If you’ve always wanted to undertake a long-distance hike in Spain, but don’t want to do the obvious Camino de Santiago, there are lots of amazing alternatives. Here are eight routes to inspire you, some of them in cooler parts of Spain.
When you think of a long-distance hiking route in Spain, the first that comes to mind is probably the Camino de Santiago, the famed pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.
Over 500,000 people walk at least 100km of the Camino every year and in some sections it can get pretty crowded. While there are several different routes to Santiago such as the Camino del Norte, the Camino Primitivo and the Camino Inglés, there are many quieter and sometimes arguably more beautiful multi-day hikes across the country.
READ ALSO: The experts’ tips for staying safe while hiking in Spain’s mountains
Many also take significantly less time than a month, making them a lot more manageable.
While it may be too hot right now, the months of September and October make for the perfect hiking months in many regions, so you might want to start planning now.
Carros de Foc (Catalonia)
The Carros de Foc is a circular route within Catalonia’s Aigües Tortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park in the Pyrenees. It connects the 9 mountain shelters and is a total of 65 km. Given its total elevation gain of 9200 metres and rocky terrain, it requires a good level of physical endurance and some experience. It’s characterised by rugged mountain landscapes, rocky boulders and peaceful lakes.
Hike the Carros de Foc route in Catalonia. Photo: Masi / Pexels
Camí de Cavalls (Menorca)
The Camí de Cavalls encircles the picturesque island of Menorca, totalling 186 km. There are a total of 13 stages of between 10 to 24km per day. It’s of medium difficulty level due to the uneven, rocky terrain in parts. The route generally follows the coast, offering spectacular turquoise seaside views, but occasionally it heads inland across fields, forests and ravines.
It was originally created by King Jaume II as a way for his knights to encircle and defend the island.
The Camí de Cavalls can be done on foot or on horseback. Photo: Nicolas G. Mertens / Wikimedia Commons
Camí de Ronda (Catalonia)
The Camí de Ronda or GR92 runs the entire length of Catalonia from Portbou on the French border to Ulldecona on the Valencian border. It covers 571km in total, broken up into 31 stages, ranging from about 10 km to 28 km per day. Some of the most spectacular stages, however, are between Portbou to Blanes in the Costa Brava, so you could do a significantly shorter hike by just walking this section, which will take you around 13 days. One of the best things about this route is that it hugs the coastline, offering stunning views and opportunities to stop and take a dip or a snorkel along the way.
The Camí de Ronda takes you along the Costa Brava. Photo: klimmane / Wikimedia Commons
Ruta de Pedra en Sec (Mallorca)
Mallorca’s Dry Stone Route, the GR221 traverses through the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range along the northwest of the island. It stretches between the towns of Port d’Antratx and Pollença and takes around 7 to 10 days complete depending on how far you walk each day. It passes through holm oak forests and typical Mediterranean scrubland, as well as small towns and picturesque mountain villages such as Deià.
Hike the Tramuntana Mountains in Mallorca. Photo: Bert Christiaens / Pexels
Camiño dos Faros (Galicia)
Camiño dos Faros or Route of Lighthouses is a 200-kilometre hiking route from Malpica to Finisterre along the Costa da Morte or Coast of Death. The Atlantic is of course the main protagonist here, as well the elegant lighthouses themselves. You’ll pass rugged beaches, sand dunes, rivers, epic cliffs, and forests. It can be completed in a total of 8 days, although you’ll be walking between 21km and 32km per day.
This route takes you past some of Galicia’s best lighthouses. Photo: Ave Calvar Martinez / Pexels
Trans-Pyrenees Trail (Catalonia, Aragón, Navarra and the Basque Country)
If you’re up for a epic challenge, this trail traverses the Pyrenees and passes through four different regions. It begins near Hondarribia, at the mouth of the Bidasoa River in the Basque Country and winds its way to Cap de Creus in Catalonia’s Costa Brava. The route is 800km long and takes between 40-50 days depending on your pace, rest days etc. You need a good fitness level and some experience for this one because of its harsh terrain and elevation levels. You’ll be rewarded with some of the country’s most dramatic scenery however.
Challenge yourself by hiking the length of the Pyrenees. Photo: Masi / Pexels
Camino Natural del Ebro (Cantabria, Castilla y León, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Navarre, Aragón and Catalonia)
The GR99 spans over 1,2000km from the source of the Ebro River in Cantabria to its end in southern Catalonia. It also passes through the regions of Castilla y León, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Navarre and Aragón. The route is split into 42 different stages, taking well over a month to complete, but you could always choose a section
While you’ll mostly be walking alongside the river, the landscape changes dramatically en route from narrow gorges to flat wetland estuaries.
Hiking alongside the Ebro River makes for spectacular scenery. Photo: Andrei Oprinca / Pexels
Camino Natural Senda del Duero (Castilla y León)
Like the Camino de Natural del Ebro, the Camino Natural Senda del Duero follows a river. This time it’s the Río Duero, one of the most important in the north of the country. The GR 14 runs through Castilla y León following the twists and turns of this great river from the Picos de Urbión in the province of Soria to Vega de Terrón, in the province of Salamanca, where the river crosses over into Portugal. It stretches for 755 kilometres and goes through cultural cities, as well as picture-postcard landscapes. You’ll need over 40 days to hike it all, but again you can choose certain sections for a shorter and more manageable route.
Hike past historic monuments along the Río Duero. Photo: Osviel Rodriguez Valdés / Pexels
