Discover the Costa de la Luz; adventure, relaxation and nature

Lower your feet into the pristine white sand, grab your kitesurf kit and dive into the Atlantic waves. This natural undeveloped coastline is sprinkled with the most beautiful beaches and attractive, authentic Andalusian cities. Some of the most beautiful sandy beaches are scattered along the coast of the province of Cádiz. Yet this incredibly beautiful piece of Andalusia remains free from mass tourism.

Tarifa

Tarifa is an Andalusian city with its own special twist. The famous windy white sand coast attracts kite surfers, windsurfers, sailors and beach lovers from all over the world. The zigzag alleyways in the old town are reminiscent of Morocco, which is located at a distance of 14 km south of the Atlantic Ocean. It results in a super relaxed city with a unique, cheerful identity and a real surfing atmosphere. It’s therefore true that this is a city where many outdoor activities come together.

With its carefree international audience, Tarifa has a number of great entertainment venues, including La Ruina, an old city ruin incarnated as a nightclub. For cocktails, sunsets and tinto de verano (red wine with local lemonade), go to the popular lounge bar Tumbao at Playa de Valdevaqueros.

The beaches

Discover the Costa de la Luz from its beautiful beaches. To the northwest of Tarifa lie the active, action-packed white beaches. First comes the 7 km long Playa de los Lances, then kitesurfing hotspot Playa de Valdevaqueros. Approximately 10 km northwest of Tarifa you will reach the Punta Paloma beach with its spectacular sand dune and natural mud baths. One thing to keep in mind is that the Atlantic wind is unpredictable and can rise and fall from one moment to the next. But you can go to a chiringuito (beach bar) to shelter.

At the height of summer, in July and August, the beaches of Tarifa sparkle with a mix of beach lovers (many Spaniards), international kite surfers and windsurfers. This is less in September, so if you prefer more tranquility on the beach then that’s the time for you to be here.

Activities

Horse riding
Discover the Costa de la Luz in a unique way. Getting in the saddle in Tarifa means hours-long horseback riding along the beautiful white beaches, over pine-flanked dunes and in rugged hills dotted with towering wind turbines. The horses that are used for this are mostly Andalusian thoroughbreds (how could it be otherwise). The multilingual Aventura Ecuestre organizes hourly beach rides (€ 30) to half-day excursions to the nearby Los Alcornocales Natural Park (€ 80).

Whale watching
The 14 km wide Strait of Gibraltar at Tarifa is one of Europe’s top locations for spotting whales and dolphins. Striped and bottlenose dolphins, long-tailed grenades, orcas and sperm whales watch the confluence of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. From April to October, spotting these animals is practically guaranteed. If you are lucky, you can even admire endangered fin whales and common dolphins.

Most whale watching tours depart from Tarifa, although there are also some departing from Gibraltar. Since 1998 non-profit research-oriented FIRMM organizes environmentally conscious tours of two to three hours with experienced marine biologists (€ 30). The best months for spotting sperm whales are from April to August. For orcas the months of July and August are recommended.

Hiking
The windy coast of Tarifa guarantees beautiful walks. The 1.5 km long Sendero de los Lances promenade runs northwest of the city through low, protected dunes that support Playa de los Lances. Further afield, a 7km beach walk from small Bolonia (from the N340 15km northwest of Tarifa) leads back to Punta Paloma.

What a beautiful area this is, discover the Costa de la Luz by quickly booking a ticket and a nice weekend (or 3) to stay and certainly try out all the activities above. Are you a true nature lover? Be sure to check out our article about the top 5 best nature parks of Andalusia.

The post Discover the Costa de la Luz appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

5 reasons for a trip to the Basque Country

From nice villages and modern architectural monuments, a beautiful green environment to world-class food and wine. In this article you will find 5 reasons why you should add a trip to the Basque country to your must-visit list.

The capital of culture – San Sebastián

To visit San Sebastián you do not need any extra motivation from us but this beautiful coastal metropolis is generally regarded as one of the best places to eat in the world and in 2016 year the city was awarded the coveted title of Capital of Culture Europe (together with Wroclaw, Poland). This name brought with it an extensive calendar of events and activities that kept the city alive throughout the year, from concerts and film festivals to art exhibitions, live performances of opera and theater, creative workshops and courses, and special programs for children.

Wine region

You can see the names of the wine growing centers of the Basque Country such as Samaniego, Laguardia, Elciego, Labastida in bars and cafes everywhere. A delicious Tempranillo tasting to go after the wine region Rioja Alavesa and see how the wines are made. Of particular interest are the beautiful medieval town of Laguardia and the wineries surrounding it, including Bodegas Ysios and the futuristic ‘temple dedicated to wine’ of Santiago Calatrava. Don’t miss the Bodegas Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, specializing in very tasteful red wines from the old vines and the whimsical hotel designed by Frank Gehry.

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

It’s kind of a trip to the ninth-century religious site of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. After a walk on a steep hill, a passage over the Bay of Biscay via a picturesque stone walking path and a walk of 241 steps you are there. But the views from the top of the island make it absolutely worthwhile. Gaztelugatxe is derived from the Basque gaztelu (castle) and aitz (rock or rock). Enjoy breathtaking views of the coastline and the waves beneath it and keep an eye on the Basque fishermen who make pilgrimages with tourists: it is a local tradition to walk to the church and ask the saint for a blessing rich season.

Roadtrip

With the car you can drive along the beautiful Basque coastline and admire the cliff landscape. Here the Basque country is perfect for. For example, the route from Bilbao to San Sebastián. This is an unforgettable road trip that leads you through a series of traditional fishing villages with names that you can hardly pronounce, from small Elantxobe to the beautiful Lekeitio to Getaria, the birthplace of the fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga (there is a great museum dedicated to his oeuvre) All cities along this road have nice pintxo bars and nice streets that invite you to take a relaxing walk. For more activities you can also check this website.

Unique identity

If you follow the news, you know that Basque nationalism is a controversial issue in Spain. But that regional pride could be read as an expression of cultural independence. Although the mystery surrounds the subject Basque people are supposed to be descendants of the original human inhabitants of the European continent. Their culture is characterized by thoroughly unique traditions, including Euskara, the Basque language.

In the popular city of Bilbao you will also find the world famous Guggenheim museum. Read our article about the Guggenheim Bilbao. A trip to the Basque Country can not be missed as a fan of the Spanish country, culture and traditions.

The post A trip to the Basque Country appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

The historic center of Benidorm is located on a promontory that separates the two large beaches. These are the Levante beach (the ‘new’ Benidorm) and the Poniente beach (the ‘old’ Benidorm). The historic center is the old fishing village. Benidorm also has a third (smaller) beach, this is Mas Pal. Discover Benidorm already by reading this article and we know that you will soon plan a trip to Benidorm.

Discover Benidorm; old town, beaches and beautiful nature

Benidorm is the most popular tourist attraction in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona. In Belgium and the Netherlands, Benidorm is mainly known as a place to spend the winter for the elderly. Especially Dutch, Belgian and British pensioners spend the winter here. When the summer begins, this place is filled with families and young people who are doing enjoying the nightlife. Benidorm has the largest number of hotel beds in Europe after Paris. Due to the large number of hotels and apartments Benidorm has the largest number of high buildings (35m and higher). Because of these tall buildings and the fact that in Benidorm the summers are filled with people and nightlife and Benidorm ‘doesn’t sleep’ just like Ney York, the city is also called Beniyork sometimes.

Beaches

For almost every visitor, Benidorm’s most striking attraction is the two extensive city beaches, Levante and Poniente. It’s always busy at Levante, but if you go to Benidorm a little earlier or later in the season and travel to the far west, you can enjoy the beach of Poniente. It’s a lot less crowded there and the view you can enjoy is a reward, golden sand and a breathtaking blue sea. There is a super relaxed atmosphere and the place is surrounded by restaurants where you can enjoy delicious Spanish dishes such as Paella.

The old town

Discover Benidorm in the right way by visiting the most beautiful part of Benidorm. You have to love this, the old city. On a spot on a hill between the two beautiful beaches. In the evening it’s wonderful to stroll around in the evening through the narrow streets and the charming buildings or sit on a terrace with a glass of wine. You can admire the sunset from the Mirador where the castle once stood. Street vendors and musicians will fill the squares with entertainment in the evening.

Natural sights

Are you a lover of picturesque architecture? You can fully enjoy that in Benidorm. The city is surrounded on all sides by a beautiful landscape. Benidorm is a compact city designed to spur upwards instead of out, making it quick and easy to escape from all those tall buildings and immerse yourself in the natural beauty that is characteristic of this part from Spain. Walk to the Sierra Helada Natural Park in the east of the city, here you will once again be rewarded by the most fantastic views. Here you have the chance to go to the beautiful, secluded coves in Cala Almadrada and Cala Tio Ximo for a dive in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. It’s also very nice to rent an electric bike (at Tao Bike) and to explore the beautiful surroundings. The cross of Benidorm is also worth a visit (this can still be done on foot). From here you have a truly breathtaking view over the coast, the mountains and a beautiful skyline. At sunset you almost feel like you’re in Rio instead of Benidorm.

Benidorm is a versatile place where you will have plenty to do and therefore you won’t get bored. Discover Benidorm on foot, by bike or in the car. Are you looking for more beautiful places in Spain? We have a top 5 of the most beautiful undiscovered Spanish places for you to read and perhaps to plan your next trip to Spain to.

The post Discover Benidorm appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

The story of Nicky Jam; El Ganador

The rapper known from songs like X, El Amante, El Perdón and Te Bote shows us in this dramatized life story how he struggles with his drug addiction and achieves international successes. In addition, a very famous name in the reggaeton world is also central in this story, the famous Daddy Yankee. Nicky Jam and Daddy Yankee met when Nicky Jam was just a teenager, they started working together and together they were called Los Cangris, which you could translate into the English ‘badasses’. This term is slang and therefore there is no official translation for it. This is also something that you have to keep in mind while watching the series, they use a lot of slang, so without subtitles you probably wouldn’t even be able to keep up with the language even if you speak Spanish. In contrast to Daddy Yankee, who gained international fame in 2004 with his hit ‘Gasolina’, Nicky Jam remained silent for a few years, for reasons that you will find out in the series.

The series tells the story of Nicky Jam from his childhood to his fame. Given that it’s a story of personal improvement and development, not only the stories behind the songs will be told, but also the avatars of a young Puerto Rican who has to help his family. That is why the series is not only for fans of Nicky Jam, but also for those who are interested in the phenomenon of reggaeton and musical encounters between the United States and the Caribbean, told by the story of a child of immigrants. The series consists of 1 season with 13 episodes that each last about 50 minutes.

El Ganador

The term El Ganador has already been used a couple of times in this small piece of text. It means ‘The winner’. And ff you ask us this is perfect for the story of this top artist. It is not only used in the name of the series. Nicky Jam has also made a song that has the title El Ganador. In the song he’s also rapping about his life story, he has had tough times but he ended up well. Very well, you could say. A nice sidenote for this videoclip is that well-known actor Vin Diesel (you can recognize him from the Fast & Furious movies) makes his appearance in the clip. Nicky Jam raps that he went from having not much to filming video clips with Vin Diesel.

Successes

In 2017 Nicky Jam released the album Fénix with 26 songs. It was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 18th annual Latin Grammy Awards. This man has the most guest appearances in the genre to his name and has a total of 150 nominations and won 30 awards. Well-known award events are the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Do you want to know which awards he has won and which nominations he got? You can check it out right here.

Are you a fan of Nicky Jam or just interested in a turbulent story with a good ending? Then you should definitely watch Nicky Jam; El Ganador!

The post Must see: Nicky Jam; El Ganador appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

You should watch these 7 best Spanish movies on Netflix

Watching a series on Netflix is of course a lot of fun, but sometimes you have those days when you don’t really feel like watching a series and you just need a good movie. We got your back! We have put the 7 best Spanish movies on Netflix for you on a list. Some of the trailers are in Spanish but on Netflix you can of course turn on subtitles.

1. Contratiempo

2. Jefe

César is such a typical boss who’s hated by everyone and the employees who approach him do so purely for their own interest. There is no one who wants to tell him the truth and there is no one who appreciates him. Apparently the employees don’t do a lot of work at night and that is only the beginning of the problems that César has to deal with. His life is getting worse and worse when he notices that he is being betrayed by his partners and thrown out of his house by his wife. He tries to do his best not to fall completely into this misery and fortunately there is someone who helps him with this. Her name is Ariana and she is the cleaning lady of the night shift.

3. Palmeras en la nieve

This story takes place in 1968 on a Spanish colonial island off the west coast of Africa and it alternates between the 1950s, the last years of Spanish rule, and the present. In the 1950s, a man and his brother travel from the snowy Pyrenees to the exotic island where they learn real life lessons. In the present the daughter of the man travels to the island to learn more about the younger years of her father and her uncle.

4. El Aviso

It is 2008 and a man is shot in a supermarket during what appears to be an arbitrary act of violence. But was this really random? During the time that this victim is in a coma, his best friend begins to decipher a history of similar events that have also taken place at the same location. Then in 2018 a boy receives an anonymous warning that if he enters the same store on his tenth birthday he will die. Sounds heavy? Absolutely! and incredibly exciting too!

5. Amar

Young Laura and Carlos love each other as if every day can be their last. Laura wants to get away from her mother’s control and determine her own life and she dreams of getting pregnant. Laura and Carlos are both still looking for themselves and their place in this world. When it is one year later and they are both a little more mature, their deep passion is only a memory. You can recognize Laura, played by María Pedraza, from her roles in La Casa de Papel and Elite.

6. La Tribu

Fidel is a CEO of a company called Omnicron. When one day he has sex with his secretary at his office, he suddenly has to deal with ‘penis captivus’ and he is unable to retreat. Then there is a medical which takes him to the hospital from there. This whole scene is filmed by a number of office workers and the video goes viral. His company dismisses Fidel and his girlfriend and adoptive family also reject him. Eventually he comes into contact with his biological mother which creates hilarious moments.

7. La Sombre de la Ley (Gun City)

The year 1921 is a year of chaos and unrest for Spain. It’s a period where the streets are made unsafe by criminals and anarchists that illegal companies use gratefully. Agent Aníbal Uriarte is sent to Barcelona to take charge of a mission: to find the perpetrators who have stolen a military train. However, this will not be an easy job for the agent between the riots, crimes and corruption. Nobody at the local police station can be trusted and this makes it a very difficult job. In this film there are again familiar faces of Las Chicas del Cable and actor Jaime Menéndez Lorente known for his roles in La Casa de Papel and Elite.

With these Spanish movies you’ll be sure of some great movienights. So if you don’t feel like watching a series make sure you check out these movies on Netflix!

The post The 7 best Spanish movies on Netflix appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

Discover the best Spanish Netflix series

Have you already seen the well-known Spanish Netflix series such as Narcos, El Chapo and La Casa de Papel? Then read on to see what next 6 Spanish series you can start and which you’ll probably want to bingewatch.

1. Fugitiva

Fugitiva is about a mother who is the victim of domestic violence. She comes up with a genius plan to protect her family against her rich, powerful husband and his vindictive enemies. I think that you, like us, will immediately realize that this is a very exciting series that will fascinate you until the end. You’ll be hooked after the first episode.

2. La Casa de las Flores

La Casa de las Flores is a comedic series but with a dark side. The series is about a wealthy Mexican family that has a prestigious flower shop. The rich matriarch tries to uphold the appearence of her family in all possible ways after the mistress of her husband has come out with the dirty laundry. La Casa de las Flores is a Mexican series and after Club de Cuervos and Ingobernable it’zs the third Mexican Netflix Original Series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP7PcXQLmcI

3. Ingobernable

Ingobernable tells the story of the Mexican Presidential couple Emilia and Diego. Diego is president of Mexico and his wife Emilia is the first lady. But when Diego is suddenly murdered and Emilia turns out to be the only witness, she becomes the main suspect. Emilia gets scared and therefore runs away. You can imagine that this doesn’t always go according to plan. Emilia is a real power woman in whose innocence you want to believe as a viewer. This story makes Ingobernable an exciting and certainly a compelling crime series.

4. Velvet

If you liked Las Chicas del Cable (named in our previous article) then this will also probably become one of your favorites. The series takes place in the 1950s and the story revolves around the love story between Alberto Márquez (Miguel Ángel Silvestre), heir to a prestigious fashion house and Ana Rivera (Paula Echevarría), who works as a seamstress in the studio of the fashion house. Just like Las Chicas, this series also has 4 seasons. Following Velvet, a spin-off of the series was made under the name Velvet Colleción. This series takes place in the 60s in Barcelona where Ana starts a shop and design school together with her friends. You can also find this series on Netflix. The trailer is in Spanish but you can activate subtitles via Netflix.

5. Club de Cuervos

The first original Spanish Netflix series. A comical series about a brother and sister who enter into a battle after they have inherited a soccer team. They fight for ownership and management of the team. A nice series that will also cheer you up, we certainly like that a lot!

6. Narcos: Mexico

Last but definitely not the least, Narcos: Mexico. Only three weeks after the first season of Narcos: Mexico came out, Netflix has announced that a second season is about to appear. The new story in the Narcos series tells us in the first season the rise of the Guadalajara cartel in the cocaine trade. As a lover of the Narcos series this is again a series that you shouldn’t miss. An exciting series with good cliffhangers which will ensure that you will watch the first season within two days. In the second season, the story of this cartel is continued with the DEA hunt as a thread.

With these 6 series you can enjoy the best Spanish Netflix series and with for most students among us the Christmas holiday in prospect the coming weeks for you may be dominated by these Spanish series.

We still have one message left: enjoy!

The post Best Spanish Netflix series – Part 2 appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

Tinto de Verano vs Sangria: who will win?

Well, this isn’t really a contest but if you we look at the drink the Spaniards mainly order: Tinto de Verano wins from Sangria! But most touristic people choose Sangria over Tinto de Verano, so it’s a draw! Below you can see the ingredients of Tinto de Verano vs Sangria, you choose which team wins!

Vargas or Tinto de Verano?

Just as with Agua de Valencia, there exists a theory about this Spanish drink. The drink is invented in the years of 1920 by the Vargas Sales located next to a sandy road to  El Brilliante. The owner of this place was Don Federico Vargas who sold a lot of his wine (Valdepeñas) to his customers until their body had enough of it and didn’t want to have it anymore. Don Federico Vargas invented to add soda to the drink to make the drink softer. The people loved it and called it Un Vargas, soon after people started calling it Tinto de Verano. There also exists a theory for the name Varga. The followers of this theory argue that the name Varga comes from the combination of words of the ingredients Vagar used: Valdepeñas and gaseosa.

Tinto de Verano is quite easy to make. The drink normally consists of two elements namely: red wine and gaseosa (which is the general name for carbonated drinks or sodas). The mixer people mostly prefer is a mild and low sugar carbonated drink but you can choose any soda you prefer. For instance: bitter lemon with carbonated water. Some people also loves to put a slice of water melon in the Tinto de Verano to make it sweeter but the standard garnish is a slice of lemon.

Sangria who invented it?

Sangria also has its owns history and this one is a bit rare because with Agua the Valencia and Vargas we knew who was the genius behind the drinks but for Sangria there are two parties who claim that they invented Sangria. The Spaniards are drinking Sangria for centuries and it is seen as the Spanish drink. However, the British claim that they have made the world acquainted with this drink by introducing it in New York even before the 18th century.

Sangria has the base of red or white wine and is flavored with different kind of fruits. Mostly: orange, peach, lemon, pineapple or apple. But you can also add other fruits! Add the end they add honey, sugar and orange juice. You have all different kind of Sangria but the most popular Sangria is still the basic one.

You can separate Tinto de Verano vs Sangria by the fruits. A lot of different fruits are used to make Sangria, Tinto de Verano usually comes without fruit.

The post Tinto de Verano vs Sangria explained appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

Discover more of Spain on a road trip through Andalusia

To rent a car isn’t really expensive in December. The best amount of people to rent a car with is five or ten. Renting a car for a week in December for five persons will cost you around 50 euros. So, 10 euro per person! In the summer this will be way more expensive than in the winter.  Don’t worry about the cold because we could even walk around in shorts in December! You will see the amazing weather on the sunny pictures of our road trip through Andalusia.

Day 1: After picking up our cars from the airport in Valencia (you can choose the location for yourself), we drove to Alicante (1,5 hour). We booked a house at 5 to 10 minutes from the city center. Our house had a beautiful view over the mountains and the landscape.

Day 2: After waking up we drove to Elche. Where we visited the Palm Groves (Palmeral) of Elche. The Palm Groves covers over 3.5km2 including 1.5km2 inside the city of Elche. This park is very rare because it counts around 97 different sorts palmtree families over 200.000 palms. This makes the Palm Groves one of the biggest palm gardens of the whole world! After seeing this we went to into the city center of Elche to visit buildings and eat a delicious ice cream. When we were finished we drove to our next house (3,5 hours) where we would sleep the rest of our trip in Almuñécar. We arrived around 9 pm, and gosh, what a house it was. A home cinema, a pool and even a jacuzzi! We found the house easily on Airbnb and it wasn’t that expensive because we were with 10 people. The road trip through Andalusia was for us already a succes with such a nice house.

Day 3: We had to wake up early because we were going to Granada and the Alhambra (1,5 hour). There is a great history behind the Alhambra. The Alhambra is a palace which was built by the Nasrid (the last Moorish Muslim dynasty in Iberia) and Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar which was the first ruler of the emirate of Granada. The palace is a reflection of the Moorish culture, it has a big garden and beautiful inscriptions and vaultings. If you are close to Granada, you should definitely visit it! After the visit to Alhambra we went to the city of Granada. This city isn’t really lively in comparison with the other cities of Spain, but Granada has a beautiful historical look with many old buildings and squares to visit. After a long day of walking nothing is better than to chill in the jacuzzi with a glass of red wine.

Day 4: At day 4 we went to the beautiful Ronda (2 hours). Ronda lays in the province of Malaga an it’s a mountainous area. The city of Ronda has a great atmosphere, the streets are small, the squares are big and outside of Ronda you can see he Puente Nuevo bridge which spans the 120 meter and is with the largest bridge at carries the Guadalevín river. It’s kind of sad we didn’t go to Malaga, but you will overrate how long everything is driving. Especially after a long day of walking you just want to sit in the jacuzzi again.

Day 5: After 4 days of exploring the beauty of Andalusia it was already time to heading home, what would take 5 hours. However, you will not be bored during your return trip, because you drive through the mountains with beautiful fields. On the way back we drove past the Tarbenas desert and made a stop in Murcia.

Do you want to discover Spain as well? Find a language course on Suspanish and make a road trip with your new friends!

The post Road trip through Andalusia appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

The undiscovered Spanish places you must-visit

Every city and every village in Spain has its charm. There are certainly a number of undiscovered Spanish places where we would like to tell you more about. Became curious? Then you should continue reading and who knows, you’ll have a new unique destination for your next city trip.

1. Vejer de la Frontera (Cádiz)

The village was voted the second most beautiful village in Spain by TripAdvisor, after Ronda. As you approach Vejer from the N340, the village radiates over the highway and the beautiful landscape of Andalusia. It’s called El Pueblo Blanco (the white village) by the Spaniards. It lies on a mountain top 200 meters above the road. To do this climb it takes you half an hour to get up. Once you have reached the top, you will soon discover that the breathtaking view was more than worth the climb. You have the view over the hinterland and the Atlantic Ocean from one of the viewpoints. Here you will find ancient walls, castles and churches. Although Andalusia has more pueblos blancos, such as Arcos de la Frontera and Zahara de la Sierra, Vejer really stands out. The reason for this is that the mayor and the municipal council are very strict to ensure that the homeowners keep their houses bright white and maintain the other traditional features such as the use of lime. And if you are here anyway you can also take a look at Cádiz, this city is not overrun with tourists. You’ll read all about things you can do in Cádiz right here.

2. Monasterio de Piedra (Zaragoza)

Monasterio de Piedra was once founded in 1194 by monks from Poblet. This place then became a beautiful entity with a monastery, gigantic waterfalls and caves where you can walk along and underneath. The ruins of the religious building have also been very well preserved for 10 centuries. Pretty special, right?!

3. Isla de Tabarca (Alicante)

The largest and only inhabited island of the Comunidad Valenciana with about 30 inhabitants is still such a beautiful undiscovered spot. This place was once an eldorado for pirates and now it’s an island with a quiet fishing village and a great cultural heritage. You can walk on the large defensive wall and you can discover a very rich underwater life (protected sea area). That is why this place is also ideal for diving and snorkeling.

4. Albarracín (Teruel)

The village of Albarracín is in itself a monument. It was declared a National Monument in the 60s of the last century. It received la Medalla de Oro de las Bellas Arte (a medal for fine arts) and will soon also be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. The town has about 1000 inhabitants and they are therefore very proud of their beautiful village.

5. Lekeitio (Biskaje)

The village of Lekeitio is located in the province of Biscay in the Basque Country, about 55 kilometers from Bilbao. Lekeitio is located on the Bay of Biscay. Lekeitio is a seaside resort with two beautiful beaches separated by the Lea Leader. In a small bay there’s a marina and a very small island called San Nicolás where you can even walk to on low tide. The most striking monument of Lekeitio is the church of Santa María de la Asunción, which is classified as a monument of national importance. The basilica is located in the immediate surroundings of the harbor. This church is also considered one of the finest examples of Basque Gothic architecture. A handy overview of activities you can do in Lekeitio can be found here.

There are plenty of undiscovered Spanish places. Besides these 5 there are so many other beautiful destinations that you could visit. A tip for you is to ask the Spaniards themselves. They know how to list a few beautiful undiscovered Spanish places that you have never even heard of.

Do you know more undiscovered places in Spain? Let us know!

The post Undiscovered Spanish places – top 5 appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

Natural wonders of Spain; the most admirable

Spain has so much beautiful nature that you can impossibly make a top 5. Yet, we make a top 7 in this article because otherwise it would become an endless article with all the beauty of nature that can be found in Spain. Read and enjoy the natural wonders of Spain.

1. Fuente Dé (Cantabrië)

Fuente Dé is a nature reserve in the Picos de Europa Mountains on the Cantabrian State. The viewpoint Fuente Dé can be reached on foot but also with a cable car where you at 800 meters altitude will enjoy great views and a glacier.

2. La Playa de los Catedrales (Galicia)

The beach A Paraia Das Catedrais is located in the province of Lugo in Ribadeo. The region of Galicia, like Asturias and Cantabria, is known for its most beautiful beaches. This beach is so special because of the curved rock formations where you can walk under when the sea is at its lowest point. The beach is visited annually by thousands of people.

3. Las Médulas (Castilla y León)

Las médulas are located in the province of León and are old Roman gold mining mines. Now they are completely covered with chestnut and oak forests, making this nature reserve a veritable spectacle of the most beautiful colors in the spring and autumn months. In Roman times, the Médulas were the largest gold mines of the entire Roman Empire, but now it’s an area declared by UNESCO as World Heritage Site.

4. Natuurpark Las Lagunas de Ruidera (Castilla La Mancha)

Speaking of natural wonders of Spain, this one can’t be missed. The Parque Natural de Las Laguna de Ruidera is a beautiful nature reserve full of forests and fifteen lagoons/ lakes along the old rivers Pinilla and Guadiana Viejo. You can also find the caves of Montesinos in this natural park.

5. Gaztelugatxe (Basque country)

Gaztelugatxe is a small island (looks like a rock) located off the coast of Bermeo in the Basque Country. On this small island is a chapel located, this chapel was built in the tenth century in honor of San Juan. The bridge to the small chapel is an experience on itself and the panoramic views from this island are also definitely worth the effort.

6. Parque Natural de Timanfaya

Also called Montañas del Fuego which literally means fire mountains, is a nature reserve on Lanzarote, the area consists of a unique volcanic, “moon” landscape. This landscape was caused by a volcanic eruption in 1730. Today there is still volcanic activity. Because of the precipitated lava, a wine with a special taste can be made in the surroundings of the Timanfaya National Park. The area covers around 51 square kilometers.

As a visitor you can visit a part of the area in a bus or on the back of a dromedary. A walk of 3 km on the Termesana route with guide takes two hours. This walk must be requested two months in advance and reconfirmed 48 hours in advance. This is to prevent too many people from entering this vulnerable area. There is a visitor center on top of a volcano. Here is the restaurant El Diablo located, where is being cooked with volcanic heat. This center can be reached by car after you have paid entrance fees. This includes a tourist bus ride of about 40 minutes through the volcanic landscape.

7. Selva de Irati

The Irati Forest is the second largest and best-kept beech and spruce forest in Europe. The largest is the Black Forest in Germany. This immense vast green zone of around 17,000 hectares is virtually untouched. The forest is located in the eastern Pyrenees of Navarre, in a catchment area surrounded by mountains, at the foot of the Pyrenean valleys Aezkoa and Salazar.

The Irati Forest is a nature reserve with a high ecological value where several nature reserves such as Mendilatz and Tristuibartea and the integral nature reserve Lizardoia are next to each other. Dense beech forests, pastures, fir trees and water make the landscape vibrant with colors that change with every season. The Forest of Irati is accessible in two places, on the western side from Orbaizeta and on the east side from Ochagavía. Here is also the Interpretation Center located, which is also a good starting point for information about the forest and its surroundings. More information about The Irati Forest can be found here.

There are plenty of natural wonders of Spain, and these are not even all of them yet. There are too many to mention in this article. As a true nature lover, you will certainly have enough to discover in Spain, so put on your hiking shoes and explore!

Besides these natural wonders, Spain also has some pretty special places to spend the night. Do you want to know more about this? Read our blog about an unique overnight stay in Spain.

The post Natural wonders of Spain – top 7 appeared first on Suspanish Blog.