shopping centers and social life. Scuba divers and snorkelers are fond of the coves in the nearby waters because of the dazzling sea life that occupies them. For an exotic touch, some of these coves can be reached only when traveling by boat. Vacationers to Almucar can find thrill rides, water slides, and hot tub experiences in Aqua Tropic, a local water park.
With 2.8 miles of beaches, Barcelona is one of Spain’s most popular cities. Those beaches even caused National Geographic to name it the best beach town in the world. In 1992, the Summer Olympics came to Barcelona, and several buildings were demolished to accommodate them. This created even more beachfront in the city. Beach activities are fun, of course, but Barcelona has much more to it than that. Museums that reflect Spain’s rich history and culture are open to tourists, as are various botanical, urban, and forest parks.
Spain’s best beach towns and resorts are popular because of the region’s mild climate and the variety of outdoor and shopping activities they provide. Everything from clubs to water parks to beaches thrives in these busy towns. If you are planning a holiday to Spain, a trip to one of its beach towns or resorts is always a good idea.
More : Spain Holidays
Tags: Beaches, destinations, Europe, Spain, Tourism, travel tips, Vacations, Vacations Spain
August 16, 2010
A Top Vacation Destinations
Believe it, for it’s absolutely possible. Well, not really to the moon, but a moon-like landscape with amazing craters that dots the lands as you explore the islands. And it’s not just barren craters, but a chance to see different plants and flowers as you walk through lush, green forests. For the adventurous and sporty tourists, they can use quad bikes to travel the large sand dunes of the islands’ deserts. Your Canary Islands holidays may end at the top of a mountain, marveling at the stars above.
Scientists believe that the Canary Islands were formed millions of years ago. The Canary Islands’ mountains and volcanoes were product of the collisions between moving Earth crusts. You will see all these moon-like landscapes when you’re on your Canary Islands holidays. Small volcanic activities sometimes occur on the islands, reminder of its more violent past. Archeologists discovered that Guanches, people from the northeast part of Africa, came to the islands about 3,000 BC ago. These first inhabitants were most likely the people that the Romans saw in 40 BC.
There are seven main islands comprising the Canaries. Each of the capital cities of the islands of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife are also the canaries’ capital cities. The island of Tenerife is perfect for vacationers who love water sports like scuba diving and snorkeling. Gran Canaria island is dotted with magnificent woodlands and stretches of beautiful beaches. But Gran Canaria is also known for its dramatic volcanic craters, huge desert dunes, steep mountain peaks and a lot more. Your Canary Islands holidays will be memorable enough if you were to visit these two islands only, but of course, the other islands have other things to offer.
Amazing pristine white beaches, rich cultural and historical sites, diverse landscape, and lively festivals are not just what Canary Islands holidays is all about, there are a lot more. For example, did you know that the famous Spanish film director Pedro Almodvar chose the island of Lanzarote as the natural set for his film “Broken Embraces”? Pedro Almodvar, the famed Spanish film director, used the island of Lanzarote as his backdrop for his film “Broken Embraces”. There’s that so called “whistling language”, communicating through whistling, that is unique to the island. The UNESCO recognized the islands as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Canaries is also credited as the world pioneer in making sea water drinkable.
Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra once sang “fly me to the moon, let me sing among those stars…” while probably dreaming of Canary Islands holidays. You can also ask where else best to sing that song than on the Canaries. Arguably, the popularity of this song is surpassed only by the popularity of Canary Islands holidays. This high mountain peak is a romantic getaway for people who wants to have the clearest view of the stars at night.
The Canary Islands holidays is one holiday that you can enjoy with the whole family.
Tags: Beaches, canaries, canary islands, canary islands holidays, countries, destinations, getaways, holidays, islands, locations, Spain, Tourism, travel, Vacations, Vacations Spain
July 18, 2010
The Beaches Of Barcelona:Where To Go
Since the olympic games in 1992 sparked a rejuvenation of Barcelona’s beaches, their number has grown from one to seven. They are situated along a 5km stretch of the city’s coastline, from North to South. Staffed by lifeguards from June to September, they cater for a rising number of visitors and can be accessed in only 20 minutes from the city centre.
More than 3.5million travellers now visit the beaches every year. The city’s council is repeatedly improving services, creating a cleaner and safer place. Part of this mission has included the establishment of the Barcelona Beach Center. Here you can take a role in numerous free exhibitions and activities or simply relax with the day’s paperspapers.
In each Barcelona beach section, from Sant Sebastia to Llevant, you’ll find beach bars called ‘chiringuitos ‘. Serving a good range of drinks and food, they are always very popular. The chiringuitos can be costlier nonetheless , given their beachfront position.
A number of these bars are known to throw beach parties, frequently going on late into the evening. DJs are often hired to play music and attract masses of revellers who come to dance on the sand. With no one to bug and the sea close by for a midnight dip, Barcelona’s beach parties became mythical.
But dancing isn’t the sole exercise that you can do on Barcelona’s beaches. During any visit to the sandy shores you are bound to see joggers and walkers. The promenades are also always busy with skaters, rollerbladers and bicyclists hoping to keep fit. And, naturally, no beach in Spain would be whole without groups partaking of a volleyball match. You can read the Oh-Barcelona blog to know more about Beach Volley tournaments and beach activities
The sea is also extremely safe, with no major currents, making it well-liked by swimmers. All of Barcelona’s beaches have the EU Blue Star rating making it superb for bathers. There is also a superb supply of disabled access. One word of caution however : look out for the waves. On breezy days the surf can get a bit coarse, so weaker swimmers are suggested to stay close to the shore.
This fact has made Barcelona’s beaches very popular with surfers. You can see surfers taking their boards to the beaches all thru the year. One reason for that is the cleanliness of all the city’s beaches. A clean beach campaign was started in 2006 to raise pollution awareness among bathers and the water quality has improved no end.
Depending on what sort of beach experience you’re looking for may have an impact on where you choose to stay. As usual, leasing a studio is the least expensive way to stay in Barcelona. The beaches at the southern end of the city - Sant Sebastian and Barceloneta - are nearest to its centre and are livelier. For scholars and young visitors, these are the places to pick out a flat.
For those searching for somewhere a bit quieter, the beaches to the North will suit better. These include Nova Mar Bella and Llevant. They’re much less busy and are used more often by families and residents attempting to find peace and quiet. For simple access to these you will need to find a studio around Poblenou or Selva de Mar.
With some actually wonderful beaches, Barcelona ranks alongside Spain’s most popular destinations for a summer vacation. With seven beaches on offer, there are those to cater for every class of person. Whether or not you are away with family or on a break with chums, there are masses of apartments to meet your requirements. You may also combine the best of both worlds with a city retreat coupled with a beach break. Hence before you head for one of the islands, or Spain’s famous ‘Sunshine Coast ‘, you should generally consider Barcelona.
You might want to check Oh-Barcelona.com website to find out what’s the best apartment that fits your needs.
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