About the destination

The Natural Park of La Garrotxa, in north-east Catalonia, has two totally different types of landscapes. Over 40 volcanoes and lava flows cover much of the southern half of the region, shaping a rolling landscape of moors– today protected by the La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. To the north of the river Fluvià the landscape changes radically, showing abrupt cliffs and narrow gorges to give way to the Alta Garrotxa, an Area of Natural Interest. 

The valleys of Bas, Hostoles and Bianya are surrounded by some of the thickest and most extensive forests in Catalonia. The sunniest slopes are covered by evergreen holm oaks, whilst elsewhere there are downy oak forests – with a few stands of pedunculate oak around the area of Olot.

Ecotourism experiences

The Natural Park of La Garrotxa is a fantastic destination to learn about the traditional making of local food products. Your local hosts will treat you like at home to show you the landscape and the different products that are made by hand in the region, such as the traditional yoghourts of La Fagueda Cooperative. The icing on the cake comes with a visit to the Ferrer Xocolata artisan workshop, three generations of pastry chefs and now a chocolate artisan!

You can also join a guided tour around the weekly market in the village of Olot to learn about the region’s organic local produce like meats, cheeses or cereals.  

For further information and bookings 

You can live this experience together with our local ecotourism host. Please enquire to Trescalia on +34 657 861 805 or by email at info@trescalia.com to check availability and your preferred dates.

This experience is part of the 2022 Ecotourism Escapes Brochure (only in Spanish)

The Ecotourism Club in Spain groups together destinations and companies which guarantee, by fulfilling a series of requirements, their commitment to conservation and local sustainable development.  That is why it has created its own brand “Ecotourist in Spain” and the website www.ecotouristinspain.com, where you can find protected areas, accommodation and companies which offer their tourism services, as well as experiences and activities committed to the preservation of the area in which they take place.

About the destination

Lanzarote is an island of the Canary archipelago known for its black and reddish ground due to its volcanic history. The island has an important variety of wildlife and endemic species, hidden away on its beaches, volcanoes, cliffs, ravines and deserts of sand.

Today, almost 42% of the island surface is protected by different categories of the Canarian Network of Natural Protected Areas and 65% is protected by the Island Management Plan. These include the Timanfaya National Park, or the island of La Graciosa and Northern Islets of Lanzarote (one of the most extensive marine reserves in Europe), to name but a few. 

The residents of Lanzarote are committed to the sustainability of their island and use traditional techniques for agriculture, water or salt harvesting. You will also find a vibrant culture in their festivals, museums and standing heritage.

Ecotourism experiences

A great way to discover Lanzarote is by joining one of the many trekking experiences led by our local hosts. One of them is the route over the Volcanoes Natural Park: an impressive walk between volcanoes and unique landscapes made by lava solidification over past eruptions since the 18th century. You will end up hiking up to the caldera of the volcano.

You can also jump into the sea to experience  another perspective of the island. Join a guided and safe kayak tour along the coast, abrupt coves and quiet beaches of the Los Ajaches Natural Monument. You will have a spectacular view of the different volcanic formations that exist in the Canary Islands. Upon arrival at Playa del Papagayo, you will put on your equipment to do snorkelling and learn about the underwater world and the sea diversity of southern Lanzarote.

For further information and bookings 

You can live this experience together with our local ecotourism host. Please enquire to GenuineSpain on WhatsApp +34 677 658 595 or by email at info@genuinespain.es to check availability and your preferred dates.

This experience is part of the 2022 Ecotourism Escapes Brochure (only in Spanish)

The Ecotourism Club in Spain groups together destinations and companies which guarantee, by fulfilling a series of requirements, their commitment to conservation and local sustainable development.  That is why it has created its own brand “Ecotourist in Spain” and the website www.ecotouristinspain.com, where you can find protected areas, accommodation and companies which offer their tourism services, as well as experiences and activities committed to the preservation of the area in which they take place.

About the destination

La Palma Island, also known as “Isla Bonita” due to its incredible landscapes, imposing volcanoes, dense forests, unique beaches, and clear skies. It is located in the northwestern area of the Canary Archipelago, in the Atlantic Ocean.

With a surface area of 708 km2 and a large underwater volcanic world, La Palma is a good representation of the ecosystems of a Macaronesian region on European soil. The island is a world of contrasts, from the most recent volcanic eruption in Europe and its black lava flows, to the green of its rainforests; from the high rocky peaks of over 2400 m to the turquoise natural marine pools.  It’s an  island that has it all.

In addition to its natural heritage, La Palma has many elements of interesting tangible and intangible cultural heritage. This combination was a key element when it was chosen  by UNESCO as a Biosphere Worldwide Reserve in 2002

Ecotourism experiences

If you like hiking through lush natural areas spectacular landscapes, you can’t leave La Palma Biosphere Reserve off your bucket list. Thanks to your local guide, you will discover fascinating ecosystems such as the laurel forests and rain forests, walk along traditional trails, dense woods, and cliffs and valleys that hide incredible waterfalls.

At the top of the island, on the edge of the Caldera de Taburiente, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view while listening to how the island was formed and is still evolving in a continuous cycle of erosion and formation caused by active volcanism. You can also take the route down to remote villages where the ravines covered in laurel forests that almost reach the sea . You can also visit the dense, dark Cubo de la Galga, a hotspot for ferns and laurel forests, where you will see water flowing directly from rocks.

La Palma is also a perfect spot for stargazing, thanks to the Observatory of Roque de los Muchachos, and this activity can be combined with cultural heritage, gastronomy and marine ecotourism experiences.

For further information and bookings 

You can live this experience together with our local ecotourism host. Please enquire to Ecoturismo Granada AV on +34 666 405 811 or by email at ecoturismogranada@gmail.com to check availability and your preferred dates.

This experience is part of the 2022 Ecotourism Escapes Brochure (only in Spanish)

The Ecotourism Club in Spain groups together destinations and companies which guarantee, by fulfilling a series of requirements, their commitment to conservation and local sustainable development.  That is why it has created its own brand “Ecotourist in Spain” and the website www.ecotouristinspain.com, where you can find protected areas, accommodation and companies which offer their tourism services, as well as experiences and activities committed to the preservation of the area in which they take place.

About the destination

The Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park occupies a large part of the heart of the Baetic Ranges, the southernmost alpine range in Europe.

The National Park is characterized by high peaks, old glacial cirques, ridges, mountain meadows, and small lakes. Here you can find around 80 endemic plant species, the largest populations of the Iberian ibex and the Golden eagle and a great historical and cultural legacy. The Natural Park occupies the middle-mountain and low-mountain areas around the National Park. Small mountain villages have been settled on the slopes for hundreds of years.

The Alpujarra region is located on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The difficulty in accessing this remote area has allowed their landscape, architecture and lifestyle to be preserved. For centuries, La Alpujarra has attracted travellers, drawn by its combination of unique architecture and rural culture, a legacy that goes back to  the medieval Moorish settlement in Andalusia

Ecotourism experiences

The National Park is well known for its wide variety of hiking and trekking routes. Your local host will help you to explore the countryside and discover the best routes in the area. 

One of these guided trails goes through oak forests in Loma Raspa and continues on the path called “La Hidroeléctrica”, an old water channel that supplied water to the small power station.

Another hiking route follows old trails with magnificent views along narrow footpaths next to the irrigation channel network. You will discover the miracle of water management in the area, the ancient “acequias” system that drives the water from the mountain to the villages. The route will take you through a forest of centenary chestnut trees, where you can take fantastic snapshots, especially in fall!

In the eastern part of the Sierra Nevada, a totally different landscape is waiting for you. Here is where the Alpujarra opens to the desert of Almeria with the contrasting colours of its red canyons, mud flows, and the so-called fairy chimney: a real natural wonder!

For further information and bookings 

You can live this experience together with our local ecotourism host. Please enquire to Ecoturismo Granada AV on +34 666 405 811 or by email at ecoturismogranada@gmail.com to check availability and your preferred dates.

This experience is part of the 2022 Ecotourism Escapes Brochure (only in Spanish)

The Ecotourism Club in Spain groups together destinations and companies which guarantee, by fulfilling a series of requirements, their commitment to conservation and local sustainable development.  That is why it has created its own brand “Ecotourist in Spain” and the website www.ecotouristinspain.com, where you can find protected areas, accommodation and companies which offer their tourism services, as well as experiences and activities committed to the preservation of the area in which they take place.

About the destination

Urdaibai is the only Biosphere Reserve in the Basque Country. A destination where people, nature, culture, water and mountains form a landscape full of life.

The region stands out for its high variety of landscapes and landmarks shaped over 14,000 years of balanced coexistence between people and nature. From the medium height peaks covered by forests, the valleys are shaped by traditional farmlands and small rural villages. The estuary opens up the landscape to reach the imposing limestone formations that shelter the extensive Cantabrian oak forests to reach the coast, dotted with capes, coves, beaches and seaside towns.

Urdaibai is a destination bursting with biodiversity. It is home to more than 3,300 species and subspecies in its different habitats: coastline and cliffs, marshes and sandbanks, forests and the Atlantic countryside.

Ecotourism experiences

There are plenty of ecotourism experiences in Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve to be discovered with your local hosts. You can join a boat to sail over the Mundaka estuary and across the villages of Sukarrieta, Busturia, Murueta, Ibarrangely and Gautegiz Arteaga to learn about natural and cultural heritage, geography and geology. 

For wine and food lovers, there are plenty of opportunities to taste local produce in well-known Basque restaurants and family wineries that make aromatic txakoli (white wine from the Basque Country). In the Bodega Berroja, you can enjoy a guided tour of both the surroundings and the winery itself to learn about sustainable agriculture techniques in the vineyard and the cultural and gastronomic tradition of the area. 

Another recommended stop is to visit the Urdaibai Birding Centre in Gautegiz-Arteaga, a fantastic museum showcasing local and migrating birds. You can also take a walk to see their hide over the marshes and try your luck for bird spotting.

For further information and bookings 

You can live this experience together with our local ecotourism host. Please enquire to GenuineSpain on WhatsApp +34 677 658 595 or by email at info@genuinespain.es to check availability and your preferred dates. 

This experience is part of the 2022 Ecotourism Escapes Brochure (only in Spanish)

The Ecotourism Club in Spain groups together destinations and companies which guarantee, by fulfilling a series of requirements, their commitment to conservation and local sustainable development.  That is why it has created its own brand “Ecotourist in Spain” and the website www.ecotouristinspain.com, where you can find protected areas, accommodation and companies which offer their tourism services, as well as experiences and activities committed to the preservation of the area in which they take place.

About the destination

The Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias Natural Park and the Muniellos-Fuentes del Narcea Biosphere Reserve are home to the best oak groves in Spain and a great diversity of wildlife in the Cantabrian region. 

This Biosphere Reserve is the largest sanctuary of endangered Cantabrian fauna like the Brown bear, the Cantabrian Capercaillie or the Iberian wolf. There are samples of glacial modelling with a lot of glacial basins and quarries with mires and little lakes such as Arbás, Fuentes del Narcea, Chagueños or Fasgueo.

The villages have vibrant traditions linked to traditional human uses of the land and craft-making, like the cortinos” and “talameiros” (two types of special hives built to protect the bee from the bear); or the cunqueiru (the person that makes kitchen wooden tools using an old pedal lathe). There are plenty of opportunities to learn first hand these traditions thanks to ecotourism and a network of committed hosts and guides.

Ecotourism experiences

Fuentes del Narcea is all about getting hands-on with your local hosts in their daily activities. You can learn about the origins of the xalda wool and how it goes from sheep to thread to make your own objects. You will be shown the natural and traditional processes of weaving wool, as well as its use in authentic low heddle looms to discover the fabrics and embroidery that were used in ancient times.

On another day, you can join the local baker to make authentic sourdough bread using only your own hands and flour from the old village mill. You will learn the local recipe of the “preñado” bread and taste it when it is done with a glass of wine D.O. Cangas.

For further information and bookings 

You can live this experience together with our local ecotourism host. Please enquire to Ecoagrotours on +34 647 582 954 or by email at ecoagrotours@ecotur.es to check availability and your preferred dates.

This experience is part of the 2022 Ecotourism Escapes Brochure (only in Spanish)

The Ecotourism Club in Spain groups together destinations and companies which guarantee, by fulfilling a series of requirements, their commitment to conservation and local sustainable development.  That is why it has created its own brand “Ecotourist in Spain” and the website www.ecotouristinspain.com, where you can find protected areas, accommodation and companies which offer their tourism services, as well as experiences and activities committed to the preservation of the area in which they take place.